Mercury is only visible for a short period from 9.15 pm to 9.25 pm in the constellation Leo. Venus is in the constellation Sextans and only 14° East of the Sun. Mars is only visible in the slot from 4.10 am to 4.40 am in the constellation Gemini (later in Cancer). Jupiter is only visible from 9.15 pm to 9.25 pm in the constellation Leo. Saturn is visible from 9.35 pm to 0.15 am in the constellation Libra. You will need a small telescope or binocular to observe Uranus. This planet is best seen from 0.30 am to 3.15 am in the constellation Pisces.
The Moon is in Last Quarter after midnight of Thursday 6 August
The Sun rises at 5.29 am and sets at 8.55 pm. The days are getting shorter with 12 minutes in the morning and with about 14 minutes in the evening.
Wednesday 5 August
Today it would be Neil Armstrong's 85th Birthday. Neil was born in 1930. Neil died on 25 August 2012 at the age of 82. He was the first man to walk on the Moon.
Not visible, at 9.52 am Mercury in conjunction in Right Ascension with Venus. Mercury is about 8° separated from the center of Venus. An Iridium flare at 9.42 pm in the North East at altitude 78° in the constellation of Draco. The International Space Station (ISS) appears at 10.08 pm in the West South West. Culmination at 10.13 pm in the South South East at 55°. ISS disappears at 10.17 pm in the East.
After 11 pm it is best to observe deep sky or dim objects. ISS appears once more at 11.44 pm in the West. Culmination at 11.49 pm in the South at 62° and disappears nearly straight away at 11.49 pm in the South East at 55°. Another short pass of ISS at 1.20 am in the West and disappears after 2 minutes at 1.22 am also in the West at 9°. Look for the Milky Way just before 2 am. The Moon is 62% illuminated though.
Thursday 6 August
Mercury is close to Venus at 10.46 am and not visible. Mercury is about 8° separated from the center of Venus. The distance to the Earth is 1.294 AU. One (1) Astronomical Unit is the distance Earth to the Sun.
ISS appears at 9.14 pm in the West South West. Culmination at 9.19 pm in the South South East at 43°. ISS disappears at 9.25 pm in the Eastern horizon. After one orbit of about 90 minutes, ISS appears again at 10.50 pm in the West. Culmination at 10.56 pm in the South at 67° and disappears in the Earth shadow at 10.58 pm in the East South East at 21°.
It is best to observe deep sky or dim objects from 11 pm to about 0.30 am. Look for the very bright Iridium flare at 11.38 pm in the West South West at altitude 31° in the constellation Serpens Caput. ISS appears once more after midnight at 0.27 am in the West and disappears already after 3 minutes at 0.30 am in the West South West at 22°.
Look at about 1.40 am for the Milky Way at the zenith. The observation is a little affected by the Last Quarter Moon with 51% illumination. At 2.40 am another flare appears in the North West at altitude of 26° in the constellation Bootes.
The Moon is in Last Quarter at 3.02 am. At 5.04 am Mercury is in conjunction in Right Ascension with Jupiter. Only 35' or about a Lunar diameter separated from the center of Jupiter. Remind the Sun rises at 5.33 am.
Friday 7 August
Not visible but at 8.08 am Mercury in conjunction with Jupiter. Only 32' or a little less than a Lunar diameter separated from the center of Jupiter. The planets Mercury and Jupiter and the bright star Regulus pass within a degree of each other. At 9.23 pm Mercury is close to the bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo. Only 523' separated or less than 2 lunar diameters. ISS appears at 9.57 pm in the West. Culmination at 10.02 pm in the South at 65° and disappears at 10.06 pm in the East. Deep sky or dim objects are best seen from 11 pm to about 1.35 am. ISS appears again at 11.33 pm in the West. Culmination at 11.23 pm in the South South West at 50° and disappears at 11.39 pm in the South South West at 50°.
