* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

August 2012

Blobrana · L

Highlights

August 1 is the date of an ancient Pagan festival of Lammas or Lughnasadh(LOO-nah-sah). It marks the beginning of the last quarter of the Celtic year. The festival is associated with the god Lugh, or Samildanach, which means "he of many gifts".

The Perseids Meteor Shower Peaks on August 13th

Albireo
Probably the most colourful double star in the night sky can now be found nearly overhead at 11:30 p.m. local daylight time, in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan, also known as the Northern Cross. Albireo supposedly marks the swans beak.
A small telescope, or even a pair of steadily held binoculars, will readily split Albireo into two tiny points of light of beautiful contrasting colours: the brighter one a rich yellowish-orange, the other a deep azure blue, both placed very close together. An absolutely stunning view will come with a telescope magnifying between 18 and 30 power.

Sagittarius and the Galactic Centre.
For northern observers, the Teapot of Sagittarius should be dashing across the southern horizon. Observe the lower western corner, which lies immediately above the stinger of Scorpio, the scorpion. You are now looking straight toward the heart of the galaxy, the galactic centre. The actual centre is not visible to us due to the unimaginable amount of dust and stars blocking the way, but we do know something about it thanks to both radio and infrared radiation that is not so easily blocked.

Blobrana · L

Mercury: at magnitude 3.0, starts the month in the constellation of Cancer. Mercury is stationary on the 7th. Mercury is best seen from 3.5h - 3.6h. The planet is near to the Moon on the 16th. Mercury is at greatest elongation on the 16th August, 2012.

(On August 7th, RA= 8h10m56s Dec=+16°22.6' (J2000) Distance=0.693AU Phase k=11% Diameter=9.7")

Venus: is at magnitude -4.4. The planet is in constellation Taurus at the start of the month. It is best seen from 0.9h -17.3h. The planet is at greatest elongation on the 15th August. The Moon is close to Venus on the 13th August.
(On August 1st, RA= 5h35m36s Dec=+19°10.0' (J2000) Distance=0.595AU Phase k=41% Diameter=28.0")

Earth: The Earth was at aphelion (distance to sun: 1.0167 AU) at 3:32.1 UT, 5th July.

The Moon: Full Moon (diameter: 31.015') at 13:58.1 UT, 2nd August. Lunar perigee (distance: 369764.1 km, apparent diameter: 32'53.1") at 19:23.5 UT, 23rd August. Last Quarter Moon at 18:55.0 UT, 9th August. Lunar apogee (distance to moon center: 404083.6 km, apparent diameter: 30'02.9") at 10:52.5 UT, 10th August, 2012. New Moon (diameter: 31.299') at 15:54.4 UT, 17th August. First Quarter Moon at 13:53.6 UT, 24th August, 2012 (This is the second southernmost first quarter moon of the year.).

Mars: at magnitude 1.1 starts the month in the constellation Virgo. Mars is near Spica on the 14th. The Moon is close to Mars on the 22nd August, 2012.
(On August 1st, RA=13h00m07s Dec= -6°32.9' (J2000) Distance=1.633AU Phase k=89% Diameter=5.7")

Jupiter: is in the constellation Taurus. At magnitude -2.2, the planet is obserable in the morning sky. A near quarter Moon is close to Jupiter on the 11th August, 2012.

Transit times of the Great Red Spot are posted in a seprate thread.
(On August 1st, RA= 4h34m20s Dec=+21°11.7' (J2000) Distance=5.467AU Diameter=36.0")

Saturn: at magnitude 0.8 sits in the constellation Virgo. The planet is best seen from 20.7h -22.2h. Saturn is near Spica on the 3rd August, 2012. Mars is near to Saturn on 15th August. The The Moon is close to Saturn on the 21st August.
(On August 1st, RA=13h31m25s Dec= -6°57.6' (J2000) Distance=9.984AU Diameter=16.6")

Uranus: is in the constellation Cetus. Uranus at magnitude 5.8, has a bluish-green hue and appears 3.6 arcseconds wide.
(On August 1st, RA= 0h31m22s Dec= +2°35.0' (J2000) Distance=19.528AU Diameter=3.6")

Neptune: is at magnitude 7.8 in the constellation Aquarius. The planet is best seen from 0.4h - 0.6h. Neptune is at opposition on the 24th August. The Moon is close to Neptune on the 3rd and 31st August, 2012.
(On August 3rd, RA=22h17m22s Dec=-11°17.4' (J2000) Distance=29.047AU Diameter=2.3")

Pluto: is in the constellation Sagittarius (mag 14.1). Normally, a finder chart is necessary to help in identifying the 0.13" diameter dwarf planet. The dwarf planet is best seen from 23.9h - 0.6h. Pluto is very near to the Moon on the 27th. Pluto was at Opposition on the 29th June.
(On August 1st, RA=18h30m52s Dec=-19°27.7' (J2000) Distance=31.416AU Diameter=0.1")

The Sun enters the zodiac sign of Virgo at 17:07 UT on the 22nd August, 2012.

Blobrana · L

                                August
 d  h                                  d  h
 2  3  FULL MOON                      16 13  Mercury greatest elong W(19)
 3 18  Neptune 5.6S of Moon           17 15  NEW MOON
 3 19  Saturn 4.5N of Spica           18  0  Regulus 5.5N of Moon
 6 12  Uranus 4.8S of Moon            21 21  Spica 1.0N of Moon      Occn
 7 15  Mercury stationary             21 23  Saturn 5.3N of Moon
 9 18  LAST QUARTER                   22  6  Mars 2.2N of Moon
10 10  Moon at apogee                 23 19  Moon at perigee
11 16  Aldebaran 4.7S of Moon         24 12  Neptune at opposition
11 20  Jupiter 0.1N of Moon    Occn   24 13  FIRST QUARTER
12  9  Moon furthest North (21.5)     25  3  Antares 5.4S of Moon
13 19  Venus 0.5S of Moon      Occn   25 18  Moon furthest South (-21.4)
14  3  Mars 1.8N of Spica             27  2  Pluto 0.7N of Moon      Occn
15 10  Mars 2.7S of Saturn            31  1  Neptune 5.6S of Moon
15 11  Venus greatest elong W(46)     31 14  FULL MOON
16  3  Mercury 3.4N of Moon

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