I am planning to take a bike trip around the country and visit different landmarks, in particular old ruins and castles. To assist in route planning, I made a map that shows all the best preserved and most recognized structures.
Month: May 2014
Moon Halo 14 May 2014
Eta-Aquariids 2014
Eta-Aquariids are one of two meteor shower associated with Halley’s Comet. With the radiant in constellation Aquarius (located close to the stars that resemble Mercedes sign), this is southern hemisphere meteor shower. Eta-Aquariids are best seen by the observers located in the southern hemisphere. The radiant rises in the morning, so you are able to see those meteors only in the final two hours before dawn. Therefore you must observe from a location with low levels of light pollution in the east. The shower has very broad peak of maximum activity from 4th to 8th May. ZHR is variable from 40 to 130 as seen in last year’s outburst.
Within two days of observation I was able to capture only one meteor.
Date: 5 May 2014 03:07 UT
Equipment: Nikon D3000, Tokina 11-16mm@11mm, f/2.8, ISO 800, 80s
Sky this month – May 2014
Here is a list of astronomical events for given month. Location dependent events listed here are visible from central Europe.
MAY 2014:
04 – Occultation of bright star λ Gem (magnitude +3.6) by Moon at ~ 20UT, depending on the location of the observer – more details.
06 – η-Aquariids meteor shower peaks at 7h UT, ZHR predictions up to 55.
10 – Mars reaches opposition for 2014, shining at magnitude +0.1. Saturn’s rings appear much more impressive than in recent years, since they are now tipped by 21.5 ° from edge on.
13 – A double shadow transit of Jupiter’s moons occurs from 9:20-9:32 UT.
14 – Full Moon at 19:16 UT.
15 – A close conjunction of Venus and Uranus occurs, visible in the morning.
15 – Asteroid 9 Metis reaches opposition, shining at magnitude +9.6.
24 – Possible meteor storm due to a debris left behind by a comet known as 209P/LINEAR. Simulations suggest a brief but intense burst of meteors with strongest activity between 7h anb 8h UT. Radiant in constellation Camelopardalis.
25 – Mercury reaches greatest evening evening elongation, 22.7 degrees east of the Sun.
28 – New Moon at 18:40 UT.
31 – Asteroid 15 Eunomia reaches opposition, shining at magnitude +9.5.