An Iridium flare in the South South West at altitude 46° in the constellation of Aquila at 0.58 am. Look for the Milky Way at the zenith at 1.40 am. Observation will be slightly affected by the 40% Moon. The meteor shower, called Perseids is best seen from 10.30 pm to 4 am in the morning The local hour rate is expected to be 4 and the velocity is rather rapid at 60.4km/s. Close the morning off with a daytime very bright flare at 5.49 am in the South at altitude 75° in the constellation Andromeda.
Saturday 8 August
At 8.40 pm Venus in aphelion and the distance to the Sun is 0.7282 AU. ISS appears at 9.04 pm in the West South West. Culmination at 9.09 pm in the South at 58° and disappears at 9.14 pm in the East. After one orbit ISS appears again at 10.40 pm in the West. Culmination at 10.45 pm in the South at 61° and disappears at 10.47 pm in the East South East at 25°. Deep sky or dim objects are best to observe from 10.50 pm to 4.20 am.
At 11.35 pm an Iridium flare appears in the West at altitude 27° in the constellation Serpens Caput. ISS appears once more at 0.16 am in the West and disappears after 3 minutes at 0.19 am in the West South West at 16°.
The Moon is passing the Hyades, an open star cluster in Taurus at 1.30 am. Some brighter star only have a Lunar limb separation of 4° or 8 lunar diameters. Other stars less than 3° or 5 lunar diameters. Be aware the Moon altitude is only 6°. Look as well for the Milky Way at 1.40 am. There will be good observation possibilities.
The Moon is after all at 1.45 am close to Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus. Limb separation is only 0.85° or less than 2 lunar diameters. The Moon altitude is only 6° and the Moon phase is 29%. The Earthshine will be visible on the Moon at 4 am. In Asia, the Moon occults the star.
The meteor shower Perseids is best seen from 10.25 pm to 4 am. Tonight the local hour rate is about 6 and the velocity is rapid at 60.4km/s.
Sunday 9 August
At 4.51 pm in the afternoon, not visible, but the Moon is in maximum Libration East. Mare Crisium limb is tipped into the view of the Earth. ISS appears at 9.46 pm in the West. Culmination at 9.52 pm in the South at 67° and disappears at 9.55 pm in the East. ISS passes close to the bright star Arcturus in the constellation Bootes. The separation is only 0.492° or about a Lunar diameter.
Deep sky and dim objects are best seen 10.55 pm to 3.30 am. ISS appears once more at 11.23 pm in the West and disappears already 5 minutes later at 11.28 pm in the South South West at 35°. The Milky Way is good to observe around 1.35 am. At 2.31 am an Iridium flare in the North West at an altitude at 21° in the constellation Bootes. Look for the Moon at 4 am and you might see the Earthshine. The Meteor shower Perseids is best seen from 10.25 pm to 4.0 am. The expected local hour rate is now 10. Notice the rapid meteors at 60.4km/s velocity.
Monday 10 August
Today in 1675 King Charles II laid the foundation stone of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.
At noon, at 12.08 pm the Moon is in maximum declination North. This is the 3rd lowest Northernmost Moon position of the last 10 years. Former lower Northern Northernmost Moon position was at on 22 April 2015. The next lower Northern Northernmost Moon position is at 6 September 2015. At 5.16 pm the Moon is at maximum Libration North. The North Pole and Mare Frigoris are tipped into the view of the Earth. The Moon sets at 5.45 pm.
ISS appears at 8.53 pm in the West. Culmination at 8.58 pm in the South at 66° and disappears at 9.03 pm in the East. At 9.38 pm a flare appears in the North East at altitude 76° in the constellation Draco. ISS once more appears after one orbit at 10.29 pm in the West. Culmination at 10.34 pm in the South South West at 47° and disappears at 10.36 pm in the South East at 26°.
