Woking Planetarium

Read our August sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!

Map

Constellations

These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.

Perseus rises around sunset in the southern sky and moves higher towards the east as the night continues. It will be visible until dawn, reaching higher points in the sky as the month goes on.

Hercules becomes visible at sunset near the zenith. This is when best views will be because as the night goes on it moves lower towards the west, setting in the early hours of the morning. It will be visible for most of the night at the beginning of the month, setting earlier as the month continues.

Cygnus can be seen in the band of the Milky Way, appearing at sunset. It moves from the east side of the zenith to the west side across the course of the night and will always be visible.

Planets

Mercury will not be visible this month. It reaches superior solar conjunction, where it passes the far side of the Sun, on the 1^st and is in conjunction with Mars on the 19^th. Neither of these events are visible.

Venus sits below the horizon during the night this month so is not visible. It will reach opposition on the 2^nd and is in conjunction with the Moon on the 11^th. Neither of these events are visible.

Mars chases the Sun this month, staying below the horizon during the night. It will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 10^th and conjunction with Mercury on the 19^th. Neither of these events are visible.

Jupiter rises shortly after sunset in the south eastern sky. It moves towards the west, staying low and reaching its highest point in the early hours of the morning. It reaches opposition on the 20^th and is in conjunction with the Moon on the 22^nd.

Saturn appears low in the south eastern sky at sunset, tracking across to the left during the night. It will stay low all month. Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon 20^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It will rise in the eastern sky, moving high into the southern sky across the course of the night. At the beginning of the month it will rise around 01:00, rising earlier as the month goes on. Uranus will be in retrograde, when it moves in opposition to the stars on the 20^th.

Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It appears low in the eastern sky after sunset, moving across to the west during the night.

Meteor Showers

The Perseids reach their peak on the 12^th. This is one of the best meteor showers of the year! The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) is in the constellation of Perseus. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays are likely to be just before dawn, as Perseus is highest in the sky just after dawn. You will be able to see about 143 meteors per hour.

The κ-Cygnids reach their peak on the 18^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) is in the constellation of Draco. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays are likely to be around 22:00 when Draco is highest in the sky. You will be able to see about 2 meteors per hour.

Moon

Full Moon: 22^nd

Last Quarter: 30^th

New Moon: 8^th

First Quarter: 15^th

The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 17^th and apogee, its furthest point on the 2^nd and 30^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will be at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 21^st and perihelion on the 9^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

Points of Interest

Comet 4P/Faye reach perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 6^th. It will be visible from the 18^th July through to the 25^th August, and on the 6^th this will be from around 02:30 to 04:00. The window gets later as the month continues.

Asteroid 43 Ariadne reaches opposition on the 19^th. It lies in the constellation of Aquarius and will reach its highest point in the sky around midnight. You can see it between 22:16 and 03:50 low in the eastern sky.

Asteroid 89 Julia reaches opposition on the 24^th. It lies in the constellation of Aquarius and will reach its highest point around midnight. You can see it between 21:38 and 04:27.

Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.

Last updated: 26^th July.