New Moon, Meteor Shower and Geomagnetic Storm

On Monday morning, August 5, the Moon will pass Mercury in deep-red twilight. Binoculars might be required for the Mercury passage. Warning: Do not point the optics at the rising sun. Set your alarm for dawn and enjoy the show!

The new Moon is August 6, promising dark skies to view Mercury, Mars and Jupiter. They are in the sign of Cancer, activating your Cancer friends who may be more active and bossy than usual. Capricorn should expect emotional opposition to projects; Aries and Libra experience challenges from family; Scorpio and Pisces enjoy a harmonious time; Leo and Gemini should be neutral; Sagittarius and Aquarius adjust to emotional or family demands; Taurus and Virgo have the opportunity for pleasant relationships and projects.  

The new moon is in the sign of Leo, prompting Leo to initiate projects. Aquarius may experience control issues over leadership; Scorpio and Taurus may be dismayed because of what they consider extravagance. Sagittarius, Aries, Gemini and Libra enjoy being guests at elegant social events; Cancer and Virgo are neutral: Capricorn quietly avoids an ostentatious event, Pisces quietly enjoys the day.  

PERSEID METEOR SHOWER: Earth is entering a broad stream of debris from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, source of the annual Perseid meteor shower. Although the shower won't peak until August 12-13, when Earth hits the densest part of the stream, the first Perseid's are already arriving. Check http://spaceweather.com for images and updates. The maximum is coming. Meteor rates should remain low for the next week as Earth penetrates the sparse outskirts of the debris stream, then skyrocket to ~100 meteors per hour as the calendar turns to the second week of August. Forecasters expect maximum Perseid activity on the nights of August 12-13.  The weather is so pleasant, this is a great chance to have a meteor party. Put blankets and refreshments out on the lawn, lie down and watch the falling stars. The kids love it.

QUIET SUN: Many readers of spaceweather.com are asking about a recent media report, which stated that a Carrington-class solar storm narrowly missed Earth two weeks ago. That report is inaccurate.  Solar activity was low throughout July and remains low as August begins. Details at http://spaceweather.com. Do you think the solar flares have anything to do with the weather? When we had the super-flares, the temperature was hot; now that there is low solar flare activity, it is cool and dry. However A minor (Kp=5) geomagnetic storm is in progress as Earth enters a stream of solar wind flowing from a coronal hole on the sun. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras.