Hot August Nights… let’s take a look at the August Observations at the Cove…
JANUARY | FEBRUARY | MARCH | APRIL | MAY | JUNE| JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER
August Flora…
This year 2018 is quite unique. Up until this month, we have had close to 4 feet of rain since January. The ground is saturated and as a result the flora here at Tranquilla Cove is lush and growing well. Flowers are all in bloom as if it were spring. Roses, Purple Coneflower, Daisies, Petunias, and on and on are all happy and thriving. The fig tree is very productive and the branches are heavy. May need pruning in the fall. The Loblolly Bay are all blooming as is Carolina Ash, Hedichium, Firebush, Beach Daisy, Anise Hyssop, and numerous other flowers and shrubs.
August Fauna…
At dawn, the resident Sand Hill Cranes call each day throughout the pond. Hawks are very active, especially in the morning and during the day. Owls are predominant in the early morning and later evening. Squirrels and moles have proliferated this year. Turkeys are seen often crossing the road with their young. Snakes seem to become more noticeable in August, rattlers, coral snakes, yellow rat snakes, and black snakes are all seen at the cove. Armadillos and possum continue their night foraging. Some Deer Flies are still lingering but not bad. Mosquitos are rough this summer! The warm nights are full, with sounds of Cicadas, Chuck Wills Widow, Bob White, and Frogs.
August Celestial Observations…
August 11– New Moon. The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky.
August 11– Partial Solar Eclipse. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun’s reflection. The partial eclipse will be visible in parts of northeast Canada, Greenland, extreme northern Europe, and northern and eastern Asia
August 12, 13– Perseids Meteor Shower. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by the comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright meteors. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24. It peaks this year on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The thin crescent moon will set early in the evening leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. The best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus but can appear anywhere in the sky.
August 17– Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation. The planet Venus reaches its greatest eastern elongation of 45.9 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the bright planet in the western sky after sunset.
August 26– Full Moon. The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated. This phase occurs at 11:57 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Full Sturgeon Moon because the large sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes and other major lakes were more easily caught at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon.
August 26– Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation of 18.3 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look for the planet low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.
***Celestial Observations gathered from The Sky.