RADARBANGSA.COM – Tonight the sky will be a little crowded with the presence of three celestial phenomena that can be witnessed. The three phenomena of the night sky are Uranus’ solar opposition, the peak of the Southern Taurid meteor shower and the new moon phase.
The following is an explanation of three celestial phenomena and how to witness them:
1. Uranus’ solar opposition phenomenon
Citing Kompas.com, Uranus’ solar opposition is a configuration when Uranus, Earth and the Sun are in a straight line. Opposition on Uranus is the same as the opposition phase or full moon on the Moon, so Uranus can be seen at its brightest when viewed from Earth.
Researcher at the Center for Space Science of the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN) of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Andi Princeg said, when there was opposition, Uranus was under the horizon in a west-northwest direction and was 18.74 sa or 2.81 billion km with an angular diameter of 3.66 arcseconds.
Uranus can be seen from the beginning of nautical twilight, which is 25 minutes after sunset, from east-northeast until the next day at the end of the sea about 25 minutes before sunrise from west-northwest and is located between the constellations Aries and Cetus.
“There is no light interference from the Moon that can reduce the intensity of Uranus’ light because the Moon is still in the New Moon phase,” said Andi explaining the sky phenomenon that will occur tonight to Kompas.com, Saturday (30/10/2021).
The peak of the sky phenomenon of Uranus’ opposition tonight, occurred at 07.08 WIB, 08.08 WIT, 09.09 WIT with a visual magnitude of +5.7.
To be able to see the solar opposition of Uranus, a telescope with a small lens diameter (< 25 cm) is required and with clear weather conditions, free from light pollution and any obstructions around the field of view.
2. The peak phenomenon of the Southern Taurid meteor shower
The Southern Taurid Meteor Shower is a meteor shower whose radian point of origin is in the southern constellation Taurus near the constellation Cetus.
The sky phenomenon of the Southern Taurid Meteor shower tonight, comes from the dust remnants of Comet Encke, which orbits the Sun with a period of 3.3 years, as well as the asteroid 2004 TG10, which is the parent object of the North Taurid meteor shower.
Andi explained that the separation of the Taurid meteor shower into North and South Taurids was caused by perturbation or changes in gravitational interactions, especially on the planet Jupiter.
It is known that this meteor shower has been active since September 25 and will still be active until November 25 and its maximum intensity will occur on November 6, 10:35 WIB, 11:35 WIT, 12:35 WIT.
To be able to observe the sky phenomenon from the peak of the South Taurid meteor shower, you can watch it as early as 18.30 local time starting tonight, Friday (11/5/2021) from the east-northeast direction.
Tonight’s sky phenomenon from this meteor shower can still be observed until 04.30 local time the next morning, Saturday (6/11/2021) from the west-northwest.
Meanwhile, the maximum intensity of this meteor shower is around 4 meteors per hour for the territory of Indonesia because the height of the radian point during transit varies between 64-81 degrees.
To be able to see it well, make sure the field of view is free from obstructions, light pollution and clouds when observing this meteor shower.
“You don’t need to use any tools unless you want to record it, you can use an all-sky camera with a 360-degree field of view directed to the zenith,” he explained.
3. New Moon Phase Phenomenon
The new Moon phase, also known as the Moon’s solar conjunction, is the configuration when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth and aligns with the Sun and Earth.
Given the Moon’s orbit which forms an angle of 5.1 degrees to the ecliptic, the Moon’s shadow does not always fall on the Earth’s surface during a new Moon phase, so each new Moon phase does not always coincide with a solar eclipse.
This New Moon phase occurs on November 5 at 04.14 WIB, 05.14 WITA, 06.14 WIT with a distance of 359,854 km from Earth and is located in the constellation Libra.
Andi explained that the sky conditions on November 5 at midnight, Saturn had set while Jupiter was at a low horizon (altitude < 15 degrees) in the west and began to set an hour later.
Jupiter and Saturn can be seen again from the beginning of nautical twilight, which is 25 minutes after sunset until midnight the next day.
Meanwhile, Mars is close enough to the Sun that it cannot be seen all night.
Mercury can be seen from the early dawn of the sea or about 50 minutes before sunrise for 25 minutes from the east.
Venus can be seen for 3 hours from the start of twilight in the west-southwest direction.
Meanwhile, the height of the Moon in Indonesia at sunset varies between +4.94 degrees (Jayapura) to +6.28 degrees (Pelabuhanratu) with the elongation angle to the Sun varying between 5.63 degrees (Jayapura) to 7.32 degrees (Sabang). so that the Moon can be observed using a tool.
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