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.

Capricornus, the horned goat, is visible low in the southern sky. It rises in the south east just before sunset and moves across the south to set in the south west. Capricornus is a fairly faint constellation and the smallest constellation of the zodiac.

Pisces, the fish, rises in the east at sunset and moves across the southern sky to set in the west around sunrise. Best views are around 03:00 BST at the beginning of the month, when Pisces is at its highest due south, moving to 01:30 BST by the end of the month. It is a large member of the zodiac, and it is where the Sun passes directly over the equator during the March equinox.

Cassiopeia, the Queen, is a circumpolar constellation and so can be seen all night. It appears high slightly to the east of your zenith before circling round to the south and disappearing at sunrise in a western direction. Cassiopeia is a bright constellation with a distinctive W shape, making it easy to find.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It is only visible just above the eastern horizon at the beginning of the month about half an hour before sunrise, making it incredibly difficult to observe. Mercury will be at greatest elongation west on the 5^th, its highest altitude on the 6^th, and dichotomy (half-phase) on the 6^th.

Venus is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Mars rises in the north east around midnight and is visible in the morning sky. Best views will be just before dawn, when it is at its highest in the south eastern sky. Mars will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 25^th.

Jupiter can be seen in the morning sky and low on the north eastern horizon during the late evening. It rises earlier at the end of the month, and so best views will be just before dawn at the end of the month. At this point, Jupiter will be high in the southern sky. It will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 24^th.

Saturn rises in the east around sunset and moves across the southern sky to set in the west just before dawn. It stays relatively low, but best views will be at its highest point around 01:30 BST at the beginning of the month and midnight at the end of the month. Saturn will be at opposition on the 8th, lunar occultation on the 17th, and in conjunction with the Moon on the 17^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It rises in the north east shortly after sunset and moves higher as the night goes on. Best views will be just before dawn when it is highest in the southern sky. Uranus will undergo retrograde motion on the 1^st.

Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It rises shortly after sunset in the eastern sky and moves across the southern sky during the course of the night to set in the west around sunrise. Neptune will undergo lunar occultation on the 18^th and at opposition on the 21^st.

Meteor Showers

The September ε-Perseids reach their peak on the 9^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be 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 reaches its highest point in the sky after dawn. You will be able to see about 4 meteors per hour.

Moon

Full Moon: 18^th

Last Quarter: 24^th

New Moon: 3^rd

First Quarter: 11^th

The Moon reaches apogee, its furthest point on the 5^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will be at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 15^th and perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 5^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

A partial lunar eclipse occurs on the 18^th at 03:45 BST, where a maximum 8% of the Moon will be in shadow. The Moon appears low in the south western sky.

The Moon will make a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 22^nd. The pair will be visible from 22:03 BST through to 04:43 BST in the north western sky.

Points of Interest

Asteroid 194 Prokne will be at opposition on the 2^nd. It lies in the constellation of Aquarius and reaches its highest point in the sky around midnight. It will be visible between 22:30 BST and 03:34 BST.

The September Equinox, where daylight and darkness hours are of equal length, occurs on the 22^nd.

Asteroid 20 Massalia reaches opposition on the 29^th. It will be in the constellation of Pisces and reaches its highest point in the sky around midnight. It is visible between 21:02 and 04:44 BST.

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

Last updated: 23^rd July.