August 2017 Sky Calendar
Dec 7, 2017 4:00:25 GMT
Post by Joe on Dec 7, 2017 4:00:25 GMT
CVAS Monthly Sky Calendar for August 2017
Mercury – The first of the month, Mercury might be able to be seen very low in the western evening sky. After the first week, Mercury probably will be too close to the Sun to be seen as it approaches inferior conjunction with the Sun on the 26th. At the very beginning of the month it is up about 10° high and is up for about an hour after sunset. At the beginning of the month it is magnitude will be around 0.5 with a size of 8 arc-seconds with a phase of 44%.
Jupiter – Jupiter is best viewed in the SW skies right after it gets dark enough to view it. It is now three months past opposition so as the Earth moves away from it is getting smaller and dimmer. During to the month, its magnitude will go from -1.91 to -1.78 and its diameter going from 34.2 to 32.1 arc-seconds for the month. To start the month it is up for close to 3 hours after sunset, at month’s end it is up for less than 2 hours after sunset.
Saturn- Best viewed in the S skies also when it gets dark enough to view it. During to the month, its magnitude will go from 0.28 to 0.44 and its diameter going from 17.7 to 16.9 arc-seconds. Saturn rings will be tilted 27° to us. The rings them self will be about 41 arc-seconds in size this month. To start the month it is up for 6 hours after sunset, at month’s end it is up for little less than 5 hours after sunset.
Neptune – In Aquarius, Neptune is best viewed the SE/S mornings skies this month. It is highest up in the Southern skies right at sunrise to start the month, at month’s end it will be highest up near 4am. Its magnitude will around 7.82 with a diameter of around 2.31 arc-seconds during the month. Neptune will be at opposition on September 9th this year. To start the month it is up for 8 hours after sunset, at month’s end it is up for over 10 ½ hours after sunset.
Uranus – In Pisces, it too is best viewed in morning. To start the month, it is best viewed maybe an hour or so before sunrise when it will be in the SE skies and will be 44° high at sunrise. By month’s end it will be well place to view a couple of hours before sunrise where it will be 59° high at sunrise. Its magnitude will around 5.75 with a diameter of around 3.6 arc-seconds during the month. Uranus will be at opposition on October 19th this year. To start the month it is up for 6 ½ hours after sunset, at month’s end it is up for over 9 hours after sunset.
See is.gd/urnep/ for finder charts for Uranus and Neptune from Sky&Telescope.
Venus – Venus also can be found in the eastern morning sky before sunrise. It is now up for close to 3 hours before sunrise, being 31° to 29° high at sunrise for the month. During the month it is at a gibbous phase, being between 74% phase with a size of 14.5 arc-seconds to a phase of 83% with a size of 12.5 arc-seconds. Its magnitude close to magnitude -4.0 for the whole month.
Mars – Mars was just in conjunction with the Sun on July 27th, so this month it is too close to the Sun to view.
Perseid Meteor Shower
This year the shower is predicted to peak at 3PM on August 12th, but with a broad peak, you might be able to see them on the nights of the 11th to 12th, and the 12th to 13th. Usually closer to midnight until dawn is the best time to view them. Unfortunately the moon will be more than half full on those times and rising right around when the meteors start to appear, so this year will not be the best viewing them. But even with the moon, you can expect to see a meteor every few minutes in the dawn hours.
Total Solar Eclipse on the 21st.
The main event for this year is the total solar eclipse that goes across North American, stating Oregon and ending in South Carolina. This is the first Total Solar eclipse visible in the contiguous US since 1979. From our location at Indian Hill, it will only be 79% covered at it’s maximum. The eclipse starts at 1:07 PM when the Sun will be 60 degrees high with an azimuth of 170 degrees. It reaches maximum at 2:32PM when it will be 57 degrees high with an azimuth of 210 degrees. It ends at 3:51PM wen it will be 47 degrees high with an azimuth of 237 degrees. There is another Total Solar Eclipse in 2024, on April 8th, that will come up through Texas and pass over Ohio.