Skywatch Line for Wednesday and Thursday, August 7 and 8, 2024, written by Alan French

This is Dudley Observatory’s Skywatch Line for Wednesday and Thursday, August 7 and 8, 2024, written by Alan French.

The Sun rises at 5:54 A.M. on Wednesday and sets at 8:08 P.M. On Thursday it rises at 5:55 and sets at 8:06. This Thursday has 16 minutes 20 seconds less daylight than last Thursday.

The Moon was new last Sunday and is moving toward first quarter. On Wednesday at 8:00 P.M. a thin crescent Moon, 11% in sunlight, will be 12 ½ degrees above the horizon, competing with evening twilight. By 9:00 P.M. it will have less competition from evening twilight, but will be 7 degrees above the horizon. The Moon will set at 9:44.

By Thursday at 8:30 P.M. the Moon, continuing its journey around Earth, will be higher in the sky and more of its visible face will be in sunlight. It will be 15 degrees high and 18% illuminated. The Moon will set at 10:01 P.M.

Watch the Moon in the coming days as it moves farther into the evening sky, setting later, and more of its visible face moves into daylight. The Moon’s path will stay low across the sky. The Moon will reach first quarter on Monday, August 12.

If you have a good view low to the west try to spot Venus, now returning to the evening sky. On Wednesday at 8:40 P.M. Venus will be just 3 degrees above the horizon, 21 degrees to the lower right of the Moon. If you cannot spot it by eye, binoculars may lead to success. On Thursday at 8:40 P.M. Venus will be 32 degrees from the Moon. (For reference, the fist held at arm’s length spans 10 degrees.)