Midmonth Check-In: August 2026 and the Ecliptic

                              

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    August has been quite warm. A little too warm for my taste, which discourages me from taking my gear out at night. The smoke has also been a deterrent, but I still spotted Venus in the early evening sky and followed the Moon through its phases. It's currently approaching the New Moon phase to set up a Total Solar Eclipse. During the New Moon phase, the Perseids will also peak, creating a spectacular show for those with cloud-free skies.

    I traveled to Fish Lake, Utah during the peak of the Perseids. I wasn't expecting much, since the forecast predicted rainstorms for the entire trip. Fortunately, it was only overcast for one of the three nights! I have not looked at all the pictures I took of the night sky during the two clear nights, but the few I have reviewed look great, and I'm excited to share them and my trip to Fish Lake in my next Midmonth Check-In post!

    The remaining days of August will still offer observers a chance to catch some Perseid meteors and the Moon moving against the background stars. On the 28th, Utahns will see a Partial Lunar Eclipse. Several of the planets may also be seen in the early morning sky before sunrise. 

The Ecliptic

      I often mention the ecliptic and how the planets and Sun seem to follow this imaginary line through our sky, but what is it and why do these celestial objects follow this path?

    Approximately 4.6 billion years ago, an event occurred, most likely a distant supernova, which agitated an otherwise peaceful cloud of dust in an otherwise lonely region of space. This agitation caused the cloud of dust to begin spinning and collapsing inward. As the cloud spun faster, it flattened out, much like a pizza maker throws dough in the air and spins it. Over time, the Sun and planets formed from this disk, all of which lie roughly on the same plane, like a pizza pan or dinner plate.

    Before the solar system became what we know today, with the planets in their current positions and the moons around them, several collisions or near-collisions occurred. These events caused some planets, like Earth, to tilt on their polar axis. For Earth, this axial tilt allows us to experience seasons. 

    The path the Sun takes through our daytime sky is known as the ecliptic. This path changes throughout the year because of Earth's axial tilt. Since the planets were formed from the same rotating disc of dust as the Sun, they closely follow the ecliptic as well. In fact, if an observer were standing on another planet in our solar system, they would also experience the Sun and planets following an imaginary line, an ecliptic, in their sky. Think of the swing ride, Turn of the Century, at Lagoon. Everyone on the ride sits on the same plane and follows the same arc as the speed increases. This is the same concept as the arc that the Sun and planets follow in the sky.       

    Show that you support dark skies, like me, by being one of the first Utahns to get a Dark Sky license plate! Visit Dark Sky Utah to apply for a new license plate for your vehicle. 

         

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: August 2026

                         Introduction

   July was hot! Utahns experienced record-setting temperatures and a few major rain and thunderstorm events. Southern and Central Utah experienced severe flooding, with some towns having to be evacuated. I was able to take out my new telescope a couple of times this month to enjoy the sights of the night sky. My main objective was to learn how to use my scope more proficiently. I need just one more clear evening, and I should be ready to tackle any situation! I am hoping for that opportunity during the last part of July. 

    August will be a great month for any type of observing! For the unaided eye and astrophotographers, August will offer a Total Solar Eclipse, visible in Europe, a partial Lunar Eclipse, visible across the US, and the Perseids peaking under a Moonless sky. All of the planets excluding Venus will be visible in the morning sky. Observers with binoculars or a telescope can enjoy the DSOs of the summer nights and can, of course, target the planets and Moon for better views.     

                      

Mercury

   Mercury will be visible in the morning twilight nearly the entire month of August. This tiny world will reach its greatest western elongation on the 2nd, meaning this will likely be the best morning to view the planet. On the 11th, the Earth's Moon will pass within 2° of Mercury but may be difficult to spot since it is the day before the New Moon phase and Total Solar Eclipse. The observers fortunate enough to witness this Total Solar Eclipse will be able to see Mercury during totality. The other planets will also be visible, with Jupiter being the nearest planet to Mercury. On the 15th, Mercury and Jupiter will be in conjunction with less than a degree separating the two. Unfortunately, this planetary conjunction will be difficult to spot as the pair rise less than an hour before the Sun. Any chance of seeing this conjunction will require a clear view of the eastern horizon before sunrise.   

