Post by Dave Mitsky on Aug 1, 2017 21:52:07 GMT
August Celestial Calendar by Dave Mitsky
All times, unless otherwise noted, are UT (subtract four hours and, when appropriate, one calendar day for EDT)
8/1 The astronomical cross-quarter day known as Lammas or Lughnasadh occurs today
8/2 The Moon is 9.6 degrees north of the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) at 9:00; Venus is 2.4 degrees south of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 15:00; Mercury is at aphelion (0.4667 astronomical units from the Sun) at 16:00; the Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 30'' from a distance of 405,024 kilometers (251,671 miles), at 17:55
8/3 Saturn is 3.4 degrees south of the Moon at 8:00; Uranus is stationary in right ascension at 10:00
8/5 Venus is at its greatest declination north in 2017 (22.0 degrees) at 20:00
8/7 Full Moon (known as the Fruit, Grain, Green Corn, or Sturgeon Moon) occurs at 18:11; a partial lunar eclipse that is visible from Australia, Antarctica, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and extreme eastern South America, begins at 17:22
8/8 The Moon is at descending node (longitude 324.2 degrees) at 10:56
8/9 Neptune is 0.82 degree north-northwest of the Moon, with an occultation occurring in far western Australia, the Kerguelen Islands, and most of Antarctica, at 23:00
8/10 The Sun enters the constellation of Leo (longitude 138.16 degrees on the ecliptic) at 15:00
8/12 Mercury stationary in right ascension at 6:00; the peak of the Perseid meteor shower (a zenithal hourly rate of 150 or more per hour) occurs at 19:00
8/13 Uranus is 4.2 degrees north-northwest of the Moon at 8:00
8/15 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 1:15; the Moon is 9.3 degrees north-northwest of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades or Subaru) at 15:00; the Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscur illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to occur at 22:36
8/16 The Moon is 0.39 degree north-northwest of the first-magnitude star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), with an occultation occurring in western Asia, the Middle East, Europe, northernmost Africa, the Caribbean, and the northern tip of South America at 7:00; the Moon is 0.11 degree east of asteroid 8 Flora at 20:00; the middle of eclipse season, i.e., the Sun is at the same longitude as Moon’s ascending node (144.2 degrees), occurs at 21:00
8/17 The Moon is 5.1 degrees south of M35 at 20:00
8/18 The Moon is at perigee, subtending nearly 32' 38'' from a distance of 366,123 kilometers (227,497 miles), at 13:18
8/19 Venus is 2.2 degrees north of the Moon at 4:00; the Moon is 9.4 degrees south of the first magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 8:00
8/20 The Moon is 2.8 degrees south of the bright open cluster M44 (the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe) at 7:00; Venus is 7.2 degrees south of Pollux at 23:00
8/21 The Moon is at the ascending node (longitude 144.2 degrees) at 10:34; New Moon (lunation 1158) occurs at 18:30
8/22 The Moon is 5.9 degrees south-southwest of Mercury at 9:00; Mercury is at its greatest latitude south of the ecliptic plane (-7.0 degrees) at 19:00
8/25 Saturn is stationary in right ascension at 13:00; Jupiter is 3.3 degrees south-southwest of the Moon at 15:00; the Moon is 6.6 degrees south-southwest of the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 21:00
8/29 First Quarter Moon occurs at 8:13; the Lunar X, also known as the Werner or Purbach Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscur illumination effect involving various ridges and crater rims located between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to occur at 8:39
8/30 Mercury is stationary in right ascension at 1:00; Venus at ascending node through the ecliptic plane at 11:00; the Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 34'' from a distance of 404,306 kilometers (251,226 miles), at 11:25; Saturn is 3.5 degrees south of the Moon at 15:00; Mars is at its greatest latitude north of the ecliptic plane (1.8 degrees) at 19:00
John Flamsteed and Maria Mitchell were born this month.
The gibbous phase of Mars was first observed by Francesco Fontana on August 24, 1638. William Herschel discovered Enceladus on August 28, 1789. Asaph Hall discovered Deimos on August 11, 1877 and Phobos on August 17, 1877.
