Astroblog: August 2025


Western horizon as seen from Sydney on 8 September at 4:12 AEST. The Moon is at totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen	Western horizon as seen from Adelaide on 8 September at 3:42 ACST. The Moon is at totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen	North-Western horizon as seen from Perth on 8 September at 2:12 AWST. The Moon is at totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen

On the morning of September the 8th there is a nice total eclipse, the first in Australia since November 2022. which, sadly you will have to be up very early on a work Monday morning to see. this is a nice deep eclipse with totality lasting 1 hour, 22 minutes.

Times for the eclipse at cities around Australia are below. Western Australia sees all the eclipse, Central states see the eclipse end around Nautical twilight as the sky is brightening. For the east coast totality ends around Nautical Twilight, when the sky is brightening but the eclipse will still be obvious. The eclipse ends after Civil Twilight when the sky is bright, and around the time of moon set (strictly the eclipse has not ended, I have not included the times of the penumbra phases). You will see some sites calling this a "blood Moon", The Moon does not turn the colour of blood but will go a deep copper colour due to the refraction of red light through our atmosphere.

A guide I wrote for the October 2014 lunar eclipse to taking photos of the eclipse is here. And here is a more general (and more recent) link to lunar photography with mobile phones and adapters that is useful for mobile phone imaging of the eclipse.

You can also use this eclipse to show the earth is not flat.

See here for a map and contact timings in Universal Time for sites outside Australia.

City	Civil Twilight	Nautical Twilight	Astronomical twilight	Eclipse Start	Totality Start	Maximum Eclipse	Totality End	Eclipse End
Adelaide (ACST)	6:00	5:31	5:02	1:57	3:01	3:42	4:23	5:27
Alice Springs (ACST)	6:15	5:50	5:24	1:57	3:01	3:42	4:23	5:27
Auckland (NZT)	6:06	5:36	5:06	4:26	5:29	6:11	-	-
Brisbane (AEST)	5:31	5:02	5:24	2:27	3:31	4:12	4:53	5:57
Cairns (AEST)	6:15	5:50	5:06	2:27	3:31	4:12	4:53	5:57
Canberra (AEST)	5:48	5:19	4:29	2:27	3:31	4:12	4:53	5:57
Christchurch (NZT)	6:16	5:43	5:10	4:26	5:29	6:11	-	-
Darwin (ACST)	6:25	6:00	5:35	1:57	3:01	3:42	4:23	5:27
Hobart (AEST)	5:27	4:59	4:25	2:27	3:31	4:12	4:53	5:57
Melbourne (AEST)	6:05	5:35	5:05	2:27	3:31	4:12	4:53	5:57
Perth (AWST)	6:00	5:32	5:04	00:27	1:31	2:12	2:53	3:57
Rockhampton (AEST)	6:05	5:28	5:11	2:27	3:31	4:12	4:53	5:57
Sydney (AEST)	5:40	5:11	4:42	2:27	3:31	4:12	4:53	5:57
Townsville (AEST)	6:15	5:49	5:23	2:27	3:31	4:12	4:53	5:57

Weather: 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: eclipse, lunar eclipse, Moon, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 6:33 pm 2 comments

The First Quarter Moon is Sunday August 31. This is a "blue" First Quarter Moon. The "eyes of Clavius" are visible on the 1st. Mars is passing through Virgo heading towards the star Spica. Saturn is rising before midnight and is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn is close to Neptune. Venus and Jupiter are visible in the morning twilight and are drawing apart.

The First Quarter Moon is Sunday August 31. This is a "blue" First Quarter Moon the second first Quarter moon in a month. The Moon is at apogee, where is is furthest from the Earth, on the 30th. The "eyes of Clavius" are visible on the 1st.

North-eastern twilight sky on the morning of Saturday, August 30 as seen from Adelaide at 05:43 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

Venus and Jupiter are drawing apart. Jupiter forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse. Venus is becoming harder to see low above the horizon

The insets are the telescopic views of Venus and Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Eastern sky on the evening of Saturday, August 30 as seen from Adelaide at 23:00 ACST (click to embiggen).