  

Venus

   Venus will be the only planet visible in the western sky shortly after sunset during August. Although it's the only planet in the west, it makes up for it by shining so brightly. Venus will reach dichotomy, 50% lit, near the 11th and 12th this month, coinciding with the Perseids. Venus will glide through the background stars of Virgo during the entirety of August, passing less than 5° from Porrima on the 15th and less than 2° from Spica on the 31st. A thin Crescent Moon will be close to Venus on the 15th.

    

Mars

    

   Mars rises above the mountains with Taurus the Bull around 3:00 AM at the start of the month. Due to the Red Planet's easterly motion from our vantage point, it rises just 30 minutes earlier by the 31st of August in Gemini. Mars transitions to the second constellation during the morning of the 12th, the same day as the peak of the Perseids, a Total Solar Eclipse, and the New Moon phase. On the 9th, a thin Crescent Moon will pass close by Mars. Between the 14th and 15th, Mars will pass within 1° of M35, an open star cluster at the feet of Gemini. The Red Planet lies on the other side of the solar system from the Earth and is quite dim and small in a telescope. However, astrophotographers should take advantage of Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, and Mars showing off their red glow in the eastern sky before sunrise.

       

Jupiter

Saturn

   Jupiter will be lost from view during the first half of August. This giant world will return to view by the 15th as it rises about 30 minutes before the Sun. On this date, Mercury can be found next to Jupiter with less than 1° of separation. A day later, the pair will be nearly 2° apart, with this distance increasing as Mercury sinks closer to the Sun and Jupiter pulls further away. The Earth's own Moon will not be visible near Jupiter this month due to the pair being in close proximity to the Sun from our perspective.

  Saturn rises close to midnight at the start of August and about two hours earlier by the end of the month. The rings of Saturn are tilted so they are nearly edge-on for our Earthly observations, but views will improve as the Earth and Saturn orbit the Sun. This ring tilt should not discourage observers from viewing this planet! It will still offer great views and the chance to see a few of its moons. The Earth's Moon will pass close by Saturn on the 3rd and again on the 31st of August.

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

   Uranus rises around 2:00 AM with Taurus the Bull at the start of the month and about 90 minutes earlier by the end of the month. This distant world can be found nearly halfway between M45 (The Pleiades) and Aldebaran, the red eye of Taurus. Uranus can be seen by the unaided eye from a dark sky site, but a pair of binoculars or a telescope will really help differentiate it from the other stars. With optical aid, this world will appear blue-green in color and as a disk in the field of view instead of a pinpoint of light like a star. The Earth's Moon will pass within 5° of Uranus on the 7th of August.

   Neptune requires optical aid to observe with a light-pollution-free sky, improving the views tremendously. This distant ice giant will be sharing the sky with the stars of Pisces the Fish. The Moon will join Neptune on the 3rd and again on the 30th of August.

Perseids, Total Solar Eclipse, Partial Lunar Eclipse, and Tempel 2

   August treats observers this month with many different things for all interests. The highly anticipated Perseid Meteor Shower returns this month and will peak on the 12th under a Moon-free sky! This gives observers the chance to view up to 100 meteors per hour if they can escape all forms of light pollution. It is best to view the Perseids after midnight, which allows Perseus, the constellation where the Perseids get their name, to climb above the northeast horizon. 

    A Total Solar Eclipse will occur on the same day as the Perseids peak, creating a spectacular day for observers who are in the path of totality. Unfortunately for Utahns, this eclipse favors those in Europe, Iceland, and Greenland. For those able to travel to view this eclipse, I envy you!

