The planets in May 2015
Mercury: The planet is at Greatest Eastern Elongation of about 27 º on August 7th. It may still be seen very low in the west north-west just after sunset at the beginning of August, but with its brightness of +0.3 will be hard to spot just 3 degrees above the horizon in the twilight sky. Binoculars will be needed and scan about 20 degrees to the lower right of Venus.
Venus: The planet is now very prominent in the evening sky after sunset in the west north-west. Brightening from -4.1 to -4,6, it will be easily spotted - the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon. With an angular size of 20 arc seconds as August begins and increasing to 28 arc seconds by month's end, it will appear in a telescope as a well illuminated disc like the Moon around first quarter. It reaches its greatest angular separation (elongation) from the Sun on August 19th.
Mars: It remains visible (at magnitude +1.5) in the south-west after sunset and, moving eastwards, lies between the stars Regulus in Leo and Spica in Virgo. Its angular size drops from 4.7 to 4.2 arc seconds during the month so any details on the surface will be impossible to spot. (Unless you have access the Hubble Space Telescope! ;) )
Jupiter: At the beginning of August, Jupiter will rise in the east at 22:30 at magnitude -2.7 and will be well placed for much of the night. During the month it will gradually rise earlier and, by the end of the month, will rise at about 20:30 and brighten to -2.9 magnitude. It will be high in the sky in the hours before dawn. This might well be worth getting up for as not only has Jupiter (presumably temporarily) lost its South Equatorial Belt but the Great Red Spot has intensified its color so is now standing out very well! A small telescope will easily pick up Jupiter's four Galilean moons as they weave their way around it. Incidentally, Uranus is just three degrees (reducing to 2 degrees) west of Jupiter, shining at magnitude +5.8, so easily spotted in binoculars and both will be visible in the same field of view if Jupiter is placed towards the left of the field of view.
Saturn: Now well past its best, Saturn may be seen low in the south-west after sunset lying in the western side of Virgo down to the lower left of the constellation Leo. It will be best seen about an hour after sunset shining with a magnitude of +1. The angular size of the disc stays around 16 arc seconds with the rings extending to ~37 arc seconds. The ring system, though gradually opening out, is still close to edge-on and so will appear very thin - the reason why Saturn is not a bright as it is when the rings are more open. The tilt of the rings reached a minimum of 1.7 degrees in late May and is now increasing again, reaching ~5 degrees by the end of the month. For the first time in 15 years we are now beginning to see the northern face of the rings. A small telescope will easily show its brightest satellite, Titan, at magnitude 7.8.
Uranus: The planet rises in the eastern sky after sunset and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight. It rises about 2½ hours to 2 hours after sunset up to the second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it up to the third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month. At magnitude 5.8 in Pisces it is only 3.6 arcseconds wide.
Neptune: The planet rises in the evening about 1 hour to ½ hour after sunset up to the first quarter of the month, about ½ hour after sunset to around sunset time up to the third quarter of the month, being in opposition with the Sun on August 20th. Thereafter it sets about ½ hour before sunrise for the reaming days of the month. At magnitude 7.8 it spends the month at the Aquarius-Capricornus border.
The Evening Sky Map
Skymaps.com offers a 2-page monthly guide to the night sky suitable for all sky watchers including newcomers to Astronomy. Designed to print clearly on all printers, The Evening Sky Map (PDF) is ready-to-use and will help you to:
* Identify planets, stars and major constellations
* Find sparkling star clusters, wispy nebulae & distant galaxies
* Locate and follow bright comets across the sky
* Learn about the night sky and Astronomy
You can download the PDF file by clicking on the link below or visit www.skymaps.com for more info and free astronomy downloads.
* Identify planets, stars and major constellations
* Find sparkling star clusters, wispy nebulae & distant galaxies
* Locate and follow bright comets across the sky
* Learn about the night sky and Astronomy
You can download the PDF file by clicking on the link below or visit www.skymaps.com for more info and free astronomy downloads.
august2010.pdf | |
File Size: | 152 kb |
File Type: |
Astronomy Calendar
This astronomy calendar of celestial events contains dates for notable celestial events including moon phases, meteor showers, eclipses, occultations, oppositions, conjunctions, and other interesting events. Most of the astronomical events on this calendar can be seen with unaided eye, although some may require a good pair of binoculars for best viewing.
