Make a statement with the trend in 2018: a desk globe as decorative object number one. Benefit from the widest range, the best quality and the most up-to-date map images!
Copper and rose gold are a trend. Räthgloben 1917 created a whole new series of design globes with modern colours. Even pastels and silver are included. They easily light up every room in a smooth and elegant way. All new map images are highly informative and create a warm atmosphere with small light spots. Which colour suits your home best?
A see-through globe? Why not! That’s what the designers of Scanglobe might have thought to themselves. The US-American company with Scandinavian roots has provided globes with extraordinary quality and innovative ideas for decades now. Just as “Simplicity”, a clean, but inspiring globe with a 30cm diameter. All inscriptions and continents are silver, as well as the grid lines on the transparent sphere, while revealing the solid stainless steel stand through the map image.
The Italian company Zoffoli, which is well-known for it’s bar globes with vintage flair, breaks new ground. The “Cube” convinces with his straight lines, geometric perfection and elegance. As a decorative object in a book shelf or put on the scene on a side table or even combined with other wooden objects, this table globe is as versatile as your home.
What a night! First the Mars Opposition and then the Total Lunar Eclipse. And hopefully, fantastic weather! Nights in t-shirts. What more could you want as a hobby astronomer and observer? Finally, our hobby has made it into the spotlight of the public again. Of course, the media weren’t always strictly scientific in their reporting and there were a few questionable pieces written. But, what are you going to do? The focus was on Astronomy and we think that is great!
Observatories received hundreds of visitors on the 27th, who just wanted a glance through a telescope. All were excited about the “blood Moon”. Families came and spread themselves out in the fields with picnic baskets, as kids frolic across the open spaces. Everywhere in cities, people looked up to the cosmos. The Lunar Eclipse was not only an astronomical event, rather also a feeling in a mild summer night… one, which will remain in our memories for some time.
Our colleagues had the chance to really enjoy the evening of the eclipse, and took a few photos here and there. A couple of images are visible below.
The first people coming together in a field, to watch the eclipse together. Credit: Tassilo Bohm
Photo series of the eclipse. Credit: Joao Martins
The eclipse 2018 from Auerberg. Credit: Alexander Olbrich
The eclipse at a glance. Below, Mars is visible. Credit: Marcus Schenk
Lunar Eclipse above Landsberg, Germany. Credit: Marcus Schenk with Nikon Coolpix P900 and tripod
The Moon as it leaves the Earth’s shadow. Credit: Marcus Schenk
The view from Auerberg towards the Alps. Credit: Stefan Schuchardt
Stefan from consulting and Alex from the repair shop were happy to see the lunar eclipse.
The Moon with Mars with a stellar backdrop. To the right, you can see Sagitarius and Saturn. Credit: Stefan Schuchardt
The Moon as it leaves the Earth’s shadow. Credit: Stefan Schuchardt
On the 27th of July 2018, two amazing highlights will be visible in our sky: a near Mars Opposition and a Total Lunar Eclipse. Two events that are not to be missed. But what should you know before your observation? The where, how and when are detailed below.
Lunar Eclipse in 2007
1st Highlight: The Longest Lunar Eclipse of this Century
During the night of 27th of July, save the date, because the heavens will put on a show. We, in Europe, will witness the only lunar eclipse of the year. The feeling of awe as the Moon moves into the Earth’s shadow inspires, especially as our satellite begins to shine red. Various media outlets have deemed the event the “blood Moon”, but the color resembles a rusty red, copper red or brown red.
In this phase, we will be able to enjoy the eclipse for an especially long time: 1 hour and 44 minutes. That is a small record, since we will be witnesses to the longest lunar eclipse of the century.
The Path of the Lunar Eclipse on 27th of July 2018
The Moon Will Rise Already Eclipsed
The facts are clear: whenever the full Moon passes into the Earth’s shadow, we get a total lunar eclipse. Most of the time, our path moves past above or below the shadow or grazes the edges of the umbra. On the 27th of July it will be different. The Moon will pass almost perfectly in the middle of the Earth’s shadow (see graphic above), giving us the chance to enjoy an extremely long Lunar Eclipse.
