The nights are drawing in and observations should be getting easier.
Planets:
Mercury: Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 27° but is low and difficult to find. It is worth having a go if you have a clear western horizon.
Venus: Venus is lost in the evening twilight early in the month and passes through Inferior Conjunction on the 13th of the month. It will be a morning object by the end of August.
Mars is still visible in the evening sky, but is an increasingly difficult object. The disc size drops to 3.8 arc seconds this month and it is low in the western sky by the time it gets dark.
Jupiter is now rising before midnight and becoming more easily observed for those willing to stay up into the early hours.
Saturn reaches opposition on the 27th and is visible all night. It is low in the sky, but is well worth viewing. The rings are at a shallow angle.
Uranus and Neptune are still morning objects. They will be better placed in the autumn.
The Sun
Solar activity is still increasing and solar observations are a good idea. Take great care to never look directly at the Sun, or directly through an optical instrument.
Ensure a proper filter is in place or project the image onto card.
Meteor Showers: The Perseid meteor shower continues, lasting from 17th July until 24th August. These can be quite prolific and it’s well worth waiting up for them. The full Moon will be a problem at the start of the month.
Moon
1st and 31st August: Full Moon. 8th August: Moon is at last quarter.
16th August: New Moon. 24th August: Moon is at First Quarter.
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