Learn what is happening in August 2008 and what has happened in August in the past. Discover highlights of the night sky and learn what to look for in August 2008.
August Highlight - Venus
Copyright 1995-2003, California Institute of Technology
Venus whose Greek equivalent was Aphrodite was the Roman goddess of love and beauty. It probably got its name from being the brightest object in the sky except for the Sun and the Moon. At one time, it was thought to be two separate bodies: the morning star (Eosphorus) and the evening star (Hesperus). It is the second planet from the Sun and the sixth largest.
Learn more about the planet Venus and take a solar system tour.
August Skymap
Nick Greene
Note: This map is for a median time and location and August have slight differences from your location and viewing time. Planets and moons shown on this map will have the highest probability of appearing in different locations.
Use this handy Sky Map Symbols Key to figure out what you should be looking for.
Events in August
Nick Greene
- 1: Total Solar Eclipse, Visible in Canada, Greenland
- 6: Asteroid 7672 Hawking Closest Approach To Earth (1.260 AU)
- 10: Moon at apogee
- 12: Perseids Meteor Shower Peak
- 26: Moon at Perigee
Featured Constellation - Vulpecula
Nick Greene
Featured Biography - Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker was an African-American astronomer, clockmaker, & publisher who was instrumental in surveying the District of Columbia. Banneker taught himself astronomy & advanced mathematics. He turned his attention to both subjects.This Month in History
Public Domain
- 5: 1973 - Mars 6 - USSR Mars Orbiter/Soft Lander launched.
- 7: 1971 - Apollo 15 splashed down safely.
- 12: 1978 - International Sun-Earth Explorer 3 - USA Interplanetary Monitor launched.
- 19: 1871 - Orville Wright born in Dayton, Ohio.
- 29: 1541 - Nicolaus Copernicus's book "De revolutionibus orbium coelestium" ("On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres") went to the printer.
