1. Highlighting the Near and Deep Sky
What’s Up E W
Highlighting the Near and Deep Sky
August , 2018 S

2. General Information August 2018
Among August’s celestial happenings:
Venus crosses the lines (celestial geodesics, actually).
Jupiter gets the right angle, but is hardly phased.
Our favorite summer shower is favored.
Sunset Range: 8:27 PM (August 1st) to 7:50 PM (August 31st).
End of Astronomical Twilight*: 10:09 PM (August 1st) to 9:21 PM (August 31st).
* This is “full darkness” – the sun has reached 18° below the horizon. It’s usually dark enough for observing about a half hour before this.

3. Moon Phases
August 2018
Sat., 4th – Last Quarter (Fri./Sat. observing opportunities August 3rd/4th)
Sat., 11th – New Moon (Fri./Sat. observing opportunities August 10th/11th)
Sat., 18th – First Quarter
Sun., 26th – Full Moon
Roughly speaking:
First Quarter Moon is highest at sunset and sets at midnight
Full Moon rises at sunset and is in the sky all night
Last (“Third”) Quarter Moon rises at midnight and is highest at dawn
New Moon sets at sunset and is absent from the sky all night

4. Celestial Events Jupiter August 2018 August 6th August 1st July 22nd
Wed., 1st – Venus reaches its ecliptic descending node, heading south.
Mon., 6th – Jupiter at eastern quadrature (minimum phase). Meanwhile, Venus crosses celestial equator into southern hemisphere of the sky.
Thurs., 9th – Mercury at inferior conjunction, 4.8° south of the Sun.
Fri., 10th – Moon at perigee; Earth-radii from Earth.
Sun., 12th, 1:00 PM EDT – Predicted Peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower, best viewing is the nights of 11th/12th and 12th/13th. (More on this later.)
Thurs., 16th – Mars reaches greatest declination south (–26.5°). (?)
Thurs., 23rd – Moon at apogee; Earth-radii from Earth. (13% farther than on the 10th.)
Tue., 28th – Mars stationary in right ascension; resumes direct (eastward) motion.
August 6th
Earth

5. (~30 min. before full darkness) (~30 min. before full darkness)
August 15th, 9:00 p.m.
(~30 min. before full darkness)
August 15th, 9:15 p.m.
(~30 min. before full darkness)
For tonight, Mar. 19th, 8:30 p.m. is about 30 min. before full darkness.
For tonight, July 16th, 10:00 p.m. is about 30 min. before full darkness. E W
Venus
Moon
Jupiter
Saturn
Mars S

6. Stargazers Online

7. What’s Up programs are posted on the RVAS Website!
Questions
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What’s Up programs are posted on the RVAS Website!