Latest news with #EdwardBloomer
Metro
07-07-2025
- Science
- Metro
Here's how to see the Delta Aquariid meteor shower just around the corner
As the Earth does laps around the Sun, it passes through all sorts of space dirt, ice and junk. While thinking of space as one big rubbish tip isn't nice, one perk of all this cosmic filth is meteor showers, which light up the night sky. The next shower you might be able to see is the Delta Aquariid, also known as the Southern Delta Aquariids. While the meteor shower is more visible, as its name implies, in the Southern Hemisphere, the UK and the wider Northern Hemisphere can still catch a good show, experts told Metro. Some meteor showers are caused by comets, dirty snowballs made of the leftovers from the start of our solar system around 4.6billion years ago. Comets leave behind trails of ice and rock that linger in space years after they leave, said Dr Cyrielle Opitom, of the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh. She told Metro: 'Small dust particles left behind then enter the atmosphere and become meteors. This is usually the source of meteor showers. 'Other times, random small asteroids or pieces of rock not related to a comet enter the atmosphere and can also become meteors.' When the comet waste enters the atmosphere, it hits the sky at such speed that it bursts into flames, causing a celestial fireworks display. Delta Aquariid is a 'moderately strong, but fairly long duration meteor shower', said Dr Edward Bloomer, senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Scientists aren't 100% sure which comet is behind the Delta Aquariid, though they suspect it's from the 3.7-mile-wide Comet 96P Machholz. The snowball orbits the Sun every 5.3 years but tends to be close to Mercury's orbit, with some dust left behind about 20,000 years ago. The debris you're seeing isn't from the comet passing by; it's just the trail it left behind years ago. The next time Comet 96P Machholz will glide past us is June 16, 2028. Dr Bloomer adds: 'Because we complete a yearly orbit, it means we hit it again in pretty much exactly the same way each year, so its appearance in our skies is predictable and regular.' Astronomers named the shower after the constellation Aquarius and its brightest star, Delta Aquarii, which is the point of the sky from which the meteors seem to come. Typically, the Earth passes through the cosmic rubble from late July to early August. This year, the shower will be active between mid-evening to dawn from July 12 to August 23, peaking on the night of July 30. The peak, which is when Earth reaches the densest part of the cosmic debris, is the best chance to see the meteor shower. Stargazers can expect up to 20 meteors an hour for days with a dark sky and no pesky Moon. About one in 10 Delta Aquariid meteors have persistent trains, glowing gassy trails that give these space rocks their iconic shape. While you might assume you need a fancy telescope or binoculars to see the meteors, the naked eye is best, as the tech limits your field of vision. To see a meteor shower you need to get to a place that has a clear view of the night sky, recommended Dr Bloomer. Ideally, that's as far away as possible from cities, street lights and traffic. Planetariums, astronomy clubs or even maps like this one for light pollution and this for nighttime brightness can help. But stargazers have two other foes – the weather and the Moon. So, it's always best to check the weather report for that night as well as how visible the Moon will be. Be prepared for long stretches where nothing happens, Dr Bloomer half-joked, 'or little flurries of activity where you see several in quick succession'. 'The appearance is of a short-lived streak of light ('shooting stars' is pretty apt!) that will be radiating outwards from a point,' he added. 'Importantly, unless you've set up with recording equipment, a shooting star only lasts long enough for quite a personal experience: there's no time really to point it out to anyone before it will have disappears. 'It's always fun to go out and have a look with others, but you'll all have a unique encounter!' More Trending Dr Bloomer stressed, however, that the constellation Aquarius is fairly low on the horizon, which might make seeing the shower tricky. 'But it's not impossible,' he added. 'The number one thing is to give yourself time to adjust to the dark (put your phone away!) and be prepared to wait. 'The randomised arrival of the shooting stars means you need to have a little patience.' For those who might miss the shower, the International Meteor Organization lists all the meteor showers that can be seen this year. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Uranus enters Gemini for the first time since 1949 — this is the epiphany it brings your star sign MORE: Trump says he will 'look' at deporting Musk and 'might have to put DOGE on' him MORE: SpaceX Starship explodes again leaving Elon Musk's dream of reaching Mars in ruins
Express Tribune
26-02-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
7 Planets Will Be Visible in the Night Sky This Week, Last Until 2040
