2018 Week 34: (August 19-August 25)

The sky has been filled with smoke for several weeks now and it is certainly hindering our ability to see the stars!  There is not anything too exciting happening this upcoming week anyway.  The table below highlights the one event occurring in our sky.

Date	Event
August 21	Saturn 2°S of Moon

Saturn will be a mere 2° from the Moon late Monday evening to early Tuesday morning.  They will both be able to fit into the same binocular field and will make quite a sight if the sky is clear.  It may be fun to use a wide field telescope to see our Moon next to some of Saturn's Moons (if the Moon's light pollution doesn't swallow them).

If you are interested in watching some rocket launches there are a couple events happening this week.

Date	Event
August 21	Vega - Aeolus (15:20)
August 25	Falcon 9 - Telestar 18 VANTAGE (21:33)

A Vega rocket will be launching a wind profiling satellite for the European Space Agency on the 21st of August.  This will increase the accuracy of forecasting and provide additional information on climactic changes.  A link to an outline of this mission is provided below.

https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Aeolus/Introducing_Aeolus

Later in the week a Falcon 9 rocket will be taking a communications satellite up to space that will provide services throughout East Asia and the Pacific.

These launches can be watched live at the link below.

https://spaceflightnow.com/

If the smoke is clear this week be sure to check out the major planets that are continuing their sojourn across the southern sky.  A map is provided below to help you find some of our familiar friends.  The sky below is the evening of August 19 at 10:30pm.

Saturn is my favourite to look at with its beautiful rings.  Check out a public event for an astronomer to show you its beauty!

Saturn

Jupiter is setting early in the evening while Saturn and Mars still make tempting targets for those who like to stay up until midnight!  Let's hope for clear skies in the near future!