Astroblog: August 2023


Full Moon August 2, 21:49 ACST (True full Moon was 5:00 ACST. Perigee 2nd 3:30pm) next to apogee Full Moon February 5, 23:15 ACDST (FM 4 am, apogee 4th -1d9h) (click to embiggen).	FFull Moon August 2, 21:49 ACST (True full Moon was 5:00 ACST. Perigee 2nd 3:30pm) overlaid with apogee Full Moon February 5, 23:15 ACDST (FM 4 am, apogee 4th -1d9h) (click to embiggen).

Tonight is the best perigee full Moon this year, it is also a "blue" moon, popularly defined as the second full Moon in a month. The first full moon of August was also a perigee full moon, so i have uploaded

Not as big as this "blue" perigee Full Moon but not bad at all. For comparison I have overlain the apogee full moon from February this year.

The February image was taken at 23:15 on February 5, as I didn't want to get up a 4 am, not quite full Moon but a bit closer to apogee. The August image was taken August 2, 21:49 ACST (True full Moon was 5:00 ACST. Perigee 2nd 3:30pm), again, didn't feel like getting up at 5 am

If anything the perigee Moon is slightly larger than expected compared to the apogee Moon. Possibly due to field distortion form not centering the Moon in the eyepiece properly and Perigee being slightly closer when I took the image.

The images were taken with an Xperia mobile phone (Focus at infinity, 1/4000 second, ISO 400 both Full Moons, through a 25 mm eyepiece on a tracking 8" Newtonian (Saxon EQ6 mount).

Labels: apogee, Moon, perigee, telescope

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 5:28 pm 0 comments

The Full Moon is Thursday, August 31. This is both a "blue" Moon and a perigee syszgy ("super') Moon. The last Quarter Moon is Thursday September 7. Mercury is lost in the twilight. Mars and Saturn are visible when the sky is fully dark. Saturn is just past opposition, but still bright and a good telescope object. Jupiter is is rising before midnight but is still best in the morning sky making a wide triangle with the Pleiades and Hyades. On the morning of the 5th Jupiter is close to the waning Moon. Venus returns to the morning twilight.

The Full Moon is Thursday, August 31. This is both a "blue" Moon (the second full Moon of the month) and a perigee syszgy ("super') Moon, the best this year. The last Quarter Moon is Thursday September 7.

Evening sky on Saturday, September 2 as seen from Adelaide at 19:21 ACST (90 minutes after sunset), Saturn is above the eastern horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Morning sky on Tuesday, September 5 as seen from Adelaide at 05:06 ACST, (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Jupiter is above the horizon near the Hyades and Pleiades. Venus is low above the eastern horizon. Jupiter is also close to the Moon. The insets are the telescopic views of Jupiter and Venus at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).

Evening sky on Saturday, September 2 as seen from Adelaide at 18:51 ACST, 60 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars is low above the horizon.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Thursday, August 31 as seen from Adelaide at 19:17 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). The Full Moon is just above the horizon, official full moon was at 12:00pam on and Perigee at 2:00 am. This is the best Perigee Moon of the year.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Whole sky on Saturday, September 2 as seen from Adelaide at 19:21 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars is visible low above the north west. Saturn is rising in the east.

Scorpius and Sagittarius are readily visible near the zenith.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.The waning Moon will make the fainter objects hard to see though.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury is lost in the twilight.

Venus returns to the morning twilight.

Mars is dimming, and coming closer to the horizon.

Jupiter is rising before midnight but is still prominent in the morning sky. Jupiter is close to the waning Moon on the 5th.

Saturn is past opposition, but is still bright and a worthwhile telescopic object.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 10:04 pm 0 comments

The Full Moon is Thursday, August 31. This is both a "blue" Moon and a perigee syszgy ("super') Moon. Three of the bright classical planets, (Mercury, Mars and Saturn) are visible when the sky is fully dark. Saturn is now rising around 6:00 pm local time, and is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from earth, on the 28th. Mercury is still prominent in the late twilight but is now heading towards the horizon. Jupiter is prominent in the morning sky making a triangle with the Pleiades and Hyades.

The Full Moon is Thursday, August 31. This is both a "blue" Moon (the second full Moon of the month) and a perigee syszgy ("super') Moon, the best this year.

Evening sky on Wednesday, August 30 as seen from Adelaide at 20:00 ACST, Saturn is above the eastern horizon, close to the Moon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time.

Morning sky on Saturday, August 26 as seen from Adelaide at 05:27 ACST, (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Jupiter is above the horizon near the Hyades and Pleiades. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).

Evening sky on Saturday, August 26 as seen from Adelaide at 18:47 ACST, 60 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mercury is below Mars and is the brighter of the pair.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Thursday, August 31 as seen from Adelaide at 19:17 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). The Full Moon is just above the horizon, official full moon was at 12:00pam on and Perigee at 2:00 am. This is the best Perigee Moon of the year.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Whole sky on Saturday, August 26 as seen from Adelaide at 19:17 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars is visible low above the north western horizon close to Mercury. Saturn is just rising in the east.

