Latest news with #nightSky
CNET
09-07-2025
- Science
- CNET
How to Marvel at the Spectacular Buck Moon This Week, Along With Mars and Venus
It's officially summer, and with that comes the first full moon of the season. July's full moon -- known as the Buck Moon or the Thunder Moon -- will light up the night sky on July 10 and be at its fullest going into July 11. It'll be bright for the whole night, but will reach peak luminosity at around 4:37 a.m. local time, which is a bit late (or early) for most skygazers. According to Stellarium's sky map, the moon will rise from the southeastern horizon just after sunset on Thursday and streak across the sky before setting on the southwestern horizon just before dawn. No matter where you are in the US, you'll be able to see it virtually all night. Should you not be able to see the moon due to weather or some other reason, you can also soak up a great view anytime between July 9 and July 12 as the moon will be more than 95% full during those days. Why is it called the Buck Moon and Thunder Moon? According to The Farmer's Almanac, July's full moon actually has several names, including Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Feather Moulting Moon and Salmon Moon. These names typically come from Native American and colonial times, and were used to describe the moon for the entire month, not just when it's full. White-tailed deer start growing antlers in March or April as the days start to lengthen. July marks the peak of their antler growth season, hence the name Buck Moon. Thunderstorms are also common in July, which is why it's called the Thunder Moon. The other two names are less common, but July marks the time when some species of salmon begin migrating for the mating season, while ducks engage in their annual moulting around this time of year as well. Catch a glimpse of Mars and Venus The moon will be joined in the sky by Mars and Venus during its trip across the sky on July 10. Mars will be visible just after sunset in the western sky before setting. You won't have long, since it's scheduled to dip below the horizon before midnight. If you choose to stay up late, Venus will crest the eastern horizon shortly after 2 a.m. local time and be visible until sunrise. Saturn will also be visible in the eastern sky, not far from the moon, but you'll likely need binoculars or a telescope to see it beyond the moon's glow. Once the moon finishes its monthly cycle, skygazers can check out the Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids meteor showers, both of which are scheduled to peak during the last few days of July.
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Forbes
Explore Celestial Wonders Of The Night Sky At These Locations
The practice of stargazing dates back to the Babylonians and Egyptians. getty The roots of stargazing date back centuries to ancient civilizations like the Babylonians and Egyptians who practiced stargazing for navigation, agriculture and religious purposes. However, the invention of telescopes in the 17th century significantly advanced the scientific study of astronomy and further fueled public interest in the cosmos. Today, many stargazers explore the celestial wonders of the night sky as a form of meditation and relaxation. An excellent way to unwind from daily stressors, stargazing can serve as a peaceful, mindfulness practice. Other benefits of stargazing include its ability to help you sleep better. Studies have shown that exposure to natural light patterns and being closer to nature can lead to increased melatonin production, which promotes better sleep. Stargazing can have many positive physical effects. getty Similar to spending time in nature during the day, stargazing can have many positive physical effects, such as lowering blood pressure and cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Also, the sheer scale and beauty of the cosmos can evoke feelings of awe, wonder and a sense of belonging to something larger than yourself. Research suggests that awe can enhance feelings of happiness, gratitude and even improve decision-making. Adero provides an excellent vantage point for stargazing. JOHN WOODCOCK for ADERO Scottsdale Resort. Perched high above the Sonoran Desert in the certified International Dark Sky Community of Fountain Hills, ADERO Scottsdale Resort provides an excellent vantage point for stargazing unlike any other luxury resort in the area. Its signature 'Find Your Way' Dark Sky experience includes weekly guided night sky tours led by the Star Dudes local experts (based on seasonality), high-definition telescopes available for guests to borrow and complimentary access to the Star Walk 2 mobile app for an enhanced look at the stars, planets and constellations. All 177 rooms and suites have either private balconies or patios, including 16 suites with expansive terraces, for taking in the breathtaking mountain views by day and chasing stars under clear desert skies by night. Stargazers can view the splendor of the Milky Way Galaxy. Carl Christensen Monterey County, California Monterey County on California's Central Coast offers a stellar lineup of stargazing spots, including: Pinnacles National Park – A premier destination for stargazers. For an immersion into