Rejoice, Northern Hemispherians of Earth! First observed on March 27th by NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE), these next few evenings are your best and last chance to see this comet until its return around year 8,820.
Just after sunset, look below the Big Dipper in the northwest sky. Binoculars or a small telescope are recommended. It may be hard to distinguish with the naked eye until you first locate it with the help of a little magnification.
The comet may be visible for the remainder of July. Each night, the comet will appear higher in the sky, but it will grow more dim every day.
Apparently, this comet has two tails: The first tail is blue and made of gas and ions. There is also a red separation in the first tail caused by high amounts of sodium. The second tail is a golden color and is made of dust, like the tail of Comet Hale–Bopp.
My condolences to our friends in the Southern Hemisphere. Then again, you guys get this year’s total solar eclipse on December 14th…
Saturn at Opposition. The ringed planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons. A medium-sized or larger telescope will allow you to see Saturn’s rings and a few of its brightest moons.
The second quarter moon will block many of the fainter meteors this year. But if you are patient, you should still be able to catch a few of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.
The Delta Aquarids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The shower runs annually from July 12 to August 23. It peaks this year on the night of July 28 and morning of July 29.
Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
The second quarter moon will block out some of the fainter meteors this year, but the Perseids are so bright and numerous that it should still be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.
The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright meteors. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the night of August 11 and the morning of August 12. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
Roll out of bed early, and check out that AMAZINGLY BRIGHT PLANET emerging from the glow where the Sun is about to rise. Watch the sunrise consume it, and be reminded that all day long, Venus is actually right above you, just not quite bright enough to compete with all that light in the air.
The planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 45.8 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the bright planet in the eastern sky before sunrise.