Astronomy Events Calendar
This guide shows you what to look out for in the night sky including meteor showers and conjunctions.
What to see in August 2009
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Deep Space Objects in August
Full list of Messier Objects and Caldwell Catalogue.M6 - "The Butterfly Cluster" Open Cluster in Scorpius
M6 and M7 form the Butterfly Cluster, both Open Clusters are visible to the naked eye under dark skies. They can both be resolved into stars with the aid of binoculars. M7 is the larger and brighter of the pair.
Right Ascension: 17h 40.1m Declination: -32° 13m Magnitude: 4M7 - "The Ptolemy Cluster" Open Cluster in Scorpius
M6 and M7 form the Butterfly Cluster and Ptolemy Cluster, both Open Clusters are visible to the naked eye under dark skies. They can both be resolved into stars with the aid of binoculars. M7 is the larger and brighter of the pair.
Right Ascension: 17h 53.9m Declination: -34° 49m Magnitude: 4M8 - "The Lagoon Nebula" Open Cluster with Nebulosity in Sagittarius
This is a bright emission nebula in Sagittarius, easily visible to the naked eye in dark skies. In binoculars M8 is an oval cloud of light larger than the full moon with several bright stars embedded within it. A telescope makes this nebula larger and brighter.
Right Ascension: 18h 03.8m Declination: -24° 23m Magnitude: 5M9 - Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus
Another small, relatively faint globular cluster in Ophiuchus. M9 is very similar to M107, only slightly brighter. Another tough, but possible binocular object.
Right Ascension: 17h 19.2m Declination: -18° 31m Magnitude: 9M10 - Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus
M10 and M12 are two close proximity globular clusters. M10 is the fuzzier of the two and will resemble blue snowballs in binoculars. Large telescopes should be able to resolve stars, becoming brighter in the center.
Right Ascension: 16h 57.1m Declination: -04° 06m Magnitude: 8M12 - Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus
M10 and M12 are close proximity globular clusters. Both are easy targets for binoculars, but M12 will be easily resolved while M10 is slightly more fuzzy in appearance.
Right Ascension: 16h 47.2m Declination: -01° 57m Magnitude: 8M19 - Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus
M19 and M62 are two close proximity clusters which are not resolvable through small telescope, and will appear as round fuzzy patches brightening towards the center. M19 is slightly brighter than M62.
Right Ascension: 17h 02.6m Declination: -26° 16m Magnitude: 8M20 - "The Trifid Nebula" Open Cluster with Nebulosity in Sagittarius
This nebula is easily seen with binoculars and looks like a cloud of smoke around some bright stars. With a telescope the view appears much the same, although the three dust lanes that gives M20 its name are visible.
Right Ascension: 18h 02.6m Declination: -23° 02m Magnitude: 5M21 - Open Cluster in Sagittarius
This is a small bright open cluster in Sagittarius next to M20. Binoculars show a very small bright patch partially resolvable. Small telescopes easily resolve all of the clusters members.
Right Ascension: 18h 04.6m Declination: -22° 30m Magnitude: 7M23 - Open Cluster in Sagittarius
Through binoculars M23 is a large, hazy patch of light almost the size of the full moon. A telescope at low powers easily resolves this cluster among a rich background of other stars.
Right Ascension: 17h 56.8m Declination: -19° 01m Magnitude: 6M62 - Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus
Another pair of globular clusters in Ophiuchus separated by about four degrees. Fairly easy to find in binoculars, they are smaller than M10 and M12 thus not quite as obvious. These clusters are not resolvable through small scopes, and appear as round fuzzy patches brightening towards the center. M19 is slightly brighter than M62.
Right Ascension: 17h 01.2m Declination: -30° 07m Magnitude: 8M107 - Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus
A small, fairly faint globular cluster in Ophiuchus. It is a tough binocular object, appearing as a very small faint patch of light possibly requiring averted vision. In a telescope, M107 is a larger and brighter fuzzy patch of light than what can be seen in binoculars.
Right Ascension: 16h 32.5m Declination: -13° 03m Magnitude: 10
Have Your Say
What Others Are Saying
Lonewolf
Posted on Thursday 7th August 2008 at 5:54pm
Comment
Valerie,
You need to be looking out late at night on the 12th and early hours of the 13th of August.
valerie
Posted on Wednesday 6th August 2008 at 5:24pm
Comment
can you please tell me the best time to see the perseids from portugal? i’m confused about the date. thank you.
bob carton
Posted on Saturday 3rd March 2007 at 8:02pm
Comment
your site was very helpful in giving us the time for the lunar eclipse on 3/3
