August 2020 What’s Up

Week of 31st August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 21:59 BST at the beginning of the week and at 21:41 BST by the end of the week
  • The planets offer the best observing targets this week with Jupiter at mag -2.5 transiting at around 21:30 BST, Saturn at mag +0.3, transiting at around 22:00 BST and Mars at mag -1.9 that transits at around 04:00 BST
  • The Moon will be Full (Harvest Moon) on Wednesday
  • The Sun is currently blank with no visible sunspots – this spotless stretch is now at 9 days
  • There are no evening ISS passes this week

Week of 24th August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 22:20 BST at the beginning of the week and at 22:02 BST by the end of the week
  • Jupiter (-2.6) and Saturn (+0.3) continue to dominate the night sky in the South. They transit at around 22:00 and 22:35 BST respectively, so are well placed for observation in the evening sky
  • Mars is the rising centrepiece as it moves towards opposition in mid October. It will be at perigee in early October, making this apparition particularly favourable for observation. Mars is currently shining at mag -1.7 and brightening. It rises at around 22:00 BST and transits at 04:30 BST
  • The Moon will be First Quarter on Tuesday
  • The Sun is currently blank with no visible sunspots
  • There are no evening ISS passes this week

Week of 17th August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 22:43 BST at the beginning of the week and at 22:24 BST by the end of the week
  • Seven Planet Challenge: It will be possible to see seven of the eight solar system planets this week. Start with Jupiter (-2.6) and Saturn (+0.2) in the southern evening sky. Next is Neptune (+7.8), which will be in the southeast around midnight. Mars (-1.5) will be at about 24° altitude in the East at 01:00 BST. Uranus (+5.8) is approx 16° further East. Venus (-4.3) rises at 02:08 BST. Finally, look to your feet for the seventh planet! Unfortunately, the full set is not possible as Mercury is hiding in the glare of the Sun
  • The Moon will be New on Wednesday
  • The Sun is currently blank with no visible sunspots
  • There are no evening ISS passes this week

Week of 10th August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 23:07 BST at the beginning of the week and at 22:46 BST by the end of the week
  • The Perseid meteor shower peaks on Wednesday afternoon. Watch out on both Tuesday night (11th) and Wednesday night (12th) for this wonderful annual display of shooting stars as the Earth crashes through debris left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The Last Quarter Moon makes for good observing conditions and the shower can generate over 100 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, the current weather forecast is for thunderstorms, so grab your chance between clouds to spot a few Perseids
  • Jupiter and Saturn continue to shine brightly in our southern evening sky. On Tuesday, the shadow of the Gallilean moon Callisto will transit Jupiter’s disc, starting at 19:43 BST and moving off the disc at 23:55 BST
  • Venus reaches Greatest Elongation West on Wednesday, visible in the eastern morning sky at an altitude of about 32° just before sunrise, shining at mag -4.3, making it the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon
  • The Moon will be Last Quarter on Tuesday
  • The Sun has one active region, AR 2770, which belongs to the new Solar Cycle 25
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week

Week of 3rd August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 23:29 BST at the beginning of the week and at 23:06 BST by the end of the week
  • The Perseid meteor shower (Tears of St Lawrence) peaks in the afternoon of Wednesday 12th August. Usually one of the best showeres in the year, this year is favourable with a waning Moon and 80+ meteors an hour are predicted at peak. There is usually a good build up to the peak, so it is worth looking out for early shooting stars later this week and next week-end. Government guidlines and weather permitting a small gathering at the Dome may be permitted on 12th. Watch the website for updates.
  • Jupiter and Saturn continue to shine brightly in our southern evening sky. On Monday to the West of the Full Moon.
  • The Moon will be at Full (Sturgeon or Barley Moon) on Monday
  • The Sun has two active regions, AR 2767 and a fast growing spot 2769 on the NE limb, both belonging to the new Solar Cycle 25
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week.
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