What’s In August’s Skies

By Matt Woods

Planets:

At the beginning of the month, Mercury, Venus, and Mars can be spotted low in the western evening sky within the constellation of Leo (The Lion). Throughout August, Mercury will remain in Leo, closely interacting with Mars in the middle of the month. On Monday, August 10th, Mercury will reach its greatest elongation in the East before gradually returning towards the Sun. On the other hand, Venus will only be visible during the first week of August before becoming obscured by the Sun’s glare. It will remerge in the morning sky in the middle of August, positioning itself between the constellations of Cancer (The Crab) and Hydra (The Serpent). Mars, initially located in Leo, will transition into the constellation of Virgo (The Virgin) around the middle of August.

Jupiter can be found in the night sky positioned between the head of the constellation of Cetus (The Sea Monster) and the front feet of the constellation of Aries (The Ram). Meanwhile, Saturn can also be observed in the middle of the constellation of Aquarius (The Water-Bearer).

Uranus rises late at night within the constellations of Taurus, situated prominently between Jupiter and the Pleiades Cluster. Lastly, Neptune can be located during the early night-time hours, positioned between the top fish in the constellation of Pisces and the tail of the constellation of Cetus.

Astronomical Events This Month:

The Perseids Meteor Shower:

The eagerly anticipated Perseids meteor shower is nearly upon us, reaching its peak on the night of the 13th/14th of August. This captivating display is primarily visible in the Northern Hemisphere and takes its name from the constellation of Perseus (The slayer of Medusa and the rescuer of Andromeda), the apparent source of these meteors. The Perseids shower remains active from mid-July to the end of August.

Observers in the Northern Hemisphere can typically witness a meteor rate exceeding 100 meteors per hour during the peak night. However, for those of us in Australia, the chances of observing the Perseids are limited to the northern part of the country. To catch a glimpse, one must venture out around 5 am when the meteors will appear very low on the horizon in the northern direction.

Fortunately, this year’s viewing experience will be favourable, as a Waxing Crescent Moon graces the eastern sky during the optimal viewing time. While there will be a slight amount of light pollution from the Moon, it will not significantly hinder the enjoyment of the meteor shower.

Things To Look At This Month:

Cat’s Paw Nebula:

For the Astrophotographers out there, let’s explore the fascinating Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334), an emission nebula and star-forming region nestled within the constellation of Scorpius (The Scorpion). Also known as the Bear Claw Nebula, it was initially discovered by astronomer John Herschel in 1837 during his observations from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. This nebula finds its place in the Carina–Sagittarius Arm of the Milky Way, located approximately 5,500 light-years away from Earth.

Spanning an impressive 320 light-years, the Cat’s Paw Nebula captivates observers with its vivid display. In the visible spectrum, it predominantly emits a striking red hue from ionized hydrogen atoms, while bursts of blue originate from oxygen atoms.

Encompassing an area in the night sky slightly larger than the full Moon, this nebula boasts numerous star-forming regions that have been identified through infrared and radio emissions. It stands as one of the most active stellar nurseries, birthing massive stars within the Milky Way Galaxy. The nebula owes its radiant glow to the presence of hot, young stars deeply embedded within its core. Some of these celestial giants exceed ten times the mass of our Sun and have emerged within the past few million years, perpetuating the ongoing cycle of stellar birth and evolution within this cosmic marvel.