Dark Skies Update – August 2024

Issues about Dark Skies and light pollution seem to me to be having a hard time with an emphasis on development.

Objections to light pollution seem to be given very little time. Perhaps we need to relaunch a national or local campaign for people and businesses to simply switch off unnecessary lighting. But there in lies the catch – how do we know what is necessary and what isn’t? Time and time again, safety and security are the ripostes to prevent the use of less polluting lights. I think these are unimaginative responses lacking creativity and innovation – but they continue to make the night light.

I work a lot with Bats and bats are having a difficult time -these small mammals eat only insects and their food is in short supply. The famous BBQ bat or Pipistrelle – Soprano and Alto eat up to 3,500 midges a night – yes, true a Phd student listened to the feeding clicks whilst following Pipistrelle on a night time forage. Climate change is not helping these small mammals and they seem to be going through a difficult PR time – so for August when you have the glass of whatever on the patio, lie back and enjoy the flying displays of these nocturnal masters before looking for the early planets or stars,

So what is to be seen in the August dark sky?

Watch out for the Perseid Meteor Show, peaking around about the 12^th August. Best to look for the W of Cassiopeia  for the meteors where they will  or should be quite frequent.

August:

Obviously just is really about Saturn this year where very good views will be available. A  great cue will be on August 21^st when Saturn is due to be occulted by the moon(covered)

Obviously seeing the moon occulting Saturn is of interest but it is the opportunity to find Saturn in the sky easily and see the rings – good binoculars or small telescope will help,

Look for this conjunction south of the moon and Pleiades on 1^st of August and through the rest of the month. Jupiter will be shining bright.

Enjoy the bats!!