AstroCal – August 2024
The first week of August falls halfway between the June 20 Solstice and the September 21 Equinox. While our daylight hours have been growing slightly shorter, we will still be seeing about 14.5 hours of sunshine (hopefully) ahead of the 12 hour split between light and dark that gives the September Equinox its name (‘Equal Night’). It takes the Earth’s land and water masses some time to absorb the Sun’s energy so the warmest days of the summer do not happen when the Solstice takes place in June, but rather during the mid-July to end of August. Land also cools faster than bodies of water so do not abandon the beaches after Labor Day. The Lake Superior Swim Club members inform me that some of the best Lake Superior swimming happens in September and October after most people have already hung up their beach blankets.
Another misconception about August astronomical viewing involves the Perseid Meteor Shower. The peak of this year’s shower is around August 12, but increased activity radiating from the constellation of Perseus actually lasts from July 17 to August 24. The First Quarter Moon (August 12) won’t interfere around the peak as viewed from the mid-northern latitudes. Tracing the path of a meteor in the direction from which it came points to what is called the radiant which for this shower is the constellation Perseus (hence, the name of the shower). The radiant will be in the sky all night and could produce sightings of up to 100 meteors per hour near the August 12 peak.
The new Lunar Cycle begins with the New Moon on August 4. The Full Moon (Aug 19) will also be a Blue Moon and a Supermoon. Most people know that a Blue Moon is the second Full Moon to take place in a given month. The August Blue Moon is a seasonal one which NASA defines as, “The third Full Moon of an astronomical season that has four Full Moons and happens between the summer solstice and the fall equinox.” The Last Quarter Moon will take place on August 26, leading up to the next New Moon on September 2. Search for the Very Young Crescent Moon low in the western sky 40 minutes after sunset on August 5 when it will be closely paired with Venus. Lunar Apogee takes place on Aug 8 when the Moon will be 251,839 miles from Earth at 10 p.m. EDT while Lunar Perigee will be reached on Aug 21 with the Moon’s distance will be 223,815 miles at 1 a.m. EDT.
As previously mentioned, Venus will be hanging low in the western sky just after sunset. It won’t be hard to find shining at magnitude -4.6. Observing Mercury will be another matter. With the low angle of the ecliptic at this time of year, the mag 1.1 Mercury will be even lower to the horizon than and slightly to the left of Venus. Saturn in the ESE two hours after sunset and will be occulted by the almost Full Moon on August 20. A telescopic view will show the Rings of Saturn tilted only 3 degrees from edge on.
Morning planetary viewing will be more rewarding for early risers this month. Located in the constellation of Taurus, the Bull, bright Jupiter (mag 2.0) and red Mars (mag 0.9) can be seen in the East two hours before sunrise. They begin the month 6.6 degrees apart and will move a half a degree closer each day until they reach conjunction on August 27. By August 31, the Mars-Jupiter gap will have widened to 8.5 degrees. The view of that part of Taurus will be enhanced by the reddish star Aldebaran and two star clusters, the Hyades and Pleiades.
The Sky Calendar authors point out that historically, they like to observe the sky immediately after the August 12 Perseids Meteor Peak. They say, “We look for the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star in the ESE morning twilight glow, below Orion. After Siriius has risen and before Altair sets, there are 11 stars of first magnitude or brighter visible simultaneously.” They further point out that adding the three bright outer planets to this array, “gives you a treasure. You can enjoy the same starry scene four minutes earlier daily, or two hours per month, until mid-January, when Altair disappears into the western evening twilight glow, And the same three planets will still be around with Venus added.” Charts detailing the star positions can be found on the Sky Calendar Extra Content Page at the Abrams Planetarium site listed below.
Compiled by Ken Raisanen of WOAS-FM – information provided by Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar, Michigan State University. More information and subscription information can be found on their website at http://abramsplanetarium.org/skycalendar/ or on X (formerly Twitter) at http://twitter.com/AbramsSkyNotes. Yearly subscriptions cost $12 and can be started anytime.
Top Piece Video – Okay, so basically it is just the band name that connects here – ORION THE HUNTER featuring Boston alum Barry Goodreau on guitar and a Brad Delp sound alike vocalist in Fran Cosmo – video was pretty typical mid 1980s MTV fodder! But still a good band!!