Actual Astronomy - The Observer’s Calendar for August 2026
Release Date: 08/06/2026
Ask A Spaceman Ep. 282: What Happens When You Shine a Light on Nothing?
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Light Up Empty Space! Hosted by Dr. Paul M. Sutter. How does the vacuum interact with light? Is it possible to use light to create something from nothing? And is “birefringence” a real word? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: All episodes: Watch on YouTube: Read a book: Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE! Big thanks to my top Patreon supporters this month: Justin G, Chris L, Alberto M, Corey D,...
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 805: Mission Tech Series - Gyroscopes & Servos
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Spinney things! Streamed live 18 Oct 2026. Hosted by: Fraser Cain () and Dr. Pamela L. Gay () Our journey through space exploration technology continues! Today we look at the things that spin: gyros, reaction wheels, servos. Newton’s laws are large and in charge today as spinning has a very useful benefit when you’re in weightlessness! Today we are going to understand the nemesis of space exploration missions everywhere, get to the bottom of this, how these things works, why they fail, and maybe what’s being done about it, or maybe not! We've added a new way to donate to...
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Travelers in the Night Eps. 385 & 386: New Aten & Silent ET
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. From April 2026. Today's 2 topics: - Recently my Catalina Sky Survey teammates Carson Fuls and Greg Lenoard discovered an Aten asteroid which orbits the Sun once every 272 days and on a path that crosses the orbits of Venus and Earth a number of times each year. Atens account for only about 6% of the Earth approaching asteroids that asteroid hunters discover. They are relatively dim and difficult to discover because they...
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AstroMan - G Is For Galileo
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Galileo turned the telescope skyward and transformed astronomy, revealing lunar mountains, sunspots, Jupiter’s moons, and a Universe far larger than imagined. “ASTROMAN: the Dark Sky Guardian” is a podcast channel that aims to explore popular science in multiple disciplines and research on interdisciplinary approaches, such as sustainability, dark-sky protection, astrophotography, space exploration, astronomy innovation, inclusive science communication, and STEAM Education by integrating science and arts. Exodus Chun-Long Sit, also known as the ASTROMAN, is a transmedia...
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Actual Astronomy - Saturn at Opposition
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan who enjoy teaching astronomy classes and showing the public views through their telescopes. In this episode, we cover key visual observing highlights for Saturn, including prominent features like the Equatorial Band and Equatorial Zone visible in amateur telescope. We also look at historical transient phenomena, such as the massive, planet-encircling "Great White Spots" that erupt in the northern hemisphere roughly once every Saturnian year. Alexio wrote: Hi Chris and Shane, I saw Saturn in your...
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EVSN - Luminous Kilonova Challenges Gamma-ray Burst Theories
The 365 Days of Astronomy
From November 2020. The brightest kilonova ever was detected and challenges current gamma-ray burst models. Plus, the history of water on both Venus and Mars, how radioactive elements may help habitability, and a little-known mass extinction event here on Earth. But wait! There’s more… new images of the Perseus Cluster, a recaptured 1960s rocket booster, the shortest measurement of time, a treasure trove of copies of Principia, and SpaceX is certified to launch Crew-1 this weekend. Perseus Cluster pix: We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support...
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Guide To Space - Universe Today News: NASA Selects GIMLI to Search the Marius Lunar Pit for a Potential Lunar Base Site
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Recorded by our editor, Richard Drumm. Written by Matthew Williams. Lava tubes on the Moon and Mars are some of the most fascinating and useful places we could explore. These are natural tunnels below the surface that could protect astronauts from radiation, provide a constant temperature, and could even be sealed off as a place for a habitat. Now, a new mission is under development called GIMLI that could use ground-penetrating radar to scan beneath the surface and map out the extent of a lunar cave network. We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing,...
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Awesome Astronomy - Extra: The Hubble Tuning Fork & Citizen Science
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Paul Hill hosts solo! Damien Phillips, John Wildridge and Dustin Ruoff produce. In this podcast extra episode we talk to Dr. Karen Masters, Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Haverford College, Pennsylvania about The Hubble Tuning Fork and Galaxy classification. But it’s not only about that canonized galaxy classification system, it’s also about how citizen science – astronomy done by absolutely anybody from their homes – can and does change the accepted wisdom and advance science. Galaxy Zoo: Twelve Years of Galaxy Zoo: Morphological...