Scorpius and Sagittarius are readily visible near the zenith.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.The waxing Moon will make the fainter objects hard to see though.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury Mercury is still prominent in the late twilight but is now heading towards the horizon.

Venus is lost in the twilight.

Mars is dimming, and is above Mercury.

Jupiter is prominent in the morning sky.

Saturn is now rising around 6:00 pm local time, and is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from earth, on the 28th.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 1:57 am 0 comments

The First Quarter Moon is Thursday, August 24. Three of the bright classical planets, (Mercury, Mars and Saturn) are visible when the sky is fully dark. Saturn is now rising around 6:30 pm local time, ahead of opposition next week. Mercury is now prominent in the late twilight and is close to Mars. On the 19th Mercury, Mars and the thin crescent moon form a line. Jupiter is prominent in the morning sky making a triangle with the Pleiades and Hyades.

The First Quarter Moon is Thursday, August 24.

Evening sky on Saturday, August 19 as seen from Adelaide at 21:00 ACST, Saturn is above the eastern horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time.

Morning sky on Saturday, August 19 as seen from Adelaide at 05:27 ACST, (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Jupiter is above the horizon near the Hyades and Pleiades. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).

Evening sky on Saturday, August 19 as seen from Adelaide at 18:43 ACST, 60 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mercury is close to Mars and is the brighter of the pair. The thin crescent Moon form a line with Mercury and Mars. The inset is the telescopic view of Mercury at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

Whole sky on Saturday, August 19 as seen from Adelaide at 19:12 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars is visible low above the north western horizon close to Mercury. Saturn is just rising in the east.

Scorpius and Sagittarius are readily visible near the zenith.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury is now prominent in the twilight and is close to Mars. On the 19th Mercury, Mars and the thin crescent moon form a line.

Venus is lost in the twilight.

Mars is dimming, and is just above Mercury. On the 19th Mercury, Mars and the thin crescent moon form a line.

Jupiter is prominent in the morning sky.

Saturn is now rising around 6:30 pm local time.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 7:34 pm 0 comments

The New Moon is Wednesday, August 16. Saturn is now rising around 7:00 pm local time. Jupiter is prominent in the morning sky. Venus is lost in the twilight. Mercury is now prominent in the twilight and is at its closest to Mars between the 10th and the 16th.

The New Moon is Wednesday, August 16. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 16th.

Evening sky on Saturday, August 12 as seen from Adelaide at 21:00 ACST, Saturn is above the eastern horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time.

Morning sky on Saturday, August 12 as seen from Adelaide at 05:34 ACST, (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Jupiter is above the horizon near the Hyades and Pleiades. The thin crescent Moon is low to the horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).

Evening sky on Saturday, August 12 as seen from Adelaide at 18:38 ACST, 60 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Venus is lost in the twilight. Mercury is closing in on Mars. The inset is the telescopic view of Mercury at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

Whole sky on Saturday, August 12 as seen from Adelaide at 19:03 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars is visible low above the north western horizon close to Mercury. Saturn is just rising in the east.

Scorpius and Sagittarius are readily visible near the zenith.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury is now prominent in the twilight and comes closer to Mars.

Venus is lost in the twilight.

Mars is dimming, Mercury is coming closer for a meeting later in the month.

Jupiter is prominent in the morning sky.

Saturn is now rising around 7:00 pm local time.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 9:53 pm 0 comments

The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday, August 8. Saturn is now rising around 7:30 pm local time. Jupiter is prominent in the morning sky and is close to the moon on the 8th and 9th. Venus low in the evening twilight but is rapidly heading towards the horizon. Telescopically Venus rapidly increases in size and its crescent is wire thin. Mercury is now prominent in the twilight and comes closer to Mars.

The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday, August 8.

Evening sky on Saturday, August 5 as seen from Adelaide at 21:00 ACST, Saturn is above the eastern horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time.

Morning sky on Wednesday, August 9 as seen from Adelaide at 05:37 ACST, (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Jupiter is above the horizon near the Hyades and Pleiades. The crescent Moon is between Jupiter and the Pleiades. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).

Evening sky on Saturday, August 5 as seen from Adelaide at 18:18 ACST, 45 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Venus is sinking towards the horizon. Mercury is closing in on Mars. The insets are the telescopic view of Venus and Mercury at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (45 minutes after sunset).

Whole sky on Saturday, August 5 as seen from Adelaide at 19:03 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars is visible low above the north western horizon close to Mercury.

Scorpius and Sagittarius are readily visible near the zenith.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover. With the Moon waning it will be easier to see them.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury is now prominent in the twilight and comes closer to Mars.

Venus is falling back towards the horizon.

Mars is leaving Regulus and Venus behind, Mercury is coming closer for a meeting later in the month.

Jupiter is prominent in the morning sky and is close to the moon on the 8th and 9th

Saturn is now rising around 7:30 pm local time.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 1:16 am 0 comments