It is Stampede week in Calgary and we've been hit with a heat wave. Hopefully you'll take some time in the evening to cool down in your backyard and look at the sky. However, there isn't much to see as far as significant astronomical events.
| Date | Event |
|---|
| July 9 | Mercury 0.04°N of M44 (Beehive Cluster) |
| July 13 | Neptune 0.9°N of Moon |
The Moon will be full this evening and, along with the heat, will contribute to insomnia across southern Alberta.
If you haven't caught
Jupiter yet this year I would encourage you to look to the southwest. It will be dipping down into the twilight soon and the Earth's atmosphere will destroy any good
seeing for the year. Saturn will be in a great position as it can be seen in the southern sky. It will be at an altitude of approximately 17° above the horizon just before midnight. It will not be for a few years before Saturn will be higher in the sky away from the poor seeing that comes being so low. Saturn's rings are pretty much tilted to their maximum and any small telescope will be able to make them out. If you are lucky and have moments of good seeing you may be able to see the divisions among the rings.
The great solar eclipse is almost a month away so you should be thinking about preparing for it.
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| Solar Eclipse |
If you are to travel from Calgary your quickest driving route will be Oregon, Idaho, or Wyoming. Below are some maps of the route of totality.
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| Oregon Totality |
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| Idaho Totality |
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| Wyoming Totality |
Calgary will see a partial eclipse with the New Moon covering approximately 77-78% of the face of the Sun. It will be dangerous to look at the Sun without proper protection during all times of the eclipse from Calgary. To view with your naked eye you should have certified solar glasses and, even then, do not stare at the Sun for long periods of time. If you are interested in a pair of these glasses please get in touch with me through my facebook page below.
https://www.facebook.com/simonjastronomy/
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