This month Saturn and Jupiter are easy to see, especially Saturn which rises at 9:30 pm at the start of the month and before 8 pm at the end. Jupiter requires a bit more waiting not rising until 12:24 am early this month and around 10:30 pm at the end of August.
Mars is now getting harder to see as it closes in on the horizon after sunset, but does not set for another 90 minutes or so. Mercury can also be seen closely following Mars and the setting Sun.
Finally, this month’s meteor shower, the Perseids peaks around the 13th and for once the Moon doesn’t spoil the view.
Planetary Society Perseid Page
Jeff’s Corner Observing Reports
Jupiter Eclipse Events on Friday and Saturday Nights
Aug 5 5:38 AM Europa Eclipse Start (S -7 J 147 60)
Aug 13 1:30 AM Ganymede Eclipse End (S -36 J 97 20)
Aug 20 12:19 AM Io Eclipse Start (S -37 J 90 12)
Aug 20 3:38 AM Ganymede Eclipse Start (S -28 J 125 50)
Aug 20 5:30 AM Ganymede Eclipse End (S -11 J 169 65)
Aug 27 2:13 AM Io Eclipse Start (S -39 J 112 39)
The Sun
Aug 13 will rise at 6:20 AM, will set at 8:06 PM
The Moon
Aug 1 Full Moon
Aug 8 Last Quarter
Aug 16 New Moon
Aug 24 First Quarter
Aug 30 Full Moon
Events
Aug 9 Mercury is at greatest eastern elongation (Mercury about 12 degrees
above the horizon at sunset from July 22 to Aug 8)
Aug 13 Venus is in inferior conjunction (from Espenak)
Aug 13 The Perseid meteor shower peaks (active Jul 17 to Aug 24) (from IMO)
Aug 13 Venus is in inferior conjunction (from Espenak)
Aug 27 Saturn is at opposition (from Espenak)
The Planets
Aug 13
rises transits sets
Mercury 8:40 AM 2:52 PM 9:02 PM
Venus 6:37 AM 1:02 PM 7:27 PM
Mars 8:53 AM 3:10 PM 9:25 PM
Jupiter 11:37 PM 6:33 AM 1:25 PM
Saturn 8:43 PM 2:08 AM 7:37 AM
mag diam notes for Aug 13
---- ----- ----------------
Mercury 0.5 8.1" W, 11*
Venus -3.9 57.8"
Mars 1.8 3.9" W, 15*
Jupiter -2.5 41.4"
Saturn 0.5 18.8"
(* degrees elevation at sunset taking into account atmospheric refraction)
(mag = apparent magnitude, diam = apparent equatorial angular diameter)
