Try to spot all 5 "bright" planets in the evening skies. Mercury is rather close to the Sun and a challenge to spot just after Sun set. Use the other planets to “guide” you. Venus is best seen from 8.25 pm to 9.10 pm in the constellation Leo. Mars is best seen from 8.40 pm to 11.10 pm in the constellation Scorpius. Jupiter is best seen from 8.40 pm to 9.20 pm in the constellation Virgo. Saturn is best seen from 9 pm to 11.45 pm in the constellation Ophiuchus).
Wednesday 17 August
The planet Mercury has phases like our Moon because it is, like Venus, between the Sun and the Earth. At 11.50 am Mercury is in Dichotomy or half phase.
The meteor shower Perseids is best seen from 10 pm to 4.20 am. The local hour rate is expected to be 4 today. The velocity is 60.4 km/s, which is rather rapid.
Iridium flares are like satellites or ISS (International Space Station), but when they move as a dot through the sky, they sudden lit up and appear as a flare in the sky. Worth a watch. A bright Iridium flare is visible at 3.53 am in the East at an altitude of 23° in the constellation Orion.
Thursday 18 August
It is Full Moon at 10.26 am this Thursday morning.
After midnight, at 2.25 am an Iridium flare is visible in the North North West at a low altitude of 8° in the constellation Canes Venatici. Somewhat brighter, at 3.47 am another flare is visible in the East South East at an altitude of 23° in the constellation Orion.
Friday 19 August
An Iridium flare appears at 10.02 pm in the East North East at an altitude of 49° in the constellation Cassiopeia. Another flare is visible in the North North East at 11.16 pm at an altitude of 11° in the constellation Auriga.
In the Early morning, at 7.16 am the small planet Mercury is close to Jupiter. They are only 4° separated. Look out in the early evening, just after Sun set. They are 27° away from the Sun.
Saturday 20 August
The red planet Mars is close to the star Alniyat at 9.04 pm. They are only 1.2° separated. They are about 100° away from the Sun. Worth a watch.
A few Iridium flares to watch. A bright flare appears at 9.59 pm in the East North East at an altitude of 50° in the constellation Cassiopeia. The next flare is at 11.10 pm in the North North East at an altitude of 11° in the constellation Auriga. Another flare is after midnight at 3.44 am in the East South East at an altitude of 26° in the constellation Taurus.
Sunday 21 August
A rather bright flare to see at 9.38 pm in the East South East at an altitude of 77° in the constellation Cygnus.
The Moon is in perigee at 2.27 am. The distance of the Moon to the Earth is 367023.4 km or 229389.6 miles.
Another rather bright flare is at 3.38 am in the East South East at an altitude of 25° in the constellation Taurus.
Monday 22 August
At 10.04 am the planets Mercury and Jupiter are in conjunction. They are 4° separated. Have a look in the evening skies, just after Sun set.
Tuesday 23 August
Mars finally passes both Saturn and Antares in the evening sky. They are all low on the South West horizon, but given a clear view, both Mars and Saturn should be visible. Antares, however, is another matter and may prove to be quite a challenge. Let us know what you have seen!
At 11.02 pm a bright Iridium flare is in the North North East at an altitude of 17° in the constellation Auriga.
Wednesday 24 August
The red planet Mars is in conjunction with Saturn. They are less than 5° separated. Have a look in the evening skies. Also the star Antares is nearby and only 2° away.
Iridium flares are like satellites or the International Space Station (ISS), but when they move as a dot through the sky, they sudden lit up and appear as a flare in the sky. Worth a watch. A very bright flare is visible at 3.28 am in the East South East at altitude of 26° in the constellation Taurus.
It is Last Quarter Moon at 4.40 am. This is the 2nd biggest Last Quarter Moon of the year. The former larger Last Quarter Moon was on 26 July 2016. The next larger Last Quarter Moon will be on 13 September 2017.
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