MECATX August 2015 Sky Charts Remote Video Astronomy Group

(1) Delphinus, the Dolphin – Sunset August 01 - to – Sunrise August 02 (2) Microscopium, the Microscope – Sunset August 05 – to – Sunrise August 06 (3) Capricornus, the Fish-Goat – Sunset August 07 – to – Sunrise August 08 (4) Equuleus, the Little Horse – Sunset August 09 - to - Sunrise August 10 (5) Octans, the Navigator’s Octant – Sunset August 09 – to – Sunrise August 10 (6) Indus, the Indian – Sunset August 21 - to - Sunset August 22 (7) Aquarius, the Water Bearer – Sunset August 25 –to – August 26 (8) Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish – Sunset August 25 – to – Sunrise August 26 (9) Grus, the Crane (Brid) – Sunset August 28 - to - Sunrise August 29 (10) Lacerta, the Lizard – Sunset August 28 – to Sunrise August 29

PERSEID METEROR SHOWER- August 12- 13 Best seen at 1:30 am (Aug. 13)

MECATX August 2015

1 D August 01 – 02 Delphinus (del-FINE-us), the Dolphin (Dra),

Draconis (druh-CONE-iss)

Delphinus

MECATX August 2015

2 Delphinus

Meaning: The Dolphin (Porpoise) Pronunciation: dell fee' nus Abbreviation: Del Possessive form: Delphini (del fee' nee) Asterisms: Job's Coffin

Bordering constellations: Aquarius, Aquila, Equuleus, Pegasus, Sagitta, Vulpecula

Overall brightness: 5.834(61) Central point: RA = 20h39m Dec. = +11.50 Directional extremes: N = +21° 5=+2' E = 21h06m W = 20h13m

Messier objects: none Meteor showers: none

Midnight culmination date: 31 Jul Bright stars: none Named stars: Deneb (e), Rotanev (I), Sualocin (a) Near stars: none Size: 188.54 square degrees (0.457% of the sky) Rank in size: 69

Solar conjunction date: 31 Jan

Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: N of -69° completely invisible from latitudes: S of -88°

Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 11

Interesting facts: (1) The common names of a Del (Sualocin) and 3 Del (Rotanev) spelt backwards give the name of Nicolaus Venator, the assistant of the astronomer Giuseppe Piazzi.

MECATX August 2015

3 August 05 – 06 Microscopium (my-cruh-SCOPE-ee-um), the Microscope (Mic), Microscopii (my-cruh-SCOPE-ee-eye)

Microscopium

MECATX August 2015

4 Microscopiurn

Meaning: The Microscope Pronunciation: my krow scop' ee urn Abbreviation: Mic Possessive form: Microscopii (my krow skow' pee ee) Asterisms: none

Bordering constellations: Capricornus, Crus, Indus, Piscis Austrinus, Sagittarius

Overall brightness: 7.160(42) Central point: RA = 20h55rn Dec.= -36.5° Directional extremes: N = -28° S = -45° E = 21h25rn W = 20h25rn

Messier objects: none Meteor showers: none Midnight culmination date: 4 Aug Bright stars: none Named stars: none

Near stars: Cordoba 29191 (21), LTT 8181-8182 (119), Lfl 8214 (164) Size: 209.51 square degrees (0.508% of the sky) Rank in size: 66 Solar conjunction date: 4 Feb

Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: S of +45° completely invisible from latitudes: N of +62°

Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 15

Interesting facts: (1) This was one of the 14 constellations invented by Lacaille during his stay at the Cape of Good Hope in 1751-2.

MECATX August 2015

5 August 07 – 08 Capricornus (CAP-rih-CORN-us), the Fish Goat (Cap), Capricorni (CAP-rih-CORN-eye)

Capricornus

MECATX August 2015

6 Capricornus Meaning: The Sea Goat Pronunciation: kap nh kor' ntis Abbreviation: Cap Possessive form: Capnicorni (kap nih corn' ee) Asterisms: none Bordering constellations: Aquarius, Aquila, Microscopium, Piscis Austrinus, Sagittarius Overall brightness: 7.489 (36) Central point: RA = 2lhOOm Dec.=-18' Directional extremes: N = —8° S = —280 E = 21h57m W = 20h04m Messier objects: M30 Meteor showers: Capnicornids (22 Jul) a Capnicornids (30 Jul) Midnight culmination date: 8 Aug Bright stars: 6 (142), 13(185) Named stars: Algedi (cx), Aishat (v), Dabih (13), Deneb Algedi (6), Giedi (a), Gredi (a), Nashira (y), Prima Giedi (a) Near stars: Wolf 922 (96), LFT 1535 (125) Size: 413.95 square degrees 0.003% of the sky) Rank in size: 40 Solar conjunction date: 5 Feb Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: S of +62° completely invisible from latitudes: N of +820 Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 31

