Some highlights for the night sky in August 2005
Tuesday 2 August 2005
- About 1 hour after sunset look for Venus near horizon
- Look for Jupiter near Spica
Thursday 4 August 2005
- About 1/2 hour before sunrise look for Saturn near ENE horizon
- Look for Gemini's twins of Castor and Pollux about 10 degrees above Saturn
- Moon at apogee (farthest point in orbit from Earth)
Sunday 7 August 2005
- About 1 hour after sunset look for Venus near crescent Moon low on horizon
- Look for Jupiter about 25 degrees east of Venus
Tuesday 9 August 2005
- About 1 hour after sunset look for Venus near western horizon
- Jupiter near crescent Moon
Friday 12 August 2005
- This night marks the peak of the Perseid meteor shower
- First quarter Moon
- About 1 hour after sunset look for Moon SSW of Antares
Sunday 14 August 2005
- About 1 hour after sunset, look for waxing gibbous Moon east of Antares
Wednesday 17 August 2005
- About 1 hour after sunset, look for Spica, Jupiter and Venus
- Venus will set almost due West
Saturday 20 August 2005
- About 1 hour after sunset, Spica, Jupiter and Venus span 20 degrees almost equal separation
- Happy Birthday Richard Geller
Wednesday 24 August 2005
- About 4 hours after sunset, look for waning gibbous Moon near Mars
- Look for the lovely Pleaides in ENE
Saturday 27 August 2005
- About 1 hour after sunset, look for Venus near horizon
- Venus and Jupiter separated by about 5 degrees
- Mars WILL NOT be closest to the Earth this day; this is an urban legend. See my Mars Hoax webpage to learn more.
Tuesday 30 August 2005
- About 1 hour after sunset look for Venus and Jupiter, just about 2 degrees apart, low on horizon
- About 1 hour before sunrise, look for crescent Moon near Pollux and Castor
- Try to catch Mercury near horizon before sunrise (Saturn about 15 degrees above it)
Good skywatching resources
John Avellone's provided web sites