Rare Alignment of all the Planets is About to Take Place. You Should Not Miss This

AURORA PREDICTIONS (THE NORTHERN LIGHTS)

CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEE PREDICTED SIGHTINGS OF THE AURORA BOEALIS

Space Weather – Met Office

My collage with 8 meteors from the #Perseid shower on August 12, 2024.

The result of a wonderful evening spent with my kids under a dark sky. It was my first attempt at capturing a meteor shower.https://t.co/jdPkjanXHe#astrophotography #nature

I used the legacy OM 24mm lens pic.twitter.com/PNDCMnhYVr

— Thomas Hanrath – Astrophotography (@AstrophotoCamp) August 14, 2024

You don’t have to be a child to be awe-struck by the sheer number of meteors you will see.

FOLLOW THESE TIPS FOR A NIGHT TO REMEMBER!

• Find a field or rural place where there is no light pollution.
• Allow around 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to darkness.
• No binoculars or telescope are needed.  In fact, you will miss much by not being able to observe the whole sky.
• Take a ground sheet or folding chairs to make yourself comfortable for an hour or so.
• Wear warm clothing as it gets damp even on hot nights.

Good Luck with your star gazing adventure.

For helpful advice and tips, click on some of links I have added below.

ROYAL OBSERVATORY GREENWICH RECOMMENDED GUIDE

The bestselling stargazing handbook to the planets, stars and constellations visible from the northern hemisphere

This practical guidebook is an easy introduction to astronomy and a useful reference for seasoned stargazers. It includes 6 pages for each month covering January–December 2024.

It is designed for Britain and Ireland, but usable anywhere in the world between 40°N and 60°N, covering most of Europe, southern Canada and the northern United States.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SAMPLE PAGES AND TO ORDER YOUR COPY

“This is a great guide to the night sky at a great price” Astronomy Now

“A handy and straightforward guide.” British Astronomical Association’s ‘Journal’

“an ideal Christmas stocking-filler” The Observatory

From the UK’s Number One Astronomy publisher, this is the bestselling stargazing handbook to the planets, stars and constellations visible from the northern hemisphere. With 6 pages for each month covering January–December 2025.

This practical guide is an easy introduction to astronomy and a useful reference for seasoned stargazers.

Designed for Britain and Ireland but usable anywhere in the world between 40°N and 60°N, covering most of Europe, southern Canada and the northern United States.

• Advice on where to start looking and a map of dark sky sites to avoid light pollution.
• Charts for the circumpolar and seasonal constellations.
• Easy-to-use star charts for each month with descriptions of objects and events to look for in 2025.
• Positions of the moon, visible planets and eclipses.
• Includes a section on comets and a detailed map of the moon.
• Now in three editions: Britain and Ireland; North America; Southern Hemisphere.

Written and illustrated by astronomical experts, Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion, and approved by the astronomers of the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

Homepage | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Ovation Aurora Forecast | AuroraWatch UK (lancs.ac.uk)

AuroraWatch UK status (lancs.ac.uk)

Perseid meteor shower 2024 — When, where and how to see it | Space

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/perseid-meteor-shower-guide-uk-when-where-to-see

I confess that I am a fair-weather amateur astronomer so I am most enthusiastic about the Eta Aquarid and Perseid meteor showers.  The Eta Aquarids peak around the start of May and the Perseids during early August, but with warm nights here in the UK, it is the best time of year to sit outside with a blanket and flask of coffee for warmth.

Despite moonlight sometimes causing one’s eyes to lose their night light adjustment, I have still seen some amazing meteor showers during a full moon by blocking it out of my sightline.

My first ever serious attempts to observe the Perseid Meteor shower were when I moved to the village just north of the South Downs a few years ago.  I borrowed a few books from the library to help me but soon bought my first annual guide to the skies above the UK.

I have two excellent recommendations for anyone who wants to discover when, where and how to observe astronomical events.

The first is Collins 2024 Guide to the Night Sky by  Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion.  The first pages are educational information about constellations, planets, eclipses and an introduction to the month by month guides to exciting and interesting astronomical events.

These books are not limited to the annual events but build into a comprehensive guide to the study of astronomy, photography and advice on the best places to view the night skies.