The moon was full on the last day in July, so opens the month one day past full.
Uranus is within a degree of the moon Aug. 5, an occultation in the Southern Hemisphere. By Aug. 8, Aldebaran, the bright star in Taurus, is less than a degree away, another occultation, this time for Eurasia and parts of northwestern Canada. Aug. 13, Mars hovers six degrees north — a tough observation in the east just before sunrise. A little later, Aug. 16, Mercury is only two degrees away, but in the western evening sky. At first quarter Aug. 22, Saturn joins the moon in the south. Look for the bright-red, giant star, Antares, just southeast of the brighter pair. The moon is full Aug. 29.
Mercury and Jupiter put on a show from Aug. 5 through Aug 8, approaching to within a degree of each other in the western evening sky. Venus is there, too, but mostly lost in the sun’s glare. The very slender new moon joins the crowd Aug. 15.
Venus may not be visible with the unaided eye, but people have been able to view the bright planet during inferior conjunction through a telescope, using extreme care, of course, not to look at the unfiltered sun. That would be very dangerous. Venus and Mars close in for a quasi conjunction late in the month — an eastern sky, early morning event, where the two planets are nine degrees apart.
Mars has been hidden behind the sun for most of July, and just begins visibility in the early morning before sunrise. Aug. 12 and 13, the moon is a close companion, but a difficult observation, as the slender waning moon is but a sliver in the morning twilight.
Jupiter is rapidly moving behind the sun, but before doing so, presents a tight grouping with Mercury and Venus early in August. Venus may be a tough catch, but is a somewhat possible observation. Don’t forget Jupiter’s apparent movement behind the sun is caused by us here on Earth doing the rapid orbital movement — about 12 times faster than Jupiter’s orbit.
Saturn rises in the east shortly after dusk, well placed for viewing throughout the whole summer. Watch for the first quarter moon nearby Aug. 21 and 22.
Uranus rises in the east around midnight, crossing the sky all night, displaying retrograde motion (remember, it’s us doing the fast-paced orbit). Watch for the moon close by Aug. 5 and 31.
Neptune rises about two hours before Uranus, crossing the sky throughout the evening, also in retrograde motion. The moon slides by the greenish planet Aug. 29.
— 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 society’s president, assistant editor and a contributor to the Observer’s Handbook, production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. He was given the RASC Service Award at the 2012 General Assembly in Edmonton.