That’s all great, but there is just one problem, which you should keep an eye out for.
As the Moon Rises
At 8:24 PM CET: the Moon will move into the Earth’s shadow, slowly being consumed by darkness and disappearing. We won’t see any of it, since it will all take place before the Moon is in our view. The Moon will first be visible in central Europe at 9 PM.
But Don’t Worry!
We will see our satellite rise above the southeast horizon, just as the best phase is starting. Totality! For the next 104 minutes, we can forget about the world around us. Take out a pair of your favorite binoculars, a telescope, or your camera with a telephoto lens. The Moon will rise further above the horizon, transformation to a fantastic object to see.
Now is the opportunity to get some great photos in combination with a landscape or houses. Tip: look for a spot with a free view of the southeastern horizon.
Further along, the Moon will rise higher, but as a typical Summer Moon does, it will not reach a really high position in the sky.
Observation Times:
First contact into umbra 8:24 PM CET
Begin of Totality 9:30 PM CET
End of Totality 11:13 PM
Last contact 12:19 AM CET
2nd Highlight: Mars Opposition
Simultaneously, we can witness another “red phenomenon”: Mars will reach Opposition. Also something of special note, the red planet will only be 57 million km away – an extremely short distance from Earth and something some observers have been waiting on for decades.
The next time a similar event will take place will be in the year 2035! With a diameter of 24″, Mars will appear to be relatively large. Polar caps, Albedo and bright structures will be easily recognizable!
The Size of Mars in 2018. Click to enlarge.
Only drawback: Mars will hang low in the night sky this year. More info about the opposition and how to observe close to the horizon with good results.
Attention all lovers of nature, amateur astronomers and night owls: the night of the 27th of July, 2018 will be totally different. In this particular night, we will experience the Opposition of Mars and a rare Total Lunar Eclipse in Europe! It is sure to be a midnight Summer dream, in the middle of warm temperatures and mystical experiences.
In this article, you will learn about, that which you can use to observe and photograph the Total Lunar Eclipse and Mars.
Another interesting point: currently, there are a number of other planets to see. Now is the perfect opportunity to jump into Astronomy. You will be rewarded with a fireworks show of planets. Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are waiting for you to rediscover them!
As the night slowly falls, the Moon will rise in the southeast. Our satellite will look unusual and simultaneously fascinating. Almost completely eclipsed, it will rise higher and higher. The “blood Moon”, which evoked fears and superstitions of death and destruction in earlier times, will be visible for us to witness with our knowledge and science in a relaxing manner and with a smile.
The highlight of this year: at a length of 1 hour and 44 minutes of totality, we will get to enjoy the longest Lunar Eclipse of the century! More information about this event is available below.
Now you can read on to learn about the 5 ways and effective products, to observe the Moon and the Planets. Let’s go!
1. Discover the Sky with Binoculars
The lunar eclipse is visible with the naked eye, but with a pair of binoculars, the Moon in the Earth’s shadow becomes an especially intense experience. For an great observation, we recommend the Omegon Binoculars Nightstar 20×80. These binos are a great alternative to a telescope or as an entry into Astronomy. They are bright and something that you can always carry with you. Just point the binos to the sky or mount them on a tripod. Then you will see the Moon in all its glory and innumerable craters. It is amazing with both eyes, as if you were there. But there is more. You can can even view Jupiter and its moons as well as starclusters, such as the Pleiades or the Andromeda Galaxy.
The Omegon Binoculars 20×80
2. Getting closer with a telescope
Much like a mega zoom into the cosmos: A telescope allows you to see real detail. Observe the entire Moon, singular lunar craters, Jupiter, or Saturn with its massive system of rings. However you want. The possibilities are endless! With a greater magnification, only available with telescopes, you will be able to see Mars for the planet that it is and not just the red “star” in the night sky. The Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 is the most budget-friendly entry point. With a 70mm aperture, it collects 100 times more light than the naked eye. The eyepieces enable a 35x and 70x magnification, or in combination with a barlow lense up to 140x. More details and more resolution is available in the Omegon AC 90/1000 EQ-2. The telescope is our tip for entry into lunar and planetary observing. With a 90mm aperture, you will be able to see many details, such as the cloud bands on Jupiter or the polar caps on Mars.