August 3 Last Quarter Moon at 4:59 UT.
August 7 Mercury at greatest elongation, 27° east from Sun (evening sky) at 1h UT. Mag. +0.1.
August 8 Venus, Mars and Saturn within 4.8° diameter circle (47° from Sun, evening sky) at 7h UT. Mags. -4.2, +1.5 and +1.1.
Venus 2.7° SSW of Saturn (evening sky) at 11h UT. Mags. -4.2 and +1.1.
August 10 New Moon at 3:08 UT.
Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 18h UT (357,857 km; 33.9'). Perigee is only 15 hours after New Moon so high tides are expected.
August 12 Moon near Mercury (27° from Sun, evening sky) at 0h UT. Mag. +0.6.
Perseid meteor shower maximum predicted between 12 Aug 18h UT & 13 Aug 7h UT.
An earlier peak is predicted 9-14h UT on 12 Aug. Active from July 17 to August 24.
August 13 Moon near Saturn (evening sky) at 2h UT. Mag. +1.1.
Moon near Venus (evening sky) at 8h UT. Mag. -4.3.
Moon near Mars (evening sky) at 14h UT. Mag. +1.5.
August 14 Moon near Spica (evening sky) at 16h UT.
August 16 First Quarter Moon at 18:14 UT.
August 18 Moon near Antares (evening sky) at 0h UT.
August 19 Venus 1.9° SW of Mars at 5h UT. Mags. -4.3 and +1.5.
August 20 Venus at greatest elongation, 46° east from Sun (evening sky) at 4h UT. Mag. -4.3.
August 24 Full Moon at 17:05 UT.
August 25 Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 6h UT (distance 406,389 km; angular size 29.7').
August 27 Moon near Jupiter (morning sky) at 5h UT. Mag. -2.9.
August 31 Venus, Mars and Spica within 4.2° diameter circle (47° from Sun, evening sky) at 12h UT. Mags. -4.4, +1.5 and +1.0.
All times Universal Time (UT). Lebanon Summer Time = UT + 3 hours.
August 3 Last Quarter Moon at 4:59 UT.
August 7 Mercury at greatest elongation, 27° east from Sun (evening sky) at 1h UT. Mag. +0.1.
August 8 Venus, Mars and Saturn within 4.8° diameter circle (47° from Sun, evening sky) at 7h UT. Mags. -4.2, +1.5 and +1.1.
Venus 2.7° SSW of Saturn (evening sky) at 11h UT. Mags. -4.2 and +1.1.
August 10 New Moon at 3:08 UT.
Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 18h UT (357,857 km; 33.9'). Perigee is only 15 hours after New Moon so high tides are expected.
August 12 Moon near Mercury (27° from Sun, evening sky) at 0h UT. Mag. +0.6.
Perseid meteor shower maximum predicted between 12 Aug 18h UT & 13 Aug 7h UT.
An earlier peak is predicted 9-14h UT on 12 Aug. Active from July 17 to August 24.
August 13 Moon near Saturn (evening sky) at 2h UT. Mag. +1.1.
Moon near Venus (evening sky) at 8h UT. Mag. -4.3.
Moon near Mars (evening sky) at 14h UT. Mag. +1.5.
August 14 Moon near Spica (evening sky) at 16h UT.
August 16 First Quarter Moon at 18:14 UT.
August 18 Moon near Antares (evening sky) at 0h UT.
August 19 Venus 1.9° SW of Mars at 5h UT. Mags. -4.3 and +1.5.
August 20 Venus at greatest elongation, 46° east from Sun (evening sky) at 4h UT. Mag. -4.3.
August 24 Full Moon at 17:05 UT.
August 25 Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 6h UT (distance 406,389 km; angular size 29.7').
August 27 Moon near Jupiter (morning sky) at 5h UT. Mag. -2.9.
August 31 Venus, Mars and Spica within 4.2° diameter circle (47° from Sun, evening sky) at 12h UT. Mags. -4.4, +1.5 and +1.0.
All times Universal Time (UT). Lebanon Summer Time = UT + 3 hours.