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 804: Mission Tech Series: Fairings, Docking & Airlocks
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by: Fraser Cain () and Dr. Pamela L. Gay () Streamed live on Oct 3, 2026. Mission Tech Part 3. Instead of sending up an entire space station for every mission, you can just send up a tiny can filled with astronauts. But that takes docking. And today we’re gonna talk about what it takes to connect two spacecraft together. How to keep a cargo safe to get into orbit, and how to get in and out of your spacecraft without killing everyone! We removed all ads from the show. We need to get to 1500 patrons to keep it this way. We need your support! We've added a new way to...
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Travelers in the Night Eps. 383 & 384: ET’s Cigar & Dry Sands
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. From April, 2026. Today's 2 topics: - In 2012 as it crossed the orbit of Neptune heading towards the Sun a small space rock was 250 times fainter than can be detected by the Hubble Space Telescope. Five years later, after it had rounded the Sun, it became visible in asteroid hunter's telescopes for about 16 days, as it streaked across our planet's orbit at 37 miles per second, as it continued to move away from the Sun....
info_outlineHosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan who enjoy teaching astronomy classes and showing the public views through their telescopes. [email protected]
Episode 545 of the Actual Astronomy podcast features hosts Chris and Shane discussing the observer’s calendar and planetary visibility for August 2026. Throughout the month, skywatchers can track key planetary positions, including Venus in the morning sky and Jupiter rising around 3:00 AM. Notable astronomical highlights include the Perseid meteor shower, multiple lunar feature viewings, and a partial lunar eclipse accompanying the Full Moon on August 28th.
Planet Positions & Visibility:
- Mercury: Very close to the Sun. Superior conjunction on the 27th.
- Venus: In W, evening sky all month.
- Mars: Rises at 3 AM in ENE.
- Jupiter: Hidden behind the Sun at the start of Aug. Will rise around 5 AM by the end of month.
- Saturn: Rises in E around midnight, transits around 5:00 AM, high in SSE at dawn.
Astronomical Events by Date:
- August 2
- Mercury at greatest morning elongation (19° from Sun)
- Comet 10P/Tempel 2visible at 2:25 AM
- Image for when moon leaves in second week of Aug.
- August 3
- Lunar Feature (Mare Orientale) visible at 4:45 AM
- Carbon star RS Cyg best in evening
- August 5
- Last Quarter Moon at 22:21
***August 5 Falcon 9 Upper Stage lunar impact anyone?***
- August 9
- Mars 4° SW of crescent Moon before dawn.
- Star cluster NGC 6791 well placed this evening
- August 10
- Moon at perigee
- Wild Duck Cluster (M11) well placed this evening
- August 11
- Mercury 2° South of Moon, just before dawn.
- Globular clusters M22 and M28 well placed this evening
- August 12
- New Moon at 13:37 — Partial solar eclipse for US east coast.
- Perseid meteors (ZHR=100), late evening, but best seen after midnight
- August 16
- Venus 9° W of Moon
- August 19
- First Quarter Moon at 22:46
- Lunar feature Barrow Ray visible at 8:30 PM
- Carbon star S Sct best in evening
- August 23
- Lunar feature Jeweled Handle visible at 12:00 AM
- Carbon star V CrB best in evening
- August 26
- Crater Bailly visible at 10:00 PM
- 57 Aql (colorful double star) visible
- August 28th
- Full Moon: Occurs at 0:19.
- Partial (96%) Lunar Eclipse
- 9 Metis at Opposition: Visible at magnitude m = 9.3 The asteroid was discovered on April 25, 1848, by Irish astronomer Andrew Graham. It was his only asteroid discovery and holds historical significance as the only asteroid ever discovered from an observatory in Ireland (the Markree Observatory). Scientists believe 9 Metis has a cataclysmic history. It is highly dense and rich in metals, leading researchers to conclude that it is likely the core remnant of an ancient, much larger primordial asteroid. This parent body was completely destroyed and stripped of its outer crust by a colossal space collision billions of years ago.
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