Wolverhampton Astronomical Society

Established 1951

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This Months Events August 2010

Our Events Programme for August 2010 for previous months click here to select a month.

 

Event

1st Look towards the east during the early hours and you'll see the waning crescent Moon (70%lit) close to brilliant Jupiter.  >  Later on, Venus, Mars and Saturn form an isosceles triangle in the sky, low down in the west following sunset.  Catch them from around 21:30 BST (20:30 UT)
2nd As Jupiter climbs to its highest point in the sky due south at around 04:30 BST (03:30 UT), the Great Red Spot should be close to the planet's central meridian.  It's visible through a scope in the southern half of the disc.  It's also a great time to note the disappearance of the South Equatorial Belt.
4th The crescent Moon lies close to the Pleiades Open Cluster, visible in the eastern part of the sky before sunrise.  On the morning of the 4th, the lunar crescent (41% lit) is visible to the west of the Pleiades, while on the 5th, a 31% lit crescent lies to the east of the cluster.  View after 02:00 BST (01:00 UT)
5th Comet Temple 2 passes 19 arcminutes to the east (left) of the mag. +3.5 star Eta Ceti this morning.  The comet's predicted magnitude at this time is +10.2, meaning you should be able to see it with a small scope.
6th Jupiter's Galilean moons are visible to the east of the planet this morning.  At 02:30 BST (01:30 UT) viewed from the planet outwards, the moons are Ganymede, Io, Europa and Callisto. >  The Iota Aquariid Meteor Shower reaches its peak tonight with a peak rate of 8 meteors per hour.
7th Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation today.  >  The delicate waning crescent Moon (12% lit) lies just over a degree to the southeast of the open cluster M35.  See the pair from 03:00 BST (02:00 UT).  >  Another good opportunity to see the Great Red Spot central on Jupiter occurs at around 03:00 BST (02:30 UT) this morning,  Make sure you also look out for a possible reappearance of the South Equatorial Belt.
8th This is the start of August's dark period, when the Moon is largely out of the way and not reducing your chance to spot a faint deep-sky object like M27.  The Moon doesn't start to make its presence known again until the 16th.
9th Venus, Mars and Saturn from a right-angled triangle, low in the west after sunset.  View from around 21:20 BST (20:20 UT) onwards.
12th The Perseids reach their peak tonight and the prospects are good for a decent display. >  Jupiter's Great Red Spot crosses the central meridian of the planet at 02:40 BST (01:40 UT) this morning.
14th Jupiter's moon Europa transits the planet in the early hours, and if you own a big telescope you're in for a treat as it will pass over the Great Red Spot.  Europa crosses the planet's central meridian at 03:57 BST (02:57 UT).
18th The weak Kappa Cygnid Meteor Shower reaches its peak tonight.  Although the shower only has a maximum rate of three meteors per hour, the occasional bright, slow fireball makes it worth watching.  >  Mars and Venus are at their closest for the month, separated by less than 2° in the western evening twilight following sunset.
19th At 03:25 BST (02:25 UT) Jupiter will be at it's highest point in the sky, due south.  Look at the planet through a telescope and you should see the Great Red Spot on the central meridian at this time.
20th Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation, when it's separated from the Sun by 46°.  Look for it in the evening sky after sunset.  >  Neptune reaches opposition in Capricornus.  Spot this mag. +7.8 planet with binoculars 2° northwest of the star Iota Aquarii.
26th The almost full Moon (95% lit) rises just over 7° to the north of the Mag. -2.7 Jupiter.  View the pair low in the east at around 21:15 BST (20:15 UT).  The Moon continues to close in on Jupiter, lying less than 6° from the planet at 02:00 BST (01:00 UT on the 27th.
29th Jupiter's Great Red Spot crosses the giant's central meridian at 02:39 BST (00:39 UT)
31st Uranus and Jupiter are separated by just 1.7°.  Spot the pair below the Circlet in Pisces.  Uranus is barley visible to the naked eye at mag. +5.7.  >  The Great Red Spot crosses Jupiter's central meridian at 03:17 BST (02:17 UT)

The Wolverhampton Astronomical Society is affiliated or a member of the following organisations: 

British Astronomical Association, The Society for Popular Astronomy, the Federation of Astronomical Societies and the West Midlands Federation of Astronomical Societies.