Sydney Observatory night sky map

A map for each month of the year, to help you learn about the night sky

August 2012
www.sydneyobservatory.com

This star chart shows the stars and constellations visible in the night sky for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth for August 2012 at about 7:30 pm (local standard time). For Darwin and similar locations the chart will still apply, but some stars will be lost off the southern edge while extra stars will be visible to the north. Stars down to a brightness or magnitude limit of 4.5 are shown. To use this chart, rotate it so that the direction you are facing (north, south, east or west) is shown at the bottom. The centre of the chart represents the point directly above your head, called the zenith, and the outer circular edge represents the horizon.

Star brightness
Zero or brighter 1st magnitude 2nd 3rd 4th
Deneb CYGNUS

LYRA CORONA BOREALIS

HERCULES VULPECULA

BOOTES

SAGITTA SERPENS Altair

Arcturus

COMA BERENICES

DELPHINUS

Barnards star
EQUULEUS AQUILA SCUTUM SERPENS OPHIUCHUS

Saturn Zubeneschamali LIBRA LIBRA

Antares

Centre of the Galaxy M22

Antares
M4

Zubenelgenubi Zubenelgenubi

P P

CAPRICORNUS

SAGITTARIUS

M6 M7 SCORPIUS

NGC 6231
LUPUS NORMA

CRATER

AQUARIUS MICROSCOPIUM

CORONA AUSTRALIS ARA

Centaurus A Omega Centauri CENTAURUS CENTAURUS

Hadar

TELESCOPIUM PISCIS AUSTRINUS INDUS GRUS PAVO

POINTERS Venus CIRCINUS 1 August Alpha Centauri

Mimosa
Mimosa

Jewel Box TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE Alpha Centauri Coalsack APUS

MUSCA

CRUX CRUX

SOUTHERN CROSS

HYDRA

ANTLIA

OCTANS OCTANS

South Celestial Pole

47 Tucanae
TUCANA CHAMAELEON VELA

SMC
MENSA HYDRUS CARINA VOLANS PYXIS

Chart key

SCULPTOR PHOENIX Achernar

Bright star Faint star Ecliptic Milky Way P Planet LMC or Large Magellanic Cloud SMC or Small Magellanic Cloud

LMC
DORADO RETICULUM Canopus PUPPIS

SW

HOROLOGIUM

South

High in the sky are the constellations Scorpius (the Scorpion) and Crux (the Southern Cross). The Southern Cross is easily located using the two nearby Pointer stars. Near the end of the Scorpions tail is the unofficial constellation of the Teapot in Sagittarius. Saturn and Mars are near the star Spica in the constellation of Virgo. From 13 to 17 August, Mars is within three degrees of Saturn. On 22nd, Mars is next to the crescent Moon. The best time to view the Moon with a small telescope or binoculars is a few days either side of the first quarter Moon on the 24th. Sydney Observatory, with a magnificent view overlooking Sydney Harbour, is open 10am to 5pm daily except closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and open 10am to noon on New Years Eve. Open Monday to Saturday for night sessions (times vary depending on the season) for sky viewing through one of our telescopes (cosy planetarium session if cloudy), and 3D movies about the Universe. Bookings are essential for night programs. For more information, check the website at www.sydneyobservatory.com or call (02) 9921 3485. Sydney Observatory is at Watson Road, Observatory Hill, in the historic Rocks area of Sydney.
Sydney Observatory is part of the Powerhouse Museum. The Sydney Observatory night sky map is prepared by Dr M Anderson using the software TheSky. 2012 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney.

West

Teapot SAGITTARIUS

Centre of the Galaxy SCORPIUS

VIRGO Mars Spica First quarter Moon on 24th CORVUS

NW

Vega

North
CANES VENATICI

Moon phase
Full moon: 02nd Last quarter: 10th New moon: 18th First quarter: 24th Full moon: 31st

NE

East
SE