Prepare for a celestial spectacle in August! This month guarantees a sequence of thrilling occasions within the night time sky, together with many conjunctions, meteor showers, and oppositions of asteroids and Saturn. Whether or not you’re a seasoned stargazer or a curious observer, there’s a lot to stay up for within the awe-inspiring cosmic occasions unfolding above us.
Fast Abstract of Meteor Showers in August 2023
- Piscis Austrinids: Begin on July 15; peak on July 28; finish on August 10.
- Southern δ-Aquariids: Begin on July 12; peak on July 30; finish on August 23.
- α-Capricornids: Begin on July 3; peak on July 30; finish on August 15.
- η-Eridanids: Begin on July 31; peak on August 8; finish on August 19.
- Perseids: Begin on July 17; peak on August 12; finish on August 24.
- κ-Cygnids: Begin on August 3; peak on August 17; finish on August 25.
- Aurigids: Begin on August 28; peak on August 31; finish on September 5.
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Astronomical Occasions for August 2023
On August 3, there will likely be a conjunction of the Moon and Saturn. The 2 celestial our bodies will share the identical proper ascension and go inside 2°28′ of one another within the constellation of Aquarius. At almost the identical time, the 2 objects can even make a detailed method, referred to as an appulse. Though not sharing the identical proper ascension, the 2 our bodies will get even nearer to one another at 2°15′. The Moon (waning gibbous, 17 days outdated) will likely be at obvious magnitude -12.7, and Saturn 0.5.
Then on August 8, the η-Eridanids meteor bathe will peak. This variable charge meteor bathe was just lately found. Meteors will seem to radiate from the constellation of Eridanus and streak throughout the sky at a mean estimated pace of 64 km/s. Some meteors can be seen between July 31 and August 19.
On the identical night time, we can have a conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter. They’ll go inside 2°52′ of one another, sharing the identical proper ascension. At about the identical time, the 2 our bodies will make an appulse, often known as a detailed method. They’ll get even nearer at 2°39′ of one another however not sharing proper ascension. Look within the constellation of Aries. The Moon (waning crescent, 22 days outdated) will likely be at obvious magnitude -11.9 and Jupiter -2.5.
On August 9, we will witness a shut method of the Moon and M45, which is often known as the Seven Sisters, Messier 45, or mostly – the Pleiades. This open star cluster can be an asterism within the constellation of Taurus, the place you must search for this conjunction. That is the obvious star cluster you possibly can observe with the bare eye. The 2 objects will go inside 1°20′ of one another. The Moon will likely be 23 days outdated (a waning crescent) at obvious magnitude -11.6, whereas M45 will likely be at magnitude 1.3.
Then on August 10, asteroid 10 Hygiea will likely be at opposition. For the reason that asteroid will likely be precisely reverse to the Solar, it would attain the very best put up within the sky at round midnight native time, no matter the place on the planet you might be. It is going to be within the constellation of Aquarius. At about the identical time, Hygiea can even make its closest method to Earth (perigee) at 2.039 AU and attain a peak brightness of obvious magnitude 9.7. Even at its brightest, this massive asteroid continues to be too faint to be seen to the bare eye. You will have binoculars or a telescope. Hygiea was found in 1849 by Annibale de Gasparis and named after the Greek goddess of well being, cleanliness, and hygiene. Curiously her identify is the supply for the phrase “hygiene”. With a imply diameter of about 434 km, Hygiea is the fourth largest asteroid within the photo voltaic system.
On the night time of August 12-13, the Perseid meteor bathe will peak. It’s by far the most important meteor bathe with a mean of 150 meteors per hour throughout the peak, assuming superb situations. Some meteors can be seen between July 17 and August 24. They’ll seem to radiate from the constellation of Perseus, because the identify implies. The meteors will enter the environment at 59 km/s, which is on the sooner aspect for a meteor bathe. The Perseids originate from the comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
Later within the month, on the night time of August 17-18 the κ-Cygnid meteor bathe will peak. In contrast to the earlier meteor bathe, this one is tiny. It solely has a mean of three meteors per hour throughout the peak, and that’s assuming excellent viewing situations. Some further meteors may be seen throughout August 3 to August 25. The meteors can have a mean pace of 25 km/s. That is on the slower aspect for a meteor bathe. The Kappa Cygnids will seem to radiate from the constellation of Cygnus, extra exactly close to the star Kappa Cygni.
On the morning of August 18, we can have a conjunction of the Moon and Mercury. The 2 our bodies will go inside 6°56′ of one another, whereas sharing the identical proper ascension. Look within the constellation of Leo. The Moon (a waxing crescent, 2 days outdated) will likely be at obvious magnitude -9.0, and Mercury 0.6. This implies they are going to be seen to the bare eye. Preserve your eyes secure throughout daytime observations and by no means level binoculars or a telescope instantly on the Solar.