The Omegon AC 90/1000 EQ-2 – Recommendation for entry into Astronomy
3. The simplest way to your own astrophotos
A photo of the lunar eclipse? It’s possible with the simplest tools.
With a telescope, the path to your own photos is just a small step. The best camera for such a task is right in your pocket: your smartphone! Pick up a Smartphone adapter, which will keep your phone perfectly positioned above the eyepiece. We also offer the more budget-friendly Omegon Smartphone Adapter, which demands a bit of finesse or the Omegon Easypic Universal. This smartphone adapter is a self-centering and easy-to-use device. It only takes one minute and you will already have taken your own lunar photo.
Omegon Easypic Universal Smartphone adapter
4. The right eyepiece is decisive, when it comes to details
With eyepieces, you often must separate the wheat from the chaff. An eyepiece is essentially an extended arm of the telescope’s optic and you should put a lot of stock into selection, just as you would with a telescope itself. A good tip would be to replace old or standard eyepieces with high quality ones, which can provide you with a significantly better image. Excellent crispness and great contrast can be found in the Omegon LE Planetry Eyepieces for all 1,25“. The customer reviews range from “just fantastic” to “you cannot believe it”.
The Family of Omegon LE Planetary Eyepieces
5. Color filters for better contrast
Much like a chain, the planets of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars will appear to us in a line, and all after darkness has fallen, during the most comfortable time of year. The constellation of planets is so rare, that now is the time to jump into astronomy. Amateurs can easily pinpoint the planets and see details of each. Polar caps and other structures on Mars, or the big red dot on Jupiter become more visible with the appropriate color filters. Placed into the eyepiece, filters can lead to an epiphany for any motivated observer. The Omegon Color filter set features the most important ones for all planets. Other contrast filters or our Lunar Filter are also a helpful inclusion to your collection.
Color filter set with 6 color filters
Other information about the Total Lunar Eclipse and the Mars Opposition is available here:
On the 27th of July, 2018, a fascinating event awaits us in Europe: a total lunar eclipse. As the darkness falls upon us, a red, darkened Moon will rise above the horizon, as it moves through the Earth’s shadow. After almost 3 years, the Moon is back to entertain stargazers, amateur astronomers and nature photographers.
All the important info can be found in the infographic below:
Enjoy this event and clear skies!
If you are looking for the right binocular or telescope, check out our selection!
PS – If you like the infographic above, feel free to share it, print it out, hang it up in your local observatory for all visitors, or even post it on your own website, with a link to www.astroshop.eu.
On the 27th of July, 2018, the time will finally be upon us: our neighbor, Mars, will stand in opposition to the Sun. Such an event happens every two years, but this time around is something much more special. The last time Mars was so close to Earth, during opposition, was back in 2003. This year, the red planet will come within 57 million kilometers, which is about the same distance as 15 years before. Mars will appear to be about half of the size of Jupiter, something only rarely observable, but with numerous details.
For more info about the Opposition, how to observe, which details to look for and which accessories improve your chances of a rewarding observation, read on below:
Photo: B.Gährken
Content:
Mars: The facts about a fascinating planet
The Mars Opposition: What is it?
Why only every two years?
Why will Mars be so large this year
Which Telescope?
You can see this on Mars
Helpful accessories, to improve your observation
1. Mars: The facts about a fascinating planet
With a diameter of 6,000 km, 687 day orbit and a mountain at 27,000 meters – Mars is only half as large as the Earth, but resembles our home very much. Much like Earth, Mars is home to a rocky surface with mountains, plateaus and canyons. Valles Marineris is a massive 4,000 km long canyon, with a width of 700 km, and is considered the Grand Canyon of Mars. Comparatively, our Grand Canyon is relatively small at only 450 km in length and with a 30 km width.
Mars features other similarities, with its polar ice caps and even seasons. Standing on Mars, you would also see sunrises and sunsets. You could even see Earth with a telescope. The planet even features a similar tilt in its orbital path and a day lasts 24 hours and 40 minutes.
