August 2023

Moon

Moon – Earth Relations

Perigee: 357 311 km on 02/08 at 07h52; 357 181 km on 30/08 at 17h54
Apogee: 406 634 km on 16/08 at 13h54

Planet Visibility

Mercury is visible near the stars of the constellation Leo in the early evening sky
Venus is visibleness the stars of the constellation Leo in the early evening sky at the beginning of the month and in the morning sky near the stars of the constellation Cancer at month end
Mars is visible near the stars of the constellation Leo in the early evening sky
Jupiter is visible near the stars of the constellation Aries in the morning sky
Saturn is visible near the stars of the constellation Aquarius later at night

Meteor Showers

Piscis Australids: 15th of July to 10th of August, peaking on the 28th of July
Southern delta-Aquariids: 12th of July to 23th of August, peaking on the 30th of July
alpha-Capricornids: 3rd of July to 15th of August, peaking on the 30th of July
eta-Eridanids: 31th of July to 19th of August, peaking on the 8th of August

Some easy to identify bright stars

Rigel: blue supergiant in Orion
Betelgeuse: red supergiant in Orion
Procyon: yellowish white star in Canis Minor
Sirius: brightest star in the night sky, located in Canis Major
Antares: red supergiant in Scorpius
Arcturus: red giant in Boötes
Spica: brightest bluish-white star in Virgo
Canopus: yellowish-white star in Carina
Altair: a white star, brightest in Aquila
Regulus: blue–white star and the brightest star in Leo
The Pointers: Alpha and Beta Centauri

Credits – Sivuyile Manxoyi, SAAO