Big Dipper

The Moon is 0.5 degree south of M35 at 18:00 UT.

The Moon is 0.8 degree south of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades) in Taurus at 0:00 UT; Last Quarter Moon occurs at 17:22 UT; Venus is 1.2 degrees south of the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 18:00 UT.

Last Quarter Moon occurs at 4:59 UT; the Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to occur at 19:23 UT.

The Moon is 0.6 degree south of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades) in Taurus at 17:00 UT.

Mercury is at greatest eastern elongation (27 degrees) at 1:00 UT; the Moon is 0.05 degree south of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 2:00 UT.

Venus is 3 degrees south of Saturn at 1:00 UT; New Moon (lunation 1084) occurs at 3:08 UT; the Moon is at perigee, subtending 33'51" from a distance of 357,857 km (222,362 miles) and creating large tides, at 17:58 UT.

Mercury is 2 degrees north of the Moon at 2:00 UT.

The peak of the Perseid meteor shower (a zenithal hourly rate of 60-100/hour) occurs at 0:00 UT; Saturn is 8 degrees north of the Moon at 7:00 UT; a double Galilean shadow transit begins at 10:12 UT; Venus is 5 degrees north of the Moon at 12:00 UT; Mars is 6 degrees north of the Moon at 17:00 UT.

First Quarter Moon occurs at 18:14 UT.

The Lunar X, also known as the Werner or Purbach Cross, an X-shaped illumination effect involving various rims and ridges between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to occur at 3:52 UT; the Moon is 1.9 degrees north of the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpius) at 23:00 UT.

Venus is at greatest eastern elongation (46 degrees) at 4:00 UT; Neptune (magnitude 7.8, apparent size 2.3") is at opposition at 10:00 UT; a double Galilean shadow transit begins at 12:06 UT.

Venus is 2 degrees south of Mars at 21:00 UT.

Neptune is 5 degrees south of the Moon at 12:00 UT; Full Moon (known as the Fruit, Grain, Green Corn, or Sturgeon Moon), the smallest one of the year, occurs at 17:05 UT.

Uranus is 6 degrees south of the Moon at 7:00 UT; Jupiter is 7 degrees south of the Moon at 12:00 UT; a double Galilean shadow transit begins at 15:50 UT.

Mars is 1.9 degrees south of Saturn at 19:00 UT.

Monster Star Astronomers based in the UK have discovered the brightest and most massive star to date. But how did it get so big? Sir Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott are joined by one of the team who discovered the star, Dr Richard Parker. August also sees one of the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, and Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel explain the best way of observing the Perseids. Broadcasts Mon 2 Aug 2010 00:10 BBC One Wed 4 Aug 2010 19:30 BBC Four Thu 5 Aug 2010 02:50 BBC Four Sat 7 Aug 2010 14:15 BBC Two (except Northern Ireland (Analogue), Wales (Analogue))

Uranus is 6 degrees south of the Moon at 3:00 UT; Jupiter is 7 degrees south of the Moon at 9:00 UT.

The Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower (approximately 20/hour) peaks at 9:00 UT.

Neptune is 5 degrees south of the Moon at 7:00 UT.

Mercury is 0.3 degree south of Regulus at 23:00 UT.

The Full Moon, known as the Hay or Thunder Moon and the smallest one of the year, occurs at 1:36 UT.

The Moon is 1.8 degrees north of the first-magnitude star Antares (Alpha Scorpii) at 18:00 UT.

First Quarter Moon occurs at 10:11 UT; the Lunar X, also known as the Werner or Purbach Cross, an X-shaped illumination effect involving various rims and ridges between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to occur at 18:17 UT.

Mars is 6 degrees north of the Moon at 5:00 UT; Saturn is 8 degrees north of the Moon at 19:00 UT.

Venus is 6 degrees north of the Moon at 1:00 UT.