{"id":5454,"date":"2018-05-04T09:50:46","date_gmt":"2018-05-04T13:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/?p=5454"},"modified":"2025-08-13T18:56:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T22:56:13","slug":"summer-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/2018\/05\/04\/summer-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The summer of 2018 will be a rather boring summer for astronomical events.\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps the biggest event of the summer will be the Perseid meteor shower.\u00a0 <\/span>This year\u2019s shower will last from August 8 to August 17.\u00a0 <\/span>The moon will be approaching or just past new moon throughout the meteor shower, so moonlight blocking out dimmer meteors will not be an issue.\u00a0 <\/span>Warm August weather should make it comfortable to sit outside or lie down on a blanket and look toward the northeast.\u00a0 <\/span>At its peak, the Perseids will produce and average of a meteor per minute.\u00a0 <\/span>The best time to view the meteors is after midnight.\u00a0 <\/span>Below is a listing of the days of the shower and the number of meteors that may be expected on that date.<\/p>\n

Date \u00a0 <\/span>Event<\/p>\n

08\/08 5.3 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/09 7.9 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/10 13 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/11 23 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/12 43 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/13 57 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/14 38 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/15 20 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/16 12 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/17 7.2 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>The International Space Station will make several close passes to various planets and stars during the summer.\u00a0 <\/span>It will also pass over the sun once.\u00a0 <\/span>The best way to follow the ISS is to download one of several apps to your phone. Here are two that I like to use–ISS Detector Satellite Tracker or Heavens\u2013Above.\u00a0 <\/span>Please remember: DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN.\u00a0 <\/span>You will need a solar filter and binoculars or a small telescope to see the ISS pass over the sun.<\/p>\n

Date \u00a0 <\/span>Time\u00a0 <\/span>Event<\/p>\n

05\/05 03:41 ISS passes 0.28 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

05\/22 21:36 ISS passes 0.3 degrees from the moon.<\/p>\n

05\/27 02:09 ISS passes 0.7 degrees from the moon.<\/p>\n

06\/03 19:06 ISS crosses the face of the sun.<\/p>\n

06\/07 20:26 ISS passes 1.4 degrees from Venus.<\/p>\n

08\/06 21:02 ISS passes 0.8 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>If you have trouble identifying the planets, you should try looking on the dates listed below.\u00a0 <\/span>The moon will pass near the given planet on the date listed.\u00a0 <\/span>This will aid in finding the planet.<\/p>\n

Date \u00a0 <\/span>Time\u00a0 <\/span>Event<\/p>\n

05\/06 02:24 Moon 1.7 degrees from Mars.<\/p>\n

05\/31 22:54 Moon 1.7 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

06\/14 20:36 Moon 7.1 degrees from Mercury.<\/p>\n

06\/16 20:30 Moon 6.9 degrees from Venus.<\/p>\n

06\/23 20:42 Moon 3.9 degrees from Jupiter.<\/p>\n

07\/20 23:00 Moon 3.4 degrees from Jupiter.<\/p>\n

07\/25 02:48 Moon 1.3 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

07\/27 21:30 Moon 6.6 degrees from Mars.<\/p>\n

08\/17 19:54 Moon 6.5 degrees from Jupiter.<\/p>\n

08\/21 00:18 Moon 3.3 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

08\/23 19:30 Moon 7.2 degrees from Mars.<\/p>\n

Have a good summer and keep looking up at the sky.<\/p>\n

THE NIGHT SKY<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>To get more information on astronomy in northern Maine check out the Aroostook County Astronomy Club\u2019s web page at http:\/\/aroostookastronomy.strikingly.com\/ or join our Facebook page at the \u201cAroostook County Astronomy Club\u201d page.<\/p>\n

