Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2026-W34

Week begins: Monday, August 17, 2026

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Aug 17, 2026♌ 27
M26 — Telescope 8 — Tropical Summer
β Sct — Binoculars 4 — Tropical Summer
Tue, Aug 18, 2026♌ 28
Sheliak (β Lyr) — Binoculars 4 — Northern Summer — in the Milky Way
M11 — Telescope 6 — Tropical Summer
Wed, Aug 19, 2026♌ 29
Finest NGC 94 / NGC 6712 — Telescope 8 — Tropical Summer
M57 — Telescope 9 — Northern Summer
Thu, Aug 20, 2026♌ 30
🌓 First Quarter — 02:46:21 UTC
M54 — Telescope 8 — Southern Summer
Nunki (σ Sgr) — Naked eye 2 — Southern Summer
Fri, Aug 21, 2026♌ 31
C68 / NGC 6729 · R Coronae Australis Nebula — Telescope 10 — Southern Summer
Sat, Aug 22, 2026♌ 32
Sun, Aug 23, 2026♍ 1
♍ Sun enters Virgo — 02:18:48 UTC
Meridiana (α CrA) — Binoculars 4 — Southern Summer
C101 / NGC 6744 — Telescope 9 — Southern Summer

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins August 17, 2026, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♌︎ 24°08′
β −0°00′		♎︎ 18°27′
β −3°58′		♌︎ 13°05′
β +1°15′		♎︎ 10°00′
β −1°36′		♋︎ 3°43′
β +0°19′		♌︎ 10°29′
β +0°30′		♈︎ 14°22′
β −2°36′
ObservingNightNaked eye -8.4☉︎Naked eye -4.4Naked eye 1.3☉︎Naked eye 0.6
Rise04:5909:5703:5809:0600:4203:4620:56
Set19:0120:3618:3820:3116:1818:2709:27

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♋︎ 1°36′
β −0°59′		♊︎ 5°26′
β −0°09′		♈︎ 4°00′
β −1°24′		♒︎ 3°49′
β −4°18′
ObservingTelescope 9.0Binoculars 5.7Telescope 7.7TelescopeTelescope 14.5
Rise00:4022:5420:2718:23
Set16:0214:0208:3503:03

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-22 04:11:49 UTC

View:

ISO 2026-W34 runs from August 17 through August 23. Mars and Ceres are separated by about 2.1° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mercury and Jupiter are separated by about 2.6° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Naked eye: 🌓 First Quarter — 02:46:21 UTC. Moderate moonlight makes timing and local sky position important for faint targets. Use Nunki as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Nunki — the Teapot’s hidden pair — The bright guide on Sagittarius’s Teapot handle is two hot stars in a close orbit, with a name inherited through a historical mix-up.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -8.4; direct motion; 21.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -1.4; direct motion; 88.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.4; direct motion; 47.8% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude 1.3; direct motion; 92.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 9.0; direct motion; 97.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: In solar glare; magnitude -1.8; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.6; retrograde motion; 99.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.7; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.5; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Binoculars: Trace Scutum’s diamond-shaped figure in the finder, then identify β Sct at its charted position. Trace Lyra’s closed figure in the finder, then identify Sheliak at its charted position. Trace Corona Australis’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Alfecca Meridiana at its charted position.

Beta Scuti: A Bright Star in the Scutum Constellation — An overview of Beta Scuti, its position, and significance among the celestial figures.

Sheliak: The Lyr Star in Focus — An overview of the notable binary star system in Lyra, its characteristics, and its significance in astronomy.

Alfecca Meridiana: The Southern Star of Corona Australis — A detailed look at a prominent star in the constellation Corona Australis, revealing its significance and characteristics.

Small telescope: M26: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Wild Duck Cluster: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 6712: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Ring Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M54: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; R Coronae Australis Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 6744: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

M26: The Open Cluster in Sagittarius — An inviting stellar assembly offering a glimpse into the dynamic fabric of our galaxy.

The Wild Duck Cluster: A Sparkling Gem in Scutum — An enduring favorite among stargazers, this open cluster reveals a vibrant congregation of stars nestled in the constellation Scutum.

A Deep Dive into the Globular Cluster in Scutum — An exploration of a celestial gem nestled within the constellation of Scutum, highlighting its significance and characteristics.

The Ring Nebula: A Timeless Jewel in the Constellation Lyra — An enduring subject for astronomers, the Ring Nebula offers insight into stellar evolution and the beauty of the cosmos.

M54: A Glimpse into the Heart of the Sagittarius Cluster — An exploration of the intriguing globular cluster M54, its characteristics, and significance within the constellation Sagittarius.

R Coronae Australis Nebula: A Custodian of Cosmic Birthoffs — An inviting glimpse into a vibrant stellar nursery nestled in the constellation Corona Australis.

Unveiling the Mysteries of a Galactic Candidate in Pav Constellaion — Exploring the characteristics and significance of a notable barred spiral galaxy in the Pav constellation.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 03:58; sets 18:38 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.4. The disk is 88.8% illuminated (gibbous). It is 11.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.949° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Acubens, 6.4° away. Jupiter is 2.7° away at the snapshot. Mercury: 6.4° from Acubens in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 5.8° below the horizon. Rises 09:06; sets 20:31 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.4. The disk is 47.8% illuminated (crescent). It is 45.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.946° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 12.7° away. Venus: 12.7° from Zavijava in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 4.7° below the horizon. Rises 09:57; sets 20:36 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -8.4. The disk is 21.0% illuminated (waxing crescent). It is 54.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 12.889° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Spica, 6.1° away. Moon: 6.1° from Spica in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 21.0° below the horizon. Rises 00:42; sets 16:18 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.3. The disk is 92.7% illuminated (gibbous). It is 50.4° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.655° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alhena, 9.1° away. Ceres is 2.5° away at the snapshot. Mars: 9.1° from Alhena in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 03:46; sets 18:27 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.8. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 13.7° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.218° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Acubens, 6.6° away. Mercury is 2.7° away at the snapshot. Jupiter: 6.6° from Acubens in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 0.2° above the horizon. Rises 20:56; sets 09:27 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.6. The disk is 99.8% illuminated (nearly full). It is 129.7° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.035° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 16.6° away. Saturn: 16.6° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 15.5° below the horizon. Rises 22:54; sets 14:02 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.7. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 78.7° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.021° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 7.1° away. Uranus: 7.1° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 5.2° above the horizon. Rises 20:27; sets 08:35 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 140.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.020° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 18.3° away. Neptune: 18.3° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 22.0° below the horizon. Rises 00:40; sets 16:02 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 9.0. The disk is 97.7% illuminated (gibbous). It is 52.5° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.363° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alhena, 9.7° away. Mars is 2.5° away at the snapshot. Ceres: 9.7° from Alhena in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 17.5° above the horizon. Rises 18:23; sets 03:03 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 159.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.022° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.9° away. Pluto: 8.9° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.