Saturn is rising higher above the eastern horizon. The insets shows the telescopic view at this time and the binocular view of Saturn and Neptune.

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

North-western sky on Saturday, August 30 as seen from Adelaide at 19:20 ACST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Mars is heading towards the bright star Spica.

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

North-western sky on Sunday, August 31 as seen from Adelaide at 19:20 ACST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). The Last Quarter Moon is close to the bright red star Antares. This is a "blue" First Quarter Moon, the second last quarter Moon in a month.

The inset is the telescopic view of "the Eyes of Clavius" on Monday the 1st at the same time

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

Whole sky on Saturday, August 30 as seen from Adelaide at 19:20 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Mars is in the north-west.

Bright Achernar is rising from the Southern horizon. Scorpius and the galactic core is at the Zenith.

The Southern Cross is sinking in the Southern sky. The moon is waxing and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming harder to see.

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

Mercury is low in the morning twilight.

Venus is lowering in the morning twilight moving away from Jupiter.

Mars is lowering in the evening sky and passing through Virgo towards Spica.

Jupiter climbs in the morning twilight above Venus. Jupiter forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.

Saturn is rising before midnight. It is near Neptune

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 @ 10:43 pm 0 comments

The New Moon is Saturday August 23. Mars is passing through Virgo heading towards the star Spica. It is close to the star Porrima on the 23rd and forms a triangle with the crescent moon and Porrima on the 26th. Saturn is rising before midnight and is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn is close to Neptune. Venus and Jupiter are visible in the morning twilight and are drawing apart. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 21st.

The New Moon is Saturday August 23.

North-eastern twilight sky on the morning of Thursday, August 21 as seen from Adelaide at 05:54 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

Venus and Jupiter are are close but drawing apart. Jupiter forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse. The crescent Moon is close to Venus.

The insets are the telescopic views of Venus and Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Eastern sky on the evening of Saturday, August 23 as seen from Adelaide at 23:00 ACST (click to embiggen).

Saturn is rising higher above the eastern horizon. The insets shows the telescopic view at this time and the binocular view of Saturn and Neptune.

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

North-western sky on Tuesday, August 26 as seen from Adelaide at 19:17 ACST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Mars forms a triangle with the star Porrima and the crescent Moon. Mars is heading towards the bright star Spica.

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

Whole sky on Saturday, August 23 as seen from Adelaide at 19:15 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Mars is in the north-west, close to the bright star Porrima.

Bright Canopus is brushing the horizon and Scorpius and the galactic core is at the Zenith.

The Southern Cross is sinking in the Southern sky. The moon is new and the fainter clusters and nebula are easier to see.

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

Mercury is low in the morning twilight.

Venus is lowering in the morning twilight moving away from Jupiter. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 21st.

Mars is lowering in the evening sky and passing through Virgo towards Spica. It is close to the star Porrima on the 23rd and forms a triangle with the crescent moon and Porrima on the 26th.

Jupiter climbs in the morning twilight above Venus.

Saturn is rising before midnight. It is near Neptune

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 @ 7:36 am 0 comments

The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday August 16. Mars is passing through Virgo heading towards the star Spica. Saturn is rising before midnight and is the brightest object above the eastern horizon.Venus and Jupiter are visible in the morning twilight and are drawing apart. The crescent Moon is close to Jupiter on the 20th and Venus on the 21st.

The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday August 16.The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the earth, on the 15th.

North-eastern twilight sky on the morning of evening of Wednesday, August 20 as seen from Adelaide at 05:55 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

Venus and Jupiter are are close but drawing apart and form a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse. The crescent Moon is close to Jupiter. The following morning the crescent Moon is close to Venus

The insets are the telescopic views of Venus and Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Eastern sky on the evening of Saturday, August 16 as seen from Adelaide at 23:00 ACST (click to embiggen).

Saturn is rising higher above the eastern horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at this time.

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

North-western sky on Saturday, August 16 as seen from Adelaide at 19:11 ACST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Mars close to eta Virginis and is heading towards the bright star Spica.

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

Whole sky on Saturday, August 16 as seen from Adelaide at 19:11 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Mars is in the north-west.

