THE USM SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
207-780-4249 www.usm.maine.edu/planet
43.6667° N 70.2667° W
Altitude: 10 feet below sea level
Altitude: 10 feet below sea level
Founded January 1970
Julian date: 2458687.5
"Taking up space at the University of Southern Maine."
THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Thursday, August 1, 2019
August 2019 Night Sky Calendar
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1: MOON NEAR MARS
Yesterday, we devoted an article to the "Black Super Moon," a celestial object that nobody on Earth was able to observe. The first noteworthy event of August involves the nearly new moon and Mars, neither of which will actually be visible. The inclusion of this event is not pointless, however, as it reminds us that we're beginning another lunation cycle (number 1196) and that Mars will eventually return to the early morning sky. (See "Planet Watch")
Yesterday, we devoted an article to the "Black Super Moon," a celestial object that nobody on Earth was able to observe. The first noteworthy event of August involves the nearly new moon and Mars, neither of which will actually be visible. The inclusion of this event is not pointless, however, as it reminds us that we're beginning another lunation cycle (number 1196) and that Mars will eventually return to the early morning sky. (See "Planet Watch")
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1: LAMMAS
"Lammas" is perhaps the least well known of the calendar's four cross-quarter days, those days that approximate the seasonal midpoints. Imbolc, or Groundhog's Day (Feb 2) is the cross quarter day between the winter solstice and vernal equinox. Beltane, or May Day (May 1) marks the mid point between the vernal equinox and summer solstice. Lammas is the Cross quarter day between the summer solstice and autumnal equinox. Samhain, or Halloween (October 31st) marks the mid point between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice. Today, we reach the middle of astronomical summer!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2: MOON AT PERIGEE
A moon is a "super moon," when it is either full or new while at or near perigee, its point of least distance. July's second new moon was considered a "Black Super Moon," because it was the month's second new moon around the time of perigee. As the moon is at the very beginning of its lunation cycle, it will appear as a razor thin crescent in the western evening sky, and therefore barely visible, one won't notice that it is larger than usual. One might notice the higher tides caused by the perigean new moon, though. As the moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun influence our tides, they will be higher when the moon is new or full as they'll be acting along the same line. When the moon is at or near perigee around the time of conjunction (new moon) or opposition (full moon), the tides will be even higher due to the moon's closer position.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 2: MOON NEAR REGULUS
Unlike the earlier Moon-Mars event, the Moon-Regulus appulse might actually be visible, albeit low in the western evening sky. The thin crescent moon lingers near Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion. As the Sun appears to move through Leo between mid August to mid September, the constellation will soon vanish into the dusk light.
Leo the Lion is one of the thirteen "zodiac" constellations, defined as those constellations through which the Sun appears to travel each year. As the Sun "moves through" Leo between August 15 - September 15th, the constellation will soon vanish into the dusk light, only to re emerge into the eastern pre-dawn sky in late October.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 7: FIRST QUARTER MOON
FRIDAY, AUGUST 9: MERCURY AT GREATEST WESTERN ELONGATION
One will find Mercury in the eastern, pre-dawn sky this week. When a planet is at western elongation, it will be visible in the eastern early morning sky. When a planet is at eastern elongation, it is visible in the western evening sky. If you want to observe Mercury in August, this is the best time to seek out the elusive planet.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 10: MOON NEAR JUPITER
See the waxing gibbous moon (79% illuminated) close to the giant planet Jupiter tonight. Both worlds will begin the evening high in the east and then will move over into the west by mid evening. Jupiter and the moon will both set before 1:30 a.m.
MONDAY, AUGUST 12: MOON NEAR SATURN
The waxing gibbous moon (93% illuminated) appears close to Saturn tonight. As Saturn isn't as bright as Jupiter, having the moon close by should help most people find the ringed world. Both worlds will remain visible in the sky until about 3:30 a.m.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 13: PERSEID METEOR SHOWER PEAKS! (GOLD EVENT!!!)
The Perseid Meteor Shower starts around July 17th and ends around August 24th. Tonight, it peaks. A meteor shower occurs when Earth moves through a stream of comet particles. In the case of the Perseid Meteor Shower, our planet is moving through a stream cast off by Comet Swift-Tuttle. An observer might observe about 40 - 60 meteors an hour during peak night. This year, however, the substantial lunar light interference will impair viewing considerably. One can expect to observe about 20 - 35 meteors an hour. Best to watch after midnight, the time when our part of the planet will turn into the meteoroid stream.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14: VENUS IN SUPERIOR CONJUNCTION
Venus will pass along the far side of the Sun relative to Earth today. Of course, it won't be visible to us as the much brighter Sun will be in the way. Although Venus will remain out of sight in August, it will emerge in our western evening sky by mid September.