Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday July 28th and 29th written by Joe Slomka
This is the Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday July 28th and 29th written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 8:20 PM; night falls at 10:19. Dawn breaks at 3:45 AM and ends with sunrise at 5:44 AM.
The Moon resides in Southwestern Virgo on both nights. The Moon rises at 9:48 AM, appears 30 arc-seconds in size, 19% illuminated, 13° high and sets at 10:19 PM. Tuesday’s rises at 10:54AM, 16° high, slightly smaller, 27% lit and sets at 10:37 PM.
Mercury hugs the western horizon, rising at 6:31 AM, only 7° from the Sun, 4th magnitude, 11 arc-seconds, highest at 1:17 PM, only 1 degree visible, 2% illuminated and sets at 8:04 PM. Mars resides in Virgo, rising at 9:57 AM, highest at 4:07 PM, 4 arc-seconds, 25° high in the West, 94% lit and sets at 10:18 PM; Monday finds The Red Planet and crescent Moon 3° apart. Minor Planet 4Vesta occupies the Southwest, rising at 2:51 PM, 7th magnitude, tiny 0.4 arc-second, 94% lit, highest at 8:13 PM, 35° in the South and sets at 1:37 AM.
Venus blazes with 9th magnitude while only 38° from the Sun, rises at 2:49 AM, 14 arc-seconds, highest at 10:15 AM, at 4AM 74% illuminated, 2° high and sets at 5:42 PM. Uranus situated between Venus and Saturn, rises at 1:05 AM, 6th magnitude, 4 arc-seconds, highest at 8:23 AM, 20° high and sets at 3:41PM in the East.
Saturn shares Pisces with Neptune and only 2% apart. The Ringed Planet rises at 10:42 PM, 1st magnitude, 18 arc-seconds, highest at 4:39 AM, 41° at 4 AM and sets at 10:32 AM. Neptune rises at 10:38 PM, 8th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, highest at 4:39 AM, 42° high, and sets at 10:36 AM.
Pluto passed Opposition, occupies Capricornus, rises at 9:15 PM, 14th magnitude, 0.1 arc-second, highest at 1:49 AM, 17° high in the Southwest and sets at 6:19 AM.
The week’s main event is the annual appearance of two meteor showers. The first is the Southern Delta Shower which happens on the nights of July 29th and 30th; the shower generates about 25 meteors per hour from the star Delta Aquarii. Since it faces South, the view for the Capital District gives an altitude of roughly 35° about 3 AM. The Moon is no problem because it sets by Midnight, permitting views of meteors traveling at 40 kilometers (90,000 MPH). This shower originates from 96P/Machlholz, a mix of several meteor showers.
The second is the Alpha Capricornids which peak at the same time as the Delta Aquariids. This shower had a modest rate of 5 meteors/hours, known for slow-moving fireballs. The radiant (highest) is located 3.5° northeast of Alpha Capricorni; Comet 169P/NEAT is the parent. Also, late July generates first views of the Perseids which peak on August 12th.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka