The starry sky in August 2024
Perseids and Saturn occultation: Every year in August, countless shooting stars, the Perseids, can be observed. They get their name from their origin in the direction of the constellation Perseus, which slowly rises above the eastern horizon during the month. This year, the maximum of up to 25 star clusters per hour is expected between the evening of August 12 and the morning of August 13. It is not uncommon to see so-called fireballs or bolides with a brightness comparable to the brightest stars. The Perseids originate from a cloud of dust particles left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in July 1862 on its 133-year journey around the sun.
On the occasion of the maximum of the Perseids, our observatory opens on Friday, August 9th, Saturday, August 10th and Sunday, August 11th from 9 pm, weather permitting. See also the point Events.
As Meteoride are small objects in space that are created, for example, by collisions of asteroids or eruptions from comets. If these enter the earth's atmosphere, they become a meteor or shooting star. When they reach the Earth's surface, they are called meteors.te. Meteorites from the moon and Mars have also been detected. Just over a year ago, a meteorite fall took place in Elmshorn, see Elmshorn (meteorite) - Wikipedia.
SUN AND MOON
As every year, August shows us the most beautiful starry sky in summer. The sunsets in Zweibrücken continue to be earlier from 21:08 at the beginning of the month to 20:13 on the 31st of the month.
At the time of the maximum of the Perseids, the moon is in the first quarter. Already quite low in the sky, it leaves the celestial stage at around 11:34 pm, with astronomical twilight ending at 11:05 pm. The conditions are therefore pretty good, provided the weather cooperates.
PLANETS
The fast-moving planet in the sky Mercury cannot free itself from the Sun's rays in August, it remains unobservable to us. The encounter with Venus on the 6th of the month also remains hidden from us for this reason.
The still almost fully illuminated Venus disk with a diameter of only around 10 seconds of arc, only gradually becomes noticeable in the evening sky. The reason for this is that the declination of Venus, and therefore its diurnal arc, decreases daily, causing it to set earlier and earlier over the course of the month. However, the sun also sets earlier.
Mars and Jupiter dominate the second half of the night. On the night of the 15th, Mars passes Jupiter about 0.3 degrees to the north.
Saturn is a highlight of this month alongside the Perseids. Although it only reaches its opposition position at the end of the first third of September, on the 21st of the month there is a Rare occultation of Saturn by the moon. The overcast begins in Zweibrücken at 5:30 in the morning, when nautical twilight has already set in. Here is a graphic representation:
Uranus can only be seen in the morning sky with the aid of a telescope.
Neptune is approaching its opposition position, which it will not reach until the last third of September. A telescope is required to observe it.
STARRY SKY
August is the month with the most beautiful starry sky in summer par excellence.
About us the band of the Milky Way with countless stars and the summer triangle is now revealed in its full splendor in less light-polluted areas.
This month there is no detailed description of the starry sky, this can still be seen from the July or the august from last year. Instead, an invitation to simply lie down on a meadow with a lounger or blanket and a pair of binoculars and enjoy the summer night sky. Also in front of our observatory. If it is open despite the summer break, you are welcome to visit us. Don't forget a jacket, it can get quite chilly at night.
Here is the course of the Milky Way on August 15 at 0:00 a.m. each year. East is on the left, south at the bottom.
The following sky view is valid for August 1 at 0:00 am, August 15 at 11:00 pm and August 30 at 10:00 pm.
