* Astronomy

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August 2017

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Uranus is stationary, starting retrograde motion on the 3rd August 2017.

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Lunar apogee is at 17:50 UT, 2nd August 2017.

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Mercury is at aphelion at 12:50 UT, 2nd August 2017.

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Lunar apogee is at 17:50 UT, 2nd August 2017.

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Jupiter passes NGC 4941 at 01:30 UT, 2nd August 2017.

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Meteor Showers

August has one major meteor shower.
The Perseids Meteor Shower that peaks on August 12th.

Shower	Activity Period	Maximum	Radiant		Velocity	ZHR
		Date	R.A.	Dec.	km/s
S. Delta-Aquariids	July 14-Aug 18	30th July	3.9h	-51.8d	14 km/s	11.2
Gamma Aquarids		2 August
Alpha Ursa Majorids		10 August
Northern Iota Aquariids		12 August
Kappa Cygnids		18 August	18.6h	46.2°	29.7km/s	5.8
Piscids		12 August
Perseids		13 August	3.2h	58.1°	59.3km/s	79.9
Alpha Capricornids		15 August	21.2h	-5.8°	17.5km/s	11.7
Cygnids		18 August
Ypsilon Pegasids		18 August	1.1h	53.4°	34.8km/s	4.7
Alpha Ursa Majorids		25 August	12.3h	65.8°	35.0km/s	3.7
Alpha Aurigids		26 August

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Highlights

August 1 is the date of an ancient Pagan festival of Lammas or Lughnasadh (LOO-nah-sah). It marks the beginning of the last quarter of the Celtic year. The festival is associated with the god Lugh, or Samildanach, which means "he of many gifts".

The Perseids meteor shower peaks on the 12th August.

Albireo
Probably the most colourful double star in the night sky can now be found nearly overhead at 11:30 p.m. local daylight time, in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan, also known as the Northern Cross. Albireo supposedly marks the swans beak.
A small telescope, or even a pair of steadily held binoculars, will readily split Albireo into two tiny points of light of beautiful contrasting colours: the brighter one a rich yellowish-orange, the other a deep azure blue, both placed very close together. An absolutely stunning view will come with a telescope magnifying between 18 and 30 power.

Sagittarius and the Galactic Centre.
For northern observers, the Teapot of Sagittarius should be dashing across the southern horizon. Observe the lower western corner, which lies immediately above the stinger of Scorpio, the scorpion. You are now looking straight toward the heart of the galaxy, the galactic centre. The actual centre is not visible to us due to the unimaginable amount of dust and stars blocking the way, but we do know something about it thanks to both radio and infrared radiation that is not so easily blocked.