Deep sky or dim objects are best seen from 10.45 pm to 3.35 am. Once more at 11.32 pm a flare in the West at altitude 25° in the constellation Bootes. After another orbit of 90 minutes ISS appears again at 0.06 am in the West and disappears after 2 minutes at 0.08 am in the West South West at 11°. The Milky Way is good for observation around 1.35 am.
The meteor shower Perseids is tonight best seen from 10.25 pm to 4.10 am. The local hour rate is expected to be 17. Look as well for the Earthshine on the Moon at 4.10 am.
Tuesday 11 August
Today in 1999 the last total eclipse of the millennium occurred. Did you see it? And where in the UK? Because it travelled across many populated areas it was perhaps the most watched eclipse of all time seen by possibly 350 million people. See Special on these pages.
Not visible, but at 4.41 pm Jupiter is close to the bright star Regulus in the constellation Leo. They are only 24' separated. Watch this after Sun set. ISS appears at 9.36 pm in the West. Culmination at 9.41 pm in the South at 59° and disappears at 9.44 pm in the East South East at 10°. ISS passes very close to the bright star Arcturus in Bootes at 4.40 pm. The separation is only 0.048°. Deep sky and dim objects are best to observe from 10.40 pm to 3.35 am. Once more ISS appears at 11.12 pm in the West and disappears already after 5 minutes at 11.17 pm in the South West at 23°. An Iridium flare is visible at 11.26 pm in the West at altitude 24° in the constellation Bootes. And another flare after midnight at 0.43 am in the South West at 43° in the constellation Aquila. This one is a bright flare.
The Milky Way is best to observe around 1.30 am. Once more a bright flare at 2.27 am in the North West at altitude 17° in the constellation Bootes. The Perseid meteor shower is best seen from 10.20 pm to 4.10 am. The local hour rate increased now up to 33.
The Moon is close to the bright star Lam Gemini at 4.20 am. The limb separation is 2° or about 4 lunar diameters. Look at 4.50 am for the Lunar Crescent. It is 58 hours before New Moon and 6% illuminated. The Moon rises at 3.36 am and 126 minutes before the Sun. You might notice the Earthshine at 5 am.
Wednesday 12 August
The International Space Station or ISS is visible at Sun set and appears at 8.42 pm in the West. Culmination at 8.47 pm in the South at 66° and disappears at 8.52 pm in the East. After one orbit of about 90 minutes ISS appears again at 10.18 pm in the West. Culmination at 10.24 pm in the South South West at 33° and disappears at 10.25 pm in the South South East at 23°.
Deep sky and dim objects are best seen from 10.40 pm to 3.35 am and an Iridium flare appears at 11.29 pm in the West at altitude 22° in the constellation Bootes. Another flare after midnight at 0.37 am in the South West at altitude 43° in the constellation Aquila.
At about 1.41 am the Milky Way is good for observation. The meteor shower Perseids is best observed from 10.20 pm to 3.15 am. The expected local hour rate is now 54. Notice the rather rapid velocity of 60.4km/s. Maximum will be tomorrow Thursday!
At 4.50 am the Moon is close to Mars. The limb separation is about 6° or about 12 lunar diameters. Look carefully as the Sun is going to rise a little later and the sky will be bright.
At 5.15 am the Lunar Crescent is visible and only 34 hours before New Moon. The Moon is only 2% illuminated. Altitude of Moon center at this time is only 4° and the Moon rises at 4.37 am and 66 minutes before the Sun. At 5.28 am a very bright at (dawn) flare in the South West at an altitude of 72° in the constellation Andromeda.
Get in touch with me via www.patrickpoitevin.weebly.com if you need more information.
Ashbourne SKY WATCH Special – Where were you 11 August 1999?
The last Partial Solar Eclipse we had was earlier this year on 20 March 2015 and therefore it was on 04 January 2011. The next Solar Eclipse in our regions will be 21 August 2017 which is also a Partial Solar Eclipse. The last Total Solar Eclipse Britain had been 11 August 1999 for which you had to travel to Cornwall. The next Total Solar Eclipse in Britain will be on 23 September 2090.