What a nice twin, right? Many space pioneers think so. And to top it all off, recently NASA revealed clues that the planet was able to support life. There are, of course, a few disadvantages to lifing on Mars: the cold. A thick jacket won’t be enough, given that the temperatures drop to -85°C. Nevertheless, temperatures could reach about 20°C at the equator.
Even the oxygen levels and atmospheric pressure varies greatly: 95% carbon dioxide, 1.8% nitrogen und 0.1% oxygen. On Earth: 78% nitrogen and 20% oxygen. In other words, breathing on Mars would be suffocating. Take off your spacesuit and your blood would boil in short time, as if you were at 35 km in altitude above the Earth – 3 times higher than cruise altitude of a commercial jet.
2. The Mars Opposition: What is an opposition?
An opposition occurs, when Mars stands in a straight line with Earth and the Sun.
3. Why only every two years?
Mars orbits the Sun once every 687 days, so roughly 2 years. We on Earth travel a much higher speed and only require 365 days to orbit.
Imagine that both planets start at the same spot. The Earth would lap Mars at some point during its orbit. Given that Mars is also orbiting, one trip around the Sun would not suffice, however. Only after 780 days will the Earth and Mars be aligned once again. An opposition!
4. Why will Mars appear to be so large this year?
Mars is pretty conspicuous in the sky this year. The red planet rises as dusk falls, and will shine bright in the night sky until dawn. The disk will appear to be enormous! It will increase to up to 24 arc seconds. Through a telescope, Mars will appear especially large, meaning we will be able to identify many details on the surface. It is a unique chance for observers and astro-photographers. Mars only appeared slightly smaller during the Opposition of 2003.
Mars does not have a circular orbit, rather an off-center orbit around the Sun. That is why its distance to Earth can vary so greatly. Depending on the position, oppositions can vary between 101 m and 55 m km. This year: 57.7 m km. In 2020, 62.2 m km and two years later 82 m km. By year 2035, Mars will once again be about as close as this year.
For observers in the norther hemisphere, the close oppositions will take place below the celestial equator, since they occur in the Summer months. The planet will not be found high above the horizon, but rather just above it: this year, just 15°.
5. Which Telescope?
Mars is bright and an object, that you can see with the naked eye. It will rise late in the eveing in the south west, climbing ever higher and reaching its meridian on 27th of July, 2018. Shortly before sunrise, the red planet will once again disappear under the horizon. You cannot miss Mars, since it will be the only bright object with a very bright and red color.
During the opposition, Mars will be quite large. That is why you could use just about every telescope to have a look at the planet, even a telescope with a 70-80 mm aperture. A good beginner’s scope for planets would be the Omegon AC 90/1000 EQ-2. With an intermediate or large telescope from 150 – 200 mm, you will be able to enjoy a greater resolution, which is important if you want to be able to see the small details. Keep an eye out that the telescope is well calibrated and adjusted for the temperature outside – important factors for a good, contrast-rich image. Many observers cherish Dobson telescopes, since they are inexpensive, bright, and easy to work with.
Mars through a telescope
To view Mars, use a magnification of at least 100. Reason is, the small the planet, the more difficult it will be to see detail. Shorter focal lengths additionally afford you the greatest magnification. Magnifications of 200 – 300x are sensible to use. Hint: high-quality Televue Eyepieces on Sale are available here.
6. What to See on Mars
If you have a telescope of 100x, mars will appears only as red ball. With patience, you should be able to identify the bright, white polar caps.
Mars with notations, Image: B. Gährken
The most noticeable dark area on the red planet is the Syrte, which is a large, dust-free, and high plateau with a width of 1,300 km. The area lies close to the equator and should be noticeable with an intermediate telescope. The Hellas Basin is a large, bright region, found south of Syrte and often home to storms. Of course, we will only be able to see these two regions, if Mars happens to be sharing this side of itself. Additionally, white clouds of meteorological phenomena can be seen with larger telescopes and color filters.
A foldable “Mars Map” from Orion is helpful in preparing for observations and photography.