Then on the night time of August 18, there will likely be a conjunction of the Moon and Mars. For the reason that morning, the Moon can have moved to the constellation of Virgo to satisfy Mars at 2°10′ of one another, whereas sharing the identical proper ascension. Almost two hours later, the 2 our bodies will get even nearer to one another at 1°55′ of separation however not sharing the identical proper ascension. That is known as an appulse or a detailed method. The Moon (a waxing crescent, 2 days outdated) will likely be at obvious magnitude -9.4, and Mars 1.8.
On August 26, asteroid 8 Flora will likely be at opposition. No matter the place on the planet you might be, the asteroid will attain the very best put up within the sky at round midnight native time. It is because it is going to be precisely reverse to the Solar. At across the identical time Flora will attain perigee, which suggests its closest method to the Earth, at 0.999 AU. At the moment it would attain peak brightness of obvious magnitude 8.5 within the constellation of Aquarius. That is too faint for the bare eye, and also you’ll want at the least binoculars, or ideally a telescope. Flora is a big asteroid of the principle belt with a imply diameter of 146 km. It’s also the seventh-brightest asteroid. The asteroid was found by J. R. Hind in 1847. It was named after Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers and spring.
On August 27, Saturn will attain opposition. Search for it within the highest level within the sky throughout midnight native time, within the constellation of Aquarius. At about the identical time the planet will attain perigee and be closest to us and so seem bigger within the sky and simpler to look at. Its obvious magnitude will likely be 0.4, so seen to the bare eye. This is able to even be a very good alternative to make use of binoculars or a telescope for higher observations, together with Saturn’s rings.
On August 30, the Moon and Saturn will likely be at conjunction. The 2 celestial our bodies will share the identical proper ascension, passing inside 2°29′ of one another. Lower than two hours later, they’ll get even nearer to one another at 2°16′ in an appulse (shut method) however not sharing the identical proper ascension. The Moon will likely be at obvious magnitude -12.8, and Saturn 0.4, each within the constellation of Aquarius.
And eventually on the night time of August 31 and September 1st, the Aurigid meteor bathe will peak. It’s a reasonably small meteor bathe with a mean hourly charge of 6 meteors throughout the peak with superb situations. Some meteors can be noticed between August 28 and September 5. They’ll seem to radiate from the constellation of Auriga. Their pace relative to Earth will likely be 66 km/s on common.
Moon Phases in August 2023
As you understand, the Moon has a huge impact on the visibility of celestial our bodies within the night time sky. So listed here are the Moon’s phases for this month:
Positions of the Planets in August 2023
Mercury: The closest planet to the Solar could be seen at daybreak and nightfall travelling throughout the constellation of Leo. This planet, being the closest to the Solar, will seem to maneuver shortly within the night time sky and its place will change within the following weeks.
Venus: The sister planet could be seen close to Mercury travelling throughout the constellation of Leo. Similar to Mercury, Venus can solely be seen at daybreak and nightfall.
Mars: The purple planet could be seen within the constellation of Leo.
Jupiter: The gasoline large is seen within the constellation of Aries. Jupiter can simply be noticed with the bare eye, even in extremely illuminated cities.
Saturn: The ringed large could be seen with the bare eye within the constellation of Aquarius.
Uranus: The gasoline large could be seen within the constellation of Aries with the usage of a telescope.
Neptune: The blue large requires a telescope pointed within the constellation of Pisces in an effort to be seen.
Positions of Dwarf Planets and Giant Asteroids in August 2023
Ceres: The asteroid belt’s lone dwarf planet could be seen within the constellation of Virgo with the assistance of a telescope.
Vesta: This massive asteroid could be seen within the constellation of Taurus with a telescope.
Pallas: The asteroid could be noticed with a telescope within the constellation of Leo.
Pluto: This distant dwarf planet could be discovered within the constellation of Sagittarius with the assistance of a giant telescope.
Main astronomical occasions subsequent month
- September 6 – Ν Eridanids meteor bathe peak.
- September 9 – September ε-Perseids meteor bathe peak.
- September 14 – χ-Cygnids meteor bathe peak.
- September 19 – Neptune at opposition.
- September 23 – September equinox.
- September 27 – Daytime Sextantids meteor bathe peak.
Conclusion
In August, there will likely be a number of astronomical occasions value observing. Conjunctions of the Moon with Saturn, Jupiter, M45, Mercury, and Mars, in addition to the opposition of asteroids Hygiea and Flora, and Saturn, will present fascinating viewing alternatives. Moreover, meteor showers such because the η-Eridanids, Perseids, κ-Cygnids, and Aurigids will grace the night time sky. These occasions supply astronomy lovers an opportunity to witness the wonder and wonders of our universe.
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