In the morning of 20 March Britain witnessed the Partial Solar Eclipse … with or without clouds …. This eclipse was total on the Faeroe Islands and Svalbard. But where were you when we had the Total Solar Eclipse of 11 August 1999?
The 1999 Total Solar Eclipse was the last Total Eclipse of the millennium. The totality path travelled across many populated areas. It was perhaps the most watched Solar Eclipse of all time. Probably seen by approximately 350 million people. Totality occurred first over the mid-Atlantic Ocean. The first land crossed by the moon's shadow was the Isles of Scilly, then the far South West of England, in Cornwall. Although the Sun was obscured by clouds in Cornwall, a dramatic darkness fell, and the temperature dropped during the totality. The totality was 1 min and 30 sec. From there the path of totality tracked across Europe, India and Iran. The latter (Iran) was the place where Joanne and I went. At least good weather forecasts and … indeed, we had clear skies!
A Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. Although some of you claim to have seen a Total Solar Eclipse, you really have to travel or be in the path of totality. The Sun is completely obscured and it will become dark. The Total Solar Eclipse of 11 August 1999 was total in Cornwall only. For Ashbourne and surroundings you “only” had 92% obscurity. Still more obscuration than what you had earlier this year on 20 March this year, where it was about 90%. But it is still NOT total.
Below some calculations of Solar Eclipses for Tissington. The data do not change that much for Ashbourne and surroundings.
Date Begin Alt Max Alt End Alt % Eclipsed
1999 Aug 11 9 04 37 10 18 46 11 37 52 92.7
2003 May 31 2 44 -7 3 38 -2 4 35 5 91.5
2005 Oct 3 7 50 13 9 00 22 10 16 29 64.0
2006 Mar 29 9 49 32 10 33 36 11 19 39 24-0
2008 Aug 1 8 29 34 9 17 41 10 07 47 26.3
2011 Jan 4 7 02 -11 8 13 -2 9 31 7 75.5
2015 Mar 20 8 26 19 9 32 27 10 41 33 89.7
2017 Aug 21 18 40 5 19 03 2 19 25 -1 9.1
2021 Jun 10 9 07 45 10 14 53 11 26 59 36.2
2022 Oct 25 9 07 16 9 57 20 10 49 23 26.9
2025 Mar 29 10 07 34 11 04 39 12 03 40 45.7
2026 Aug 12 17 14 20 18 11 12 19 04 4 92.4
2027 Aug 2 8 06 31 9 00 39 9 56 46 47.1
2028 Jan 26 15 35 7 16 47 -2 17 53 -11 62.1
2030 Jun 1 4 29 4 5 25 12 6 24 20 55.7
And when was then the last Total Solar Eclipse in this region? The last one in the Ashbourne area was in the morning of 3 May 1715 and therefore in the late afternoon of 10 April 1679. So far before my (and probably your) time … Unless you have travelled for a Total Solar Eclipse, you have not seen a total in this region.
The next Total Solar Eclipse in the Ashbourne area will be in the afternoon of 14 June 2151 and thereafter at Sunrise of 23 March 2536 and also at Sunrise of 5 May 2600. Not within my lifetime I am afraid …
Total solar eclipses in Tissington
1715 May 3 8 05 30 9 09 39 10 17 47 Total
1679 Apr 10 18 23 4 19 16 -3 20 07 -10 Total
2151 Jun 14 17 25 25 18 22 16 19 16 9 Total
2536 Mar 23 4 54 -11 5 49 -3 6 48 6 1.000
2600 May 5 5 04 4 5 55 12 6 49 20 Total
An Annular Solar Eclipse is when the apparent diameter of the Moon is smaller than the apparent diameter of the Sun and a bright ring is still visible. It does not become as dark and it is still not a Total Solar Eclipse.