Skywatchers are in for an extraordinary celestial treat this week as seven planets—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn—will be briefly visible in the evening sky. This rare event, known as a planetary parade, is the last time such an alignment will occur so clearly until 2040. The best opportunity to witness this spectacular phenomenon will be just after sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week. During this planetary parade, four planets—Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury—will be visible to the naked eye. Venus and Jupiter, both incredibly bright, will be the easiest to spot, while Mars will stand out with its distinct reddish hue. Saturn will be harder to see as it will be low on the horizon, and the outer planets, Uranus and Neptune, will require a telescope for clear viewing. Although the planets will be aligned, the window of visibility will be brief, so timing is essential. Dr. Edward Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, explained, 'There's a rare opportunity to have seven planets in essentially a convenient place for you to look for them.' However, the alignment won't last long. As the sun sets, Saturn and Mercury will quickly set behind the horizon, making them particularly difficult to spot. 'You really only have a few minutes after sunset to catch them before they drop below the horizon,' Dr. Bloomer added. After that, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will remain visible for a much longer time. For the best view, it's recommended to head to a location with a clear, unobstructed horizon and minimal light pollution. Given the timing of the event, skywatchers should plan to be in place just after sunset for the best chance to see all seven planets in their brief alignment. This planetary parade provides a rare opportunity to witness the mechanics of our solar system in action, with planets orbiting the Sun within a similar flat plane. As they orbit at different speeds and distances from the Sun, their alignment appears as a stunning visual display, even though they are separated by vast distances in space. The planets' orbital paths often align from Earth's perspective, offering us a fleeting but unforgettable glimpse of the solar system's structure.
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Di Seven planets you go fit see in di night sky for di last time until 2040
Skywatchers go get one nice treat dis week as seven planets - Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn go all dey briefly visible for di evening sky. Dis kind event, wey dem dey call 'planetary parade' no be common sight, and e go be di last time seven planets go dey seen at di same time so well until 2040. Di best chance to see as many planets as possible go be just afta sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Four of di planets - Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars - go dey visible to di naked eye. Saturn go dey harder to see sake of say e go dey low for di horizon. You go need telescope to spot di oda two planets - Uranus and Neptune. One good view of di horizon and clear skies go offer di best chance to spot dem all. However, di window to see all seven planets go dey very brief. Dr Edward Bloomer, astronomer for di Royal Observatory Greenwich tok: "Rare opportunity to get seven planets for essentially one convenient place for you to look for dem." As di sun set, Saturn and Mercury go also dey set, e go make dem particularly difficult to see. "You really only get few minutes afta sunset to catch dem bifor dem drop below di horizon. Afta dat, you go still dey able to see Venus, Jupiter, and Mars clearly for much longer time," Dr Bloomer bin add. Di planets wey dey our solar system dey orbit di Sun within roughly di same flat plane as di Earth. As dem dey orbit for different speeds and distances from di Sun, moments dey wen e appear say dem line up from Earth perspective to create one ogbonge visual display, although di planets still dey separated by wide distances for space. Venus and Jupiter go be di easiest to spot sake of dia brightness, while Mars go get one kain red colour. "Uranus dey technically visible wit di naked eye, but you go need perfect eyesight and ideal conditions," Dr Bloomer explain. To improve your chances to see as many planets as possible, Dr Bloomer advise to head to one location wit clear view of di horizon and minimal light pollution. "If you just out come of your kitchen go your back garden, you go take time to adjust to di light levels. Give am small time - your eyes dey take about half an hour to fully adjust," Dr Bloomer tok. "Avoid to dey look your phone, get comfortable, and make sure you get clear view of di horizon." While dis na exciting opportunity, Dr Bloomer encourage pipo to make habit wia dem go dey look di night sky. "See how tins change," e tok, e add say to dey observe di heavens na "chance to witness di ongoing mechanics of di solar system at work." Di skies fit dey clear enough to see dem? While di weather still never settle currently, clearer and calmer conditions dey expected to develop later in di week. Tuesday evening go start clear, but cloud and rain go move in from di west later. On Wednesday night, skies go dey generally cloudier wit showers of rain some times. By Thursday, expect drier, clearer view of di night sky. Earlier for evening na di best, as mist and fog fit develop further into di night. For Friday, high pressure dey expected to dominate, dry conditions go mostly dey wit clear spells. Soon afta sunset na di best time as mist and fog fit develop later.