Non-traditional 'mythology': This constellation is often called the "smile in the sky." This smile is composed of the stars 6, y t, 0, cx, 13, It, w . 24, , and C of this constellation. However, a lady's high-heeled shoe may also be found among these stars. Begin with a as the toe of the shoe, then move to 13, It, and then over to X; then proceed down to i, then to co, 24, ç, 6, -y t, and 0.

Interesting facts: (1) Of the 12 traditional constellations of the zodiac, Capricornus is the smallest. (2) According to Flammarion, Chinese astronomers observed five planets in conjunction in this constellation in 2449 BC. (3) Over 2000 years ago, the position of the Sun at the December solstice lay within the confines of this constellation. At that point, the Sun was at declination —23.5°, or 23.5° below the celestial equator. The corresponding latitude on Earth (the southernmost point where the Sun could be directly overhead at noon) thus was named the 'Tropic of Capricorn.' It still retains this designation today, even though the Earth's precessional motion has moved the point of the December solstice into neighboring Sagittarius

MECATX August 2015

7 August 09 – 10 Equuleus (eh-QUOO-lee-us), the Little Horse (Equ),

Equulei (eh-QUOO-lee-eye) Equuleus

MECATX August 2015

8 Equuleus

Meaning: The Foal Pronunciation: ek woo oo' lee us Abbreviation: Equ Possessive form: Equulei (ek woo oo' lay ee) Asterisms: none Bordering constellations: Aquarius, Delphinus, Pegasus

Overall brightness: 6.979 (46) Central point: RA = 21h08m Dec. = +7.5° Directional extremes: N = +13° S = +2° E = 21h23m W = 20h54m Messier objects: none Meteor showers: none Midnight culmination date: 8 Aug Bright stars: none Named stars: none Near stars: none Size: 71.64 square degrees (0.174% of the sky) Rank in size: 87 Solar conjunction date: 7 Feb

Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: N of -77° completely invisible from latitudes: S of -88°

Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 5

Interesting facts: (1) 6 Equ is a close binary where both members are main sequence stars of spectraltype F7, having visual magnitudes of 5.2 and 5.3. This pair appears to be separated by 0.34". Since S Equ lies approximately 53 light years away, it has been calculated that the distance between these two stars is only slightly more than the distance separating the Sun and Jupiter. These stars orbit one another every 5.7 years.

MECATX August 2015

9 August 09 – 10 Octans (OCK- tanz), the Navigator’s Octant (Oct),

Octantis (ock-TAN-tiss) Octans

Octans MECATX August 2015

Meaning: The Octant Pronunciation: ok' tans Abbreviation: Oct Possessive form: Octantis (ok tan' tiss) Asterisms: none Bordering constellations: Apus, Chamaeleon, Hydrus, Indus , Mensa, Pave, Tucana Overall brightness: 5.841 (60) Central point: RA= circumpolar Dec.= —82.5°

Directional extremes: N = —75° S = —90° F = circumpolar W= circumpolar

Messier objects: none Meteor showers: none

Midnight culmination date: none (circumpolar) Bright stars: none Named stars: none Near stars: LFT 1747(120), LFT 1813 (183) Size: 291.05 square degrees (0.706% of the sky) Rank in size: 50 Solar conjunction date: none (circumpolar)

Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: S of +000 completely invisible from latitudes: N of +150 Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 17

Interesting facts: (1) This was one of the 14 constellations invented by Lacaille during his stay at the Cape of Good Hope in 1751-2. (2) Octans is circumpolar, that is,it completely surrounds the south celestial pole.The nearest visible star to the actual location of the pole is a Oct, at magnitude 5.47. Polaris ((x UMi), the bright star closest to the north celestial pole, shines at magnitude 2.02, more than 22 times as brightly as a Oct.