A waning gibbous Moon will compromise the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on August 12th. Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle is the source of Perseid meteors. For more on this year’s Perseids, see pages 51 of the August 2017 issue of Sky & Telescope or click on www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html and earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-perseid-meteor-shower
The Moon is 8.6 days old, is illuminated 63.2%, subtends 29.9 arc minutes, and is located in Libra on August 1st at 0:00 UT. The Moon is at its greatest northern declination on August 18th (+19.3 degrees) and its greatest southern declination on August 5th (-19.4 degrees). Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +5.7 degrees on August 24th and a minimum of -5.3 degrees on August 11th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.8 degrees on August 15th and a minimum of -6.8 degrees on August 1st and August 28th. The Moon is at apogee on August 2nd and August 30th and at perigee on August 18th. New Moon (i.e., the dark of the Moon) occurs on August 21st. A partial lunar eclipse that is visible from Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and other parts of the world occurs on August 7th. Greatest eclipse occurs at 18:20 UT. The Moon occults Neptune on August 9th and Aldebaran on August 16th from certain parts of the world. Browse www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/bstar/bstar.htm for information on upcoming lunar occultations. Visit saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/saber-does-the-stars/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons. Times and dates for the lunar light rays predicted to occur in August are available at www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
The Sun is located in Cancer on August 1st. It enters the constellation of Leo on August 10th. A total solar eclipse takes place on August 21st, the first one visible from the contiguous United States in over 38 years. The path of totality runs from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, crossing the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Maximum totality is 2 minutes and 40.3 seconds in length and occurs in Illinois at 18:21 UT (2:21 p.m. EDT). Greatest eclipse, the point when the axis of the lunar shadow passes closest to the center of the Earth, occurs in Kentucky at 18:25 UT (2:25 p.m. EDT). For additional information on the eclipse, browse eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-who-what-where-when-and-how, www.astronomy.com/great-american-eclipse-2017, and www.skyandtelescope.com/total-solar-eclipse-august-2017/ or see pages 48-51 of the August 2017 issue of Sky & Telescope and pages 20-43 of the August 2017 issue of Astronomy.
Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on August 1: Mercury (magnitude +0.4, 8.0", 44% illuminated, 0.85 a.u., Leo), Venus (magnitude -4.0, 14.5", 74% illuminated, 1.15 a.u., Gemini), Mars (magnitude +1.7, 3.5", 100% illuminated, 2.66 a.u., Cancer), Jupiter (magnitude -1.9, 34.3", 99% illuminated, 5.75 a.u., Virgo), Saturn (magnitude +0.3, 17.8", 100% illuminated, 9.34 a.u., Ophiuchus), Uranus (magnitude +5.8, 3.6", 100% illuminated, 19.47 a.u. on August 16th, Pisces), Neptune (magnitude +7.8, 2.4", 100% illuminated, 28.99 a.u. on August 16th, Aquarius), and Pluto (magnitude +14.2, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 32.56 a.u. on August 16th, Sagittarius).
This month Mercury and Jupiter are visible in the west, Saturn in the south, and Neptune in the east during the evening. At midnight, Saturn can be found in the southwest, Uranus in the east, and Neptune in the southeast. In the morning, Venus is in the east, Uranus is in the south, and Neptune is in the southwest.
Mercury is at aphelion on August 2nd, is at its greatest heliocentric latitude south on August 22nd, and is in inferior conjunction on August 26th. The speediest planet is just six degrees in altitude 30 minutes after sunset on August 1st and is only three degrees above the horizon on August 8th.
Venus lies about 20 degrees above the eastern horizon one hour before sunrise. A thin crescent Moon passes just to the north of the brightest planet on the morning of August 19th. Venus crosses into Cancer on August 25th. By the end of August, the eastward motion of the planet carries Venus to just one degree from M44 (the Beehive Cluster).
Mars is lost in the glare of the Sun this month.
Jupiter sets around 11:00 p.m. local daylight time. It drops in brightness from magnitude -1.9 to -1.7 and from 34.3 to 32.2 arc seconds in apparent size during August. The Moon passes 3.3 degrees north-northeast of Jupiter on August 25th.
