July 2020 – Page 2 – Astronomy Now

Set your sights on Saturn

20 July 2020 Mark Armstrong

The magnificent ringed planet Saturn, the jewel in the Solar System’s crown, comes to opposition on the night of 20/21 July. At around this time, the ringed wonder offers its best observing circumstances for 2020.

United Arab Emirates successfully sends its first mission toward Mars

20 July 2020 Astronomy Now

Riding a Japanese rocket, the Arab world’s first interplanetary probe departed planet Earth on Sunday to begin a seven-month journey to Mars on a dual mission of scientific exploration and proving the mettle of the UAE’s growing space programme.

Don’t miss Comet NEOWISE in the evening

17 July 2020 Mark Armstrong

Comet 2020 F3 (NEOWISE) is proving to be a smash hit, provoking an incredible level of interest as it captivates astronomers across the Northern Hemisphere, who have been crying out for a comet that’s visible to the naked-eye and also looks like a ‘proper’ comet.

Solar Probe finds small flares – ‘campfires’ – that may help heat the corona

16 July 2020 Astronomy Now

The first images from the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter spacecraft provide spectacular close-range views of the sun.

Astronomers catch the afterglow of a short gamma ray burst

14 July 2020 Astronomy Now

Astronomers catch the faint afterglow of an extremely remote short gamma ray burst, raising new questions about stellar evolution.

The Very Large Telescope peers into the Crux of the Milky Way, revealing a sea of stars

14 July 2020 Astronomy Now

The Very Large Telescope and the FORS instrument look into the Southern Cross, revealing a sea of colourful stars scattered like gems on black velvet.

Innovative Japanese telescope spots red dwarf superflare in Leo

14 July 2020 Astronomy Now

Japanese telescope spots a dozen flares on a red dwarf star in Leo, including a powerful superflare.

Your best chance to see Jupiter this year

13 July 2020 Mark Armstrong

Mighty Jupiter, the king of the planets, comes to opposition at 08:00 UT on 14 July, the moment when it lies opposite the Sun in sky at a distance of 619.4 million kilometres (384 million miles), or 4.139 astronomical units.

Juno captures sharp view of ‘Clyde’s Spot’ on stormy Jupiter

8 July 2020 Astronomy Now

A bright spot discovered on Jupiter by an amateur astronomer is revealed as a convective storm, or eruption, in close-range images captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft.

A naked-eye comet graces our skies

7 July 2020 Mark Armstrong

Comet 2020 F3 (NEOWISE) is putting on a fine showing in the pre-dawn northern sky after emerging intact from perihelion (closest point to the Sun).