Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday August 14 through Sunday August 20.
The new moon for the month of August is early on Wednesday the 16th so we’ll start the week with a waning crescent moon in the pre-dawn skies and finish the week with a waxing crescent moon in the west after sunset.
Mercury is very low in the west after sunset and is sinking back towards the sun after greatest elongation last week. Mercury sets at 9:10 p.m. at midweek.
Mars is just above Mercury in the west after sunset and is setting at 9:35 p.m. at midweek. Look for Mars right next to the thin crescent moon on Friday evening.
Over in the eastern skies, Saturn is rising at 8:40 p.m. at midweek, now just 30 minutes after sunset. Saturn will be at opposition next week and will start into the best time of year to observe the ringed planet.
Jupiter is rising at midnight at midweek as it makes its way back towards our early evening skies this autumn.
Venus is rising at 6:40 a.m., only about 20 minutes before sunrise as it still emerges from its recent solar conjunction.
In space anniversaries this week, Thursday August 17 marks 65 years since the launch of the Pioneer 0 mission, which was humanity’s first attempt to launch a spacecraft beyond Earth orbit. The spacecraft was intended to go into orbit around the moon, but unfortunately the rocket failed just over 70 seconds after launch.
Public viewing on UT campus telescopes has finished for the summer session. Fall semester viewing will start in a couple of weeks. Please check back for details on starting dates and times.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.