As twilight ends, the Ringed Planet lies approximately 30 degrees above the southern horizon. Saturn is 17.4 arc seconds in diameter at its equator and 16.1 arc seconds at its poles on August 15th. Its ring system spans 40 arc seconds and is inclined nearly 27 degrees with respect to the Earth on that date. Saturn is stationary in right ascension and resumes direct (eastward) motion on August 25th. The Moon passes just to the north of Saturn on August 3rd and August 30th. Eighth-magnitude Titan, Saturn’s largest satellite, is north of the planet on August 10th and August 26th and south of it on August 2nd and August 18th. On the night of August 13th/14th, Enceladus reaches greatest eastern elongation and Mimas reaches greatest western elongation. Tethys lies to the west of Saturn and Dione, Rhea, and Titan to the east. The peculiar satellite Iapetus lies two arc minutes north of Saturn and shines at eleventh magnitude on that night. For additional information on Saturn’s satellites, browse www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/
Uranus is situated one degree north of the fourth-magnitude star Omicron Piscium for the entire month. The ice giant rises in the late evening. Uranus is stationary in right ascension and begins retrograde (westward) motion on August 3rd. Browse bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/uranus-finder-chart-2017.png for a finder chart.
The eighth planet transits at approximately 3:00 a.m. local daylight time as August begins. Neptune is located two degrees east of the fourth-magnitude star Lambda Aquarii on the first day of August. By the end of the month, Neptune’s westward motion carries it to 1.3 degrees east of that star. A finder chart is posted at bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/neptune-finder-chart-2017.png
Additional online finder charts for Uranus and Neptune can be found at www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm and www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm and also at wwwcdn.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/WEB_Uranus_Neptune17.pdf
Pluto is located near the Teasthingy asterism in Sagittarius. The dwarf planet is highest in altitude in the late evening. Articles on locating and observing Pluto are available on pages 48 and 49 of the July issue of Sky & Telescope and pages 64 and 65 of the July issue of Astronomy. See page 243 of the RASC Observer’s Handbook 2017 for a paper finder chart. A basic finder chart is posted online at www.bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/Pluto-finder-2017.png and a more detailed one at wwwcdn.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/Pluto_2017.pdf
For more on the planets and how to locate them, see www.nakedeyeplanets.com/
Comet C/2015 ER61 (PanSTARRS) may shine at ninth-magnitude as it travels eastward through Taurus this month, passing less than one degree south of M45 (the Pleiades) from August 14th through August 21st. Ninth-magnitude Comet C/2015 V2 (Johnson) glides southward from Centaurus into Lupus. Comet71P/Clark heads through southern Scorpius. The tenth-magnitude comet passes less than one degree from the second-magnitude star Shaula (Lambda Scorpii) and the seventh-magnitude globular cluster NGC 6441during the final two weeks of the month. For further information on comets visible this month, browse cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html
Asteroid 89 Julia passes northwestward through Pegasus during August. It reaches magnitude +9.0 near the end of the month. It lies just to the southwest of the fifth-magnitude stars 55, 57, 58, and 59 Pegasi on the nights of August 15th and August 16th. For information on asteroid occultations taking place this month, see www.asteroidoccultation.com/2016_08_si.htm
A wealth of current information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html and nineplanets.org/
Free star maps for August can be downloaded at www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and www.telescope.com/content.jsp?pageName=Monthly-Star-Chart
