Prepare for a charming month of stargazing in August 2024. From the oppositions of the massive asteroids Psyche and Iris to the height of the Perseid meteor bathe, this month guarantees a celestial showcase that astronomy fans received’t wish to miss. Dive into the important thing occasions and put together for an unforgettable stargazing expertise.
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Checklist of Meteor Showers in August 2024
- Antihelion Supply: Begin on December 10; a number of peaks; finish September 10.
- 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.
We even have an entire checklist of meteor showers for your complete 12 months of 2024 right here.
Checklist of Planetary Conjunctions in August 2024
- Conjunction of the Moon and Venus in Leo on August 5.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury in Leo on August 6.
- Conjunction of Venus and Mercury in Leo on August 6.
- Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars in Taurus on August 14.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn in Aquarius on August 21.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter in Taurus on August 27.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mars in Taurus on August 28.
August 5: Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
The Moon and Venus will likely be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 1°44′ of one another.
Search for the 2 our bodies within the constellation of Leo. The Moon will likely be a really skinny waxing crescent (3%) at sooner or later outdated and won’t intrude a lot with stargazing this primary half of August 2024. Regardless of this, the Moon will nonetheless be at obvious magnitude of -8.4, whereas Venus will likely be at magnitude -3.9.
Mercury can even be close by, ready for its personal conjunction with the Moon, in addition to one other conjunction with Venus on the following day. So not fairly a triple conjunction, however nonetheless a detailed gathering of three celestial objects.
August 6: Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
The Moon and Mercury will likely be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 7°28′ of one another.
The 2 celestial our bodies will meet within the constellation of Leo. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Venus.) The Moon will likely be at obvious magnitude -8.5 for and Mercury at 1.6. The Moon will likely be a two days outdated waxing crescent at 3%.
August 6: Conjunction of Venus and Mercury
Venus and Mercury will likely be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 5°55′ of one another.
Search for the 2 planets within the constellation of Leo. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Venus.) Venus will likely be at obvious magnitude -3.9, whereas Mercury will likely be at 1.7.
August 6: Asteroids 16 Psyche and seven Iris at opposition
The asteroids 16 Psyche and seven Iris will likely be at opposition at round midnight native time. They’ll each attain the very best level within the sky and reverse to the Solar.
On the similar time the asteroids will likely be closest to the Earth (perigee) at a distance of 1.706 AU for Psyche and 1.256 AU for Iris. Right now they would be the brightest, with an obvious magnitude of 9.6 and eight.3 respectively. Look within the constellations of Capricornus and Aquarius respectively, with binoculars or a telescope.
August 8: η-Eridanid meteor bathe peak
The Eta Eridanids are small variable meteor bathe. Some meteors may additionally be noticed between July 31 and August 19. They’ll radiate from the constellation of Eridanus on the velocity of 64 km/s on common.
August 12: Perseid meteor bathe peak
The Perseids are the most important common meteor bathe with a median of 150 meteors per hour (ZHR) through the peak if circumstances are ultimate. (See featured picture on the high of the article.) The Moon will likely be 8 days outdated waxing gibbous at 53%.
Some meteors may additionally be noticed between July 17 and August 24, enriching your stargazing this summer time of 2024. They’ll radiate from the constellation of Perseus on the velocity of 59 km/s on common, originating from particles left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
August 14: Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars
Jupiter and Mars will likely be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside a mere 18′ of one another.
Across the similar time, the 2 planets can even make a detailed method (appulse) reaching 18.4 arcminutes from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
Search for the 2 planets within the constellation of Taurus. Jupiter will likely be at obvious magnitude -2.2, whereas Mars will likely be at 0.8. The Moon will likely be waxing gibbous (74%) at 10 days outdated.
August 17: κ-Cygnid meteor bathe peak
The Kappa Cygnids will peak this August 2024 with a zenithal hourly price of three if stargazing circumstances are ultimate. Sadly, with the Moon a 13 days outdated waxing gibbous at 96%, so the circumstances will not be as ultimate as we would need, because of the Moon’s interference.
Some meteors may additionally be noticed between August 3 and August 25. They’ll radiate from the constellation of Cygnus, close to the star Kappa Cygni, on the velocity of 25 km/s on common.
August 21: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
The Moon and Saturn will attain conjunction passing inside 27′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
At across the similar time the 2 our bodies can even make a detailed method (appulse) reaching 24.4 arcminutes from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension. In some elements of Latin America, North Africa and Western Europe this distance will likely be so shut as to result in a lunar occultation of Saturn, which means the Moon will cross in entrance of Saturn thereby hiding it from view quickly.
