August 2022 – What’s Up!

Week of 29th August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 22:07 BST at the beginning of the week and at 21:49 BST by the end of the week
  • On Monday, NASA are set to launch Artemis 1, the unmanned test flight for the return to the Moon mission. Lift off is scheduled for 12:33 UT and the mission is due to last 42 days. The Orion crew capsule will orbit the Moon for a week, approaching to about 62 miles of the lunar surface. Follow the mission’s progress online
  • Planets Saturn (+0.3), Jupiter (-2.9) and Mars (-0.1) are lining up across our night sky. Little moonlight makes this week a perfect time to observe them
  • The Moon is First Quarter on Saturday
  • The Sun currently has five active regions: AR 3085, 3086, 3087, 3088 & 3089. The sunspot number is 84
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week

Week of 22nd August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 22:28 BST at the beginning of the week and at 22:10 BST by the end of the week
  • Minor planet 4 Vesta reaches opposition on Tuesday. It can be found about 10° above the southeastern horizon at around 23:00 BST between Aquarius and Capricorn. It presents an observing challenge at magnitude +6.0, but repeated observations through the week to see its movement against the background stars will confirm your observation
  • Saturn (+0.3) and Jupiter (-2.8) are visible in our evening sky, with Mars (0.0) not far behind, rising at around 23:00 BST
  • The Moon is New on Saturday
  • The Sun currently has four active regions: AR 3078, 3081, 3082 & 3084. The sunspot number is 56
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week

Week of 15th August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 22:51 BST at the beginning of the week and at 22:32 BST by the end of the week
  • The Gas Giants, Saturn and Jupiter, are in our evening sky now, with Saturn culminating at 01:16 BST and Jupiter rising at 21:49 BST. Look in the southeastern sky to spot the two planets
  • Mars is further East, rising at 23:30 BST
  • The Moon is Last Quarter on Friday
  • The Sun currently has eight active regions: AR 3071, 3074, 3076, 3077, 3078, 3079, 3080 & 3081. The sunspot number is 116
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week

Week of 8th August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 23:16 BST at the beginning of the week and at 22:55 BST by the end of the week
  • The Perseid meteor shower peaks on Friday. Under dark skies the Perseids can produce around 100 meteors per hour, but this year the Full Moon coincides with the peak and will drown out all but the brightest meteors, so expect a much lower ZHR. The Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris deposited by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle
  • Saturn reaches opposition on Sunday, the point in its orbit when it lies directly opposite the Sun from Earth. It will appear larger and brighter than usual at 18.8 arcseconds and magnitude +0.3, making this the best time to observe the planet
  • The Moon is Full on Friday
  • The Sun currently has five active regions: AR 3068, 3071, 3072, 3073 & 3074. The sunspot number is 69
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week

Week of 1st August

  • Astronomical twilight ends at 23:43 BST at the beginning of the week and at 23:20 BST by the end of the week
  • As Saturn approaches opposition on the 14th August, this is a good time to start observing the ringed gas giant. It rises at around 21:15 BST and culminates at around 02:00 BST, so is well placed for evening observing in our southeastern sky. It is quite low to the horizon at around 16°. Note how the rings appear to brighten each night as it approaches opposition
  • The Moon is First Quarter on Friday
  • The Sun currently has two active regions: AR 3062 & 3068. The sunspot number is 27
  • There are no visible evening ISS passes this week

 

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