7. Helpful Accessories
The ADC Corrector: for more contrast on the horizon
If we observe an object just above the horizon, the object could already set. The light of the cosmos is often distorted, while passing through the atmostphere or bowed. We see the same effect, for example, in a glass of water or a straw. The water is an optically dense medium – just as a straw would in a different way. Our atmosphere does the same.
A Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope with ADC and a Toupek camera
Is that a problem? Indeed, when we talk about an astronomical object. Blue and red light is distorted in different ways. Objects then exhibit a colored edge and appear to be contrast-less. The images are just less sharp, than those higher in the sky.
The ADC from Omegon produces – if you will – a negative color defect, which works against the atmosphere. The planet Mars plays a role here. Mars appears, to float just a bit higher. When one of our colleagues tested the ADC the first time, he noted, “The effect was massive. It appeared as if the telescope was suddenly replaced with another.”
The atmosphere has an effect, like a simple lens and the colors of light are dispersed in various ways. An object appears higher, as a result, than it really is, in addition to color fringes. Image sources: NASA/JPL Solar System Simulator, Courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech https://space.jpl.nasa.gov/.
In the next few years, many of the planets will be found quite close to the horizon. But, the ADC is your best hope. You can use it for visual observations, as well as for photography. Putting it to use is also quite simple: just place it into the recess, where the eyepieces normally is attached.
The advantages of the ADC in a nutshell:
ADC corrects atmospheric dispersion
Color fringes are reduced or disappear
Sharpness and contrast increase, as if the planet were higher in the sky
Just put it in the eyepiece recess and adjust the prisms.
Color filters: to unlock Mars’ detailed surface
Color filters are very useful for planetary observations, since they increase contrasts and make many details visible, which you may not see otherwise. The only requirement is that you should have some experience in observing, because seeing in astronomy is learned.
Color filters are available in sizes 1.25″ or 2″ and are simply screwed into the threads of the eyepiece.
But which details can you see on Mars?
Color filters are screwed directlz into the thread of your eyepiece.
Green filter: with it, you can directly enhance the surface, clouds and freezing fog.
Blue filter: only used for freezing fog and clouds.
Yellow filter: Great for seeing the occasional several week-long dust storm on the surface, by brightening such areas.
Orange and Red filters: Orange filters enhance the bright/dark structures of the surface and are the standard filter for observing Mars. The red filter does the same, but only utilized in large telescopes.
Tip: There are also special Mars filters, which increases greatly the contrasts of the red planet.
Filter wheel: For the quick switch
When you want to use several different filters, we recommend the filter wheel, for a quick switch between filter types.
Camera: Capture Mars
Do you want to photograph Mars? Then get your hands on a Touptek Camera G3M178C, which offers a high sensitivity and a resolution of 6.4 megapixels. Plus, it is extremely fast. With 59 images per second, you can put the shortest moments to use, resulting in sharp images of the red planet.
The assembly of a successful Mars photography session: a Touptek camera, a barlow lens with a flip mirror and an eyepiece.
Flip Mirror
A great aid for planetary photography, making centering the planet in the dark hours no contest. With a flip mirror, you can switch between an eyepiece and camera in mere seconds.
Get out and observe!
Don’t wait until the year 2035! This Summer is a great opportunity to marvel at Mars in all its glory. In contrast to the opposition in 2003, camera technology has come quite a long way. Instruments like the ADC additionally enable you to view objects on the horizon. Get your telescope read and have a look at our nearest neighbor this Summer!
Product tip: Want to show your enthusiasm? Then get your hands on the Mars T-shirt! The backside features all the info of the opposition: distance, size, and brightness. Order now!
An increasing number of telescopes can be controlled with a smartphone. The advantages are obvious: Smartphones offer, with their colour display, touchscreen and GPS mobile, more possibilities and are more intuitive to operate than a classic hand-held controller. The app can be kept constantly up-to-date and the telescope can be controlled wirelessly.
So, the manufacturer, Skywatcher, now offers its azimutal one-arm mount, Star Discovery, without a hand-held controller only. Instead, a Wi-Fi module is included, with which the smartphone can be linked. The telescope can then be controlled with the free SynScan app.
