For more details please consult – Astronomy – Sun – Moon – Eclipses (timeanddate.com) and In-The-Sky.org
Note – all times are Canaries Islands Local Time
Overview:
The Moon
First Quarter 12th August 2024 at 1618 Full Moon 19th August 2024 at 1925
Last Quarter 26th August 2024 at 2025 New Moon 3rd September 2024 at 0255
The Planets
Sun Moon Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus
Rise 0543 1837 0644 0737 0011 0013 2122 2311
Set 2035 0028 2011 2115 1654 1650 0814 1506
In summary
Mercury is too close to the Sun this month. Venus will be visible low in the west at dusk. Mars is a morning object visible from 0200 until 0400. Jupiter is very close to Mars [conjunction this month] and is also visible in the early hours. Saturn is visible from around 2300 until 0400. Uranus is visible from 0100 until 0400..
The Stars at 9pm BST
North – Draco is overhead with the two Bears nicely placed. Perseus, Andromeda and Pegasus are low in the north east, with Leo and Coma in the NW.
East – Cygnus is resplendent with the band of the Milky Way strung across this view. From Perseus, then follows Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cygnus, Sagitta, Aquila finishing off with Scutum and Sagittarius, low in the south-east
South – Vulpecula sits below Cygnus in the south-east. Hercules is overhead with Ophiuchus well placed for observing. Sagittarius and the head of Scorpius are low down in the south. Virgo and Libra are in the south west. Corona Borealis is well placed in readiness for the possible flaring of TCrB.
West – Corona Borealis and Bootes dominate this view. The Galaxy clusters of Coma, Leo and Virgo are low down but nicely placed to view.
Meteor Showers August hosts the Perseids – regular shower. In 2024, on the 12th August the Moon will be near first quarter so best to see this shower after midnight once the Moon has set.
Bright Comet Comet C/2023 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS continues its steady track across the sky and is still getting brighter. It resides in Leo, For further news on upcoming bright Comets please browse with website ….. https://in-the-sky.org/data/comets.php
Other phenomena to look out for
With Summer well underway the focus for stargazers turns towards Noctilucent Clouds. These are so-called night-shining clouds and are visible only once the Sun has set. There is lots of solar activity at the moment – sunspots and more – so if you have a Solar Filter check out the daily changes to Sunspots.
Night Sky View
Rendering from Carte du Ciel – Skycharts. en:start [Skychart] (ap-i.net)
