Stargazing in August 2021
Every month, AY About You outlines the night sky in these easy-to-digest guides. And stargazing in August is another one for the books.
This month features local astrophotography from Arkansan Tony Milligan. You can find more of his spectacular photos on his website, Captured in Time.
Moon Phases
New Moon: Aug. 8
First Quarter: Aug. 15
Full Moon: Aug. 22*
Third Quarter: Aug. 30
*The full moon of August is also called the Sturgeon Moon, named after North America’s largest fish. This month’s phase will also be a Blue Moon, or the third of four full moons in the same season. This only occurs every couple of years or so, hence the phrase: “Once in a Blue Moon.”
Meteor Showers
Perseid Meteor Shower: July 17-Aug. 24
Peak: Aug. 12
This month presents one of the best meteor showers of the year. The Perseid Meteor Shower peaks on Aug. 12, but the shower is considered active nearly the whole month, up until Aug. 24. And since the shower’s radiant point is a circumpolar constellation (Perseus), the meteors will be viewable all night. At peak, it is reasonable to expect more than 100 meteors per hour, but dark skies (away from city lights) are required to witness anything near this maximum.
Planets and Special Events
Aug. 2: Saturn at Opposition
Saturn reaches a point directly opposite the Sun from Earth this month, making it a great time to view the ringed gas giant. Look to the southeast after around 9 p.m.
Aug. 12: Asteroid 349 Dembowska at Opposition
The large main-belt object Asteroid 349 Dembowska also reaches opposition this month. While it will be well placed for viewing, this asteroid does require the assistance of a telescope or good set of binoculars to see as anything more than a faint dot.
Aug. 19: Jupiter at Opposition
Jupiter, never one to let its cousin Saturn have all the limelight, will also reach opposition in August. Look to the east at around 9 p.m. and after.
Aug. 19: Asteroid 43 Ariadne at Opposition
In a similar fashion to Dembowska, Asteroid 43 Ariadne’s opposition event can be readily observed with a telescope or binoculars. It will be in the constellation Aquarius for most of the night.
Aug. 19: Uranus Enters Retrograde
This month, Uranus will no longer be moving eastward across our night sky; instead, it will appear to change course and journey westward, deemed retrograde. This happens periodically with the outer planets of our Solar System, as their orbits around the sun take much longer than ours on Earth. Essentially, we “pass” them, thus making their trajectories appear to change from where we are.
In the News
A rendition of the Venus volcano Maat Mons. (NASA)
Maybe It’s Aliens, or Maybe It’s Volcanoes (The Atlantic)
Scientists are still trying to figure out what could be brewing on the planet next door.
Arkansas Events
Sunset Point, Mount Nebo.
No public events this month. Stay home and stay well.
If you’re still itching for more space to curb your boredom this month, give Celestia and Stellarium a try. Both are free to use and provide unique and interactive experiences with the stars, planets and more.
The best stargazing results are always going to be under the darkest of skies. So, if you can, find a place as far away from city lights as possible when stargazing in August.
The Arkansas Natural Sky Association has a fantastic interactive map of some of the best dark spots and observation sites around the Natural State.
READ MORE: Dark Skies, Strange Clouds — Stargazing in Arkansas
