After the beginning of autumn on August 8, the sweltering summer will soon be over and the cool autumn will come. On this night when summer meets autumn, people walking leisurely in the wild may catch a glimpse of rare celestial phenomena.
August 13: Perseid Meteor Shower
Among the 88 constellations in the universe, there is one called "Perseus". This year's conditions for observing the Perseid meteor shower are the most favorable in the past decade. At 11 p.m. on August 13, the Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak. By then, the constellation Perseus will have risen above the horizon from the northeast. People can see meteors bursting from the radiant point by looking at the northern or eastern sky with the naked eye.
August 14: Neptune Opposition
When the Perseid meteor shower ends, on August 14, Neptune will present a great show of "opposition". This planet, which takes about 165 years to orbit the sun and is the only one humans cannot see with the naked eye, will be closest to Earth for the next 20 days. Astronomy enthusiasts can use a telescope to take a look at this mysterious deep-blue star located in the constellation Capricorn. During the "opposition", after the sun sets, Neptune rises from the eastern horizon and does not set in the west until the sun rises the next day, so it can be observed all night.
August 28: Total Lunar Eclipse Rising "Red Moon"
From 16:52 to 20:24 on August 28, people will witness the total lunar eclipse. Although affected by some factors, audiences in various parts of China cannot observe the entire process of this lunar eclipse. However, if the weather is clear, many areas can still see the "lunar rise with partial eclipse" phenomenon. The initial phase of this lunar eclipse occurs at 16:57 on August 28, umbra begins at 17:52, maximum eclipse at 18:37, light returns at 19:23, and the moon regains its full form at 20:24. Due to the thick atmosphere surrounding the Earth, red sunlight is refracted onto the moon, covering its surface with a red glow, thus creating the "red moon" that people see.