Last chance to see Noctilucent Clouds
TO help with your own special Sky at Night look over Moray in August, this midnight map covers all the major events for the 15th.
The days are now getting shorter, but it still stays light long into the evening. Even so, the weaker stars are now showing and constellations are coming into their own.
So now to the night sky. In the north-east is Perseus and then Auriga with its bright star Capella showing well. In the north-west is the Plough (Ursa Major); follow the pointers past Draco's tail to the tip of the little bears tail (Ursa Minor), which is Polaris (the pole star). Follow the handle down to Arcturus, the brightest star in Bootes (the herdsman) and then from there, travel across to Corona Borealis, a gentle curve of stars that look like a coronet, and then on to Hercules. Continue on that line to Vega.
Now occupying all of the southern sky is the whole of the Summer Triangle, consisting of Deneb in Cygnus and Vega in the Lyra and Altair in Aquila. It sits directly above the top of Sagittarius, which is right on the horizon. In the south-east is Capricorn and with it the planet Jupiter, the biggest planet in the solar system. With good binoculars or a small telescope you can make out the 4 Galilean moons that ring the giant planet. Pegasus is in the east just above the head of Pisces, and next to him is Andromeda and it's famous galaxy, and finally, above her is the W shape of Cassiopeia.
If you look in the evening, just after sunset, but before full darkness, you may spy Noctilucent Clouds, steel grey coloured structures that exist 50 miles up at the edge of space. I saw some last night (03/04). They are an amazing sight, lit by the sun long after it is dark lower down, but this is your last chance to see them until next year.
The Moon is full on the 6th and new on the 20th. The ISS is not on the go at the moment but for more info visit www.heavens-above.com
The major meteor shower that peaks this month is the Perseid's on the 12th, and with 75 per hr forecast, it could be a good display.
Next meeting is on Friday, August 7 at Birnie Village Hall, Thomshill, starting at 7.30pm, when Ross McLure will speak about the High-Z Galaxies. This will be followed by the usual monthly programme. For more information, go to www.sigma-astro.co.uk or contact Ian Brantingham at ian@branters.freeserve.co.uk, Tel 01466 771371.
Thanks to Chris Peat at www.heavens-above.com for the use of his star maps.
