Astronomy – See Saturn and Mercury at their best 

August is the month to dust off your gear and go out and observe the night skies – if the weather allows us to. We will be able to see a meteor shower, as well as Saturn and Mercury at their best.

From August 12-14 we will be able to see the Perseids Meteor Shower. 

Although it is best viewed from the northern hemisphere, we are still treated to a great show down south. At its peak, there will be more than 100 meteors an hour.

By facing towards the northern horizon at around 5am on August 13, you will get the best view. The radiant of this meteor shower is close to the horizon. You will see meteors travelling upwards from the north, rather than the usual ‘falling’ behaviour.

On August 15, we will have the best views of Saturn. Saturn will be in opposition – this means that the Earth travels between the sun and Saturn, placing the planet ‘opposite’ the sun in our sky. This also puts Saturn at its closest point to the Earth, which means the best views!

Saturn will be at its best for viewing in August, September and October. Although you can see it through a pair of good binoculars, the best viewing will be through a telescope.

Mercury will also be viewable a bit later in the month. On August 27, Mercury will reach its greatest separation from the sun. This means that it will be at its highest altitude for us on Earth, thus making it easy to see. We call this appearance the ‘evening apparition’.

From Whangaparāoa, this apparition will be best viewed two days later when it is most prominent, reaching a peak altitude of 25° above the horizon at sunset on August 29. However, it will be viewable from August 11 to September 13. 

Warning: Please remember to be careful if you are trying to view Mercury through binoculars or a telescope. Do not be in the position where you accidentally look at the sun – the consequences are serious and devastating.

Jupiter will also be viewable this month, but in the early morning. It rises in the eastern sky around midnight and will reach its highest point towards the northern horizon at around 4am. It will fade and be lost in the dawn twilight.

You can learn more about the universe by coming to a meeting of the Hibiscus Coast Astronomical Society. We meet every first and third Thursday of the month at the Auditorium foyer at Whangaparāoa College at 7.30pm. Masks are required.