Moon Watch The Moon is full Thursday, Aug. 18. A full moon is located on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun. Some Native American tribes called this the Full Sturgeon Moon. Large sturgeon fish in the Great Lakes and other large lakes were more easily caught this time of year.
Look toward the west starting at 7:15 p.m. in the twilight on Thursday, Aug. 18 to catch Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter low on the horizon. They form a triangle with Venus more toward the north.
Mercury is at the right angle of the triangle, and Jupiter is at the apex of the triangle farthest from the horizon. Watch them after sunset for the next 10 days. Jupiter and Venus are growing closer and will form a spectacular conjunction (close grouping) on Saturday, Aug. 27 when they will come as close as 0.06 degree.
There are more bright planets to view. Wait until it gets darker and look south at 8:30 p.m. to see Scorpius the Scorpion at its finest. Red Mars sits just two degrees above red Antares at the heart of the Scorpion, and Saturn sits another 4 degrees above Antares and Mars. The moon rises at 7:24 p.m., unfortunately dimming the best part of the Milky Way which runs through Sagittarius the Archer to the east of Scorpius.
While you are having fun with all these heavenly objects, there is always the chance you will catch one or more Perseids meteors as the meteor shower winds down its activity for this year.
