SkyEye

The Calendar

The Solar System

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for 'wanderer'. Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars. Dwarf planets and small solar-system bodies, including comets, are not so constrained, often moving far above or below the ecliptic.

Sun Cancer → Leo

Mercury Cancer → Leo → Virgo

At superior conjunction on 8 August, this evening sky object disappears from view early on and reappears in the east before sunrise midmonth. It is best viewed from the southern hemisphere.

Venus Gemini → Cancer → Leo

The morning star is getting closer to the horizon with each passing day. Northern hemisphere observers have the best views of our nearest neighbour for the rest of the summer but it never gets very high in the sky. Look for Venus and Jupiter to pass close by each other on 18 August.

Mars Virgo → Libra

Look for the red planet in the west as soon as it gets dark because it sets by mid-evening.

Jupiter Cancer

At conjunction last month, the largest planet in the solar system is emerging from the Sun's glare into the morning sky. It has a close encounter with Venus on 18 August but you'll have to get up before sunrise to see it.

Saturn Libra

Quadrature is an excellent time to observe this planet because the shadows cast by the planet's disc, its rings and its satellites are at their most elongated. East quadrature occurs on 9 August. Additionally, the Moon occults Saturn twice this month, once on 4 August and again on the last day of the month.

Uranus Pisces

A few residents in northern Russia may see the Moon occult this green ice-giant on 14 August. Uranus rises mid-evening and is aloft for the rest of the night.

Neptune Aquarius

A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system and this is the best time to look because Neptune is at opposition on 29 August, meaning it's at its closest and brightest.