The Moon will likely be at obvious magnitude -12.7 and Saturn at magnitude 0.6 each within the constellation of Aquarius. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing asteroids 16 Psyche and seven Iris at opposition.) The Moon will likely be 17 days outdated waning gibbous at 94%.
August 26: Shut method of the Moon and the Pleiades
The Moon and the Pleiades (also referred to as M45 or Messier 45) will make a detailed method, passing inside solely 7.5 arcminutes of one another.
Each objects will likely be within the constellation of Taurus with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -12.0; and the Pleiades at 1.3. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of Jupiter and Mars.) The Moon will likely be a 22 days outdated waning crescent at 47%.
August 27: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and Jupiter will attain conjunction passing inside 5°40′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
Across the similar time, the 2 our bodies can even make a detailed method (appulse) reaching 5°38′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
The Moon will likely be at obvious magnitude -11.6 and Jupiter at magnitude -2.3 each within the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of Jupiter and Mars.) The Moon will likely be a 23 days outdated waning crescent at 32%.
August 28: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
The Moon and Mars will likely be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 5°16′ of one another.
Across the similar time, the 2 our bodies can even make a detailed method (appulse) reaching 5°15′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
Search for the 2 our bodies within the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of Jupiter and Mars.) The Moon will likely be a really skinny waning crescent (27%) at 24 days outdated, near new moon – and won’t intrude a lot with stargazing this finish of August 2024. Regardless of this, the Moon will nonetheless be at obvious magnitude of -11.4, whereas Mars will likely be at magnitude 0.8.
August 31: Aurigid meteor bathe peak
The Aurigids will peak this August 2024 with a zenithal hourly price of 6 if stargazing circumstances are ultimate. With the Moon a 27 days outdated waning crescent at 2%, the circumstances will likely be near ultimate, baring unfavorable atmospheric circumstances.
Some meteors may additionally be noticed between August 28 and September 5. They’ll radiate from the constellation of Auriga on the velocity of 66 km/s on common. The meteors from this bathe originate from comet Kiess (C/1911 N1).
Moon Phases in August 2024
As you realize, the Moon has a huge impact on the visibility of celestial our bodies and astronomical occasions within the evening sky. So that will help you with stargazing, right here’s a calendar of the phases of Moon for this month of August 2024:
Positions of the Planets in August 2024
- Mercury: The closest planet to the Solar may be seen at daybreak and nightfall travelling throughout the constellation of Leo. This planet, being the closest to the Solar, will seem to maneuver rapidly within the evening sky and its place will change within the following weeks.
- Venus: The sister planet may be seen travelling throughout the constellation of Leo. Identical to Mercury, Venus can solely be seen at daybreak and nightfall.
- Mars: The purple planet may be seen within the constellation of Taurus.
- Jupiter: The gasoline big is seen within the constellation of Taurus. Jupiter can simply be noticed with the bare eye, even in extremely illuminated cities.
- Saturn: The ringed big may be seen with the bare eye within the constellation of Aquarius.
- Uranus: The ice big may be seen within the constellation of Taurus with using a telescope.
- Neptune: The blue big requires a telescope pointed within the constellation of Pisces as a way to be seen.
Positions of Dwarf Planets and Giant Asteroids in August 2024
- Ceres: The asteroid belt’s lone dwarf planet may be seen within the constellation of Sagittarius with the assistance of a telescope.
- Vesta: This massive asteroid may be seen within the constellation of Leo with a telescope.
- Pallas: The asteroid may be noticed with a telescope within the constellation of Serpens.
- Hygiea: The fourth largest asteroid may be discovered with a telescope within the constellation of Aries.
- Pluto: This distant dwarf planet may be discovered within the constellation of Capricornus with the assistance of a big telescope.
Main astronomical occasions subsequent month – September 2024
- September 2: Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition
- September 6: ν-Eridanid meteor bathe peak
- September 8: Saturn at opposition
- September 9: September ε-Perseid meteor bathe peak
- September 14: χ-Cygnid meteor bathe peak
- September 18: Partial lunar eclipse
- September 21: Neptune at opposition
- September 22: September equinox
- September 27: Daytime Sextantid meteor bathe peak
- September 27: Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) at perihelion
- September 29: Asteroid 20 Massalia at opposition
Conclusion
In brief, August 2024 provides a wealth of stargazing alternatives, together with the oppositions of asteroids Psyche and Iris, and the peaks of meteor showers just like the Perseids and Aurigids. These occasions make it a chief month for astronomy fans.
To make sure you don’t miss out on any celestial happenings, join our publication to obtain stargazing calendars and extra updates. Pleased stargazing!
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