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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between August 1 and August 31, 2024. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury begins August close to the sun and cannot be observed. On the 31^st, Mercury rises in the east-northeast at 5:09 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:26 a.m., PDT. The planet’s disk is 24-percent illuminated and 8.5 arcseconds wide, and so most telescopes cannot reveal its disk. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west-northwest at 8:47 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and the sun sets at 7:54 p.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Venus sets due west at 8:25 p.m., PDT. Venus is 91-percent illuminated and 11 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 1:33 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Mars rises at 12:51 a.m., PDT. The planet is 88-percent illuminated and six arcseconds wide, and so a magnification of 150x is needed.

Jupiter is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, Jupiter rises in the east-northeast at 1:59 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Jupiter rises at 12:18 a.m., PDT. The planet is 38 arcseconds wide. A magnification of 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons may be seen moving back and forth, roughly in a line centered on Jupiter.

Saturn is in Aquarius the Water Bearer. On the 1^st, the planet rises in the east at 9:44 p.m., PDT. On the 31^st, the planet rises at 7:42 p.m., PDT. Saturn is 19 arcseconds wide. A magnification of 50x is needed to see the rings and Saturn’s largest moon Titan.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, Uranus rises in the east at 12:53 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, the planet rises at 10:52 p.m., PDT.  On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 39^m 37^s and declination +19° 15ʹ 35ʺ. A magnification of 150x is needed to see its 3.6-arcsecond-wide disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, the planet rises in the east at 10:10 p.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Neptune rises at 8:11 p.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0^h 0^m 4^s and declination -1° 25ʹ 21ʺ.  A magnification of 150x is needed to see its 2.3-arcsecond-wide disk.

New moon occurs on the 4^th, first quarter on the 12^th, full moon on the 19^th, and last quarter on the 26^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The Perseids meteors are active from July 14 to September 1. They peak from the night of August 11 through the morning of the 12^th. The moon is 44-percent full and will interfere with observation. Normal rates as seen from rural locations, range from 50 to 75 shower members per hour at maximum. The Perseids are particles released from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. They are called Perseids because the radiant, the area of the sky from which the meteors seem to originate, is located near the prominent constellation of Perseus the Hero.

Lunar-X.is visible on the 11^th.  It is visible only for a few hours starting at 6:30 p.m., PDT. Lunar-X is a feature on the first quarter moon just within the dark half of the moon and midway between the center point and the southern edge.  It is due to the rims of two craters illuminated by the sun.  A telescope with a magnification of 50x or more is needed to see it.

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