This month’s Guide to the Night Sky is up over at the Times. I found myself getting increasingly interested in the topic of noctilucent (’night shining’ clouds), so here’s the image of one made by the exhaust of the rocket that carried Phoenix to Mars.
The next few nights are perfect for viewing the International Space Station, as it’s in almost permanent sunlight. You can read my short note about it in the Times, or just go to the excellent Heavens Above for personalized predictions.
My column describing the May night sky is up over at the Times. Please click through if you have a chance. I was genuinely in two minds about what to write about the Eta Aquarid meteor shower; there’s a complete division between those predicting an excellent shower (60-80 ZHR*) and those expecting more normal rates (20-30). In either case, the low radiant doesn’t help, but in the end I decided that uncertainty just provides more of an incentive to go and look. I shall be getting up early on the 5th anyway as I’m heading down to Devon for Torquay United’s crucial play-off game, so I’ll report back.
* ZHR - Zenith Hourly Rate - the number of meteors an observer would see if the radiant were directly overhead.
The online version of this month’s Times Sky at Night column is written in a style that might be familiar to some of you.
And seriously, do go and look at the eclipse in a couple of weeks.