The 150/750-Newton optic of this telescope has proven to be valuable for beginners and can be used in many variants. With a mirror diameter of 150 mm, objects from the Deep Sky guide can be viewed, but it is also a pleasure to observe the Moon and the planets with this telescope! Thanks to the relatively small focal length of 750 mm, the telescope is still very compact and transportable.
Those who prefer to observe with a classic telescopic lens should get hold of a Star Discovery 90i. Thanks to its deep eyepiece, it is especially suitable for children.
Both optics can be removed from the mount by way of a handy screw to they can be transported. The Star Discovery has a classic prism rail connector thanks to which almost any small telescope optic weighing up to five kilogrammes can be secured. The mount is also an attractive option if you already have a telescope.
Take another look in the App Store for the SynScan app. You can get the right telescope from us.
The young company, AstroReality, from San Francisco, is bringing the solar system to your living room. The innovative developments in the fields of 3D printing and augmented reality have been brought together to form unique products. Models of heavenly bodies in our solar system made with great attention to detail are now available. Each reproduction shows the unmistakable character and features of each one. The most impressive is the model of the Moon, LUNAR Pro. Based on data from the NASA, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a highly detailed relief surface of the Moon was created. Craters, mountains and seas can be touched, and the realistically coloured surface gives you the feeling that you are holding the Moon in your hands.
The models are not just great to look at, and make excellent decorative objects, they also invite users on an interactive journey of discovery. The AstroReality app (currently only available in English) recognises the models via your smartphone’s camera and embeds them into a simulated 3D space environment. Details are then added to these heavenly bodies (e.g. the rings of Saturn or Earth’s atmosphere), from which you will learn valuable knowledge about the planets. With the highly detailed model of the Moon, the LUNAR Pro, there is additional information about specific features of the surface, and it’s even possible to simulate interactive Moon missions.
The models of all the planets and of Pluto are available in a set with a diameter of 3 cm. To go with them, there is also a LUNAR mini model of the same size. The 12-cm LUNAR Pro globe (with a surface 16 times bigger than the mini model) represents the Moon with much greater detail.
In addition to the heavenly bodies, AstroReality also offers a LUNAR AR notebook. With a relief surface of the Moon and a 3D model of our satellite that can be retrieved via the app, it’s the right notebook for astronomy enthusiasts and night owls.
The AstroReality products also make great presents for members of the family and friends who are fascinated by space.
Summer and warm temperatures: Those who aren’t keen on winter are now getting out and about again to look up at the stars. But, unfortunately, it also gets dark later – and just a few hours pass, in the blink of an eye, and it gets light again. So, you should make the most of the dark hours. For, when the summer Milky Way draws across the sky, there is a great deal of things to discover.
The astronomical infographic, “Highlights in the Summer sky”, shows you at a glance what is going on in the sky between the months of June and August. Including: A short description of the events.
June 3 June, The Moon meets Mars
The Moon is already getting ready to put on a big show next month: an opposition at an extremely short distance. But we can already see Mars well. During the second half of the night, the Moon and Mars rise up over the south-eastern horizon.
16 June, The Moon meets Venus
A pretty pair in the evening twilight: the Moon and Venus. They can be seen close to each other at around 10 PM, above the western horizon. The waxing crescent Moon is only 5.8% illuminated and sweeps delicately in front of a yellowish-blue twilight sky.
19 June, Vesta in opposition
Vesta is one of the largest asteroids in the solar system and will enter its opposition on 19 June. Vesta has a brightness level of up to 5.3 mag. and can be viewed with the naked eye in a very dark sky. This opposition is particularly good, because Vesta is only rarely as bright as this. Where can this minor planet be seen? At the moment, it’s in Sagittarius, about 5° away from the star, μ Sgr (the star above the teapot in Sagittarius). During the month, it will start heading towards Ophiuchus.
23 June, Moon: Golden handle
The golden handle on the Moon can now be seen. Like a handle made out of light, it breaks the lunar night just on the other side of the Terminator. While the Sinus Iridum crater is still hidden in darkness, the Sun illuminates the ringed summit of the Montes Jura. It is visible between 4:30 and 8 PM GMT.