The International Space Station is visible as follows:<\/p>\n

Mornings\u2013May 2 through May 29.<\/p>\n

Evenings\u2013May 18 through June 8.<\/p>\n

Mornings\u2013July 1 through July 29.<\/p>\n

Evenings\u2013 July 14 through August 10.<\/p>\n

Mornings\u2013August 29 through Sept. 21.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>For the times of other events, go to www.calsky.com.\u00a0 <\/span>You will need to register at this site and load your location to be able to get exact times.\u00a0 <\/span>The University of Maine at Presque Isle is located at 68d00m7.8s west longitude and 46d40m45.6s north latitude.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>To get a free sky chart go to www.skymaps.com.<\/p>\n

Sun and Planet Visibility<\/p>\n

05\/01\/2018<\/p>\n

05:17 Sunrise.<\/p>\n

19:41 Sunset.<\/p>\n

Not visible Mercury.<\/p>\n

19:42\u201322:06 Venus.<\/p>\n

01:24\u201305:06 Mars.<\/p>\n

20:12\u201305:00 Jupiter.<\/p>\n

00:18\u201304:42 Saturn.<\/p>\n

06\/01\/2018<\/p>\n

04:42 Sunrise.<\/p>\n

20:17 Sunset.<\/p>\n

Not visible Mercury.<\/p>\n

20:18 \u2013 22:54 Venus.<\/p>\n

00:06 \u2013 04:24 Mars.<\/p>\n

20:24 \u2013 03:36 Jupiter.<\/p>\n

22:06 \u2013 04:06 Saturn.<\/p>\n

07\/01\/2018<\/p>\n

04:42 Sunrise.<\/p>\n

20:28 Sunset.<\/p>\n

21:06 \u2013 21:54 Mercury.<\/p>\n

20:30 \u2013 22:36 Venus.<\/p>\n

22:30 \u2013 04:30 Mars.<\/p>\n

20:42 \u2013 01:30 Jupiter.<\/p>\n

21:06 \u2013 04:06 Saturn.<\/p>\n

08\/01\/2018<\/p>\n

04:42 Sunrise.<\/p>\n

20:17 Sunset.<\/p>\n

Not visible Mercury.<\/p>\n

20:00 \u2013 21:42 Venus.<\/p>\n

20:18 \u2013 04:12 Mars.<\/p>\n

20:18 \u2013 23:30 Jupiter.<\/p>\n

20:36 \u2013 02:18 Saturn.<\/p>\n

09\/01\/2018<\/p>\n

05:51 Sunrise.<\/p>\n

19:10 Sunset.<\/p>\n

04:24 \u2013 05:36 Mercury.<\/p>\n

19:12 \u2013 20:18 Venus.<\/p>\n

19:24 \u2013 01:54 Mars.<\/p>\n

19:24 \u2013 21:36 Jupiter.<\/p>\n

19:42 \u2013 00:12 Saturn.<\/p>\n

Upcoming Sky Events<\/p>\n

05\/04 HAPPY STAR WARS DAY.<\/p>\n

05\/05 00:42 Moon 4.8 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

05\/05 03:41 ISS passes 0.28 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

05\/06 02:24 Moon 1.7 degrees from Mars.<\/p>\n

05\/07 22:08 Last Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

05\/08 20:39 Jupiter in opposition \u2013 directly behind the Earth.<\/p>\n

05\/13 08:36 Mercury 2.2 degrees from Uranus.<\/p>\n

05\/15 07:47 New Moon.<\/p>\n

05\/21 23:49 First Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

05\/22 21:36 ISS passes 0.3 degrees from the moon.<\/p>\n

05\/27 02:09 ISS passes 0.7 degrees from the moon.<\/p>\n

05\/29 10:30 Full Moon.<\/p>\n

05\/31 22:54 Moon 1.7 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

06\/03 19:06 ISS crosses the face of the sun.\u00a0 <\/span>DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN.\u00a0 <\/span>You will need a solar filter and binoculars or a small telescope to see this event.<\/p>\n

