Moon passes first Jupiter, then Saturn
As it moves in orbit around Earth, the moon moves toward the east in our sky. You’ll notice that motion if you watch for the moon, Jupiter and Saturn around August 19 to 22, 2021. The moon will sweep 4 degrees S. of Saturn on August 20 at 22 UTC. It’ll be a full moon – a Blue Moon – that sweeps 4 degrees S. of Jupiter on August 22 at 5 UTC. The exact dates and times won’t matter to you, as you stand outside looking for these worlds in space. Jupiter will be the brightest object besides the moon, ascending in the eastern half of the sky throughout the evening. Saturn will be to the west of Jupiter (more toward the sunset direction). Saturn isn’t as bright as Jupiter, but it’s reasonably bright. And, if you’re watching for them at nightfall, turn around and look west. You’ll see an even brighter planet in that direction in the very early part of the night: beautiful, blazing Venus.
And here’s something fun. Jupiter reaches opposition on the night of August 19-20, 2021. That’s a yearly event, during which time we on Earth fly between Jupiter and the sun in our smaller, faster orbit. Our motion in orbit places Jupiter opposite the sun in our sky. The planet rises at sunset and is visible all night, a sight to behold!
Why will the full moon be near Jupiter this month? It’s because a full moon is opposite the sun. And Jupiter at opposition is opposite the sun. Voila. Jupiter will be near the full moon.
Read more: Jupiter at opposition
Blue Moon, Saturn, Jupiter
This August full moon is a seasonal Blue Moon. It’s not the 2nd full moon in a month. It’s the 3rd of four full moons in one season.
For the Northern Hemisphere, this weekend’s full moon counts as a summertime Blue Moon. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s a wintertime Blue Moon. Either way, it’s the 3rd of four full moons in between the June solstice and September equinox.
The moon will appear full to the eye throughout the weekend. To astronomers, however, a full moon occurs at a well-defined instant: at the moment that it’s directly opposite the sun (in ecliptic longitude). The moon turns precisely full on Sunday, August 22, at 12:02 UTC. At U.S. time zones, that converts to 8:02 a.m. EDT, 7:02 a.m. CDT, 6:02 a.m. MDT, 5:02 a.m. PDT, 4:02 a.m. Alaskan Time and 2:02 a.m. Hawaiian Time.
Read more: Blue Moon on the night of August 21-22
Bottom line: Blue Moon, Saturn, Jupiter. This upcoming weekend – August 19 to 22, 2021 – watch for these worlds in your sky.
Read more: EarthSky’s planet guide for August 2021
Read more: Does this blue moon look red to you? This might be why.
The post Blue Moon, Saturn, Jupiter August 19 to 22 first appeared on EarthSky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/3mc3eSV
Moon passes first Jupiter, then Saturn
As it moves in orbit around Earth, the moon moves toward the east in our sky. You’ll notice that motion if you watch for the moon, Jupiter and Saturn around August 19 to 22, 2021. The moon will sweep 4 degrees S. of Saturn on August 20 at 22 UTC. It’ll be a full moon – a Blue Moon – that sweeps 4 degrees S. of Jupiter on August 22 at 5 UTC. The exact dates and times won’t matter to you, as you stand outside looking for these worlds in space. Jupiter will be the brightest object besides the moon, ascending in the eastern half of the sky throughout the evening. Saturn will be to the west of Jupiter (more toward the sunset direction). Saturn isn’t as bright as Jupiter, but it’s reasonably bright. And, if you’re watching for them at nightfall, turn around and look west. You’ll see an even brighter planet in that direction in the very early part of the night: beautiful, blazing Venus.
And here’s something fun. Jupiter reaches opposition on the night of August 19-20, 2021. That’s a yearly event, during which time we on Earth fly between Jupiter and the sun in our smaller, faster orbit. Our motion in orbit places Jupiter opposite the sun in our sky. The planet rises at sunset and is visible all night, a sight to behold!
Why will the full moon be near Jupiter this month? It’s because a full moon is opposite the sun. And Jupiter at opposition is opposite the sun. Voila. Jupiter will be near the full moon.
Read more: Jupiter at opposition
Blue Moon, Saturn, Jupiter
This August full moon is a seasonal Blue Moon. It’s not the 2nd full moon in a month. It’s the 3rd of four full moons in one season.
For the Northern Hemisphere, this weekend’s full moon counts as a summertime Blue Moon. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s a wintertime Blue Moon. Either way, it’s the 3rd of four full moons in between the June solstice and September equinox.
The moon will appear full to the eye throughout the weekend. To astronomers, however, a full moon occurs at a well-defined instant: at the moment that it’s directly opposite the sun (in ecliptic longitude). The moon turns precisely full on Sunday, August 22, at 12:02 UTC. At U.S. time zones, that converts to 8:02 a.m. EDT, 7:02 a.m. CDT, 6:02 a.m. MDT, 5:02 a.m. PDT, 4:02 a.m. Alaskan Time and 2:02 a.m. Hawaiian Time.
Read more: Blue Moon on the night of August 21-22
Bottom line: Blue Moon, Saturn, Jupiter. This upcoming weekend – August 19 to 22, 2021 – watch for these worlds in your sky.
Read more: EarthSky’s planet guide for August 2021
Read more: Does this blue moon look red to you? This might be why.
The post Blue Moon, Saturn, Jupiter August 19 to 22 first appeared on EarthSky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/3mc3eSV
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