According to the Hanoi Astronomy Association (HAS), August may not feature many astronomical events, but each occurrence is quite special.
The Perseids meteor shower lights up the night sky in mid-August, along with the mysterious blue moon, are events worth witnessing. Here are the astronomical phenomena that will take place in August:
August 4 – New Moon
The Moon will be aligned with the Sun on the same side as Earth and will not be visible in the night sky. This phase occurs at 18:15 (Vietnam time). This is the best time of the month to observe dim objects like galaxies and star clusters, as there is no moonlight to hinder visibility.
August 12 – 13: Perseids Meteor Shower
The Perseids meteor shower will occur in August.
The Perseids are one of the most beautiful meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at peak times. It is caused by the Swift-Tuttle comet, discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for generating a large number of bright meteors. This meteor shower occurs annually from July 17 to August 24. This year’s peak will take place on the night of August 11 to the early morning of August 12. The first quarter moon will obscure some of the fainter meteors in the early evening. However, the moon will set just after midnight, leaving a dark sky for what could be an excellent show in the early morning. The best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. The meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus but can appear anywhere in the sky.
August 20 – Full Moon, Blue Moon
The moon will be on the opposite side of Earth, with the Sun illuminating its entire face. This phase occurs at 01:27 (Vietnam time). This full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon, named by Native American tribes, due to the large sturgeon in the Great Lakes and other large lakes being easier to catch at this time of year. This moon is also referred to as the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon. Since this is the third full moon in the season of four full moons, it is called a blue moon.
This rare calendar event occurs only a few times a year, giving rise to the term “once in a blue moon.” Typically, there are only three full moons in each season of the year. However, because the lunar cycle occurs approximately every 29.53 days, occasionally a season will have four full moons. The additional full moon in the season is referred to as a blue moon. Blue moons occur on average every 2.7 years.
