Sky-Gazing in Richmond

 

If you are fan of star gazing, astronomy or "The Big Bang Theory," or are looking for an excuse to cuddle with your honey under the stars, Thursday, Aug. 12 is the evening for you in Richmond. It will be the peak time to view the Perseids meteor shower, the most easily seen shower for the U.S. There is also a chance of seeing up to five planets and numerous satellites. Maybe even the International Space Station! (Caution – science content) Meteor showers are debris from comets. As the Earth travels through a comet’s stream, we see a meteor shower, or a series of "shooting stars," as the debris enters our atmosphere and burns up. The Perseids shower will appear to come from the Perseus constellation in the northeast sky. Best viewing time to see multiple meteors (up to 60 per hour!) is between 1 a.m. and dawn.

Twilight ends at 9:45 p.m. (when the sky is fully dark), and luckily this year the moon will be but a crescent sliver and thus not lighting up the sky, so if the sky is clear we may be able to see some meteors before the 11 p.m. news. To view a meteor shower, you want to head to a place that has few lights, is away from the glow of the city and oncoming car headlights (so the roof of your Fan apartment is not a good choice), and where you have a good clear view of the sky (for the Perseids you want a clear view of the northeast sky).

Take it from my personal experience, if you try to watch a meteor shower where there are too many lights, trees or clouds you will be in for a long disappointing evening. Take a lawn chair or blanket, lie down and just look up and wait. It can take your eyes up to 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness, so be patient. You want to scan the sky with your eyes. It does not help to use binoculars or a telescope; you want to have the broadest view possible. Make sure you have bug spray, too. And cold beverages and snacks. According to John Raymond, Outreach Coordinator for Richmond Astronomical Society (RAS), Richmonders with binoculars or telescopes could spot up to five planets plus satellites on Aug. 12.

To honor this occasion and the meteor shower the RAS is sponsoring a special Skywatch at Bryan Park, 8 to 10 p.m., which is open to the public. A Skywatch is a gathering of astronomers who bring their telescopes to a site in order to provide visitors a view of the sky. RAS members will be on hand with telescopes for planet and satellite observing and information to help you spot what the sky has to offer if you bring your own. The RAS and the  Science Museum of Virginia regularly host a skywatch on the front lawn of the Science Museum on the third Friday of each month.

Raymond says that for the next few weeks Venus, which will look like a bright white spot and is often mistaken for a UFO or airplane, will be paired with the moon just above the western horizon and set slowly after sunset. With a telescope Saturn (even its rings) and Mars can be visible after twilight fades, near the moon, but not as bright as Venus. Mercury may be seen with binoculars right after sunset. Finally Jupiter will be rising after 10 p.m. The RAS website has a link to International Space Station (ISS) visibility times/dates and star charts at  RichMond ISS path and skychart for August.

RAS is an all-volunteer group that has been around since 1949. RAS meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at Science Museum of Virginia. At the meetings they discuss recent astronomical news, updates on projects and events, and listen to astronomy related presentations. They own an observatory, Ragland Observatory, near Robious Road.

The dues per year are $30. To operate the Ragland telescope, you need to be trained in it and become a staff member; if you are a staff member, that is an extra $10. In addition, members can receive discounts in subscribing to "Sky and Telescope" and "Astronomy" magazines. To apply for membership, renew membership, or subscribe to the magazines, go to the RAS membership page.