The last Annular Solar Eclipse in the Ashbourne area was near noon on 24 December 1601 and therefore also around noon on 12 November 1547, long before I was using nappies …
The next Annular Solar Eclipse will be at Sunrise of 4 December 2502 and thereafter in the evening on 30 May 2766
1601 Dec 24 11 48 13 13 26 12 14 58 5 Annul
1547 Nov 12 11 20 17 12 58 16 14 33 9 Annul
2502 Aug 4 4 34 -0 5 32 8 6 36 17 Annul
2766 May 30 19 12 8 20 10 1 21 05 -6 Annul
And to keep you entertained about Solar Eclipses in our region, what about near misses or very large Partial Solar Eclipses … In fact a nearly Total or near Annular Solar Eclipse? I received a letter form an older lady many years ago, who observed the Total Solar Eclipse at Sunrise of 29 June 1927. It was 98.8% for our region, and not total. For the next large Partial Solar Eclipse we have to wait until the late afternoon of 12 August 2016 where the Sun will be obscured for about 92% around Ashbourne. If you can wait, there are near “missies” in 2090 and 2093 for our region!
1927 Jun 29 4 29 5 5 23 12 6 20 20 0.988
2026 Aug 12 17 14 20 18 11 12 19 04 4 0.924
2090 Sep 23 16 28 13 17 27 4 18 22 -4 0.977
2093 Jul 23 10 49 53 12 25 57 13 59 51 0.925
If I want a Solar Eclipse in Tissington on my birthday I had to be here on 18 March 1010. The Sun was eclipsed for 79%. Guess that was a NO!
A Solar Eclipse in Tissington on Christmas was in 1098 and 1628. One 70% eclipsed, the second 52% eclipsed. On New Year in 865 and 96% eclipsed and in 1386 and 92% eclipsed.
Fact and myths …
• Depending on the geometry of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth, there can be between 2 and 5 Solar Eclipses each year.
• Totality occurs when the Moon completely obscures Sun so only the solar corona is showing.
• A Total Solar Eclipse can happen once every 1 to 2 years.
• The longest a Total Solar Eclipse can last is about 7.5 minutes.
• The width of the path of totality is usually about a few hundred kilometers across and can sweep across an area of Earth’s surface about 10000 miles long.
• Almost identical eclipses occur after 18 years and 11 days. This period of 223 synodic months is called a Saros.
• During a Total Solar Eclipse conditions in the path of totality can change quickly. Air temperatures drop and the area becomes dark.
• During a Total Solar Eclipse some animals tend to act confused or prepare for sleep.
• If any planets are in the sky at the time of a total solar eclipse, they can be seen and so are brighter stars.
• In ancient times, people thought an eclipse was a sign that the gods were angry or that bad things were about to happen.
• During a Total Solar Eclipse day time looks more like twilight.
• An Annular Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far from Earth therefore causing it to appear as a black circle surrounded by sunlight.
• There is another type of solar eclipse, known as a Hybrid Solar Eclipse, which shifts between a Total and Annular Solar Eclipse depending on where you view it from on Earth.
• The corona, the outer atmosphere of the sun, can only be seen during a Total Solar Eclipse.
• After a Total Solar Eclipse it takes about an hour before total day light is restored.
• The speed of the Moon as it moves across the Sun is approximately 2250 km or 1398 miles per hour.
• The eclipse shadow moves at 2000 mph at the Earth’s poles and 1000 mph at the Earth’s equator.
• A Solar Eclipse always occurs two weeks before or after a Lunar Eclipse.
• Lunar Eclipses can only occur during a Full Moon. Solar Eclipses can only occur during a New Moon.
• Lunar Eclipses are visible over an entire hemisphere. Solar Eclipses are visible in a narrow path a maximum of a few hundred miles wide.
See our webpages where you can find a lot of Solar Eclipse travels @ www.patrickpoitevin.weebly.com