Moon to Pass Close to Antares, the Red Supergiant, on August 30

Fast Summary

• The half-lit moon will appear alongside the red star Antares in the constellation Scorpius around its first quarter phase on Aug. 30-31.
• On Aug. 30, skywatchers can view the moon approximately 20 degrees above the southwestern horizon at sunset, with Antares visible roughly 5 degrees to its upper left.
• The first quarter moon officially occurs at 2:25 a.m. (0625 GMT) on Aug. 31, revealing illuminated lunar plains Mare Serenitatis and Mare Tranquilitatis.
• By sunset on aug. 31, the moon will shift leftward relative to Antares, which is part of a binary star system but appears as a bright red point to observers.
• Following its alignment with Antares, the moon will move through other constellations-Sagittarius, Capricornus, and Aquarius-before reaching a full moon phase on Sept. 7 during a total lunar eclipse leading to a “blood moon.”
• astrophotography guides and equipment suggestions for watching celestial events are available online.

Images included:

1. Half-lit first quarter moon against blue sky:

!Moon Image

1. Star map showing Antares near the Moon:

!Scorpius Constellation Image

Indian Opinion Analysis

The upcoming visual alignment of the half-lit Moon with prominent celestial objects like Antares represents an intriguing opportunity for amateur astronomers in India to deepen their gratitude of astro-observation and cosmic phenomena. Events like this highlight India’s increasing participation in space exploration initiatives while promoting scientific curiosity among citizens.

India’s geographical positioning frequently enough provides clear skies for such occurrences across much of its territory during late August evenings-a boon for professional astronomers and hobbyists alike post-monsoon season if weather permits.

This event could renew interest in stargazing communities throughout India as well as bolster educational programs aligned with ISRO’s growing ambitions toward lunar exploration projects post-Chandrayaan missions-all rooted within increased public interface w/ observing tools milestone-cultural base!!

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