Sixty binary and multiple stars for August: 5 Aquilae, Struve 2404, 11 Aquilae, Struve 2426, 15 Aquilae, Struve 2449, 23 Aquilae, Struve 2532, Pi Aquilae, 57 Aquilae (Aquila); Beta Cygni (Albireo), 16 Cygni, Delta Cygni, 17 Cygni (Cygnus); 41 & 40 Draconis, 39 Draconis, Struve 2348, Sigma Draconis, Struve 2573, Epsilon Draconis (Draco); 95 Herculis, 100 Herculis, Struve 2289, Struve 2411 (Hercules); Struve 2349, Struve 2372, Epsilon-1 & Epsilon-2 Lyrae (the Double-Double), Zeta-2 Lyrae, Beta Lyrae, Otto Struve 525, Struve 2470 & Struve 2474 (the Other Double-Double) (Lyra); 67 Ophiuchi, 69 Ophiuchi, 70 Ophiuchi, Struve 2276, 74 Ophiuchi (Ophiuchus); Mu Sagittarii, Eta Sagittarii, 21 Sagittarii, Zeta Sagittarii, H N 119, 52 Sagittarii, 54 Sagittarii (Sagittarius); Struve 2306, Delta Scuti, Struve 2373 (Scutum); Struve 2296, Struve 2303, 59 Serpentis, Theta Serpentis (Serpens Cauda); Struve 2445, Struve 2455, Struve 2457, 4 Vupeculae, Struve 2521, Struve 2523, Struve 2540, Struve 2586, Otto Struve 388, Struve 2599 (Vulpecula)
Notable carbon star for August: V Aquilae
Eighty deep-sky objects for August: B139, B142, B143, NGC 6709, NGC 6738, NGC 6741, NGC 6751, NGC 6755, NGC 6772, NGC 6778, NGC 6781, NGC 6804, PK64+5.1 (Aquila); NGC 6819, NGC 6826, NGC 6834, (Cygnus); NGC 6643, NGC 6742 (Draco); DoDz 9 (Hercules); M56, M57, NGC 6703, NGC 6791, Ste1 (Lyra); NGC 6572, NGC 6633 (Ophiuchus); H20, M71 (Sagitta); B86, B87, B90, B92, B93, M8, M17, M18, M20, M21, M22, M23, M24, M25, M28, M54, M55, M69, M70, M75, NGC 6520, NGC 6544, NGC 6546, NGC 6553, NGC 6565, NGC 6603, NGC 6818, NGC 6822 (Sagittarius); IC 4703, IC 4756, M16, NGC 6604 (Serpens Cauda); B100, B101, B103, B104, B110, B111, B113, Bas 1, IC 1295, M11, M26, NGC 6649, NGC 6712 (Scutum); Cr 399 (asterism), M27, NGC 6802, NGC 6823, NGC 6834, NGC 6940, St 1 (Vulpecula)
Top ten binocular deep-sky objects for August: Cr 399, IC 4756, M8, M11, M17, M22, M24, M25, M27, NGC 6633 (IC 4756 and NGC 6633 are collectively known as the Binocular Double Cluster)
Top ten deep-sky objects for August: M8, M11, M16, M17, M20, M22, M24, M27, M55, M57
Challenge deep-sky object for August: Abell 53 (Aquila)
The objects listed above are located between 18:00 and 20:00 hours of right ascension.
All times, unless otherwise noted, are UT (subtract four hours and, when appropriate, one calendar day for EDT)
8/1 The astronomical cross-quarter day known as Lammas or Lughnasadh occurs today
8/2 The Moon is 9.6 degrees north of the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) at 9:00; Venus is 2.4 degrees south of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 15:00; Mercury is at aphelion (0.4667 astronomical units from the Sun) at 16:00; the Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 30'' from a distance of 405,024 kilometers (251,671 miles), at 17:55
8/3 Saturn is 3.4 degrees south of the Moon at 8:00; Uranus is stationary in right ascension at 10:00
8/5 Venus is at its greatest declination north in 2017 (22.0 degrees) at 20:00
8/7 Full Moon (known as the Fruit, Grain, Green Corn, or Sturgeon Moon) occurs at 18:11; a partial lunar eclipse that is visible from Australia, Antarctica, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and extreme eastern South America, begins at 17:22
8/8 The Moon is at descending node (longitude 324.2 degrees) at 10:56
8/9 Neptune is 0.82 degree north-northwest of the Moon, with an occultation occurring in far western Australia, the Kerguelen Islands, and most of Antarctica, at 23:00
8/10 The Sun enters the constellation of Leo (longitude 138.16 degrees on the ecliptic) at 15:00
8/12 Mercury stationary in right ascension at 6:00; the peak of the Perseid meteor shower (a zenithal hourly rate of 150 or more per hour) occurs at 19:00
8/13 Uranus is 4.2 degrees north-northwest of the Moon at 8:00
8/15 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 1:15; the Moon is 9.3 degrees north-northwest of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades or Subaru) at 15:00; the Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscur illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to occur at 22:36
8/16 The Moon is 0.39 degree north-northwest of the first-magnitude star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), with an occultation occurring in western Asia, the Middle East, Europe, northernmost Africa, the Caribbean, and the northern tip of South America at 7:00; the Moon is 0.11 degree east of asteroid 8 Flora at 20:00; the middle of eclipse season, i.e., the Sun is at the same longitude as Moon’s ascending node (144.2 degrees), occurs at 21:00
8/17 The Moon is 5.1 degrees south of M35 at 20:00
8/18 The Moon is at perigee, subtending nearly 32' 38'' from a distance of 366,123 kilometers (227,497 miles), at 13:18
8/19 Venus is 2.2 degrees north of the Moon at 4:00; the Moon is 9.4 degrees south of the first magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 8:00
