THE USM SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
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43.6667° N                   70.2667° W
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
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")

*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.

[image: leo.png]
*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.