The Celestial Sphere

By Matthew Johnson

Eight months from now, on April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will begin its stroll across North America. All solar eclipses occur when the moon in its orbit comes to cover the disc of the sun. What makes this eclipse special is that a good view is within driving distance of New Englanders. The sun’s total eclipse, or “totality,” will strike a path traveling from the southwest of North America to the northeast. The eclipse’s path of totality will enter our continent at Mazatlan, Mexico. It will continue upward and eastward to Texas, just north of Laredo, will pass over Little Rock, Arkansas and cross over Indianapolis and Cleveland on its way northeast.

This eclipse can be experienced by anyone in Connecticut willing to drive five or more hours north. Buffalo and Rochester, N.Y. are both in the path of totality, as well as Burlington, Vt. and most of central and northern Maine, where the eclipse then leaves the United States. It will pass over Prince Edward Island and enter the Atlantic Ocean, where there will likely be chartered liners full of people eager to view the totality.

So, if one wishes to view one of the celestial sphere’s greatest visual events, start planning now.

Returning to 2023, August holds two full moons, on Aug. 1 and 30. Both are supermoons,

meaning that the moon is full while at its closest approach to Earth in its orbit and will thus appear larger. The full moon on Aug. 30 is often termed a “blue moon,” indicating simply that there are two full moons in a single month (not that the moon is blue-colored).

A second event this month is that Saturn will reach opposition on Aug. 27 and will be visible all night, from dusk to dawn. Saturn reveals its fascinating ring structure to anybody with a small telescope or spotting scope and offers great details to anyone possessing a refractor of four inches or greater. Saturn has 145 moons; 62 of these were discovered just this past May. On Aug. 1, Saturn will rise around 9:30 p.m. in the constellation Aquarius.

The Perseid meteor shower, peaking around Aug. 13, should be a wonderful event this year. The Perseid shower is caused by the Earth’s orbit crossing the path of comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. It is a periodic comet, meaning that it returns every 133 years. During each approach to the sun, the comet releases particles and gases from its core due to the sun’s radiation and gravitational tidal forces. This “debris” generally stays in the path of the comet’s orbit, and every 133 years the earth passes through a swarm of particles many times larger than in the off-peak years. 2023 is a peak year, and it may display as many as 50 to 100 meteors per hour—exceptional in comparison to most showers. Additionally, the moon will be in a waxing crescent phase, displaying little reflected sunlight to obscure fainter meteors.

On Aug. 1, the sun rises at 5:36 a.m. and sets at 8:04 p.m., providing 14 hours and 28 minutes of daylight. By Aug. 31, there will be 13 hours and 12 minutes of daylight, still a great deal of sunlight as we approach the shortening days of fall.

The summer months are wonderful for stargazers, with warm evenings and brilliant summer constellations. Compared to December, however, when astronomers and enthusiasts can begin viewing around 5 p.m., summertime observing of the celestial sphere is for late-nighters!

During WIN weekend, I will be representing Aton Forest and offering views of the sun’s features through my dedicated hydrogen-alpha solar telescope, where one hopes to view solar prominences, sunspots and the churning solar surface. Please join me Aug. 5-6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Meadow.