2023-05-01 11:04:04
Dr. Ashraf Tadros, former head of the astronomy department, revealed The National Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Researchabout the most important astronomical phenomena and events during the month of May 2023, the most prominent of which are conjunctions and a semi-shadow eclipse of the moon.
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The former head of the astronomy department at the National Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Research said that the link between celestial bodies and human destiny is not from astronomy at all, but rather from matters of astrology, and astrology is not a science, but rather a craft such as palm reading, cups, striking deposits and opening the deck, all of which are presumptive matters related to divination. And the unseen, and the link between the conditions of the planets and their associations with the occurrence of earthquakes has no sound scientific basis. If that were true, it would have been noticed by astronomers hundreds of years ago.
He continued: “Night astronomical phenomena do not have any harm to human health or daily activity on Earth, except that the daytime phenomena related to the sun may be dangerous because looking at the sun with the naked eye generally harms the eye a lot.”
He summarized the study of astronomical events during a month in a number of phenomena:
May 5 – Full Moon (full moon Shawwal)
The disk of the moon is a full moon, and it rises immediately after sunset on this day, and its brightness reaches 100%, and it remains in the sky all night until it sets with sunrise the next morning.
It is worth noting that the moon appears to us as if it was full also in the period from 3 to 6 May, and this is because the naked eye cannot perceive the slight decrease in the roundness of the moon disk during this period.
This full moon is known to the American tribes as the moon of flowers because spring flowers grow abundantly at this time of the year, and it is also known as the corn moon and the milk moon, and the time of the full moon is the best time to see the terrain, volcanic craters and meteorites on the surface of the moon using binoculars and small telescopes.
May 5 – penumbral lunar eclipse
A lunar eclipse never occurs unless the moon is full, provided that it is in one straight line with the earth and the sun.
A semi-shadow eclipse of the moon occurs when the moon passes through the earth’s semi-shadow, and in this case the moon’s luster is slightly less than usual (almost imperceptible) and its color darkens slightly until it emerges from the earth’s semi-shadow.
This eclipse will be visible in East Africa, parts of eastern Europe, all parts of Asia and Australia, and the peak of the eclipse will be in Cairo at approximately 10:22 pm.
May 5-6 – Eta Aquarids meteor shower
These meteors are produced when the earth passes through the remnants of the famous Halley’s comet, and it was called the Eta Aquarius shower because the meteors fall as if they were coming from Aquarius near the star Eta (the brightest star of this constellation), which is the reason for its name, but meteors can appear anywhere else In the sky, the average number of visible meteors reaches 30 meteors per hour, but the full moon will be a problem this year, as it obscures most of the meteors except for the bright ones. The best time for viewing is after midnight from a completely dark place away from the city lights, provided the sky is clear and free of clouds .
May 7 – Moon and Antares
Antares, or Antares, is a red giant star 10 times more massive than the Sun and 600 light-years from Earth. It is the brightest star in the constellation Scorpio.
The moon conjuncts the star Antares on this day, and this conjunction can be seen with the unaided eye, towards the southeast, at approximately ten in the evening, and it remains visible throughout the night until the scene disappears from the severity of the morning twilight as a result of sunrise.
May 8 Mars and Pollux
Mars (the red planet) is paired with the giant star Pollux – in the constellation of Gemini / the twins, where we see them with the naked eye adjacent to each other in the sky immediately after sunset and at nightfall until it begins to set after almost midnight, and Pollux is a giant orange star that is larger It is about 3 times from the Sun and it is about 34 light-years away from Earth. It is noteworthy that Mars is near the star Pollux before and days after this conjunction.
May 13 – 14 – Moon and Saturn
The moon is associated at dawn with the planet Saturn (the pearl of the solar system) at this time, so that the moon will be to the right of Saturn on the 13th and then to the left of Saturn on the 14th. Morning due to sunrise.
May 17-18 – triple conjunction of the Moon, Jupiter and Mercury
The moon conjuncts Jupiter (the largest planet in the solar system) and Mercury (the smallest planet in the solar system) on the 17th, and this scene can be seen with the naked eye at 5:15 am towards the east just before sunrise, knowing that the moon is closest to Jupiter on the 17th. Then it is closer to Mercury on the 18th, and this scene appears until it quickly disappears due to the intensity of the morning twilight as a result of the sunrise.
May 19 – New Moon (Mahq Dhu al-Qi’dah)
The moon will not be visible in the sky all night on that day, as the moon rises with the sun and sets with it completely, so its luminous face is facing the sun and its dark side or its shadow is facing the earth.
This night is considered the best night during the month in general, which is preferred by astronomers a lot, as faint celestial bodies such as galaxies, star clusters, and distant constellation stars are spotted.
May 23 – 24 – quadruple conjunction of the Moon, Venus, Mars and Pollux
The moon is associated with Venus (the brightest planet in the solar system) and Mars (the red planet) and the star Pollux in the constellation of Gemini / the twins, where we see them with the naked eye in the sky towards the west immediately after sunset and entering the night, where Pollux mediates the distance between Venus and Mars, and is The moon is closest to Venus on the 23rd, then closer to Mars on the 24th. The scene begins at sunset after about eleven in the evening.
May 29 – Mercury is at its maximum elongation
The planet Mercury reaches its maximum western elongation from the sun, about 25 degrees, and this time is the best time to watch and photograph Mercury because it will be at its highest point in the sky above the eastern horizon just before sunrise until the scene disappears from the severity of the morning twilight as a result of sunrise. .
29 – Venus and Pollux
Venus (the brightest planet of the solar system) is associated with the star Pollux in the constellation of Gemini / the twins, where we see them with the naked eye adjacent to each other in the sky immediately after sunset and the entry of night until the scene begins to set after about eleven in the evening, noting that Pollux is a giant star Orange in color, about 3 times larger than the sun, and about 34 light-years away from Earth. It is noteworthy that Venus is near the star Pollux before and days after this conjunction.
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