Daily Tribune
25-02-2025
- Science
- Daily Tribune
Rare 'Planetary Parade' to Grace the Night Sky This Week
TDT | Manama Skywatchers across the globe are in for a celestial treat this week as seven planets—Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn—align in the evening sky. This rare astronomical phenomenon, known as a 'planetary parade,' will be visible briefly just after sunset from Tuesday to Friday. The last time a planetary alignment of this magnitude was so clearly visible was years ago, and the next opportunity will not occur until 2040. This makes it a must-watch event for stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts. When and How to Watch The best chance to catch this breathtaking display will be shortly after sunset on February 27, 28, and 29. However, the window to observe all seven planets together will be brief, particularly for Saturn and Mercury, which will be close to the horizon and quickly set after the Sun. Four of the planets—Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars—will be visible to the naked eye, with Venus and Jupiter shining the brightest. Mars will appear as a distinct reddish dot in the night sky. Saturn, though dimmer, may be spotted near the horizon if conditions allow. For the more distant Uranus and Neptune, a telescope will be necessary to view them clearly. Dr. Edward Bloomer, an astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, described this as "a rare opportunity to have seven planets in essentially a convenient place for you to look for them." To enhance your chances of seeing them all, Dr. Bloomer advises heading to a location with minimal light pollution and a clear, unobstructed view of the horizon. "If you just pop out into your back garden, you will take time to adjust to the light levels. Give it a bit of time—your eyes take about half an hour to fully adjust," he said. He also recommends avoiding bright screens, such as smartphones, which can hinder night vision. The Science Behind the Spectacle While the planets appear aligned from Earth's perspective, they remain separated by vast distances in space. This optical illusion occurs because all planets orbit the Sun within roughly the same plane but at different speeds. Occasionally, they seem to line up in a visually striking manner, creating a stunning celestial event. Will the Weather Cooperate? Current weather forecasts indicate that while early-week conditions may be unsettled, clearer skies are expected as the week progresses. Tuesday: Clear spells early in the evening, with cloud and rain moving in from the west later. Wednesday: Cloudier skies with occasional showers, making visibility uncertain. Thursday: Drier and clearer skies in the evening, though mist and fog patches may form later. Friday: The peak of the planetary parade is expected under mostly clear skies, offering the best viewing conditions. However, mist and fog may develop later at night. For the best experience, aim to view the planets as soon after sunset as possible, when visibility will be at its peak. A Rare Chance to Connect with the Cosmos Astronomers encourage people to take advantage of this unique event and cultivate an interest in the night sky beyond just this week. "See how things change," Dr. Bloomer suggested, adding that planetary movements offer a fascinating look into the mechanics of our solar system. Whether you're an experienced stargazer or simply curious about the cosmos, this planetary parade is a spectacle not to be missed. So, mark your calendars, find a good viewing spot, and enjoy this once-in-a-generation celestial show!
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Seven planets align in UK skies this week for last time until 2040
Skywatchers are in for a treat this week as seven planets - Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, and Saturn will all be briefly visible in the evening phenomenon, known as a 'planetary parade' is a rare sight, and it will be the last time seven planets can be seen simultaneously until best chance to see as many planets as possible will be just after sunset on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Four of the planets - Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars - will be visible to the naked eye. Saturn will be harder to see because it will be low in the horizon. You will need a telescope to spot the other two planets - Uranus and Neptune. A good view of the horizon and clear skies will offer the best chance of spotting them all. However, the window to see all seven planets will be very Edward Bloomer, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich said: "There's a rare opportunity to have seven planets in essentially a convenient place for you to look for them."As the sun sets, Saturn and Mercury will also be setting, making them particularly difficult to see."You really only have a few minutes after sunset to catch them before they drop below the horizon. After that, you'll still be able to see Venus, Jupiter, and Mars clearly for a much longer time," Dr Bloomer added. The planets in our solar system orbit the Sun within roughly the same flat plane as the they orbit at different speeds and distances from the Sun, there are moments when they appear to line up from Earth's perspective creating a spectacular visual display, although the planets remain separated by vast distances in space. Venus and Jupiter will be the easiest to spot due to their brightness, while Mars will have a distinct reddish hue. "Uranus is technically visible with the naked eye, but you'd need perfect eyesight and ideal conditions," Dr Bloomer improve your chances of seeing as many planets as possible, Dr Bloomer advises heading to a location with a clear view of the horizon and minimal light pollution."If you just pop out of your kitchen into your back garden, you will take time to adjust to the light levels. Give it a bit of time - your eyes take about half an hour to fully adjust," said Dr Bloomer. "Avoid looking at your phone, get comfortable, and ensure you have an unobstructed view of the horizon." While this is an exciting opportunity, Dr Bloomer encourages people to make a habit of gazing at the night sky. "See how things change," he said, adding that observing the heavens is "a chance to witness the ongoing mechanics of the solar system at work." Send us your pictures of the planetary parade.
