Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2027-W31

Week begins: Monday, August 2, 2027

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Aug 2, 2027♌ 11
🌑 New Moon — 10:05:14 UTC
Finest NGC 102 / NGC 6445 · He 2-290 — Telescope 13 — Tropical Summer
Finest NGC 88 / NGC 6503 · MCG 12-17-9 — Telescope 11 — Arctic Summer
Tue, Aug 3, 2027♌ 12
Wed, Aug 4, 2027♌ 13
M7 — Telescope 3 — Southern Summer
Eltanin (γ Dra) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Summer
M23 — Telescope 7 — Tropical Summer
Thu, Aug 5, 2027♌ 14
Barnard's Star — Telescope — Tropical Summer
Finest NGC 89 / NGC 6543 · Cat's Eye Nebula / C6 / NGC 6543 · Cat's Eye Nebula — Telescope 8 — Arctic Summer
Fri, Aug 6, 2027♌ 15
M20 — Telescope 9 — Tropical Summer
Finest NGC 103 / NGC 6520 · Collinder 361 — Telescope 8 — Southern Summer
M8 — Telescope 6 — Southern Summer
M21 — Telescope 7 — Tropical Summer
Sat, Aug 7, 2027♌ 16
Lughnasadh · Summer–Autumn midpoint — 17:26:46 UTC
C78 / NGC 6541 — Telescope 7 — Southern Summer
Sun, Aug 8, 2027♌ 17
Finest NGC 92 / NGC 6572 · Blue Racquetball — Telescope 8 — Tropical Summer

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins August 2, 2027, 00:00 UTC.

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

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♌︎ 9°31′
β −0°00′		♌︎ 3°32′
β +0°44′		♋︎ 29°05′
β +0°58′		♌︎ 6°45′
β +1°01′		♎︎ 10°26′
β +0°08′		♍︎ 1°24′
β +0°54′		♈︎ 27°50′
β −2°33′
ObservingNight☉︎☉︎☉︎Naked eye 1.3Naked eye -1.7Naked eye 0.5
Rise04:3904:0603:4204:2210:0306:3522:23
Set19:2119:0618:5419:1721:3920:2011:36

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♍︎ 0°23′
β +7°37′		♊︎ 9°09′
β −0°06′		♈︎ 6°31′
β −1°26′		♒︎ 5°52′
β −4°47′
ObservingTelescope 8.7Binoculars 5.8Telescope 7.7TelescopeTelescope 14.5
Rise06:1100:0521:3119:30
Set20:5615:1909:4604:11

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 17:54:45 UTC

View:

ISO 2027-W31 runs from August 2 through August 8. To find Ceres, first identify Leo, trace the Sickle, and locate Regulus in that pattern. Ceres lies about 0.6° away in ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot; use the finder to transfer from Regulus to the planet. Uranus is about 0.6° in ecliptic longitude from Aldebaran in Taurus.

Naked eye: 🌑 New Moon — 10:05:14 UTC. The dark Moon favors faint targets and extended star fields. Use Eltanin as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Eltanin: The Bright Star at the Heart of Draco — A prominent star marking the lozenge shape of the Draco constellation, rich in history and celestial significance.

Planets: Moon: In solar glare; magnitude -4.7; direct motion; 0.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Aug 02 10:05 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Aug 02 05:32 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Aug 06 17:32 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 19:53 UTC. Conjunction with Jupiter in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 20:49 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -1.4; direct motion; 90.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus: In solar glare; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 02 05:32 UTC. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude 1.3; direct motion; 91.2% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 06 17:32 UTC. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 8.7; direct motion; 99.4% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 19:53 UTC. Conjunction with Jupiter in ecliptic longitude Aug 06 05:02 UTC. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -1.7; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 20:49 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Aug 06 05:02 UTC. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.5; direct motion; 99.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.8; 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. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.5; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Binoculars: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified for binocular observing this week.

Small telescope: He 2-290: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; MCG 12-17-9: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Ptolemy's Cluster: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M23: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Cat's Eye Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Trifid Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Collinder 361: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Lagoon Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M21: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 6541: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Blue Racquetball: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

He 2-290: A Faint Glow in Sagittarius’s Wilderness — Exploring the characteristics and significance of a distant planetary nebula in the heart of Sagittarius.

