In August, there will be five celestial phenomena that we can witness. Some of the phenomena that occur this month even happen only once a year, so it's a shame to miss them.
There are celestial phenomena that we can see with the naked eye, some need binoculars or a telescope. Here are 5 celestial phenomena in August 2022, summarized from Space.com.
August 12 - Supermoon
In the second week of August, the position of the Moon will be at its closest point to Earth, resulting in the phenomenon of a full moon or supermoon.
This supermoon will make the Moon appear brighter than usual. The supermoon phenomenon in August is often referred to as the Sturgeon Moon.
Why? The term Sturgeon is taken from the large freshwater fish species that are found in many lakes and are most easily caught in August.
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In addition, this phenomenon also has other names such as Full Green Corn Moon, and Blueberry Moon based on the Farmer's Almanac.
August 13 - Perseid Meteor Shower Peak
Same with July, in August we can also see the Perseid meteor shower. The Perseid meteor shower is one of the brightest meteor showers this year with a peak around August 9-13.
This meteor shower is predicted to reach 60 to 100 meteors per hour visible in dark skies. When the peak of this meteor shower occurs, the Moon will also be in its full phase, resulting in large light pollution on some nights during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower.
August 14 - Saturn's rings
Saturn has a characteristic belt around it which we know as Saturn's rings. On August 14, this ringed planet will be at its closest point to Earth.
Not only that, the surface of Saturn will also be fully illuminated by the Sun. This causes the planet to become brighter and visible throughout the night. To see the beauty of this planet, you can use the help of a small or medium-sized telescope.
August 27 - Mercury Sighting
Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest planet in our Solar System. On August 27, Mercury will be at its highest point above the horizon in the night sky.
To see it, we can look for a planet low in the western sky just after sunset. Keep in mind, don't misdirect binoculars or telescopes at the Sun directly, or try to observe Mercury while the Sun is still shining brightly on Earth, as this can damage your eyes.
August 27 - New Moon Phase
On the same date as the appearance of Mercury, we will also experience the new Moon phenomenon. On August 27, the moon will be on the same side of Earth as the sun and will not be visible in the night sky. Therefore, this date is very suitable for observing faint objects such as galaxies and other star clusters.