    Near the end of August, on the 28th, Utahns as well as all of North America will experience a Partial Lunar Eclipse. The eclipse will already have started at 8:00 PM, when the Moon rises in Utah. The maximum eclipse does not occur until 10:12 PM, giving the Moon ample time to climb high in the sky. A Lunar Eclipse can be enjoyed using an optical aid, photography, or the unaided eye, which is often the preferred method of observation. The eclipse will end by 1:00 AM    

    Comet Tempel 2 can still be seen during the warm August nights. This comet is dimming as it moves away from the Earth and will require optical aid or a camera to see. The best chance comes in early August since Tempel 2 will be brighter, but it will be visible all month. It is visible all night as well, but observers should wait until after midnight to allow it to gain some altitude. Near the 7th of August, Comet Tempel 2 will be about as high in the sky as Saturn but further to the south (right), near but above the bright star Fomalhaut. By the 23rd, Fomalhaut and Tempel 2 will have about the same altitude around midnight. Since its location changes nightly, I recommend using a favorite astronomy app, like Stellarium or SkySafari, to find Tempel 2 in the sky. 

    I have planned a quick weekend trip to a dark sky site and am bringing along my telescope and camera. I hope to capture the Perseid meteors, Tempel 2, and many other wonders of the night sky! I am hopeful for cloud- and smoke-free skies!

      

Monthly Breakdown

August 02: Mercury reaches greatest western elongation
August 03: Moon passes within 5° of Neptune
August 03: Moon passes within 7° of Saturn
August 05: Last Quarter Moon🌗 
August 07: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus
August 09: Moon passes within 4° of Mars
August 11: Moon passes within 2° of Mercury
August 12: New Moon 🌑

August 12: Perseid Meteor Shower peaks

August 15: Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation

August 15: Mercury and Jupiter planetary conjunction

August 16: Moon passes within 2° of Venus 

August 19: First Quarter Moon 🌓 
August 27: Mercury reaches superior conjunction
August 28: Full Moon 🌕 

August 30: Moon passes within 5° of Neptune

August 31: Moon passes within 7° of Saturn 

 

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

                

   

Midmonth Check-In: July 2026 and 250 Years of American Astronomy

                             

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    July has been hot, with nearly every day under a heat advisory over much of, if not all of, Utah. From the end of June until the second week of July, I have attempted to take at least one of my telescopes out for a night under the stars. It seemed like every weekend the clouds would roll in, but on the 11th, I was finally able to take out my new telescope. I have only used it on one other occasion with decent results, even though I had a limited selection of eyepieces. On the 11th, I had my full arsenal, but I only used two different eyepieces, which were not included with my scope. After a brief setup and quick two-star alignment, I was able to view a few objects. Most notable were Venus, the double star Alberio, and the great globular cluster in Hercules, M13. The views were pretty good, but, of course, could have been better if I had been at a dark-sky location and the seeing had been better. Overall, I was very pleased and am very excited to take it out again soon. 

    During the remainder of the month, observers still have the chance to follow the Moon as it changes phase in our sky and enjoy the Southern Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower. Aside from this, the Milky Way core will be visible until fall, along with many DSOs in the summer night sky.   

250 Years of American Astronomy

      When the United States of America became its own country in 1776, only six planets were known to exist: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Astronomy was used for basic navigation, land surveying, and as a timekeeper for the year during this era. Other galaxies, black holes, exoplanets, and star formation, among other things, were also not yet known at this time.

    The United States oldest operational research-focused observatory, the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, was founded in 1890. Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, is the first observatory founded with the primary intention of pure astronomical research. Of course, this observatory is famous for the discovery of Pluto in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. 

    Seven years before the discovery of Pluto, Edwin Hubble discovered that the Andromeda Nebula was really a separate galaxy from the Milky Way. This was accomplished by using the 100-inch Hooker Telescope and 200-inch Hale Telescope at the Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories. This also helped define the expanding universe.   

    Edwin Hubble's and other astronomers' discoveries around this time helped push for the need for a space-based observatory. It wasn't until 1990 that the Hubble Space Telescope was launched, enabling many more discoveries about the universe. This paved the way for larger ground-based observatories, such as those in Chile and China, and for other space-based observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope. 

