Mark your calendars for some amazing astronomy events coming up in the last week of August 2023! First, get ready for a full supermoon on Thursday evening August 31st. This supermoon is also known as a blue moon because we’re lucky to have two full moons in a single month. During this time, the moon will be really close to Earth, at its nearest point called perigee, just 355000 kilometers away. That’s about 30000 kilometers closer than usual. This special closeness will make the moon appear about 14% bigger and shine about 30% brighter in the night sky compared to when it’s farthest away from us. So, it’s a fantastic opportunity that you shouldn’t miss!
If you’re interested in capturing this breathtaking sight with your camera but aren’t quite sure how don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with a tutorial on how to take great-quality photos of the Moon with a DSLR camera. Check it out to make the most of this stunning event.
Don’t miss Saturn and our Moon’s Epic Encounter on August 30th, 2023!
But wait, there’s more! On the night before, which is Wednesday, August 30th, you’ll also be treated to another celestial show. Saturn and the Moon will be hanging out quite close to each other in the night sky, at just about 2 degrees apart. All you need is a DSLR camera and a zoom lens that’s around 100mm to 400mm. This dynamic duo will rise in the southeast and stay visible throughout the night until dawn breaks when they’ll set in the southwestern part of the sky. It’s going to be a night full of wonder and beauty, so make sure you don’t miss it!
Saturn’s September Stunner: Up Close and Bright!
I’ve been capturing Saturn’s pictures using my Celestron Edge HD 8″ Telescope and ZWO ASI678MC camera all August whenever the sky was clear. Saturn got closest to Earth on August 27 this year, and it’s still shining brightly in the night sky all night long. You can keep watching Saturn in September, too, which is a wonderful time to use your telescope to see and take pictures of this amazing planet! Check my YouTube video to see my attempt to get this picture :-).
If you want to learn more about Planetary imaging with a telescope, check out these tutorials. If you’re unsure what kind of telescope is best suited to capture the planets in the night sky, then check out this blog about the best telescopes for planetary imaging.
September Spotlight: Jupiter’s Journey from East to South All Night!
Jupiter is climbing higher in the night sky! Around 11pm, it starts rising in the East and keeps going higher towards the southern sky as the night goes on. Even in the early hours before dawn, you can still catch its glow. When I made a timelapse video, Jupiter was just beginning its ascent and you can spot one of its moons, Io, passing by. Io orbits Jupiter every two days, giving us a fantastic chance to observe these moon sightings!
Clear skies!
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