Follow the Moon in August Skies
Hey Space Placers! This month the Moon will be your guide to finding planets, star clusters and only the brightest Perseid Meteors! With August being the last full month of summer many people get outside and go on vacation. Take some time to look up at the sky and enjoy the view as provided by your guide – the ever changing Moon. Skywatching Highlights One of the best meteor showers of the year, the Perseids, occurs on the night of the 12th and 13th. Unfortunately, the bright light of the Full Moon will hide all but the very brightest “falling stars”. Just watch the sky for bright meteors during the evening. Mercury will be in the eastern sky about 45 minutes before dawn at the end of the month. If you have a clear and unobstructed horizon you should be able to see golden-yellow Mercury. On the 27th Mercury will be below and to the left of the thin crescent Moon. Binoculars will help you find the elusive planet. Also get the latest on the MESSENGER mission at Mercury: http://ww...