    The birth of our great nation may feel like a long time ago, especially for the younger generations. Remember, kids, in 1776, there were no cars, telephones, the internet, or cellphones. But 250 years is just a quick blink of an eye compared to the age of the universe and even our tiny planet. The bright star Spica, which can be found by following the curve of the Big Dipper's handle, lies about 250 light-years from Earth. The light we are seeing from Spica today is the light that left this star in 1776, while the Declaration of Independence was being signed. 

    The world has changed quite a bit in the last 250 years. Imagine what the next 250 years will bring!

    Show that you support dark skies, like me, by being one of the first Utahns to get a Dark Sky license plate! Visit Dark Sky Utah to apply for a new license plate for your vehicle. 

         

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: July 2026

                        Introduction

   June turned out to be another great month for astronomy, especially during the week, but not so much on the weekends. Of course, the cloudy skies interfered with my stargazing plans multiple times, which I've just learned to expect. Aside from that, I still enjoyed looking at the night and daytime sky. On the 17th, the day the Moon occulted Venus, I could clearly and easily see Venus during the daytime. I would have loved to use my smart telescope to capture the event, but alas, I was stuck at work during the occultation. I did, however, have many coworkers look up to see this amazing event. It's the first and only time I have seen Venus during the daytime, except during a total solar eclipse. Aside from this remarkable event, I did enjoy watching the Venus-Jupiter conjunction and the summer constellations. 

    July should offer clear skies and many more chances to stargaze and use my gear to enjoy the night sky. Observers will have the chance to see a planetary conjunction, a meteor shower, many DSOs, and stellar views of the Milky Way's core. If given the chance, observers should head to a dark sky site around the New Moon phase to gaze up at the wonders of our universe.       

                      

Mercury

   Mercury is sinking closer to the Sun and dips below the western horizon shortly after its host star at the beginning of July. This tiny world will become lost from view before mid-month as it reaches inferior conjunction with the Sun on the 12th. By the 17th, observers should be able to spot Mercury rising shortly before sunrise in the morning sky. The best time to view Mercury will come during the final days of July as it climbs higher in the sky, rising earlier than the Sun, as it approaches its greatest western elongation during the early part of August. A clear view of the eastern horizon will greatly improve the chances of spotting Mercury.     

  

Venus

   Venus was easy to spot during June and will remain so throughout July. An observer will just have to look west after sunset to spot brilliant Venus high above the horizon. This bright world will be fun to watch throughout July. Since it's easy to locate every night, observers should watch as it moves closer to the bright star, Regulus in Leo. The pair will be closest on the 9th with only 1° of separation. On the 16th, a thin Crescent Moon will join the pair, being close to Regulus on this date and closer to Venus the following evening. Our sister planet will transition from Leo the Lion into Virgo during July. Venus has been a great early-evening target throughout the year and will remain so for another month or so.

    

Mars

    

   Mars crossed into Taurus during June and will continue to be in this region of the sky throughout July. During the opening of the month, Mars can be found relatively close to the Pleiades, creating quite a photo opportunity. The pair won't be this close again until 2034. On the 4th, Mars and Uranus will be just one tenth of a degree apart. A telescope will offer great views of this pair of planets. A week later, on the 11th, the Moon will pass close by this pair. Mars will continue its march across Taurus and can be found just 5° from Aldebaran, the Red Eye of the Bull, on the 14th. By the end of July, observers may also see Betelgeuse, the shoulder of Orion, rising to join Mars and Aldebaran in the morning sky.

       

Jupiter

Saturn

   Jupiter is sinking below the western horizon earlier each day as it moves closer to the Sun from our perspective. Observers should check out Jupiter before it's lost from view near the middle of July. Jupiter reaches solar conjunction on the 29th but will return to the morning sky around mid-August. 

  As July begins, Saturn will rise around 2:00 AM. By the end of July, the Ringed World will rise about two hours earlier. The Moon can be found passing close by on the 7th. Saturn is comfortable with the stars of Pisces and can be found floating among them during the entire month. A small telescope will reveal Saturn's ring structure and large moons, while a larger telescope will do the same and offer more detail due to its greater light-gathering power.

