Night sky from Pittsburgh, PA 10 pm EST mid-August

Perseids

Buhl Planetarium & Observatory

AUGUST STAR CHART2020

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Star Chart FAQ

How do I use the star chart?Hold it out in front of you with the direction you’re facing at the bottom of the chart. It works even better if you hold it above your head and look up at it.

Why are east and west switched?They are only switched because you’re used to looking at maps of the ground. Hold it above your head, and you’ll see the directions line up just right.

Why isn’t the Moon on the star chart?The star chart covers a whole month. During this time, the Moon travels all the way around the Earth, doing a full lap around the sky.

Try to see how far the Moon moves compared to the background stars from day to day.

What’s happening in August?

With the arrival of August comes an annual favorite: the Perseid meteor shower! Every year, the Earth crosses paths with debris left behind from a comet from long ago. As the Earth moves along, those tiny pieces of rock will collide with our atmosphere, burning up in a dazzling light show!

The Perseid meteor shower spans a good amount of time in August but will be the most active as it peaks August 11–13, with upwards of 60 meteors per minute. For the best viewing, head away from city lights, give yourself the widest view of the sky as possible (keep your binoculars and telescopes tucked away for this one), and wait.

The meteor shower tends to be most active after midnight, so make a night of it and see how many Perseids you can catch!

Space Fact of the Month

Saturn is the only planet in our solar system that is less dense than water. It could float in a bathtub if anybody could build a bathtub big enough.

Buhl Planetarium & Observatory

AUGUST STAR CHART2020

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