06\/05 22:00 Mercury at superior conjunction \u2013 behind the sun.<\/p>\n

06\/06 14:31 Last Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

06\/07 20:26 ISS passes 1.4 degrees from Venus.<\/p>\n

06\/13 15:43 New Moon.<\/p>\n

06\/14 20:36 Moon 7.1 degrees from Mercury.<\/p>\n

06\/16 04:38 Earliest sunrise.<\/p>\n

06\/16 20:30 Moon 6.9 degrees from Venus.<\/p>\n

06\/20 06:50 First Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

06\/21 06:07 Northern Summer Solstice.<\/p>\n

06\/23 20:42 Moon 3.9 degrees from Jupiter.<\/p>\n

06\/26 20:29 Latest sunset of the year.<\/p>\n

06\/27 09:00 Saturn at opposition \u2013 directly behind the Earth..<\/p>\n

06\/27 23:35 Moon 0.95 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

06\/28 00:53 Full Moon.<\/p>\n

06\/30 23:18 Moon 4.3 degrees from Mars.<\/p>\n

07\/02 00:12 to 01:13 Moon eclipses Deneb Algedi (Delta Capricorn).<\/p>\n

07\/06 03:50 Last Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

07\/06 12:47 Earth at aphelion \u2013 farthest from the sun \u2013 94,508.169 miles.<\/p>\n

07\/12 01:30 Mercury at greatest eastern elongation \u2013 26.4 degrees \u2013 visible in the evening.<\/p>\n

07\/12 22:47 New Moon.<\/p>\n

07\/14 20:48 Moon 1.5 degrees from Mercury.<\/p>\n

07\/15 21:42 Moon 2.1 degrees from Venus.<\/p>\n

07\/16 20:00 Perseid Meteor Shower begins (end 08\/24).<\/p>\n

07\/19 15:52 First Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

07\/20 49th anniversary of Apollo 11\u2019s landing on the moon (1969).<\/p>\n

07\/20 23:00 Moon 3.4 degrees from Jupiter.<\/p>\n

07\/25 02:48 Moon 1.3 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

07\/27 01:13 Mars at opposition \u2013 behind the Earth.<\/p>\n

07\/27 16:20 Full Moon.<\/p>\n

07\/27 21:30 Moon 6.6 degrees from Mars.<\/p>\n

08\/04 14:18 Last Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

08\/06 21:02 ISS passes 0.8 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

08\/08 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 5.3 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/08 22:06 Mercury in inferior conjunction \u2013 passing between the sun and Earth.<\/p>\n

08\/09 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 7.9 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/10 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 12.9 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/10 14:00 Moon at perigee \u2013 closest to the Earth \u2013222,496 miles.<\/p>\n

08\/11 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 23 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/11 05:57 New Moon.<\/p>\n

08\/12 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 43 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/13 02:00 Perseid Meteor Shower Maximum \u2013 57 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/14 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 38 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/14 19:42 Moon 5.9 degrees from Venus.<\/p>\n

08\/15 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 20 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/16 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 11.5 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/17 04:00 Perseid Meteor Shower \u2013 7.2 meteors\/hour.<\/p>\n

08\/17 13:30 Venus at greatest eastern elongation (45.9 degrees) visible in the evening sky.<\/p>\n

08\/17 19:54 Moon 6.5 degrees from Jupiter.<\/p>\n

08\/18 03:48 First Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

08\/21 00:18 Moon 3.3 degrees from Saturn.<\/p>\n

08\/23 19:30 Moon 7.2 degrees from Mars.<\/p>\n

08\/26 07:56 Full Moon.<\/p>\n

08\/26 16:36 Mercury at greatest elongation west (18.3 degrees) \u2013 visible in morning sky.<\/p>\n

09\/02 22:37 Last Quarter Moon.<\/p>\n

09\/07 05:11 ISS passes 1.1 degrees from Deneb (Alpha Cygnus).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 The summer of 2018 will be a rather boring summer for astronomical events.\u00a0 Perhaps the biggest event of the summer will be the Perseid meteor shower.\u00a0 This year\u2019s shower will last from August 8 to August 17.\u00a0 The moon will be approaching or just past new moon throughout the meteor shower, so moonlight […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7381],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archives","et-doesnt-have-format-content","et_post_format-et-post-format-standard"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5454"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8624,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5454\/revisions\/8624"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.umpi.edu\/utimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}