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

   Uranus can be found among the stars of Taurus during July. Uranus and Mars will experience a planetary conjunction on the 4th, with the pair less than a tenth of a degree apart. These two planets can be found directly below the Pleiades on this date. As July continues, Mars moves further away from Uranus and the Pleiades while Uranus appears to stay in place. Uranus does travel against the background stars, but at a much slower rate than Mars, due to its vast distance from the Sun. Near the 24th of July, Uranus can be found forming a line with the Pleaides and Aldebaran, with Uranus nearly in the center of the two. The Moon will pass close by on the 11th. Uranus can be seen by the unaided eye if an observer knows where to look, but this planet will appear as just another star due to its great distance from us. A telescope or a pair of binoculars will reveal its blue-green disk.

   Neptune is the most difficult planet to find due to its great distance and the need for optical aid. As in the previous months, Neptune can be found residing among the stars of Pisces, just like Saturn. Perhaps the best time to find Neptune will come around the 6th and 7th of July, when the Earth's Moon can be found nearby. Observers may also use the fact that all of the planets appear to follow the same line in the sky, known as the ecliptic, to locate this distant world. After an observer locates Saturn, they can follow the ecliptic towards the west about 5° to find Neptune.

Southern Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower

   A major meteor shower will finally return during July. The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower will peak on the 30th with an hourly rate of up to 20 meteors per hour on a Moon-free night at a dark sky location. Unfortunately, this year, there will be a Full Moon in the sky, obscuring all but the brightest meteors. However, observers should still try to watch this shower during the week before or after the peak date. The highly anticipated Perseid Meteor Shower, which peaks in August, will begin to produce meteors in the sky.   

    Comet Tempel 2 remains a great target for binoculars, telescopes, and astrophotographers in July.  It can be found in the predawn sky above the southwest horizon and is expected to brighten throughout the month. Unfortunately, it is not expected to reach unaided eye visibility. Since its location changes nightly, I recommend using a favorite astronomy app, like Stellarium or SkySafari, to find Tempel 2 in the sky. 

      

Monthly Breakdown

July 04: Mars and Uranus conjunction

July 06: Moon passes within 5° of Neptune

July 07: Moon passes within 7° of Saturn

July 07: Last Quarter Moon🌗 
July 09: Venus and Regulus conjunction

July 11: Moon passes within 5° of Uranus

July 11: Moon passes within 5° of Mars

July 12: Mercury reaches inferior conjunction

July 14: Mars and Aldebaran within 5°  

July 14: New Moon 🌑

July 17: Moon passes within 2° of Venus

July 21: First Quarter Moon 🌓 

July 29: Jupiter reaches solar conjunction 

July 29: Full Moon 🌕 

July 30: Southern Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower peaks 

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

                

   

Midmonth Check-In: June 2026 and Dark Sky Locations

                            

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    June has been a stellar month for stargazers so far. The weather has been pleasant, although a little on the hot side for my personal preference, and relatively clear most nights. I was able to see the Venus-Jupiter conjunction and the Moon go through its phases with my unaided eye, and I have plans for an outing with my gear as long as the weather cooperates.

    Venus and Jupiter will remain close over the next week or so for observers to enjoy. There is also the occultation of Venus by the Moon coming up on the 17th to still look forward to. Of course, there are still the warm, and hopefully clear nights for every type of stargazer to enjoy through the end of the month and most likely into the summer.  

Dark Sky Locations

    I often talk about the importance of traveling to a dark sky location to view the faint fuzzies through a telescope, image the Milky Way Band and other regions of the night sky, or just to see the countless stars in the heavens above that cannot be seen from light-polluted skies. I haven't disclosed the exact location of my favorite areas because I don't want them to become too overcrowded. Since buying a house and having a space to set up my gear, I haven't traveled to one of these dark sky sites for quite some time. I also felt it was more important to share these locations, since they are relatively close and easy to get to for those wanting to travel to a dark sky area to see the Milky Way Band and countless stars. Unfortunately, I have lost many of my astrophotography images, but I will share examples of the areas mentioned below if I have an image. 

