All articles tagged with #skywatching
On August 12, 2026, a daytime total solar eclipse will be visible in parts of Europe and Greenland (with a partial eclipse elsewhere in Europe and North America), followed by the Perseid meteor shower at night; the guide explains where to watch, safety tips for viewing the Sun with certified eclipse glasses, and how to observe meteors under dark skies to enjoy both events in one evening.
Astronomers predict the near‑Earth asteroid 99942 Apophis will pass by Earth on April 13, 2029, and be visible to the naked eye for about seven hours as it travels from Australia to the North Atlantic; at closest approach it will be roughly 19,700 miles above Earth and should be brightest near Cameroon. NASA says there is no impact risk for 2029 or the next century, making this a safe, rare opportunity to study how Earth's gravity affects an asteroid—potentially triggering landslides or exposing pristine material, though the exact outcome is unknown. Visibility depends on weather and light pollution, but estimates suggest billions could see it in principle.
July 29, 2026 at 10:36 a.m. EDT the full Buck Moon lights the sky opposite the Sun; visible after sunset on July 29 with a Moon Illusion making it look large near the horizon and potentially yellow-orange due to Rayleigh scattering. The article lists local timings for major cities, explains the various Native American and cultural names, and points out skywatching highlights such as the Summer Triangle and Antares in Scorpius, with the Delta Aquarid meteor shower peaking overnight July 30–31 (though the bright Moon will wash out many meteors). In the predawn hours, Saturn, Mercury and Mars form a planetary arc; tips on photography and observing are included, along with notes on upcoming full moons.
Two meteor showers will illuminate late-July skies: the Southern Delta Aquariids (peaking July 30–31 with about 20 meteors per hour) and the Alpha Capricornids (around 5 per hour). While the Aquariids are best seen from the Southern Hemisphere, they’re visible farther north, though a bright, waning Moon may wash out fainter fireballs. For best viewing, aim about 40 degrees from the radiant; if conditions aren’t ideal, consider July 11 (crescent Moon with the Pleiades and Venus/Mars) and July 17 (crescent Moon with Venus after sunset), with binoculars helping spot the Seven Sisters.
June's Strawberry Moon—the year's lowest-hanging full moon for Northern Hemisphere observers—rose low in the southeast and lit up skies worldwide, yielding standout photos from locations like New York's Empire State Building, Cape Sounion in Greece, and Meishan and Qingzhou in China, among others; the piece highlights top images and notes the next full Moon, Buck Moon, on July 29.
June 29 marks the first full Moon of summer—the Strawberry Moon—peaking at 7:57 p.m. EDT; it will appear low in the sky after sunset due to the solstice, rise in Sagittarius, and may take on a golden hue near the horizon from atmospheric scattering, with the familiar moon illusion often making it look larger than usual.
The first full moon of summer, the Strawberry Moon, rises tonight and will look larger and redder as it sits low on the horizon. Peak around 7:57 p.m. ET, with New York viewers likely seeing moonrise around 8:48 p.m. View from an elevated, clear southeastern-horizon spot and consider photographing with a DSLR or a smartphone with astronomy features. The name comes from harvest timing, not color.
The 2026 Strawberry Moon occurs on 29 June; moonrise patterns differ by hemisphere—Northern Hemisphere observers will see the Moon rise in the southeast and travel low across the southern sky, while Southern Hemisphere observers will see it rise southeast and traverse high across the northern sky. The article lists local moonrise times for major cities (e.g., New York 20:49, London 21:41, Tokyo 18:46, Melbourne 16:10, Dubai 19:03) and notes the nickname comes from strawberry season, not appearance, though a low horizon can give the Moon a reddened hue. It also points readers to additional guides for observing and photographing the Moon.
A giant asteroid about 440 meters across (152637 1997 NC1) will pass Earth at roughly 1.59 million miles away on June 27, with closest approach around 7:16 a.m. EDT (1116 GMT) and traveling about 19,879 mph. NASA classifies it as a potentially hazardous asteroid, though this flyby poses no risk. The Virtual Telescope Project will host two YouTube livestreams starting at 7 p.m. EDT on June 26 and 27 to show the asteroid using robotic telescopes in Manciano, Italy, weather permitting, offering skywatchers with small telescopes a chance to spot the object as it moves through the constellation Ophiuchus.
On June 17, a rare daytime occultation will have a thin crescent Moon pass in front of Venus across parts of North America in the mid‑afternoon; observers can use binoculars or a telescope but must avoid looking near the Sun, while the Moon serves as a guide to spot Venus (magnitude -4.0) in daylight; the event runs roughly 3:30–5:00 PM EDT, followed by evening views near the Beehive Cluster after sunset.
Space.com showcases stunning images of Jupiter and Venus in a close twilight conjunction on June 9, captured around the globe—from Avebury in the UK to Kuwait City and Egypt’s Black Desert—celebrating one of the year’s most beautiful celestial sights.
NASA says a rare planetary lineup will be visible after sunset this week in western Connecticut: Venus and Jupiter will appear unusually close on June 9, Mercury joins June 11–15 for a “planet parade” low on the western horizon, and on June 17 the Moon may pass near Venus; look west shortly after sunset for the best view.
An incoming coronal mass ejection could hit Earth's magnetic field today, possibly triggering geomagnetic storms from G1 to G3 and boosting auroras into mid-latitudes across the northern U.S.; the strongest activity is expected 11 a.m.–2 p.m. EDT, with elevated chances into the evening, and auroras could be visible as far south as northern Michigan, Maine, New York, Idaho, Illinois, and Oregon depending on conditions. NOAA has issued a G3 watch for June 8 and a G2 watch for June 9.
The article details the August 12, 2026 total solar eclipse—visible as a partial eclipse across Europe, Africa, and North America, with totality in Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and northeastern Portugal—and the August 2, 2027 event, the longest land-based eclipse of the century (up to about 6 minutes 23 seconds) crossing 11 countries; it covers viewing guidance, live streams, and a look ahead at other eclipses.
The NOAA Space Prediction Center says a visible aurora is possible tonight on Idaho's northern horizon, with the best viewing window from 11:30 PM to 3:45 AM MDT; check the 30-minute Aurora Forecast for updates and look skyward for greens and reds.