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Forbes
6 hours ago
- Science
- Forbes
See A Crescent Moon Embrace Venus And Jupiter: The Night Sky This Week
The 4-day-old waxing crescent Moon. (Photo by: Alan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty ... More Images) Each Monday, I pick out North America's celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more. The Night Sky This Week: July 21–27, 2025 As July enters its final stretch, the pre-dawn and post-sunset sky steals the spotlight with an exquisite series of moon-planet encounters. In the early hours of the first part of the week, a waning crescent moon in the east will first meet Venus and Aldebaran, then Jupiter, all the while displaying delicate "Earthshine" light. As it darts in, then out of the sun's glare, it will reappear in the west and, by week's end, join Mars. Here's everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week: Monday, July 21: A Triangle Of Moon, Venus And Aldebaran Monday, July 21: A Triangle Of Moon, Venus And Aldebaran Wake early this morning — about 45 minutes before sunrise — and look east to witness a panorama of a 15%-lit waning crescent moon above the eastern horizon. Look for a triangle with the moon top, Venus beneath and the bright orange star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus to the side. Earthshine — the faint glow caused by sunlight reflecting off Earth and onto the lunar surface — will add a magical touch to the view. Above will be the sparkling Pleiades star cluster. Tuesday, July 22: A Chain Of Moon, Venus And Aldebaran Tuesday, July 22: A Chain Of Moon, Venus And Aldebaran This morning's sky offers one of the richest pre-dawn lineups of the season. A slender 7%-lit crescent moon will hang low in the east, with brilliant Venus to its right, Aldebaran beyond, and the glittering Pleiades cluster above. Wednesday, July 23: Crescent Moon And Jupiter Wednesday, July 23: Crescent Moon And Jupiter Today marks the final morning to glimpse the moon before it enters its new phase. Just 3%-lit, the razor-thin crescent would typically be challenging to spot, but since it will be just five degrees to the left of Jupiter close to the east-northeast, it should be easy pickings in the 45 minutes before sunrise, though a flat, unobstructed horizon and a clear sky will be key. Friday, July 25: A Waxing Crescent Moon Friday, July 25: A Waxing Crescent Moon With the new moon yesterday, the scene is set for some much more convenient post-sunset sights of our natural satellite at its most delicate. Scan the western horizon 30 minutes after sunset for a 2%-lit waxing crescent moon. A cloudless view and possibly binoculars will be needed to spot it. Saturday, July 26: Waxing Crescent Moon And Regulus Saturday, July 26: Waxing Crescent Moon And Regulus Tonight's crescent moon, now 6%-lit, will be easier to spot and be joined by Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Look west about 45 minutes after sunset to find the moon sitting just two degrees to the left of Regulus. A hot, blue-white star roughly 79 light-years away, Regulus is one of four royal stars of ancient Persia. Sunday, July 27: Waxing Crescent Moon And Mars Sunday, July 27: Waxing Crescent Moon And Mars With the crescent moon now 11% lit, it will be higher in the western sky after sunset than it was last night. Just to its upper left will shine Mars, past its best but still unmistakable. The mostly unlit face of the moon will be faintly illuminated by Earthshine, the ghostly glow on the moon's night side. Though visible to the naked eye, binoculars reveal it in detail, especially during crescent phases. The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Bloomberg
12 hours ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Winter Is Coming for Oil — And Not in a Positive Way
The oil market is deceptively calm. Below the apparent tranquility lies an underappreciated transformation that has slowly reshaped the market over the last 25 years — because the arrival of China and India as big consumers hasn't just given an enormous boost to demand, it's also altered the market's seasonality. And that matters a lot this year. Until recently, global oil demand peaked every year with the arrival of the Northern Hemisphere's winter. As temperatures dropped from October onward, heating oil and kerosene consumption spiked from the US to Germany to Japan. Hence, as recently as 2014, the fourth quarter still marked the annual high for crude demand and, typically, prices. Since then, the seasonality has flipped: Now, the third quarter sees higher demand and prices. The shift means the market is now at its tightest from July to September, rather than October to December. While one-time events can still have an effect — the 2008 global financial crisis, for example, or the Covid-19 pandemic that started in early 2020 — looking over a long enough timescale reveals the change clearly. Because it happened incrementally over a quarter of a century, it often doesn't get the attention it deserves. But the chart below makes it obvious.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Everything you need to know about the Perseid meteor shower
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The will start in the evening on July 17, bringing thousands of shooting stars to skies across the Northern Hemisphere. Here's everything you need to know about it. WHAT ARE THEY? happen when a group of meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere from one specific point in the sky. Once a meteoroid enters the atmosphere, it becomes a meteor. As the atmosphere eats away at them, meteors leave a trail of debris. Because of the high speeds, they appear like a bright streak of light. The Perseids, considered the most prolific meteor shower of the year, earned the name because they appear to come from the constellation Perseus. The showers happen every night until Aug. 23 and typically peak on Aug. 12. WHERE DO METEORS COME FROM? Meteors are bits of broken asteroids and leftover particles from comets. The meteors in the Perseid meteor shower come from one specific comet: . According