Bright Canopus is brushing the horizon and Scorpius is at the Zenith.

The Southern Cross is sinking in the Southern sky. The moon is waning and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming easier to see.

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

Mercury is rising in the morning twilight.

Venus is lowering in the morning twilight moving away from Jupiter. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 21st.

Mars is lowering in the evening sky and passing through Virgo towards Spica.

Jupiter climbs in the morning twilight above Venus. The crescent Moon is close to Jupiter on the 20th.

Saturn is rising before midnight.

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 @ 10:26 pm 0 comments

The Full Moon is Saturday August 9. Mars is passing through Virgo heading towards the star Spica. Saturn is rising before midnight and is close to the waning Moon on the 12th.Venus and Jupiter are visible in the morning twilight and are drawing closer. The pair are exceptionally close on the 12th and 13th and form a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.

The Full Moon is Saturday August 9.

North-eastern twilight sky on the morning of Tuesday, August 12 as seen from Adelaide at 06:03 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

Venus and Jupiter are are exceptionally close and form a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.

The insets are the telescopic views of Venus and Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Eastern sky on the evening of Tuesday, August 12 as seen from Adelaide at 23:00 ACST (click to embiggen).

Saturn is rising and is close to the waning Moon. The inset shows the telescopic view at this time.

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

North-western sky on Saturday, August 9 as seen from Adelaide at 19:06 ACST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Mars very close to Beta Virginis and is heading towards the bright star Spica.

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

Whole sky on Saturday, August 9 as seen from Adelaide at 19:11 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Mars is in the north-west.

Bright Canopus is brushing the horizon and Scorpius is at the Zenith.

The Southern Cross is sinking in the Southern sky. The moon is waxing and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming harder to see.

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

Mercury is lost in the evening twilight.

Venus is lowering in the morning twilight coming closer to Jupiter. The pair are exceptionally close on the 12th and 13th and form a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.

Mars is lowering in the evening sky and paasing through Virgo towards Spica.

Jupiter climbs in the morning twilight below Venus. The pair are exceptionally close on the 12th and 13th and form a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.

Saturn is lowering in the morning sky and is rising before midnight. It is close to the waxing Moon on the 12th

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 @ 5:45 pm 1 comments


The northern sky at 19:01 ACST Sunday August 3 as seen from Adelaide. The moon is about to occult the star 2 Scorpii. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). Click to embiggen	The northern sky at 19:55 AEST Sunday August 3 as seen from Sydney. The moon is about to occult the star 2 Scorpii. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). Click to embiggen	The northern sky at 18:39 ACST Sunday August 3 as seen from Perth. The star 3 Scorpii is about to exit occultation by the moon . The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). Click to embiggen

On Sunday August 3, the Moon will occult the moderately bight star 2 Scorpii and the dimmer 3 Scorpii shortly after. The occultation is visible from most of Australia.

The occultation occurs with the moon well above the northern horizon when the sky is fully dark for the Eastern and central states. Perth and Western Australia generally sees the occultation start during twilight. The Moon is obvious and in the head of the constellation Scorpius.

Disappearance and appearance times of 2 Scorpii are given in the table below (3 Scorpii follows soon after). Other locations will see the occultation at a similar time for cities at a similar latitude (eg Woomera is similar to Adelaide).

While the occultation is visible to the unaided eye (although the star 2 Scorpii not being very bright will make it difficult), the sight will be better in binoculars or a small telescope. Set up ahead of time so that you can be sure everything is working well and you can watch the entire event comfortably. The star 2 Scorpii will be visible to the unaided eye near the Moon.

Place	Disappears Dark Limb	Reappears Bright Limb	Moon transits the meridian
Adelaide ACST	19:01	21:31	19:22
Brisbane AEST	19:54	22:01	18:52
Canberra AEST	19:53	20:40	19:08
Darwin ACST	-	19:34	19:53
Hobart AEST	20:14	20:52	18:46
Melbourne AEST	19:51	21:03	19:25
Perth AWST	-	18:39 (3)	19:26
Sydney AEST	19:55	21:23	19:00