8/20 The Moon is 2.8 degrees south of the bright open cluster M44 (the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe) at 7:00; Venus is 7.2 degrees south of Pollux at 23:00
8/21 The Moon is at the ascending node (longitude 144.2 degrees) at 10:34; New Moon (lunation 1158) occurs at 18:30
8/22 The Moon is 5.9 degrees south-southwest of Mercury at 9:00; Mercury is at its greatest latitude south of the ecliptic plane (-7.0 degrees) at 19:00
8/25 Saturn is stationary in right ascension at 13:00; Jupiter is 3.3 degrees south-southwest of the Moon at 15:00; the Moon is 6.6 degrees south-southwest of the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 21:00
8/29 First Quarter Moon occurs at 8:13; the Lunar X, also known as the Werner or Purbach Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscur illumination effect involving various ridges and crater rims located between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to occur at 8:39
8/30 Mercury is stationary in right ascension at 1:00; Venus at ascending node through the ecliptic plane at 11:00; the Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 34'' from a distance of 404,306 kilometers (251,226 miles), at 11:25; Saturn is 3.5 degrees south of the Moon at 15:00; Mars is at its greatest latitude north of the ecliptic plane (1.8 degrees) at 19:00
John Flamsteed and Maria Mitchell were born this month.
The gibbous phase of Mars was first observed by Francesco Fontana on August 24, 1638. William Herschel discovered Enceladus on August 28, 1789. Asaph Hall discovered Deimos on August 11, 1877 and Phobos on August 17, 1877.
A waning gibbous Moon will compromise the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on August 12th. Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle is the source of Perseid meteors. For more on this year’s Perseids, see pages 51 of the August 2017 issue of Sky & Telescope or click on www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/meteor-shower/perseid.html and earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-perseid-meteor-shower
The Moon is 8.6 days old, is illuminated 63.2%, subtends 29.9 arc minutes, and is located in Libra on August 1st at 0:00 UT. The Moon is at its greatest northern declination on August 18th (+19.3 degrees) and its greatest southern declination on August 5th (-19.4 degrees). Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +5.7 degrees on August 24th and a minimum of -5.3 degrees on August 11th. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.8 degrees on August 15th and a minimum of -6.8 degrees on August 1st and August 28th. The Moon is at apogee on August 2nd and August 30th and at perigee on August 18th. New Moon (i.e., the dark of the Moon) occurs on August 21st. A partial lunar eclipse that is visible from Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and other parts of the world occurs on August 7th. Greatest eclipse occurs at 18:20 UT. The Moon occults Neptune on August 9th and Aldebaran on August 16th from certain parts of the world. Browse www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/bstar/bstar.htm for information on upcoming lunar occultations. Visit saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/2011/07/05/saber-does-the-stars/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons. Times and dates for the lunar light rays predicted to occur in August are available at www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
The Sun is located in Cancer on August 1st. It enters the constellation of Leo on August 10th. A total solar eclipse takes place on August 21st, the first one visible from the contiguous United States in over 38 years. The path of totality runs from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, crossing the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Maximum totality is 2 minutes and 40.3 seconds in length and occurs in Illinois at 18:21 UT (2:21 p.m. EDT). Greatest eclipse, the point when the axis of the lunar shadow passes closest to the center of the Earth, occurs in Kentucky at 18:25 UT (2:25 p.m. EDT). For additional information on the eclipse, browse eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-who-what-where-when-and-how, www.astronomy.com/great-american-eclipse-2017, and www.skyandtelescope.com/total-solar-eclipse-august-2017/ or see pages 48-51 of the August 2017 issue of Sky & Telescope and pages 20-43 of the August 2017 issue of Astronomy.
Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on August 1: Mercury (magnitude +0.4, 8.0", 44% illuminated, 0.85 a.u., Leo), Venus (magnitude -4.0, 14.5", 74% illuminated, 1.15 a.u., Gemini), Mars (magnitude +1.7, 3.5", 100% illuminated, 2.66 a.u., Cancer), Jupiter (magnitude -1.9, 34.3", 99% illuminated, 5.75 a.u., Virgo), Saturn (magnitude +0.3, 17.8", 100% illuminated, 9.34 a.u., Ophiuchus), Uranus (magnitude +5.8, 3.6", 100% illuminated, 19.47 a.u. on August 16th, Pisces), Neptune (magnitude +7.8, 2.4", 100% illuminated, 28.99 a.u. on August 16th, Aquarius), and Pluto (magnitude +14.2, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 32.56 a.u. on August 16th, Sagittarius).
This month Mercury and Jupiter are visible in the west, Saturn in the south, and Neptune in the east during the evening. At midnight, Saturn can be found in the southwest, Uranus in the east, and Neptune in the southeast. In the morning, Venus is in the east, Uranus is in the south, and Neptune is in the southwest.
Mercury is at aphelion on August 2nd, is at its greatest heliocentric latitude south on August 22nd, and is in inferior conjunction on August 26th. The speediest planet is just six degrees in altitude 30 minutes after sunset on August 1st and is only three degrees above the horizon on August 8th.
Venus lies about 20 degrees above the eastern horizon one hour before sunrise. A thin crescent Moon passes just to the north of the brightest planet on the morning of August 19th. Venus crosses into Cancer on August 25th. By the end of August, the eastward motion of the planet carries Venus to just one degree from M44 (the Beehive Cluster).
Mars is lost in the glare of the Sun this month.
Jupiter sets around 11:00 p.m. local daylight time. It drops in brightness from magnitude -1.9 to -1.7 and from 34.3 to 32.2 arc seconds in apparent size during August. The Moon passes 3.3 degrees north-northeast of Jupiter on August 25th.
As twilight ends, the Ringed Planet lies approximately 30 degrees above the southern horizon. Saturn is 17.4 arc seconds in diameter at its equator and 16.1 arc seconds at its poles on August 15th. Its ring system spans 40 arc seconds and is inclined nearly 27 degrees with respect to the Earth on that date. Saturn is stationary in right ascension and resumes direct (eastward) motion on August 25th. The Moon passes just to the north of Saturn on August 3rd and August 30th. Eighth-magnitude Titan, Saturn’s largest satellite, is north of the planet on August 10th and August 26th and south of it on August 2nd and August 18th. On the night of August 13th/14th, Enceladus reaches greatest eastern elongation and Mimas reaches greatest western elongation. Tethys lies to the west of Saturn and Dione, Rhea, and Titan to the east. The peculiar satellite Iapetus lies two arc minutes north of Saturn and shines at eleventh magnitude on that night. For additional information on Saturn’s satellites, browse www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/interactive-sky-watching-tools/
Uranus is situated one degree north of the fourth-magnitude star Omicron Piscium for the entire month. The ice giant rises in the late evening. Uranus is stationary in right ascension and begins retrograde (westward) motion on August 3rd. Browse bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/uranus-finder-chart-2017.png for a finder chart.
