Stargazers are in for a treat with two celestial events happening this week.
The UK will be treated to both the latest full moon of the year as well as the peak of an ongoing meteor shower.
Here is all to know about both events and how best to see them.
Buck Moon to appear over UK this week
A full moon, known as the Buck Moon, will illuminate the skies on 29 July.
The Buck Moon, named after the period when male deer begin to grow new antlers, is the second of three full moons this summer.
It will reach its peak at 3.36pm BST, though it will not be visible above the UK horizon at that exact moment.
The Royal Observatory in Greenwich also refers to July's full moon as the Thunder Moon, due to the summer storms often experienced during this month.
Although the moon will not be visible at its peak in the UK, it will still appear full to the naked eye overnight on Tuesday (July 28) and Wednesday (July 29).
Weather conditions look promising for moon gazing across large parts of the country.
Central, southern, and eastern regions of England are expected to enjoy mostly clear skies and mild conditions, making for ideal viewing opportunities.
Northern and western areas may experience more cloud cover, though any cloud is not expected to be widespread or accompanied by prolonged rain.
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Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland could see variable cloud, the occasional shower, and some clear spells.
Western Scotland is likely to be the cloudiest, while eastern and northern parts may have better chances of clear skies.
Delta Aquariid meteor shower to peak this week
The full moon is not the only astronomical event to look out for this week.
The Delta Aquariid meteor shower will also be reaching its peak.
This annual meteor shower takes place between July 12 and August 23, with this year's peak set for between Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31.
However, the brightness of the Buck Moon, which will be a waning gibbous on the night of the meteor shower’s peak, is expected to interfere with visibility.
The shower is named after the constellation Aquarius, as the meteors appear to radiate from near the star Delta Aquarii.
For the best chance of seeing meteors, the Royal Museums Greenwich shares the following tips:
- Make sure that you are in a dark sky area and have an unobstructed view towards the south
- Lie down on a blanket or sit in a lawn chair to ensure that you have a wide view of the sky
- Your naked eye is the best instrument to use to see meteors – don’t use binoculars or a telescope as these have narrow fields of view
- Allow your eyes to adapt to the dark and don’t look at any lights or at your phone to keep your eyes adapted to the dark
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It is not the only meteor shower to view this summer, with the Perseid meteor shower also active between July 17 and August 24.
The shower will peak overnight on August 12 and 13.
A partial solar eclipse is also coming to the UK this summer, on August 12, during which the Moon will cover around 90 to 96% of the Sun.
Will you be looking out for the Buck Moon or the Delta Aquariid meteor shower this week? Let us know in the comments.
