Every Monday I pick the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week forward, however you should definitely test my primary feed for extra in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and extra.
The Night time Sky This Week: August 14-20, 2023
This week sees a New Moon, which makes it among the finest of the yr to go stargazing within the northern hemisphere. Not solely has true darkness returned to northern latitudes, however there’s no moonlight and the Milky Approach is using excessive. It’s the best week to plan a stargazing journey or to host a star social gathering. Get exterior, search for and lose your self within the wonders of the evening sky. Right here’s what to go discover:
Monday, August 14: ‘Taking pictures Stars’
With the height of the annual Perseid meteor bathe just some nights in the past you must nonetheless have the ability to discover “taking pictures stars” in darkish skies. The most effective recommendation is to go someplace with out mild air pollution, although you’ll additionally want a wonderfully clear sky.
Wednesday, August 16: New Moon
Anticipate darkish and moonless evening skies tonight as our satellite tv for pc slips into the solar’s glare from our viewpoint. New moon additionally indicators the start of a brand new lunation, so within the coming nights we will sit up for seeing to see a ravishing crescent moon above the western horizon simply after sundown.
Tonight the moon and Mars will likely be very shut.
getty
Friday, August 18: Crescent Moon and Mars
Look to the west after darkish and also you’ll see the attractive sight of a slim crescent moon simply 1º from Mars. Chances are you’ll want binoculars to see this (although any pair will suffice).
Constellation Of The Week: Sagittarius And The Teapot
The constellation of Sagittarius, the Archer, is a wonderful sight in summer season evening skies as a result of it’s a part of the dense star fields of the Milky Approach galaxy.
It’s really near the galaxy’s heart, so stare at Sagittarius and also you’re galactic central level.
The important thing sight right here isn’t the form of ‘The Archer,” however as asterism known as the “Teapot.” Look south within the night hours to the left Scorpius.
The Ring Nebula (M57)
Getty Photographs
Object Of The Week: The Ring Nebula
Round 2,000 light-years away within the constellation Lyra, this vivid and vibrant planetary nebula is finest seen by way of a six-inch telescope.
To see the remnants of an exploded star clearly is far simpler when you’re away from mild air pollution.
It was lately captured in beautiful element by the James Webb House Telescope.
Instances and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For probably the most correct location-specific info seek the advice of on-line planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Reside. Examine planet-rise/planet-set, dawn/sundown and moonrise/moonset occasions for the place you might be.
Wishing you clear skies and large eyes.
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