AUGUST
OBSERVING HIGHLIGHTS
EARTH SATELLITES:
Moon ---New Moon occurs August 12 at 7:02 PM
First Quarter Moon occurs August 20 at 7:54 PM
Full Moon occurs August 28 at 6:35 AM
Artificial Satellites --- Reference the following web site for information on observing
artificial satellites: http:www.calsky.com/cs.cgi
PLANETS:
Venus, for the first half of August, and Jupiter can be found in the evening sky this month.
Neptune is in the constellation Capricornus (near Delta Capricorni). Pluto (the “no-longer-planet”) is in the constellation Sagittarius. Uranus is in the southeastern part of the constellation Aquarius.
METEOR SHOWER:
The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks this month with the expectation that there will be about 15 meteors per hour by August 10, between 50 and 80 per hour the night of August 12/13 and about 10 meteors per hour by August 15. This shower will radiate from an orientation northwest from the Pleiades star cluster and north of the constellation Auriga.
DEEP SKY:
As in July, it is the Summer Triangle dominates the heavens; it is comprised of the brightest stars this month: Deneb in Cygnus, Vega in Lyra and Altair in Aquila high overhead. In the same region you can find the constellations Cygnus the Swan and Aquila the Eagle.
Nebula
Omega Nebula (M17) --- This diffuse nebula, also known as NGC 6618, the Swan Nebula or the Horseshoe Nebula, is in the constellation Scutum with an apparent magnitude of 6 and apparent size of 11 arcminutes making it possible to observe with binoculars but more clearly with a telescope. M17 is 17 light years in size at a distance of 5500 light years. The larger the telescope the greater amount of nebulosity will be seen.
Other nebulae in the night sky for telescopic viewing are the Blinking Planetary (NGC 6826), the North American Nebula (NGC 7000) and M57 (in the constellation Lyra). The bright nebulas M16, M17, M20 and M8 are near by M24 Star Cloud. Other Messier Objects abound in and around the constellation Sagittarius, also – M8, M16, M17, M20, M21, M23 and M25.
Clusters
Wild Duck Cluster (M11) --- This open star cluster is situated in a particular rich portion of the sky on the edge of the dense star cloud in Scutum. M11 contains about 3000 tightly arranged stars. This cluster can be viewed with the naked eye on a very dark night. Binoculars and small telescopes will reveal a slightly hazy star-like object, while larger telescopes from 6 inches (150 mm) and above will reveal the V-shape pattern of a flock of wild ducks. A 10 inch (250 mm) scope will resolve several hundred fainter stars.
M11 has an apparent magnitude of 5.8 and an apparent size of 14 arcminutes. Its actual size is 23 light years at a distance of 5800 light-years.
Hercules Cluster (M13) --- This Northern Hemisphere favorite globular cluster, also known as NGC 6205 is in the constellation Hercules. On a dark night one can see M13 as a faint smudge of light with the naked eye using averted vision. This object becomes breathtaking to view with a 10 inch (250mm) or larger telescope. M13 has an apparent magnitude of 5.9 and apparent size of 15 arcminutes. Its actual size is 100 light years across with a distance of 24,000 light years.
Other favorite clusters in the night sky are M15 and The Coathanger both of which are possible to see with binoculars. Also, M5, M11 the Wild Duck Cluster (between the constellations Aquila and Scutum in the Scutum Star Cloud) with nearby M26, M4 (near Antares in the constellation Scorpius), M15 (near the constellation Pegasus) and M22.
Star Cloud
M24 Star Cloud --- This star cloud is in the constellation Sagittarius. It is also known as the Sagittarius Star Cloud. This vast patch of stars forms part of a spiral arm of the Milky Way. This star cloud itself contains an 11th magnitude open star cluster NGC 6603. You will need at least a 6 to 8 inch (150-200mm) telescope to see NGC 6603. The M24 Star Cloud has an apparent magnitude of 4.6 with an apparent size of 90 arcminutes. M24’s actual size is 260 light years with a distance of 10,000 light years. Two dark regions (dark nebulae) are located in the Northern portion of M24 as No. 92 and No.93, or B92 and B93, respectively.
Galaxies
M101 Galaxy --- This spiral galaxy is also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy (NGC 5457). It is located about 5 degrees east of Ursa major’s multiple star Mizar. M101 is one of the largest and brightest galaxies close to the Solar System. As it is so large, at nearly half a degree across, its light is spread thinly, making it difficult to spot in binoculars or small telescopes. A telescope aperture of 10 inches (250 mm) or more with a wide field of view eyepiece will reveal the galaxy’s spiral arms. M101 has an apparent magnitude of 7.7 and an apparent size of 22 arcminutes. Its actual size is 150,000 light-years with a distance of 24 million light-years.
M81 Galaxy --- This spiral galaxy, also known as NGC 3031, is located in the constellation Ursa Major and can be viewed with binoculars. It has an apparent magnitude of 6.8.
M31 Galaxy --- this spiral galaxy, also known as the Andromeda Galaxy, is the nearest and largest neighbor galaxy. It can be seen with the naked eye in the constellation Andromeda. It has an apparent magnitude of 3.4.
Ref7/12/07
