The moon begins the month just past first quarter and approaching apogee, the furthest distance in its orbit away from Earth. On the 3rd, Saturn is a scant 3 degrees south of the moon. Full moon is on the 7th, which is a hardly noticeable partial lunar eclipse for people in the Eastern Hemisphere. Neptune is occulted on the 9th for viewers in the extreme south of Australia and most of Antarctica. Aldebaran, the bright star in Taurus, The Bull, is occulted in parts of South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia on the 16th. For us, it will be a close call, as the star is within half a degree. On the 19th, Venus is 2 degrees to the north of the moon, and on the 21st, viewers across the USA will get to see the Great American Eclipse (or so it is being touted). This is the first total solar eclipse seen from North America since 1979, so there is much excitement in the astronomical community. By the 25th, Jupiter will be within 3 degrees of our satellite, not an easy observation. And, at the tail-end of the month, Saturn once again is close by, 4 degrees south of the moon.
Mercury is in a good position for viewing in the western evening sky during the first half of August, and reaches inferior conjunction (between the Sun and Earth) on the 26th.
Venus is receding from us in the early dawn sky, but remains prominent throughout the month. It passes within 2 degrees of the moon on the 19th, as noted above.
Mars is too close to the sun to be seen.
Jupiter rises in the east during daylight, and is low in the western sky when it finally becomes visible. It will be a difficult object by month-end, as it is too close to the sun. The close approach of the moon on the 25th will be a tough observation.
Saturn meets up with the moon twice during the month, once on the 3rd, and again on the 30th. The Ringed Planet is well placed for viewing throughout the month. The planet has been retrograding for most of the month, and on the 25th, it begins prograde motion against the background stars.
Uranus is just beginning retrograde motion on the 3rd, remaining that way for the rest of the year. It rises late in the evening and is straight south just before sunrise.
Neptune rises in mid-evening, also retrograding (of course, it’s the Earth moving faster that makes it appear that that the outer planets move backwards).
The Perseid meteors make their annual, predictable, appearance Aug. 12. The best time to view them is in the late evening to early morning, although the moon can interfere with seeing the dimmer flashes. Perseus will be in the northeastern sky, so dress warmly, lay on a blanket or a lounge chair and enjoy the view. Expect to see anywhere up to 90 meteors per hour under very good conditions.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and is now the Editor of the renowned Observer’s Handbook, and Production Manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour.
