Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).
Brief Calendar of Events
| Date | Event |
| 1 |
Thu |
Last Quarter Moon |
| 2 |
Fri |
Neptune at opposition |
| 8 |
Thu |
New Moon |
| 10 |
Sat |
Mars at conjunction |
| Moon at perigee |
| 12 |
Mon |
Perseids meteor shower |
| 2 Pallas at opposition |
| 15 |
Thu |
First Quarter Moon |
| 20 |
Tue |
Uranus at opposition |
| 22 |
Thu |
Venus at greatest elongation east (46°) |
| Full Moon |
| 26 |
Mon |
Moon at apogee |
| 31 |
Sat |
Last Quarter Moon |
| Alpha Aurigids meteor shower |
The Sun and Moon
There are no eclipses this month.
As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Cancer to the constellation Leo.
A Blue Moon is popularly defined as the second Full Moon in a calendar month. However, this definition is based upon an error appearing in a 1946 edition of a popular American astronomy magazine! An older tradition defines a Blue Moon as "the third Full Moon in a season which has four." If we use the astronomical definition of the seasons, then the August Full Moon is a Blue Moon.
The Planets
The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
- Mercury
- This evening sky apparition is much better for southern observers than for northern ones. Try your luck searching for this elusive planet in the constellations Leo and Virgo.
- Venus
- Still climbing in the sunset sky for those in southern latitudes, the "evening star" is sinking toward the horizon for northern observers, reaching greatest elongation east on 22 August. Look for Venus after sunset in the constellations Leo and Virgo.
- Mars
- By mid-month, Mars is at its farthest from Earth. It is lost to view, however, as it is in conjunction with the Sun on 10 August. The red planet moves from the constellation Cancer to Leo this month.
- Jupiter
- Now a morning sky object, Jupiter passes close by the Beehive open star cluster in the constellation Cancer on the last day of the month.
- Saturn
- The ringed planet rises ever earlier in the morning and can be found moving beyond the "horns" of Taurus, the bull.
- Uranus
- Because Uranus reaches opposition on 20 August, it is up all night in the constellations Aquarius and Capricornus.
- Neptune
- Neptune is visible all night, reaching opposition on the second day of the month. Use optical aids to locate it in the constellation Capricornus.
- Pluto
- Pluto sets just before midnight in the constellation Ophiuchus. However, because it is so small and faint, a large telescope is always needed to see it.
Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors
- Minor Planets
- 2 Pallas reaches opposition on 12 August. At ninth magnitude, it can be seen with optical aids in the constellation Delphinus.
- Comets
- There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
- Meteors
- The waxing crescent Moon causes no problems for the famous Perseids meteor shower. Unfortunately, moonlight may spoil observations of the alpha Aurigids meteor shower at the end of the month.
The Celestial Sphere
Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.
Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)
Northern Hemisphere : 45° N
- 1730 hours (1830 hours daylight savings)
- 1930 hours (2030 hours daylight savings)
- 2130 hours (2230 hours daylight savings)
- 2330 hours (0030 hours daylight savings)
- 0130 hours (0230 hours daylight savings)
- 0330 hours (0430 hours daylight savings)
- 0530 hours (0630 hours daylight savings)
Southern Hemisphere : 30° S
- 1730 hours (1830 hours daylight savings)
- 1930 hours (2030 hours daylight savings)
- 2130 hours (2230 hours daylight savings)
- 2330 hours (0030 hours daylight savings)
- 0130 hours (0230 hours daylight savings)
- 0330 hours (0430 hours daylight savings)
- 0530 hours (0630 hours daylight savings)
For More Information...
- Consult our online glossary for non-technical explanations of many of the astronomical terms used in these pages.
- Blue moons, eclipses, the dates of Easter and much more can be found at the Interactive Astronomy Pages.
- For more information about the objects and events described in SkyEye, visit these astronomy-related sites.
Credits
Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of your favourite amateur astronomy magazine available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.
The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.
Copyright © 1995-2002 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman
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Obliquity
Last modified on 31 July 2002
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