MECATX August 2015

11 August 21 – 22 Indus (IN- dus), the Indian (Ind),

Indi (IN-dye) Indus

MECATX August 2015

12 Indus

Meaning: The American Indian Pronunciation: in' dus Abbreviation: Ind Possessive form: mdi (in' dee) Asterisms: none

Bordering constellations: Crus, Microscopium, Octans, Pavo, Telescopium, Tucana

Overall brightness: 4.422 (80) Central point: RA = 21h55m Dec.= _600

Directional extremes: N = 45° S = -75° E = 23h25m W = 20h25m

Messier objects: none Meteor showers: none Midnight culmination date: 12 Aug Bright stars: a (189) Named stars: none Near stars: e Ind (14) Size: 294.01 square degrees (0.713% of the sky) Rank in size: 49

Solar conjunction date: 19 Feb

Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: S of +15° completely invisible from latitudes: N of +45° Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 13

Interesting facts: (1) This is one of 11 constellations invented by Pieter Dirksz Keyser and Frederick de Houtman, during the years 1595- 7. (2) One of the nearest of the solar-type stars s Ind, lies within the confines of this constellation. Its distance is 11.2 light years.

MECATX August 2015

13 August 25 – 26 Aquarius (uh-QUAIR-ee-us), the Water Bearer (Aqr),

Aquarii (uh-QUAIR-ee-eye) Aquarius

MECATX August 2015

14 Aquarius

Meaning: The Water Bearer Pronunciation: uh qwayr' ee us Abbreviation: Aqr Possessive form: AquariA (ah kwayr' ee ee) Asterisms: The Water Jar

Bordering constellations: Aquila, Capricornus, Cetus, Deiphinus, Equuleus, Pegasus, Pisces, Piscis Austrinus, Sculptor

Overall brightness: 5.715 (65) Central point: RA = 22h15m Dec.= -11° Directional extremes: N = +3° S = -25° E = 23h54m W = 20h36m Messier objects: M2, M72, M73

Meteor showers: rl Aquarids (3 May) S. S Aquarids (29 Jul) S. t Aquarids (5 Aug) N. SAquarids (12 Aug) N. t Aquarids (20 Sep) icAquarids (21 Sep)

Midnight culmination date: 25 Aug Bright stars: (152), a (160) Named stars: Albali (s), Ancha (0), Sadachbia (y), Sadalmelek (a), Sadalsuud (I), Situla (K), Skat (5)

Near stars: L 789-6 (II), Ross 780 (35), LFT 1754 (105), Wolf 1329 (145), BD-21°6267A-B (161), BD+004810 (168), LFT 1699-1700 (178)

Size: 979.85 square degrees (2.375% of the sky) Rank in size: 10 Solar conjunction date: 24 Feb

MECATX August 2015

15 Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: +65° to - 87° portions visible worldwide

Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 56 Non-traditional 'mythology': It is possible to make a rough outline map of South America using the stars 0, ?c, t, 5, 88, and i in this constellation.

Interesting facts: (1) On 23 September 1846, the planet Neptune was discovered within the borders of this constellation, about 1° north of t Aqr, by the German astronomer Galle at the Berlin Observatory. Its position had been predicted by a French astronomer, Urbain Leverrien Later, the English astronomer, John Couch Adams was also given credit for predicting the location of Neptune. (2) The oft-mentioned 'Age of Aquarius' will occur when the vernal equinox moves from its present position in Pisces into Aquarius. This movement is caused by the Earth's precessional motion. Don't look for worldwide peace and understanding too soon, however - this momentous event is still about 800 years away! (3) Midway between the stars i Aqr and a PsA (Fomalhaut), we find the wonderful planetary nebula known as the Helix Nebula. At a distance of approximately 700 light years, it is the nearest of all planetary nebulae. As it is so near, it also seems to be the largest, covering ° in area. Experience has demonstrated that the best views of this object of low surface brightness are through binoculars which give xlO-x20 magnification.

MECATX August 2015

17 August 25 – 26 Piscis Austrinus (PICE-iss-aw-STRY-nus), the Southern Fish (PsA), Piscis Austrini (PICE-iss- aw- STRY-nye)

MECATX August 2015

18 Piscis Austrinus

Meaning: The Southern Fish Pronunciation: pie' siss os try' nus Abbreviation: PsA Possessive form: Piscis Austrini (pie' siss os tree' flee) Asterisms: none

Bordering constellations: Aquarius, Capricornus, Grus, Microscopium, Sculptor

Overall brightness: 6,113 (54) Central point: RA = 22h14m Dec.=-31- Directional extremes: N = -25° S=-37' E= 23h04m W= 21h25m Messier objects: none Meteor showers: none

