Best time to see: <\/strong>14 August, 00:00 UT Altitude: <\/strong>22\u00ba (low) Location:<\/strong> Capricornus Direction:<\/strong> South Features: <\/strong>Rings, banded atmosphere, weather systems Recommended equipment: <\/strong>75mm or larger <\/p>\n\n Saturn is currently in Capricornus, not too far from mag. +8.0 planetary nebula NGC 7009 <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
Saturn reaches opposition on 14 August, a time so-named because the planet is in the opposite part of the sky to the Sun. A view of Saturn in the week running up to opposition will show the rings getting brighter. In the week after opposition, the rings slowly appear to revert back to their normal brightness. <\/p>\n\n
This is due to what\u2019s known as the opposition effect, a phenomenon caused by the shadows of the ring particles being reduced to a minimum as seen from Earth at opposition. <\/p>\n\n
At opposition, Saturn\u2019s rings glow brighter than to when it brightens with usual (right-hand half) <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n
As has been the case for several years now, it\u2019s Saturn\u2019s north pole which is angled towards us. The tilt angle is slowly decreasing year on year, with minor variations within each year. Through August it changes from +13.3 to +14.3, which is low enough to keep the northsouth extremes of the rings well within the boundaries of the planet\u2019s globe. At present they extend to a point roughly half-way between the apparent centre and poles of the planet. <\/p>\n\n
At opposition Saturn manages a peak brightness of mag. +0.3 and is above the horizon from when the sky begins to darken the onset of dawn. The full Moon sits near to Saturn on the nights of 11\/12 and 12\/13 August.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Saturn\u2019s declination is slowly increasing which means it\u2019s getting higher in UK skies. This is a good thing as far as viewing the planet goes, as Saturn will appear less affected by low-level atmospheric turbulence. Through a telescope, the rings are the most obvious feature, but attention should be made to look for variations on the disc as well. As well as subtle banding, bright patches representing storms may sometimes be seen as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Mercury <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
Best time to see: 1 August, 30 minutes after sunset<\/p>\n\n
Altitude: 2\u00ba (extremely low) <\/p>\n\n
Location: Leo <\/p>\n\n
Direction: West-northwest On 1 August, Mercury shines at mag. \u20130.5 but sets just 40 minutes after the Sun. At greatest eastern elongation on 27 August, despite an impressive 27.3\u00ba separation from the Sun, the mag. +0.3 planet sets 30 minutes after sunset and is unlikely to be seen. <\/p>\n\n
Venus <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
Best time to see: 1 August, 30 minutes before sunrise<\/p>\n\n
Altitude: 11\u00ba <\/p>\n\n
Location: Gemini<\/p>\n\n
Direction: East-northeast On 1 August, Venus rises 120 minutes before the Sun and shines at mag. \u20133.8. By 31 August it rises 90 minutes ahead of the Sun.<\/span> Through a telescope, Venus appears as an almost full circle at the end of the month, 97%-lit and 10 arcseconds across. A slender 4%-lit waning crescent Moon lies 9\u00ba above Venus, as seen from the UK, on the morning of 25 August and as a very thin 1%-lit waning crescent 4.3\u00ba from Venus on the morning of 26 August.<\/p>\n\n
Mars <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
Best time to see: 31 August, 04:00 UT <\/p>\n\n
Altitude: 51\u00ba <\/p>\n\n
Location: Taurus <\/p>\n\n
Direction: Southeast Mars starts the month at mag. +0.2, 1.3\u00ba to the south of mag. +5.8 Uranus, then passes 5.9\u00ba south of the Pleiades open cluster on the morning of 18 August. The last quarter Moon sits near to the planet on the morning of 19 August. Mars reaches the mag. 0.0 threshold on 21 August.<\/span> Through a telescope, the planet increases in apparent size from eight arcseconds on 1 August to nine arcseconds on 31 August.<\/p>\n\n
Jupiter <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
Best time to see: 31 August, 02:00 UT<\/p>\n\n
Altitude: 38\u00ba <\/p>\n\n
Location: Cetus <\/p>\n\n
Direction: South Jupiter is improving as it approaches opposition next month. By mid-August it reaches its highest point in the sky, due south in darkness. On 15 August, mag. \u20132.6 Jupiter is joined by an 87%-lit waning gibbous Moon. By the end of August, the planet brightens to mag. \u20132.7 in Cetus, right on the border with Pisces. <\/p>\n\n
Uranus <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
Best time to see: 31 August, 03:00 UT <\/p>\n\n
Altitude: 49\u00ba <\/p>\n\n
Location: Aries <\/p>\n\n
Direction: South-southeast On the morning of 2 August, mag. +0.2 Mars is located 1.3\u00ba south of mag. +5.8 Uranus. By the end of August, now at mag. +5.7, Uranus is able to reach an altitude of 50\u00ba under truly dark skies. <\/p>\n\n
Neptune <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n
Best time to see: 31 August, 01:15 UT<\/p>\n\n
Altitude: 34\u00ba <\/p>\n\n
Location: Aquarius <\/p>\n\n
Direction: South Neptune slips across the border from Pisces into Aquarius on 18 August. At mag. +7.8, the planet is technically visible to the naked eye, but can be challenging.\u00a0Reaching opposition next month, Neptune is very well placed for UK observation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The planets in August<\/h4>\n\n
The phase and relative sizes of the planets this month. Each planet is shown with south at the top, to show its orientation through a telescope <\/p>\n\n<\/figure>\n\n
<\/div>
\n
Jupiter’s moons: August<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Using a small scope you can spot Jupiter\u2019s biggest moons. Their positions change dramatically over the month, as shown on the diagram. The line by each date represents 01:00 BST (00:00 UT.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n
Photos: PETE LAWRENCE X 2<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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