Filenews 1 August 2023
These days we observe the phenomenon of rain of shooting stars, which visually seem to come from the constellation Perseus and therefore bear the name Perseids. At the same time, in August we will have two Full Moons, the first will be on August 1st and the next will be on August 31st. When a month has two full moons then the second full moon is called the "blue moon".
An announcement by astrophysicist Chrysanthos Fakas states that this phenomenon began on July 17, 2023 and will last until August 24, 2023, with better monitoring days on Saturday and Sunday, August 12 and 13, 2023, when the highest density of shooting falls will be observed.
The radiant point is located in the evening sky in a NE direction. Those interested should look in this direction, and preferably after 11 o'clock in the evening, when the radiant point rises higher and higher.
What are Perseids
This beautiful phenomenon occurs because Earth these days traverses the orbit of Comet Swift-Tuttle which is full of the debris it leaves in its orbit while orbiting the Sun.
He abandons these remains every time he is at perihelion.
Comet Swift-Tuttle is naturally doomed to lose its material on its travels. Material that leaves it in its path as if it wants to leave its traces wherever it passes. These millions of traces of dust grains of various sizes are encountered by the Earth in its orbit and due to the gravity it exerts, it begins to absorb them into its atmosphere.
These meteors, as they are called, begin to acquire huge speeds per second, as a result of which they begin to glow and annihilate in the sky, creating this bright line and according to the wisdom of the people were called shooting stars.
Some of them, the largest in size, may manage to reach the surface of the Earth without completely annihilating. These are called meteorites, unlike shooting stars which, as I mentioned above, are called bodies that completely annihilate in the sky. Shooting stars, if they create too much glow, are called fireballs.
The phenomenon is predicted to be more intense this year thanks to the fact that the moon is heading towards a New Moon on Monday, August 16, therefore on the previous nights the Cypriot sky will be almost moonless, which helps to better view the phenomenon.
Two full moons in August
This year August will have two Full Moons, the first will be on August 1st and the next will be on August 31st. When a month has two full moons then the second full moon is called the "blue moon".
Therefore, the second August Full Moon on August 31 will be called the Blue Moon, while the first full moon on August 1 will be called the Sturgeon Moon.
As Mr. Fakas mentions, the full moon of August took its name from sturgeon, a fish that the Native Americans fished during the August moon.
In the U.S., Native Americans have since ancient times measured time with the moon (Synodic calendar), in contrast to Europe which we have since the ancient Romans and Greeks as the basis for measuring time the Earth's orbit around the Sun (solar calendar).
Astronomical Night in Kyperounta
On the occasion of the Perseids phenomenon, the Astronomical Society of Cyprus (ASTRAK), and the Faka Tutorial Observatory in collaboration with the C.S. of Kyperounta organize an astronomical evening in the courtyard of the Holy Church of Agios Arsenios in Kyperounda, on Saturday 12 August 2023 during the hours of 9:00p.m -11:00 p.m. and all interested parties are invited to attend.
Admission will be free to the public.
Along with the rain of shooting stars, fans of Uranus this year will be able to watch planets, the constellation of Scorpio with the characteristic red Antares and other celestial bodies.
Those who have telescopes are welcome to bring them with them to the event, and the public is also advised to bring winter clothes due to the low temperature.
CNA
