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May 2023 is set to be an exciting month for astronomy enthusiasts!
Written by
Matt Robinson
Tuesday, 02 May 2023
May 2023 is set to be an exciting month for astronomy enthusiasts around the world, with several astronomical events scheduled to occur during this time. From meteor showers to planetary alignments, let's take a closer look at what we can expect to see in the skies this May.
May is the month where we no longer see aurora in the northern hemisphere due to more hours of daylight. Our locations in northern Scandinavia will soon be bathing in 24 hours of sunlight as Spring finally arrives for them. Aurora season starts again in mid-August when the autumnal blanket of colour covers the northern hemisphere.
On May 6th, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will reach its peak. This meteor shower is created by the debris left behind by Halley's Comet, which passes through Earth's atmosphere each year. This year, the Eta Aquarids will be visible in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, with the best viewing conditions occurring after midnight. During the peak, skywatchers can expect to see up to 30 meteors per hour, streaking across the sky at speeds of up to 148,000 miles per hour.
Later in the month, on May 26th, there will be a total lunar eclipse visible from parts of North and South America, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a reddish hue on the Moon's surface. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as a "blood moon" and is a stunning sight to behold.
In conclusion, May 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting month for astronomy enthusiasts, with several celestial events scheduled to occur. Whether you're interested in meteor showers, planetary transits, or deep-sky objects, there's something for everyone to enjoy this May. So, mark your calendars, grab your telescopes, and get ready to explore the wonders of the universe.
We often get asked a great question. Is the Earth the only planet that has auroras? We put that question to our resident astronomer, Matt.
No, we are absolutely not the only planet to see aurora, similar atmospheric displays have been observed on all planets except Mercury due to its close proximity to the Sun.
Auroras occur in the atmosphere of the Earth because we have a strong magnetic field and the interaction between magnetically charged particles on the solar wind and gaseous molecules in our atmosphere. We see auroras on planets, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune from pretty much the same processes. The magnetic and atmospheric dynamics of all these planets are different so some have stronger auroras than others.
Jupiter's auroras are particularly striking and are much larger and more intense than those on Earth. They are caused by charged particles from the planet's magnetosphere colliding with the atmosphere near the poles. Jupiter’s magnetic field is 20,000 times stronger than the Earth’s.
Ultraviolet Aurora on Jupiter overlayed onto Hubble – Credit NASA
Saturn's auroras are also caused by interactions between charged particles and the planet's atmosphere, but they are less intense than those on Jupiter due to it having a weaker magnetic field.
Ultraviolet Aurora on Saturn overlayed onto Hubble – Credit NASA
Uranus and Neptune have weaker auroras than Jupiter and Saturn, and their auroras are thought to be caused by interactions between the planet's magnetic field and the solar wind. These planets are 1.8 and 2.8 billion miles from the Sun respectively, so it comes as no surprise that auroras here are weak and infrequent.
Aurora on Uranus – Credit NASA/ESA
Excitingly, auroras on Mars have only recently been photographed for the first time by the NASA MAVEN mission In 2018. Mars' auroras are thought to be caused by interactions between the solar wind and the localized magnetic fields on the planet's surface. Unlike Earth's auroras, which occur primarily at the polar regions, Mars' auroras can occur at lower latitudes, sometimes as far south as 30 degrees.
Aurora on Mars – Credit EMM/EMUS
So, auroras in some forms have been observed on 7 out of the 8 planets in our solar system. What makes ours special is we can observe ours with the naked eye and it’s much easier and safer to travel to our aurora zone than it is to Jupiter’s or Saturn’s.
Alison cherishes her native North-East of England, her family, friends and football. She earned a Master’s degree in acting from ALRA Drama School and returned to her homeland to open a children’s theatre school. Alison has always had an appetite for travel and relishes any opportunity to see the world and experience all it has to offer, especially its food!
