Sunrise Sunset

Fri., August 8 5:42 7:51

Sat., August 9 5:43 7:50

Sun., August 10 5:44 7:48

Mon., August 11 5:45 7:47

Tues., August 12 5:46 7:46

Wed., August 13 5:47 7:44

Thurs., August 14 5:48 7:43

Fri., August 15 5:49 7:41

August is the best time for stargazing and looking for meteors. The Perseid meteor shower peaks in the early hours of Tuesday morning but meteors can be seen at any time during the nights ahead.

The best time for viewing is when the gibbous moon sets and does not fill the sky with glare. Meteors will appear to come from the northeastern sky, an area occupied by the constellation Perseus, hence the name.

Astronomers thought for centuries that the meteors originate from the stars. Today, astronomers know a different story; each year at this time the Earth enters into the orbit of an old, long-gone comet.

The Earth’s atmosphere is a great protector. Whenever pieces of debris from space hit our Earth’s atmosphere, the particles burn up to nothing.

Five Planets

The three planets Mars, Venus and Saturn hug close to the western horizon after sunset in the week ahead. Venus, the brightest of the three, appears between the two planets. Mercury joins in but you’ll need the clearest view of the southwestern sky to see it, and only briefly, before it sets. Mars is higher in the west, higher than Saturn, Venus and Mercury.

The huge and bright planet Jupiter hangs over the southern sky for most of the night.

M.A.L.