the velvet night sky's celestial wonders with unobstructed views, head to the Peaks View parking area, Bacon Ranch or Chaparral parking area. For a guided experience, Inn at the Pinnacles in the Gabilan Mountains hosts Sky Tours in April and July, led by local astrophotographer Carl Christiansen. Big Sur – The dark skies of Big Sur are a stargazer's dream, with breathtaking views of constellations framed by majestic cliffs at popular spots like Pfeiffer Beach (where you can see the Milky Way) at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Check out Alila Ventana Big Sur for rustic luxury where the lush forest meets the coastal cliffs – The dark skies of Big Sur are a stargazer's dream, with breathtaking views of constellations framed by majestic cliffs at popular spots like Pfeiffer Beach (where you can see the Milky Way) at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Check out Alila Ventana Big Sur for rustic luxury where the lush forest meets the coastal cliffs Garland Ranch Regional Park – In Carmel Valley, Garland Ranch Regional Park offers a scenic setting for gazing at the twinkling constellations in the serenity of the surrounding Santa Lucia Mountains. The Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy (MIRA) regularly hosts public star parties here. Carmel Valley Ranch offers a sophisticated escape in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains with plenty of room to roam, explore and discover. The astronomy field offers an excellent view of the night sky. getty Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania A combination of attributes makes Cherry Springs State Park ideal for stargazing and astronomy: The field is at the top of a 2,300-foot high mountain — the surrounding state forest is relatively undeveloped and nearby communities are in valleys, shielding any light that might affect the park. The location of the park, 41 degrees north, 77 degrees west, offers a great view of the nucleus of the Milky Way Galaxy. The astronomy field offers an excellent 360 degree view of the night sky. All lighting in the park is shielded and all white light has been converted to red. Three areas of the park are available for stargazing: Night Sky Public Viewing Area — Best short-term stargazing for a few hours. Although white light is permitted, a red filter or cover for your flashlight is recommended to preserve your night vision. Rustic Campground — Suggested for overnight stargazing for casual stargazers. Not recommended for serious stargazers. There are no lighting restrictions in the Rustic Campground. However, to aid in creating a more enjoyable experience for all visitors, it is recommended to use red filters on all light. Campfires should be kept as small as possible. Suggested for overnight stargazing for casual stargazers. Not recommended for serious stargazers. There are no lighting restrictions in the Rustic Campground. However, to aid in creating a more enjoyable experience for all visitors, it is recommended to use red filters on all light. Campfires should be kept as small as possible. Overnight Astronomy Observation Field — Excellent overnight viewing for serious stargazers with equipment. All lights must have red filter or need to be fully shielded. White light is prohibited. Explore the night sky from many different locations. getty Acadia National Park, Maine Acadia National Park offers several locations for outstanding stargazing. Explore the night sky from the west side of Mount Desert Island while enjoying the ocean soundscape. Seawall Picnic Area offers northeastern and southern views over the Atlantic Ocean and the mouth of Somes Sound from a quintessential cobblestone beach. Views of the night sky are unobstructed and convenient for those staying near Southwest Harbor or Bass Harbor. Ocean Path offers many locations for viewing the nights sky. Most locations offer views to the east and large portions of the north and south skies as well. A camp chair or cushions are recommended for comfort on the granite rocks of the coast. Enjoy gazing up into the cosmos nestled comfortably on a blanket on Acadia's largest and very popular sandy beach. Visitors may explore Sand Beach at night, but camping or parking overnight are not allowed. Sand Beach offers a comfortable night sky viewing experience with plenty of room to spread out and peacefully enjoy your stargazing. MORE FROM FORBES Forbes How To Best Experience The Great American Road Trip By Roger Sands Forbes The Uber-Rich Are Flocking To This Small Mountain Town By Roger Sands
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Meteor seen over Scotland's skies
What is though to be a meteor has been spotted across the night sky of Scotland. At around 12:50 a bright orange light was seen shooting across the sky and then glowing up with an accompanying loud bang. People have reported seeing the event across Scotland including on the Isle of Lewis, Stirling, Glasgow and in Argyll and Bute. When a meteorite enters the earth's atmosphere, it becomes known as a meteor and often makes a spectacular appearance as it burns up and creates a streaking light through the sky.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Look up! What's going on in the July night sky?