27 June, Small full Moon
The Moon goes around the Earth in an ellipse, not a perfect circle. This means: In the course of a month, it reaches a particularly close and a particular far position. At a distance of 403,000 kilometres, the Moon now appears smaller than usual, and has a visible diameter of 29° in the sky.
27 June, Saturn in opposition
The gas giant, Saturn, is now in opposition to the Sun again. In astronomy, this is cause for joy, because Saturn is now exactly opposite the Sun. Saturn, Earth and the Sun are geometrically in a straight line. For us observers, this means: The ringed planet can be seen all night. When night falls, it rises in the east and goes back down at daybreak.
28 June, The Moon meets Saturn
The Moon likes to occasionally pay a visit to our planets. On 28 June, it will be visiting Saturn again. Such encounters always make an enticing spectacle. And a beautiful occasion for an atmospheric photo with a camera and lens on a tripod. Saturn is currently at the top of Sagittarius and can be observed all night. On this night, the Moon will be approaching the ringed plant at about 1.9° and will go past it again the following day. One night later, they will have moved back to 9° from each other again.
July
10 July, The Moon meets Alpha Tauri
In the early hours of the morning, around 4 AM, the narrow waning crescent Moon and Alpha Tauri meet. To the north of London, the Moon covers the 3.6-mag bright star, Hyadum I.
12 July, Pluto in opposition
Pluto is a dwarf planet that is difficult to see and is barely distinguishable from a star. At least, if you don’t have a precise map at hand. Despite that, it’s worth taking a look with a larger telescope at this outpost of the solar system. Coordinates for the GoTo control: Rect: 19h25m20s, Dec: -21°49′
16 July, The Moon meets Venus
A brightly glowing Venus and a waning crescent Moon: At the moment, at dusk, you can observe this pretty sight.
21 July, The Moon meets Jupiter
When Venus goes down in the West, Jupiter dominates as the brightest planet in the night sky. At the moment, the Moon, illuminated at 70%, is keeping it company.
27 July, Mars in opposition
This is a superlative event: Since 2003, we have been looking forward to the most exciting Mars opposition. At only 57 million kilometres away, Mars rarely comes this close to Earth. Now, there’s an opportunity for successful observation with Mars at full size and with quite a few details. And this is all thanks to an imposing diameter of 24 arc seconds. Not until 2035, will the red planet offer us such a highlight again.
27 July, Total lunar eclipse
On the same day as the Mars opposition, a total lunar eclipse will take place. Another special event. Because: Recently, lunar eclipses have been very rare. At dusk, look for a place with a very good view of the horizon, because we won’t get the start of the lunar eclipse. As soon as you see the Moon over the horizon, the partial phase will already be well advanced, and just after at 9:30 PM CET, the total eclipse will start. The middle of the eclipse will be reached at 10:22 PM CET, and the end will be reached at 11:14 PM CET. Then, on the left edge of the Moon, we’ll see a crescent made of light coming up. Tip: We can also see Mars below the Moon.
31 July, Mars comes closest to Earth
The opposition of Mars is only a few days ago, but today Mars is coming particularly close to Earth. At a distance of only 57.6 million kilometres. That is almost as close as in 2003, when Mars moved to just 55 million kilometres away. From an astronomical point of view, there’s no difference.
Noctilucent clouds
You can’t see them now: noctilucent clouds or night clouds. If, in the summer, the Sun is between 6° and 16° below the horizon, it sometimes lights up extremely thin single-crystal clouds about 80 kilometres high. In fact, these clouds are so high that they are in the mesosphere of our atmosphere. For us, it’s been night for a long time, but these clouds catch a little Sunlight and we see bluish-white clouds lighting up that are invisible during the day.
August
3 August, The Moon meets Uranus
Uranus is a gas giant, and yet it appears tiny in a telescope. That’s hardly surprising, since it is one of the two most distant planets in our solar system. You can’t see any details in a telescope. It is, however, fascinating to see the planetary disk – at a magnification of between 150 and 200. On 3 August, the Moon will be passing quite near to Uranus.
