🌕 FULL MOON – THE STURGEON MOON
🗓 09 August 2025 | 13:24 IST
✨ Rises at dusk, sets at dawn —
lighting up the night sky in its fullest glory!
🔭 Known as the “Sturgeon Moon” in the modern calendar,
a name popularized by the Farmers’ Almanac,
rooted (partially) in Native American lore.
🌾 Ancient traditions offer more:
— “Weed Month” (Weod-mōnaþ) in Saxon England
— “Harvest Month” (Aran-mānod) in Carolingian times
🗓 This is the second full moon after the June solstice,
a marker of late summer skies and seasonal change.
No matter the name, it’s a moon worth watching.
Step outside and bask in the glow of time and tradition!
Discovered on February 5, 1873, by C.H.F. Peters in Clinton, New York, Asteroid 129 Antigone is now at opposition — its brightest and closest to Earth. Named after the heroic figure from Greek mythology, Antigone symbolizes defiance, loyalty, and justice. Roughly 84 miles wide, this metallic asteroid completes its orbit every 4 years and 311 days. A striking blend of science and mythology, Antigone shines in the night sky, offering a unique observational opportunity.
Separation: Saturn and Neptune will share the same right ascension, with Saturn passing 1°08′ to the south of Neptune.
Visibility from New Delhi: The pair will be visible in the morning sky, becoming accessible around 23:12, when they reach an altitude of 21° above your eastern horizon. They will then reach their highest point in the sky at 03:30, 60° above your southern horizon. They will be lost to dawn twilight around 04:41, 56° above your south-western horizon.
Saturn will be at mag 0.6, and Neptune at mag 7.8.
Minimum Monthly Lunar Standstill
Experience a rare moment in the Moon’s journey — when its path in the sky reaches the least extreme position. This minimum lunar standstill marks a subtle but significant pause in the Moon’s monthly rhythm across the heavens.
The Moon passes just 0.6° north of Antares, the fiery heart of the Scorpius constellation. Witness this striking conjunction as lunar glow meets stellar brilliance in the southern sky
Mag.: 9.3
🪨 ASTEROID 63 AUSONIA AT OPPOSITION
🗓 03 August 2025 | 05:28 IST
📍 Visible from New Delhi: 21:25 – 03:37
💫 Best time to observe: 00:31
— When it climbs 38° high in the southern sky
🔭 Located in Capricornus,
Ausonia is brightest and closest to Earth tonight,
making it ideal for telescopic viewing!
🌌 Rises in the southeast, sets in the southwest
✨ A perfect chance to catch a main-belt asteroid
in its full glory — all night long!
Mark your stargazing schedule —
this rocky relic is putting on a show!
Mercury slips between Earth and the Sun, reaching inferior conjunction—vanishing in the Sun’s glare! At just 4°56′ from the Sun, it’s completely hidden from view.
🌍 Closest to Earth at 0.59 AU
🌕 Largest angular size: 11.3 arcseconds
☀ Fully dark and unobservable for weeks
This marks Mercury’s shift from evening skies to a morning planet. A rare event in its 116-day cycle!
Unveil the moon’s breathtaking details, witness lunar craters, mountains, and the lunar landscape in stunning clarity through our powerful telescopes.
The program serves as a useful introduction to the world of Astronomy for newcomers. ‘Eye on the Sky’ will take the visitors are led by our stargazing expert into the discovery of our solar system in space (Moon and visible Planets) as well as introduce them to telescope as one of the most important tool used by astronomers.
Exploring the essential tools for celestial exploration. From telescopes to star charts, ‘Cosmic Tools’ equips you with the basics for a thrilling stargazing experience.