Eyes to the sky for the month of July to see the Buck Moon, two different meteor showers crisscrossing the night, and the waning phases of the Moon appearing near some of the brightest planets in the sky. Here is the Astronomical Guide for July 2025: July 2 — First Quarter Moon July 10-11 — Full Buck Moon July 12 — delta Aquariid meteor shower begins July 15-16 — Saturn near Gibbous Moon (after midnight) July 17 — Perseid meteor shower begins July 18 — Last Quarter Moon July 21 — Venus near Crescent Moon, Jupiter nearby (predawn) July 23 — Jupiter near Crescent Moon, Venus nearby (predawn) July 24 — New Moon July 28 — Mars near Crescent Moon (evening) July 28-29 — delta Aquariid Meteor Shower peaks The astronomical events for July 2025, including the phases of the Moon, planetary conjunctions, and meteor showers. (Scott Sutherland, moon graphics from NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio, conjunctions courtesy Stellarium) The Waxing Crescent Moon will be in the western sky during the evening hours on the first night of the month, with the First Quarter Moon rising on the second. We will see the Waxing Gibbous Moon from the 3rd through the 9th, with the Full Buck Moon — the first Full Moon of Summer 2025 — crossing the sky from the evening on the 10th through until the morning on the 11th. However, the Moon will appear full (over 99 per cent illuminated by the Sun) from just after midnight on the morning of the 10th through until the evening of the 11th. The Waning Gibbous Moon will shine in the sky from the 11th to the 16th. Look for it near Saturn in the hours after midnight on the night of the 15th to the 16th. The Last Quarter Moon rises on the 17th, with the Waning Crescent Moon visible in the eastern predawn sky each morning from the 18th to the 23th. See it pass by bright Venus on the 21st, then nestled between Venus and Jupiter on the 22nd, and finally passing Jupiter on the 23rd. The night of the 24th could be the best time to look for meteors (see below), as the New Moon gives us the darkest skies of the month. Then, once the Waxing Crescent Moon reappears in our evening skies, look for it near the planet Mars just above the western horizon after sunset on the 28th. DON'T MISS: When we hear about meteor showers, often only the peak of the event gets any solid mention. It's certainly understandable, since that is when the greatest number of meteors from that particular shower are visible to us. However, meteor showers are not limited to just one night. For the dozen or so notable ones we follow each year, the shortest lasts for around 4 days, while the longest goes on for over two months! During the month of July, we see the start of two different meteor showers, both of which are remarkable in some way. The first begins on the night of July 17. Appearing to streak out of the constellation Perseus, in the northeastern sky, this meteor shower is known as the Perseids, and it is one of the best of the entire year. Originating from a comet known as 109P/Swift-Tuttle, the Perseids typically deliver between 50-75 meteors per hour during the shower's mid-August peak. It also produces the greatest number of fireballs out of all the meteor showers of the year. Fireballs are meteors of exceptional brightness, many of which can be seen even through urban light pollution. While most Perseid meteors result from miniscule specks of space dust hitting the atmosphere, the fireballs are due to comet debris ranging from a grain of sand up to a pebble in size. The Perseids start off slowly in July. For the first week or so after the shower begins, we may see just a few meteors each hour, flashing out of the northeastern sky. However, by the end of the month, it typically is already producing around 15-20 meteors per hour. Even though that's still around two weeks before the Perseid's peak, that's still equivalent to the peak of a moderate meteor shower, like the April Lyrids! Just one night after the Perseids start, we encounter a second stream of debris in space, resulting in the Southern delta Aquariid meteor shower. While this one tends to put on a better display for those located in the southern hemisphere, skywatchers across Canada should still get a decent show out of it. As with the Perseids, the delta Aquariids start off at a rate of just one or two meteors per hour on the nights of the first week or so. During the last few nights of July, though, this meteor shower reaches its peak, with the rate jumping up to around 20 per hour. Overlapping with Perseids at