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Blobrana · L

RE: August 2015

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 the 13th August 2015.

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 -1.1, starts the month in the constellation of Leo. The planet is lost to the twilight sky for most of this month. Mercury is in conjunction with Venus on the 5th August. Mercury is at Aphelion on the 29th August.
(On August 1st, RA= 9h27m13s Dec=+16°48.7' (J2000) Distance=1.325AU Phase k=94% Diameter=5.1")

Venus: is at magnitude -3.9i n the constellation Gemini. The planet will appear in the morning skies during towards the end of the month. Venus is in conjunction with Jupiter on the 4th August. Venus is at Aphelion on the 8th August. Venus is at inferior Conjunction on the 15th August. The Moon is close (Separation 3.5°) to Venus on the 14th August.
(On August 1st, RA= 7h09m57s Dec=+22°22.7' (J2000) Distance=1.546AU Phase k=92% Diameter=10.8")

Earth: The Perseids meteor maximum is at 11:00 UT, 13th August.

The Moon: Lunar perigee is at 10:10.4 UT, 2nd and at 15:28.0 UT, 30th August. Last Quarter Moon is at 02:02.7 UT 7th August. New Moon is at 14:53.4 UT, 14th August. Lunar apogee is at 02:41.8 UT, 18th August. First Quarter Moon at 19:31.0 UT, 22nd August. Full moon is at 18:35.2 UT, 29th August 2015.

Mars: at magnitude 1.7 starts the month in the constellation Gemini. The Moon is close (Separation 6°) to Mars on the 13th August. Mars is near the Beehive star cluster in Cancer on the 20th. Venus is in conjunction with Mars on the 29th August.
(On August 1st, RA= 7h47m08s Dec=+22°08.1' (J2000) Distance=2.575AU Phase k=99% Diameter=3.6")

Jupiter: is in the constellation Leo. At magnitude -1.7, the planet is generally unobservable this month. Jupiter is close to Regulus on the 11th August. Jupiter is in Conjunction on the 26th August.

Transit times of the Great Red Spot are posted in a separate thread.
(On August 1st, RA=10h00m53s Dec=+13°03.8' (J2000) Distance=6.334AU Diameter=31.1")

Saturn: at magnitude 0.4 sits in the constellation Libra. Saturn is stationary on the 2nd August. Saturn is at eastern quadrature (90 degrees east of the Sun) on the 21st. Saturn is about 2.5° from the Moon on the 22nd. Saturn's rings are tilted ~24 degrees to our line of sight.
(On August 1st, RA=15h45m05s Dec=-17°47.9' (J2000) Distance=9.613AU Diameter=17.2")

Uranus: is in the constellation Pisces. Uranus at magnitude 5.8, has a bluish-green hue and appears 3.5 arcseconds wide.
(On August 1st, RA= 1h15m51s Dec= +7°18.7' (J2000) Distance=19.637AU Diameter=3.6")

Neptune: is at magnitude 7.8 in the constellation Aquarius. Neptune is at opposition on the 31st August.
(On August 2nd, RA=22h43m24s Dec= -8°57.9' (J2000) Distance=29.070AU 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.
(On August 7th, RA=18h56m55s Dec=-20°51.8' (J2000) Distance=32.056AU Diameter=0.1")

The Sun enters the zodiac sign of Virgo at 10:37 UT on the 23rd August, 2015.

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