The eighth planet transits at approximately 3:00 a.m. local daylight time as August begins. Neptune is located two degrees east of the fourth-magnitude star Lambda Aquarii on the first day of August. By the end of the month, Neptune’s westward motion carries it to 1.3 degrees east of that star. A finder chart is posted at bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/neptune-finder-chart-2017.png
Additional online finder charts for Uranus and Neptune can be found at www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm and www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm and also at wwwcdn.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/WEB_Uranus_Neptune17.pdf
Pluto is located near the Teasthingy asterism in Sagittarius. The dwarf planet is highest in altitude in the late evening. Articles on locating and observing Pluto are available on pages 48 and 49 of the July issue of Sky & Telescope and pages 64 and 65 of the July issue of Astronomy. See page 243 of the RASC Observer’s Handbook 2017 for a paper finder chart. A basic finder chart is posted online at www.bluewaterastronomy.info/resources/Pluto-finder-2017.png and a more detailed one at wwwcdn.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/Pluto_2017.pdf
For more on the planets and how to locate them, see www.nakedeyeplanets.com/
Comet C/2015 ER61 (PanSTARRS) may shine at ninth-magnitude as it travels eastward through Taurus this month, passing less than one degree south of M45 (the Pleiades) from August 14th through August 21st. Ninth-magnitude Comet C/2015 V2 (Johnson) glides southward from Centaurus into Lupus. Comet71P/Clark heads through southern Scorpius. The tenth-magnitude comet passes less than one degree from the second-magnitude star Shaula (Lambda Scorpii) and the seventh-magnitude globular cluster NGC 6441during the final two weeks of the month. For further information on comets visible this month, browse cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html
Asteroid 89 Julia passes northwestward through Pegasus during August. It reaches magnitude +9.0 near the end of the month. It lies just to the southwest of the fifth-magnitude stars 55, 57, 58, and 59 Pegasi on the nights of August 15th and August 16th. For information on asteroid occultations taking place this month, see www.asteroidoccultation.com/2016_08_si.htm
A wealth of current information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html and nineplanets.org/
Free star maps for August can be downloaded at www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and www.telescope.com/content.jsp?pageName=Monthly-Star-Chart
Sixty binary and multiple stars for August: 5 Aquilae, Struve 2404, 11 Aquilae, Struve 2426, 15 Aquilae, Struve 2449, 23 Aquilae, Struve 2532, Pi Aquilae, 57 Aquilae (Aquila); Beta Cygni (Albireo), 16 Cygni, Delta Cygni, 17 Cygni (Cygnus); 41 & 40 Draconis, 39 Draconis, Struve 2348, Sigma Draconis, Struve 2573, Epsilon Draconis (Draco); 95 Herculis, 100 Herculis, Struve 2289, Struve 2411 (Hercules); Struve 2349, Struve 2372, Epsilon-1 & Epsilon-2 Lyrae (the Double-Double), Zeta-2 Lyrae, Beta Lyrae, Otto Struve 525, Struve 2470 & Struve 2474 (the Other Double-Double) (Lyra); 67 Ophiuchi, 69 Ophiuchi, 70 Ophiuchi, Struve 2276, 74 Ophiuchi (Ophiuchus); Mu Sagittarii, Eta Sagittarii, 21 Sagittarii, Zeta Sagittarii, H N 119, 52 Sagittarii, 54 Sagittarii (Sagittarius); Struve 2306, Delta Scuti, Struve 2373 (Scutum); Struve 2296, Struve 2303, 59 Serpentis, Theta Serpentis (Serpens Cauda); Struve 2445, Struve 2455, Struve 2457, 4 Vupeculae, Struve 2521, Struve 2523, Struve 2540, Struve 2586, Otto Struve 388, Struve 2599 (Vulpecula)
Notable carbon star for August: V Aquilae
Eighty deep-sky objects for August: B139, B142, B143, NGC 6709, NGC 6738, NGC 6741, NGC 6751, NGC 6755, NGC 6772, NGC 6778, NGC 6781, NGC 6804, PK64+5.1 (Aquila); NGC 6819, NGC 6826, NGC 6834, (Cygnus); NGC 6643, NGC 6742 (Draco); DoDz 9 (Hercules); M56, M57, NGC 6703, NGC 6791, Ste1 (Lyra); NGC 6572, NGC 6633 (Ophiuchus); H20, M71 (Sagitta); B86, B87, B90, B92, B93, M8, M17, M18, M20, M21, M22, M23, M24, M25, M28, M54, M55, M69, M70, M75, NGC 6520, NGC 6544, NGC 6546, NGC 6553, NGC 6565, NGC 6603, NGC 6818, NGC 6822 (Sagittarius); IC 4703, IC 4756, M16, NGC 6604 (Serpens Cauda); B100, B101, B103, B104, B110, B111, B113, Bas 1, IC 1295, M11, M26, NGC 6649, NGC 6712 (Scutum); Cr 399 (asterism), M27, NGC 6802, NGC 6823, NGC 6834, NGC 6940, St 1 (Vulpecula)
Top ten binocular deep-sky objects for August: Cr 399, IC 4756, M8, M11, M17, M22, M24, M25, M27, NGC 6633 (IC 4756 and NGC 6633 are collectively known as the Binocular Double Cluster)
Top ten deep-sky objects for August: M8, M11, M16, M17, M20, M22, M24, M27, M55, M57
Challenge deep-sky object for August: Abell 53 (Aquila)
The objects listed above are located between 18:00 and 20:00 hours of right ascension.