Unveiling MCG 12-17-9: A Distant Galaxy in Draco — Discover the intriguing galaxy MCG 12-17-9, a distant celestial object that sparks curiosity among astronomers and stargazers alike.

Ptolemy's Cluster: A Stellar Open Cluster in Scorpius — An enduring celestial gathering visible to the naked eye, offering a glimpse into the universe's stellar formations.

M23: The Sagittarius Open Cluster’s Stellar Assembly — A luminous gathering of stars in the heart of the Milky Way's rich constellation of Sagittarius.

The Enigmatic Beauty of the Cat's Eye Nebula in Draco — A detailed look at one of the most captivating planetary nebulae in the northern constellation Draco, known for its intricate structure and historical significance.

The Trifid Nebula: A Stellar Dark Cloud in Sagittarius — An exploration of the iconic star-forming region distinguished by its striking appearance and complex structure.

Collinder 361: A Noteworthy Open Cluster in Sagittarius — An exploration of the characteristics and significance of this celestial gathering.

Lagoon Nebula: A Stellar Nursery in Sagittarius — Discover the awe-inspiring beauty and significance of this prominent dark nebula in the heart of the Milky Way.

M21: A Bright Open Cluster in Sagittarius — Discover the luminous beauty and celestial significance of Messier 21, a striking open cluster nestled in the constellation Sagittarius.

The Intriguing Globular Cluster in Corona Australis — A closer look at Caldwell 78, a captivating globular cluster nestled in the constellation Corona Australis.

Blue Racquetball: A Stunning Planetary Nebula in Ophiuchus — An exploration of the celestial beauty and scientific significance of the Blue Racquetball, a fascinating planetary nebula in the constellation Ophiuchus.

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 03:42; sets 18:54 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.4. The disk is 90.0% illuminated (gibbous). It is 10.5° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 2.010° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 7.9° away. Moon is 4.5° away at the snapshot. Mercury: 7.9° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 04:22; sets 19:17 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -3.9. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 2.9° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.233° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Acubens, 9.5° away. Moon is 3.2° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 02 05:32 UTC. Venus: 9.5° from Acubens in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 04:06; sets 19:06 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.7. The disk is 0.3% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 6.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 15.188° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Tarf, 11.1° away. Mercury is 4.5° away at the snapshot. Venus is 3.2° away at the snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Aug 02 10:05 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Aug 02 05:32 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Aug 06 17:32 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 19:53 UTC. Conjunction with Jupiter in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 20:49 UTC. Moon: 11.1° from Tarf 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 6.2° above the horizon. Rises 10:03; sets 21:39 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.3. The disk is 91.2% illuminated (gibbous). It is 60.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.604° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 12.9° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 06 17:32 UTC. Mars: 12.9° from Zavijava in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 7.2° below the horizon. Rises 06:35; sets 20:20 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.7. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 21.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.209° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Regulus, 1.3° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 20:49 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Aug 06 05:02 UTC. Jupiter: 1.3° from Regulus 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 14.3° below the horizon. Rises 22:23; sets 11:36 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.5. The disk is 99.7% illuminated (nearly full). It is 101.7° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.013° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 6.8° away. Saturn: 6.8° 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 21.0° below the horizon. Rises 00:05; sets 15:19 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.8. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 60.4° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.035° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 5.5° away. Uranus: 5.5° 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 6.0° below the horizon. Rises 21:31; sets 09:46 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 123.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.012° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Diphda, 19.7° away. Neptune: 19.7° from Diphda 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 1.3° below the horizon. Rises 06:11; sets 20:56 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 8.7. The disk is 99.4% illuminated (nearly full). It is 22.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.451° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Algieba, 1.3° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 19:53 UTC. Conjunction with Jupiter in ecliptic longitude Aug 06 05:02 UTC. Ceres: 1.3° from Algieba 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 11.3° above the horizon. Rises 19:30; sets 04:11 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 174.0° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.023° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 9.5° away. Pluto: 9.5° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.