August: Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
This comet was observed the first time in 1900 by Giacobini, and then rediscovered by Zinner in 2013. Using the data, we determined that this comet had an orbit lasting 6.5 years, meaning it’s a comet with a short orbit. In 2018, it will be clearly visible in the northern night sky, as early as June and July. In August, however, 21P/Giacobini-Zinner will be found just before its closest point to the Sun, and will achieve an interesting level of brightness, estimated 7.8 mag. In August, it will wander northwards past Cassiopeia, through the giraffe in the direction of Auriga.
12/13 August, Perseids
Every year, we look forward to the most beautiful shooting stars of the year: the Perseids. During the morning of 12 August, the meteor shower reaches its pinnacle. There are up to 100 shooting starts per hour, that fly through out atmosphere at an unbelievable speed of approx. 216,000 km/hr. The peak is reached between 10 PM CET and 4 AM CET
Last year, the Moon once again spoiled the meteor shower, but this year it’s going to be totally different. One day after the new Moon, nothing will ruin your observation session. You can look forward to fantastic conditions. We can thank the comet, 109P/Swift-Tuttle, for this meteor shower which lost part of its mass on its path around the Sun. Whenever Earth crosses the path of the original comet in August, the Perseids shoot through our sky.
14/15 August, The Moon meets half Venus
During dusk, we will experience one of the most beautiful conjunctions of Venus and the Moon. The new crescent Moon will be bright over the western horizon, and about 4° below will be Venus. On 15 August, our neighbouring planet will reach its half phase: dichotomy. The disk will appear at a size of 24″.
17 August, Venus’ largest easterly elongation
At an angle of 46° to the Sun, Venus will normally reach good visibility in the evening sky. As it’s low down in the sky at the moment, however, and its path is leading southwards, it sets just after the Sun. It wanders far below the equator from Virgo into the constellation of Libra.
23 August, The Moon meets Mars
During this night, the Moon is at a distance of only 6° from the red planet.
26 August, Mercury’s largest westerly elongation
Mercury will reach its largest westerly distance from the Sun today. It is, however, in its orbit close to the Sun. This is why its morning visibility is quite poor. From about 5 AM CET, you can spot it on the eastern horizon.
Virgin forests, vast landscapes and fantastic views. And right in the middle of it: a brand-new observatory for a school. Our latest dome project takes us to Romania to the town of Baia Mare.
This mining town is situated in the north of Romania on the edge of the East Carpathian Mountains. To find out why this observatory is so special to us, read this article.
The dream project: Observatories
Astroshop along with ScopeDome GmbH built a 3-m observatory upon a secondary school. This school is to serve as an example, considering school observatories are rare in the country. Romania is still comparably poor, and schools don’t usually have money for this kind of project.
But this is what we’re particularly proud of: Our Romanian colleague, Raul, took part personally in this observatory, was a supporter and one of the sponsors. The project finally became a reality.
3-m ScopeDome on the roof
The dome is placed on the school building perfectly framed on an observation platform. The panoramic view is amazing. The observatory will be operational soon and will easily enable the school pupils to become familiar with astronomy. Laying, hopefully, the foundation for a life-long fascination with the Universe.
The internal workings of the observatory
While a few observers are already focused on the night sky, the tour then goes into the dome. The highlight: A Celestron C8 with a Skywatcher EQ-8 mount on a column. The project was initiated by Prof. Lucian Stoyan. The observatory is now ready, and the pupils are looking forward to interesting observation sessions and exciting astronomy projects. They are, however, also looking to the near future: Next year, the Celestron C8 will be exchanged for a 14-inch RC telescope. Another dream that is about to come true.
The city of Baia Mare
Baia Mare is in northern Romania – a place of 124,000 inhabitants on the edge of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains. Many official buildings have been renovated, but there are many old and crumbling buildings. Surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, Baia Mare is considered one of the most picturesque places in Romania.
PS: Do you have such a dream, too? An observatory with a fixed telescope – which means astronomy at any time, and on the fly. Manual or fully automatic with remote control: We can make your dreams become reality, too. Simply contact us and, we’ll be pleased to have a chat with you.