Midnight culmination date: 25 Aug

Bright stars: a (18) Named stars: Fomalhaut (a)

Near stars: Lacaille 9352 (19), a (80), L'fl' 9283 (108) Size: 245.37 square degrees (0.595% of the sky) Rank in size: 60 Solar conjunction date: 24 Feb

Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: S of +53° completely invisible from latitudes: N of +65°

Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 15

Interesting facts: (1) a PsA, or Fomalhaut, is one of the four Royal Stars of the ancient Persians. The other three are Aldebaran (a Tau), Antares (a Sco), and Regulus (a Leo),

MECATX August 2015

19 August 28 – 29 Grus (GRUSS), the Crane (Gru),

Gruis (GROO-iss) Grus

MECATX August 2015

20 Grus Meaning: The Crane Pronunciation: groose Abbreviation: Gru Possessive form: Gruis (groo' eese) Asterisms: none

Bordering constellations: Indus, Microscopium, Phoenix, Piscis Austrinus, Sculptor, Tucana

Overall brightness: 6.566(50) Central point RA= 22h25in Dec.= -47°

Directional extremes: N = 370 5 = -57° E = 23h25m W = 21h25m Messier objects: none Meteor showers: none Midnight culmination date: 28 Aug Bright stars: a (30), 3 (57), 7(172)

Named stars: Al Dhanab (y), Alnair (a) Near stars: LFT 1640 (32) Size: 365.51 square degrees (0.886% of the sky) Rank in size: 45 Solar conjunction date: 27 Feb

Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: S of +33° completely invisible from latitudes: N of +53°

Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5): 24

Interesting facts: (1) This is one of 11 constellations invented by Pieter Dirksz Keyser and Frederick de Houtrnan, during the years 1595-7.

MECATX August 2015

21 August 25 – 26 Lacerta (luh-SER-tuh), the Lizard (Lac), Lacertae (luh-SER-tee)

MECATX August 2015

22 Lacerta Meaning: The Lizard Pronunciation: luh sir' tuh Abbreviation: Lac Possessive form: Lacertae (luh sir' tie) Asterisms: none

Bordering constellations: Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cygnus, Pegasus

Overall brightness: 11.460(13) Central point: HA = 22h25m Dec.= +46° Directional extremes: N = +57° S = +350 B = 22h56m W = 21h55m Messier objects: none Meteor showers: none Midnight culmination date: 28 Aug Bright stars: none Named stars: none Near stars: EV Lac (43) Size: 200.69 square (0.487%) Rank in size: 68 Solar conjunction date: 27 Feb Visibility: completely visible from latitudes: N of —33° completely invisible from latitudes: S of —55° Visible stars: (number of stars brighter than magnitude 5.5+: 23

Interesting facts: (1) One of seven constellations still in use invented by Johannes Hevelius. In 1690, this group was included in a star atlas which accompanied his stellar catalog. (2) A very unusual object lies within this constellation. It is designated BL Lac, because it was originally believed to be a variable star. It is now known that this object, and many others like it, are very distant, violently variable objects which resemble quasars in size and energy output. DL Lac type objects differ from quasars, however, because they seem to be related to distant elliptical galaxies and because their spectra show no discernable lines.

MECATX August 2015

23 August 2015 Killeen, Texas Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1

Twi A: 5:16am Sunrise: 6:47am Sunset: 8:27pm Twi A: 9:58pm Moonrise: 9:24pm Moonset: 8:07am

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Twi A: 5:17am Twi A: 5:18am Twi A: 5:19am Twi A: 5:20am Twi A: 5:21am Twi A: 5:22am Twi A: 5:23am Sunrise: 6:48am Sunrise: 6:49am Sunrise: 6:49am Sunrise: 6:50am Sunrise: 6:51am Sunrise: 6:51am Sunrise: 6:52am Sunset: 8:26pm Sunset: 8:26pm Sunset: 8:25pm Sunset: 8:24pm Sunset: 8:23pm Sunset: 8:22pm Sunset: 8:21pm Twi A: 9:57pm Twi A: 9:56pm Twi A: 9:55pm Twi A: 9:54pm Twi A: 9:53pm Twi A: 9:52pm Twi A: 9:51pm Moonrise: 10:08pm Moonrise: 10:50pm Moonrise: 11:31pm Moonrise: none Moonrise: 12:13am Moonrise: 12:57am Moonrise: 1:43am Moonset: 9:14am Moonset: 10:20am Moonset: 11:26am Moonset: 12:30pm Moonset: 1:33pm Moonset: 2:35pm Moonset: 3:34pm Last Qtr: 9:04pm