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Favourite Experiences
· Husky and reindeer rides in Finland
· Sea kayaking around Lokrum Island in Croatia
· Hiking alongside levadas in Madeira
· Sampling Maxokk’s famous ftira in Gozo
· Participating in an authentic cookery class in Morocco
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Carla has spent four years living and working in Southern China, which taught her so much about different cultures and traditions. She has been fortunate enough to explore many amazing countries all over the world such as Mexico and India. She has also done some fantastic bucket list activities in some incredible places, such as Skiing in the Swiss Alps, riding Arab horses in the middle eastern desert and whale watching in Norway!
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What are coronal holes?
Coronal holes are regions on the Sun's surface where the corona, the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, appears darker and cooler than its surroundings. These areas are characterized by low-density plasma (the matter the Sun is made up of) and are a common feature of the Sun's magnetic field.
Coronal Hole - NASA SDO
Coronal holes are believed to be the source of high-speed solar wind particles that are constantly emitted into space. When the Sun's magnetic field lines in these regions open-up, they allow charged particles to stream out from the corona and into space. These charged particles, mostly electrons and protons, make up the solar wind.
Coronal holes can vary in size and location on the Sun's surface. They tend to be larger and more frequent near the solar poles, where the magnetic field lines are more open and less tightly packed. The size and frequency of coronal holes are also linked to the solar cycle, which follows an 11-year pattern of magnetic activity and sunspot activity.
When a coronal hole is facing the Earth, we can expect to experience increased geomagnetic activity within 2-3 days of the hole rotating onto the Earth facing side of the Sun. Increased geomagnetic activity is another term for increased potential of seeing the northern lights. Due to the increase in the solar wind speed, more charged particles within the solar wind will enter the atmosphere of the Earth, they will then react with oxygen and nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere and create the aurora borealis.
Image Credit - Gaute Bruvik and Visit Norway
So, if you spot a coronal hole on one of the many space weather warning websites, start getting excited.
Despite being relatively cool compared to their surroundings, coronal holes are still extremely hot, with temperatures in the range of 1 to 2 million degrees Celsius. This is because the temperature of the corona is not determined by its density, but by the activity of the Sun's magnetic field.
Scientists study coronal holes to better understand the Sun's magnetic field and its impact on the Earth and the rest of the solar system. By analysing the solar wind particles emitted from coronal holes, researchers can gain insight into the Sun's magnetic activity and its effects on the Earth's environment, including the formation of auroras and the impact of solar storms on communication and power systems.
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Jodie is our latest addition to the marketing team and is delighted to combine her passion for marketing with her love of travel. She has constant wanderlust and a giant bucket list that she wants to complete! She is also an award-winning photographer and enjoys capturing the incredible things she sees on her travels.
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SPECTACULAR NORTHERN LIGHTS DISPLAYS IN MARCH
The Northern Lights have made the headlines throughout February and March this year, with spectacular displays observed at our holiday destinations in the Arctic Circle.
The displays were so strong, they were even seen on the horizon across the UK.
But did we know this was going to happen and why?
Credit - Peter Forister
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A Review From Onboard The MS Quest
One of our most recently launched trips, onboard the MS Quest, where you'll go whale watching, cruise through Arctic Fjords, and hunting for the Northern Lights. Alex, a member of our Northern Lights Travel Expert team, has just got back from embarking on the maiden voyage and wrote this fantastic review of her time onboard. Check it out for yourself here.
An Interview with Photographer Owen Humphreys
I have been speaking to Press Association photographer Owen Humphreys about his love for the Northern Lights. Owen has been taking photos of the Northern Lights for nearly 10 years, ever since his first sighting of them over Whitley Bay in the North East of England. Here, he shares why he loves the Aurora Borealis, how he made a career as a photographer and shares his best tips and tricks for any Northern Lights enthusiasts.
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Confirmation that the Sun has more than one solar cycle.
Written by
Matt Robinson
Wednesday, 21 December 2022
Space weather is always changing and this week scientists from Stanford University have published a paper confirming, as suspected, that there is more than the 11-year solar cycle.
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