    I have taken my gear to several locations around the Salt Lake Valley, but have really enjoyed a few areas in the West Desert region. The first place I found, and still one of my favorites, is what I have nicknamed Area 62. This area has become slightly more crowded than it was approximately 15 years ago. To get to Area 62, I would travel west on I-80 to Exit 62 (hence the nickname), then head north on this road for about 5 miles. At this point, there was a turn off onto a dirt road where I would set up my gear for a night of stargazing and astrophotography. Below is an image of my setup from 2016 at Area 62.

Telescope and camera setup at Area 62.

    Another of my favorite places I have traveled to several times is Iosepa, Utah, a ghost town located about 15 miles from Salt Lake City. I take I-80 west to Exit 77, then head south toward Dugway. There is a turnoff that will take the driver east along a gravel road until they reach Iosepa. This location has working bathrooms that were sometimes locked but were nice to use if needed. Being closer to Salt Lake, Iosepa's skies aren't quite as dark as Area 62, and there is also a bit of skyglow being produced by Dugway. The ground has a slight slope, making it difficult to level my gear at times, especially when setting up in the dark. Below is an image taken from Iosepa in 2021.

Orion from Iosepa.

    Using the same exit and directions as Iosepa, I have also visited an area called Lone Rock. I have heard that this is a popular area for campers, but on the night I traveled there, I was the only person. The sky would have about the same brightness from Salt Lake City as Iosepa. Unfortunately, on the evening I traveled to Lone Rock, there was quite a bit of smoke from California wildfires that settled in, and I was unable to see the stars. 

    While traveling farther into the West Desert, I visited a location called Knolls Recreation Area. This is a popular location for dirt bikes, rock crawlers, and other off-road vehicles. I have only visited this location once, but it was where I took some of my best astrophotography images. Since this place is quite popular, unfortunately, there are a lot of campfires and noise.

    Antelope Island has also been a great location. There is quite a bit more light pollution due to Layton and other nearby cities, but the Milky Way Band can still be seen. Antelope Island is a favorite location for the Ogden Astronomical Society to conduct public star parties. I encourage observers, or individuals looking to get a telescope, to attend a star party and use the provided telescopes to find what works for their needs. I have never met an astronomer who doesn't enjoy talking about their gear and demonstrating how to use it.

    Several years ago, I took an astrophotography class that lasted only a few weeks and consisted of just four classes. The first two and the last class were in a classroom setting, while the third was at a dark-sky location to practice the techniques we had learned. The class voted to go to East Canyon State Park, a short distance from Morgan, Utah. The class was given special permission to be at this location because it is a campground where guests must pay. Unfortunately, or perhaps it was fortunate, there was a thunderstorm the night of the class, so the stars were blocked from view for several hours. However, several students captured images of the lighting over the reservoir.

    Just east of Salt Lake City, Jordanelle State Park is also a great location. There is some light pollution here, but the Milky Way Band is clearly visible. The Salt Lake Astronomical Society occasionally hosts star parties here, but a fee may be required to attend. I have traveled to this location to camp with family members and was able to get a few good astrophotography images, but enjoyed looking up at the stars more.

    There are several other places in the Salt Lake Valley to see dark skies, and many more if one is willing to drive farther. I like to research locations, while others like to get in the car and just drive and see where they end up. I prefer to bring my astrophotography camera and chair on my first visit to a new location, just in case it doesn't work out. I recommend that, no matter the destination, you wear pants, closed-toe shoes, and bring a jacket or hoodie, bug spray, a flashlight, and a chair at a minimum.          

    Show that you support dark skies, like me, by being one of the first Utahns to get a Dark Sky license plate! Visit Dark Sky Utah to apply for a new license plate for your vehicle. 

         

    

Now get outside and look up!