August 2011 is a great month for getting a glimpse at a number of solar system objects, from the Full Sturgeon Moon to Perseid meteors to an array of planets.
Planets in August 2011
Saturn has been the planet presiding over the evening sky all summer. Look for Saturn in the west after sunset among the stars of Virgo. Saturn has been quite close to the star Porrima for about a month, and on August 1 it can still be found within about two degrees of the 3.48-magnitude star. Saturn itself is shining at magnitude 0.9, just a bit brighter than Virgo's brightest star, Spica, which shines at magnitude 1.06 to Saturn's left. Use a telescope to catch the rings of Saturn and its brightest moon, Titan.
Jupiter rises in the late evening just north of due east. Jupiter is in the constellation Aries and above the tail of Cetus the Whale. Shining at magnitude -2.4, Jupiter is unmistakable as a planet, being the brightest point of light visible at this time of night. In comparison, Capella, far left of Jupiter and rising at the same time of the evening, is the sixth brightest star in all the sky but shines at magnitude 0.08, a noticeable difference. On August 20, find Jupiter and a gibbous moon about 4 degrees apart.
Mercury and Venus are both in conjunction with the Sun on August 16, Mercury moving out of the evening sky and Venus moving into it. Venus's appearance will be slow to materialize, however. By the end of the month, it will only be in the evening sky after sunset for 15 minutes before it sets. Viewing Venus will improve as winter draws near.
Neptune reaches opposition, or opposite the Sun in our sky, on August 22. Neptune shines at magnitude 7.8, requiring optical aid to see. Through a telescope, Neptune may appear slightly disk-like with a bluish hue. On August 22, Neptune will be lying 1.7 degrees north of the 4.3-magnitude star Iota Aquarii and 1.2 degrees west-southwest of the 5.5-magnitude star 38 Aquarii. These are not particularly easy stars to spot, but with a star map and some time exploring Aquarius, it is achievable. Or wait until January 2012 when Neptune will brush past the magnificently bright Venus, making it much easier to spot.
Asteroids, Meteors, and the Full Moon
Vesta is the brightest asteroid known, and on August 4 it reaches opposition at magnitude 5.6 in the constellation Capricornus. On this night, Vesta will lie 2 degrees north and just east of the 4.5-magnitude star 24 Capricorni, which will require a star map to zero in on. At the end of the month, Vesta passes very close to a slightly brighter star. On August 30, Vesta (at a dimmer magnitude 6.2) will be 0.2 degrees from 4.1-magnitude Psi Capricorni.
August 2011's full moon occurs at 2:57 p.m. EDT on the 13th. This full moon is sometimes called the Sturgeon Moon. For a week after full, the moon will be rising during twilight, making for beautiful photo ops.
The full moon will wash out the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, which is set for August 12. But stray meteors from this shower should be visible for a week before and after the peak. Trace the trail of any shooting star back to where it seemed to originate. If the constellation Perseus is there, it was probably a Perseid.
Source: Celestron's The Sky Software
Kelly Whitt - I have been a professional writer for more than a decade, covering many topics from science-based articles to do-it-yourself home ...
