Saturday SkyWatch
Saturday 9thAugust 2025
🌌 Saturday SkyWatch! 🌌
🌅 Sunset & Observatory Hours
🌅 Sunset & Observatory Hours
- Sunset: 5:35 PM
- Nautical Sunset: 6:32 PM
- Astronomical Sunset: 7:02 PM
This Saturday we will be open from sunset till 9:30pm.
☁️ Weather & Viewing Conditions
B.O.M. Forecast for The Rock: http://www.bom.gov.au/places/nsw/the-rock/
To learn how to read the Clear Outside forecast page, follow this link: https://clearoutside.com/page/how_to_use/
🌙 Moon Phase
Tonight’s Moon is a Full Moon (100%) and will rise at 5:25 PM. This means the Moon will be rising around the same time as the sun is setting, so you may see what is called a ‘sunset moon’ where the Moon appears orange as it rises.
🌟 Feature Objects: Northern Jewel Box or Baby Scorpion Cluster (NGC 6231)
A cluster that sits in the Sagittarius arm of the Milky way and the tail of the constellation Scorpius, it contains one of the most radiant stars in the galaxy, as well as three Wolf-Rayet stars (stars that have broad emission lines of helium and nitrogen or carbon as they have lost all their hydrogen). The stars that make up this constellation are anywhere from about 5200 ly to 6000 ly away (give or take a few hundred light-years).
ℹ️ Other Information
There is a meteor shower (eta Eridanids) that peaked on the 7th August so keep an eye out for meteors during the night. The Perseids also peak on the 12th and while the radiant is not visible from our location there is still a small chance to see meteors.
Bring warm clothes, a beanie, and some gloves if you don’t like the cold. The view will be well worth venturing out!
Feel free to bring a picnic blanket and some snacks and non-alcoholic refreshments.
🔭 In the Sky Tonight
Note that just because these objects are in the sky at the moment, you may not always see them. Visibility is dependent on weather, moon brightness, atmospheric conditions, and equipment parameters. Check the weather and viewing conditions above, and if in doubt ask a friendly volunteer if you’re able to see an object in the night sky!
Prominent Constellations
Sagittarius (The Archer), Scorpius (The Scorpion), Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer), Aquila (The Eagle), Libra (The Scales), Centaurus (The Centaur), Crux (The Southern Cross), Lupus (The Wolf), Corona Australis (The Southern Crown), Ara (The Altar), Capricornus (The Seat Goat – Rising), Aquarius (The Water Bearer – Rising), Cygnus (The Swan/Northern Cross – Rising), Vulpecula (The Fox – Rising), Delphinus (The Dolphin – Rising), Virgo (The Virgin – Setting), Bootes (The Herdsman – Setting), Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown – Setting), Pavo (The Peacock), Telescopium (The Telescope), Indus (The Indian), Microscopium (The Microscope).
Bright Stars
Kaus Australis, Antares, Rasalhague, Altair, Zubeneschamali, Alpha Centauri, Acrux, Men, Alphecca Meridiana, Choo, Deneb Algedi, Sadalsuud, Deneb, Anser, Rotanev, Spica, Arcturus, Alphecca, Peacock, Alpha Telescopii, The Persian, Gamma Microsccopii.
Star Clusters
M22 (NGC 6656) Globular Cluster, M25 Open Cluster, M23 (NGC 6494) Open Cluster, M21 (NGC 6531) Open Cluster, M18 (NGC 6613) Open Cluster, M54 (NGC 6637) Globular Cluster, M69 (NGC 6637) Globular Cluster, M70 (NGC 6681) Globular Cluster, M6 (NGC 6405) Butterfly Cluster, M7 (NGC 6475) Ptolemy Cluster, NGC 6231 Northern Jewel Box, NGC 6124 Open Cluster, NGC 6383 Open Cluster, M11 (NGC 6705) Wild Duck Cluster, M10 (NGC 6254) Loose Globular Cluster, M12 (NGC 6218) Loose Globular Cluster, M62 (NGC 6266) Irregular Globular Cluster, NGC 4755 Jewel Box Cluster, NGC 5139 Omega Centauri
Galaxies
Barnard’s Galaxy: NGC 6822, NGC 6744: Barred Spiral in Pavo, NGC 7213: Lenticular in Grus, NGC 7314: Face-On Spiral in Piscis Austrinus, NGC 7424: Barred Spiral in Grus, NGC 7552: Barred Spiral Starburst in Grus, NGC 6907: Barred Spiral in Capricornus, NGC 6753: Lenticular in pavo, Centaurus A: NGC 5128
Nebula
Lagoon Nebula: M8 (NGC 6523), Trifid Nebula: M20 (NGC 6514), Swan/Omega Nebula: M17 (NGC 66618), Eagle Nebula: M16 (NGC 6611), War and Peace Nebula: NGC 6357, Cat’s Paw Nebula: NGC 6334, Prawn Nebula: IC 4628, Bug Nebula: NGC 6302, Saturn Nebula: NGC 7009, Glowing Eye Nebula: NGC 6751, Ghost of Jupiter: NGC 3242, Eight-Burst Nebula: NGC 3132, Running Chicken Nebula: IC 2944, Eta Carinae Nebula: NGC 3372, Coalsack Nebula in Crux
Planets
Mars after sunset, Saturn rising at approximately 9:30pm early August and 7:30pm late August
🪐 Upcoming Astronomical Events for this week
📅 9th August: 100% Full Moon
📅 12th August: Perseids Meteor Shower Peak (Radiant not Visible from Southern Hemisphere), Moon is close to Saturn at 10:30pm.
📅 13th August: Moon is in conjunction with Saturn (1:05am), Mon is in Conjunction with Neptune (1:33am).
📅 16th August: Kappa Cygnids Meteor Shower Peak (Radiant not visible from Southern Hemisphere).
As always, don’t forget to look up wherever you are!
– The TRRO Team