- Oct 22, 2014
- 23,260
4 Amazing Astronomical Events happen this month.
Plan your time to enjoy these Universe experiences.
- On August 9, the Full Sturgeon Moon will light up the night sky.
- According to the Farmer's Almanac, Native Americans, Colonial Americans, and European sources gave the full moon of the month a name to reflect the time of the season. August was the time of the Sturgeon Moon.
- The Sturgeon Moon
The name Sturgeon Moon comes from the giant lake sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain; this native freshwater fish was readily caught during this part of summer and an important food staple for Native Americans who lived in the region. At one time, the lake sturgeon was quite abundant in late summer, though they are rarer today.
- CELESTIAL ALIGNMENT
- In the early morning of August 10, about an hour before sunrise, six planets — Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn — will align in the sky. Four of them will be easily visible to the naked eye.
- CELESTIAL CONJUNCTION
- A spectacular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter will occur in the early morning hours of August 12th. Look toward the eastern horizon before sunrise to catch this stunning sight.
- Finally the PERSEID METEOR SHOWER
- From the night of August 12 to the early hours of August 13, the famous Perseid meteor shower — one of the best of the year — will reach its peak, producing up to 100 shooting stars per hour. For the best view, find a dark location and watch during the pre-dawn hours.
Plan your time to enjoy these Universe experiences.