Mercury at Perihelion
The planet Mercury is a Perihelion (its closest approach to the Sun) on July 23rd.
The planet Mercury is a Perihelion (its closest approach to the Sun) on July 23rd.
Every month, the Moon’s eccentric orbit carries it to perigee, the Moon’s closest point to Earth in its orbit – then 2 weeks later, to apogee, its most distant point from Earth.
On this day, the Moon will be at its most distant point from Earth in its orbit.
The Delta Aquariids are active beginning in mid-July and are visible until late-August. These faint meteors are difficult to spot, and if there is a moon you will not be able to view them. If the moon is not present, your best chance to see the Delta Aquariids is when meteor rates rise during the […]
The Perseids are the most popular meteor shower as they peak on warm August nights as seen from the northern hemisphere. The Perseids are active from July 17 to August 24, peaking on August 12 - 13.
On this day, the Moon will be at its most distant point from Earth in its orbit.
Mercury's 88-day orbit around the Sun will carry it to its furthest point to the Sun – its aphelion – at a distance of 0.47 AU.
The Moon is at First quarter on this date -it will be visible high in the southern sky in early evening.
The planet Venus is a Perihelion (its closest approach to the Sun) on this date.
The Moon is at Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) – rising around midnight, and visible to the south after sunrise.
Fall begins with the autumnal equinox - in the Northern Hemisphere, it's the September equinox; in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the equinox in March.
New Moon. By the modern definition, New Moon occurs when the Moon and Sun are at the same geocentric ecliptic longitude. The part of the Moon facing us is completely in shadow then. Pictured here is the traditional New Moon, the earliest visible waxing crescent, which signals the start of a new month in many […]