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Celestial Events Calendar

August 2004

 

August – Named after Augustus Ceasar

 

Sunday, August 1, 2004:

Cross quarter day, half way between the summer solstice and the autumnal equinox.

Wednesday, August 4, 2004:

Iota Aquarid South meteor shower – active July 25 to August 15, the ZHR is 2 meteors/hour but viewing is hindered by a gibbous moon.

3 AM CDT – Mars and Uranus are at heliocentric opposition, that is, they are on opposite sides of the Sun.

Thursday, August 5, 2004:

10 PM CDT – Neptune is at opposition, that is, the Earth is between Neptune and the Sun allowing Neptune to be visible all night making this a great time to view the planet. It moves from the morning to the evening sky.

Saturday, August 7, 2004:

9:43 PM CDT – The Moon is at ascending node. It is crossing the plane of the Earth’s orbit (the ecliptic) and heading northeast.

            5:01 PM CDT – Last Quarter Moon

            7 PM CDT – Mars is at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun                               

~155 million miles.

Sunday, August 8, 2004:

Delta Aquarid meteor shower – active July 15 to August 25, ZHR = 4, the radiant (Aquarius) is visible most of the night, the Moon phase favors visibility

Monday, August 9, 2004:

12 AM CDT – Mercury is stationary in right ascension; it ceases its apparent normal prograde eastward motion and begins its apparent westward retrograde motion.

Tuesday, August 10, 2004:

The Sun leaves the astronomical constellation of Cancer, the crab, and enters the astronomical constellation of Leo, the Lion.

Wednesday, August 11, 2004:

            The Moon is at apogee, its furthest point from the Earth ~ 254,000 miles

Thursday, August 12, 2004:

Perseid meteor shower – active July 17 – August 24, ZHR = 100 meteors/hour, the proximity of the new moon favors visibility,

Saturday, August 14, 2004:

            6:00 PM – NHAC “Double Opp” BBQ/Star Party at the Neal Site

Monday, August 16, 2004:

            8:23 PM CDT – New Moon, the beginning of lunation cycle 1010.

Tuesday, August 17, 2004:

            Kappa Cygnid meteor shower – Active August 3 – 25, ZHR 3

            6 AM CDT – Venus is at theoretical dichotomy, it is 50% illuminated as

seen from the Earth

1 PM CDT – Venus is at its greatest western elongation ~ 45.8o from the Sun in the morning sky

Thursday, August 19, 2004:

Iota Aquarids North meteor shower – active August 11 – 31, ZHR 3, the proximity of the New Moon favors observing this minor shower

Saturday, August 21, 2004:

7:12 AM CDT – The Moon is at its descending node, it is crossing the plane of the Earth’s orbit (ecliptic) and heading southwest.

Sunday, August 22, 2004:

The Sun leaves the astrological sign of Leo, the Lion, and enters the astrological sign of Virgo.

Monday, August 23, 2004:  

5:12 AM CDT – First Quarter Moon

4 PM CDT – Mercury is at inferior conjunction with the Sun, that is, Mercury is between the Sun and the Earth, it passes from the evening into the morning sky.

Wednesday, August 25, 2004:

            Gamma Leonid “radio” meteor shower, active August 14 – September 12

Friday, August 27, 2004:

            1 AM CDT – The Moon is at perigee, its closest approach to the Earth

            ~ 229,000 miles

            1 PM CDT – Uranus is at opposition, the Earth is between the Sun and

Uranus, Uranus is up all night making this the best time to view it.

            7:30 PM CDT – the 64th meeting of the North Houston Astronomy Club

Monday, August 30, 2004:

            9:21 PM CDT – Full Moon, green corn moon or grain moon

Tuesday, August 31, 2004:

Alpha Aurigid meteor shower – Active August 25 – September 8,             ZHR 7, the full Moon makes viewing difficult.

4 AM CDT – Pluto is stationary in right ascension, it ceases its apparent westward retrograde motion and resumes its apparent normal eastward prograde motion.

3 PM CDT – Venus is 1.9o south of Saturn, 45o from the Sun in the morning sky.