that time, the sky could be filled with crisscrossing meteors at the end of the month. Astronomers aren't quite sure exactly which comet or asteroid the delta Aquariids come from, but right now, the most likely 'parent body' is an oddball comet called 96P/Machholz. Discovered in 1986, Comet Machholz has a strange orbit and chemical composition compared to other similar comets. One hypothesis for this is that it could be an alien comet from some distant star system that was ejected and then captured by the gravity of our Sun. Thus, each delta Aquariid meteor could represent a piece of some distant solar system burning up in our atmosphere! READ MORE: The summer constellations shine this month. In the south, Leo leads the way as the constellations cross the sky, with Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Serpens/Ophiuchus, and Aquila in a loose lineup just after sunset. Higher up in the sky we will see Boötes, Hercules, and Cygnus. The constellations in the southern sky at midnight on July 15-16, 2025. (Stellarium) After midnight, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, and Cetus follow, with Taurus rising predawn and the "bow" of Orion poking up above the horizon just before sunrise. High up, Pegasus, Andromeda and Perseus swing around from the north. Meanwhile, if you are facing north, Pegasus, Andromeda, and Perseus will be near the northern horizon at the start of the night. Cygnus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, and Camelopardalis ("The Camel") will be visible low in the evening sky, along with Lynx to the northwest. Ursa Major ("The Big Dipper"), Ursa Minor ("The Little Dipper"), and Draco will be circling the north celestial pole. The constellations in the northern sky at midnight on July 15-16, 2025. (Stellarium) After midnight, Auriga and Taurus will rise in the northeast, with Orion showing up before dawn. Thumbnail image shows a Perseid meteor captured by Nelson Liu from Ottawa on August 13, 2023. Click here to view the video
CNET
02-07-2025
- Science
- CNET
Here's When to See July's Spectacular Buck Moon, Along With Mars and Venus
It's officially summer, and with it comes the first full moon of the season. July's full moon — known as the Buck Moon or the Thunder Moon — will light up the night sky on July 10. It will be at its fullest the evening of July 10, going into July 11, reaching peak luminosity at around 4:37 a.m., which is a bit late, but it'll still be bright for the whole night. According to Stellarium's sky map, the moon will rise from the southeastern horizon just after sunset in your local time and streak across the sky before setting on the southwestern horizon just before dawn. No matter where you are in the US, you'll be able to see it virtually all night. Should you not be able to see the moon due to weather or other reasons, you can also soak up a great view any time from July 8-12. as the moon will be more than 95% full during those days. Why is it called the Buck Moon or Thunder Moon? According to The Farmer's Almanac, July's full moon actually has several names, including Buck Moon, Thunder Moon, Feather Moulting Moon, and Salmon Moon. These names typically come from Native American and colonial times and were used to describe the moon for the entire month, not just when it's full. White-tailed deer start growing antlers in March or April as the days start to lengthen. July marks the peak of their antler growth season, hence the name Buck Moon. Thunderstorms are also common in July, which is why it's also called the Thunder Moon. The other two names are less common, but July marks the time when some species of salmon begin migrating for the mating season, while ducks engage in their annual molting around this time of year as well. Catch a glimpse of Mars and Venus too The moon will be joined in the sky by Mars and Venus during its trip across the sky on July 10. Mars will be visible just after sunset in the western sky before setting. You won't have long since it's scheduled to dip below the horizon before midnight. If you choose to stay up late, Venus will crest the eastern horizon shortly after 2 a.m. local time and be visible until sunrise. Saturn will also be visible in the eastern sky, not far from the moon, but you'll likely need binoculars or a telescope to see it with the moon's glow. Once the moon finishes its monthly cycle, skygazers can check out the Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids meteor showers, both of which are scheduled to peak during the last few days of July.