to NASA, Swift-Tuttle takes approximately 133 years to orbit the Sun. The comet was first discovered in 1862 by astronomers Lewis Swift and Horace Tuttle. Three years later, Giovanni Schiaparelli discovered that the Perseid meteors came from the comet. Swift-Tuttle last passed near Earth in 1992. It is forecasted to pass by Earth again in 2126. HOW MANY METEORS ARE THERE? Typically, the Perseids average about 25 meteors per hour, but sometimes they reach anywhere between flash in an hour. The highest rates are between 150 and 200 meteors, but that's only in 'outburst' years and when they also have low moonlight. HOW FAST ARE THEY MOVING? A typical meteoroid from the Perseids is traveling at more than 133,000 miles per hour when it hits the planet's atmosphere. Most of them are extremely small and are quickly destroyed. In rare situations, meteor fragments will make it to the ground. That's when the term changes from meteor to meteorite. The speed combined with the friction of the atmosphere drastically heats up the meteors. NASA estimates they reach upwards of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit while traversing Earth's atmosphere. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE THE PERSEIDS? Stargazing experts recommend going to the darkest possible location — dark sky parks are a great bet — and take 30 minutes or so to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark. The meteor shower typically starts around 11 p.m. and continues until dawn. The can be found in the northeast horizon and is somewhat shaped like a stick figure with a pointed head. It's usually easier to find — a brighter constellation shaped like a W. Perseus and the origin point for the Perseids will be slightly below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Perseid meteor shower to light up August sky with fiery display
Local stargazers, mark your calendars — one of the most spectacular sky shows of the year is about to happen. The Perseid meteor shower, known for its display of fast, bright meteors, will reach its peak activity around Aug. 12-13, offering viewers a chance to witness from 50 to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, according to NASA. The Perseids are popular among amateur astronomers and casual sky watchers. Occurring during warm nights in the Northern Hemisphere, NASA astronomers predict the conditions are often perfect for lying back and enjoying the view. The meteors are known for their swift, vivid streaks that frequently leave behind glowing trails of light and color as they burn through Earth's atmosphere. Adding to the spectacle are fireballs — exceptionally bright meteors that are larger and more dramatic than the typical streak. These fireballs often last longer and shine brighter, thanks to their origins in larger fragments of space debris. Their brightness can even exceed that of the planet Venus, lighting up the sky in brief, fiery flashes. The annual meteor shower occurs when Earth passes through the debris trail left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, a massive comet with a nucleus measuring about 16 miles across — nearly twice the size of the asteroid that is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, NASA scientists said. The comet last swept through the inner solar system in 1992 and won't return until 2126. While the Perseids are visible from mid-July to late August, the best viewing is expected during the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 12 and 13. Meteors, however can sometimes be spotted as early as 10 p.m., especially in darker areas away from city lights. For optimal viewing, find a clear, dark sky and look toward the northeast — although meteors can appear in any part of the sky. The Perseids get their name from the constellation Perseus, where their radiant — or apparent point of origin — is located. But it's important to note: The constellation isn't the source of the meteors, just a celestial marker to help identify the shower. Stargazers can grab a blanket, head outside, and look up. The Perseids could be one of the most thrilling night-sky events of the year with no telescope required. On Nov. 12, the Baltimore region got a glimpse of a meteor falling around 7:45 p.m., according to reports filed with the American Meteor Society. A video of the light streaking across the sky was captured and posted to the social media platform X. The meteor could also be seen in Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, according to reports sent to the American Meteor Society. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@ or on X as @ToddKarpovich. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Times
4 days ago
- Science
- New York Times
After 7 Decades of Measurements From a Peak in Hawaii, Trump's Budget Would End Them
More than 11,100 feet above sea level, surrounded by nothing but black rocks, white clouds and blue sky, the Mauna Loa Observatory is in a Goldilocks spot for studying the atmosphere. The air that swirls around the isolated outpost located on a Hawaiian volcano is a mix from all over the Northern Hemisphere. That makes it one of the best places to measure greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is indispensable to scientists around the world. The readings collected from Mauna Loa, starting in 1958, were used to create what is famously known as the Keeling curve. It's an upward-swooping line that charts the steady rise of carbon dioxide over the past seven decades — the result of nations burning oil, gas and coal. But President Trump's proposed 2026 budget would put an end to Mauna Loa, along with three other key observatories and almost all the climate research being done by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'It's frankly inconceivable,' said Lisa Graumlich, an emeritus climate scientist at the University of Washington and past president of the American Geophysical Union. People know and understand the 'iconic' record, she said. 'A lot of the science we do is incredibly complex, and this record is something that can be grasped.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