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Twi A: 5:23am Twi A: 5:24am Twi A: 5:25am Twi A: 5:26am Twi A: 5:27am Twi A: 5:28am Twi A: 5:29am Sunrise: 6:53am Sunrise: 6:53am Sunrise: 6:54am Sunrise: 6:54am Sunrise: 6:55am Sunrise: 6:56am Sunrise: 6:56am Sunset: 8:20pm Sunset: 8:20pm Sunset: 8:19pm Sunset: 8:18pm Sunset: 8:17pm Sunset: 8:16pm Sunset: 8:15pm Twi A: 9:50pm Twi A: 9:48pm Twi A: 9:47pm Twi A: 9:46pm Twi A: 9:45pm Twi A: 9:43pm Twi A: 9:42pm Moonrise: 2:32am Moonrise: 3:23am Moonrise: 4:16am Moonrise: 5:10am Moonrise: 6:04am Moonrise: 6:58am Moonrise: 7:52am Moonset: 4:31pm Moonset: 5:23pm Moonset: 6:12pm Moonset: 6:56pm Moonset: 7:37pm Moonset: 8:14pm Moonset: 8:49pm New Moon: 9:55am 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Twi A: 5:30am Twi A: 5:31am Twi A: 5:31am Twi A: 5:32am Twi A: 5:33am Twi A: 5:34am Twi A: 5:35am Sunrise: 6:57am Sunrise: 6:58am Sunrise: 6:58am Sunrise: 6:59am Sunrise: 6:59am Sunrise: 7:00am Sunrise: 7:01am Sunset: 8:14pm Sunset: 8:13pm Sunset: 8:12pm Sunset: 8:11pm Sunset: 8:10pm Sunset: 8:08pm Sunset: 8:07pm Twi A: 9:41pm Twi A: 9:40pm Twi A: 9:38pm Twi A: 9:37pm Twi A: 9:36pm Twi A: 9:34pm Twi A: 9:33pm Moonrise: 8:44am Moonrise: 9:36am Moonrise: 10:28am Moonrise: 11:20am Moonrise: 12:12pm Moonrise: 1:05pm Moonrise: 1:59pm Moonset: 9:23pm Moonset: 9:56pm Moonset: 10:29pm Moonset: 11:03pm Moonset: 11:39pm Moonset: none Moonset: 12:18am First Qtr: 2:32pm 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Twi A: 5:36am Twi A: 5:37am Twi A: 5:37am Twi A: 5:38am Twi A: 5:39am Twi A: 5:40am Twi A: 5:41am Sunrise: 7:01am Sunrise: 7:02am Sunrise: 7:02am Sunrise: 7:03am Sunrise: 7:04am Sunrise: 7:04am Sunrise: 7:05am Sunset: 8:06pm Sunset: 8:05pm Sunset: 8:04pm Sunset: 8:03pm Sunset: 8:02pm Sunset: 8:00pm Sunset: 7:59pm Twi A: 9:32pm Twi A: 9:30pm Twi A: 9:29pm Twi A: 9:28pm Twi A: 9:26pm Twi A: 9:25pm Twi A: 9:23pm Moonrise: 2:54pm Moonrise: 3:49pm Moonrise: 4:43pm Moonrise: 5:36pm Moonrise: 6:26pm Moonrise: 7:13pm Moonrise: 7:59pm Moonset: 1:00am Moonset: 1:47am Moonset: 2:39am Moonset: 3:37am Moonset: 4:39am Moonset: 5:45am Moonset: 6:52am Full Moon: 1:36pm 30 31

Twi A: 5:41am Twi A: 5:42am Sunrise: 7:05am Sunrise: 7:06am Sunset: 7:58pm Sunset: 7:57pm Twi A: 9:22pm Twi A: 9:21pm Moonrise: 8:43pm Moonrise: 9:26pm Moonset: 8:00am Moonset: 9:08am

MECATX August 2015

24 August 2015 Moon Phases

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

100% Full Moon 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

50% Waning Gibbous 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

New Moon 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

50% First Quarter 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

100% Full Moon 30 31

MECATX August 2015

25 MECATX August 2015 Sky Charts Remote Video Astronomy Group

Revised by: Samantha Salvador 08.02.2015

MECATX August 2015