Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2026-W32

Week begins: Monday, August 3, 2026

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Aug 3, 2026♌ 13
M7 — Telescope 3 — Southern Summer
Tue, Aug 4, 2026♌ 14
Eltanin (γ Dra) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Summer
M23 — Telescope 7 — Tropical Summer
Barnard's Star — Telescope — Tropical Summer
Wed, Aug 5, 2026♌ 15
Finest NGC 89 / NGC 6543 · Cat's Eye Nebula / C6 / NGC 6543 · Cat's Eye Nebula — Telescope 8 — Arctic Summer
Thu, Aug 6, 2026♌ 16
🌗 Last Quarter — 02:21:29 UTC
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
Fri, Aug 7, 2026♌ 17
Lughnasadh · Summer–Autumn midpoint — 11:42:45 UTC
C78 / NGC 6541 — Telescope 7 — Southern Summer
Sat, Aug 8, 2026♌ 18
Finest NGC 92 / NGC 6572 · Blue Racquetball — Telescope 8 — Tropical Summer
Sun, Aug 9, 2026♌ 19
M24 — Telescope 5 — Tropical Summer

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins August 3, 2026, 00:00 UTC.

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

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♌︎ 10°42′
β +0°00′		♈︎ 1°51′
β +2°47′		♋︎ 21°19′
β −1°38′		♍︎ 26°08′
β −0°12′		♊︎ 24°25′
β +0°07′		♌︎ 7°24′
β +0°29′		♈︎ 14°42′
β −2°32′
ObservingNightNaked eye -11.3☉︎Naked eye -4.3Naked eye 1.3☉︎Naked eye 0.6
Rise04:4120:5403:0808:4400:5604:2321:49
Set19:1909:2618:0821:0216:2919:1110:22

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♊︎ 26°24′
β −1°24′		♊︎ 5°04′
β −0°09′		♈︎ 4°14′
β −1°24′		♒︎ 4°08′
β −4°17′
ObservingTelescope 9.0Binoculars 5.8Telescope 7.7TelescopeTelescope 14.4
Rise01:1323:4621:2119:17
Set16:3114:5409:2903:58

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 2026-10-12 08:42:45 UTC

View:

ISO 2026-W32 runs from August 3 through August 9. Mars is about 1.8° in ecliptic longitude from Elnath in Taurus. Mars and Ceres are separated by about 2.0° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Naked eye: 🌗 Last Quarter — 02:21:29 UTC. Moderate moonlight makes timing and local sky position important for faint targets. Use Eltanin as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -11.3; direct motion; 81.4% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 05:27 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 05:42 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 23:21 UTC. Conjunction with Uranus in ecliptic longitude Aug 07 14:51 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 04:22 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude 0.1; direct motion; 41.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.3; direct motion; 55.0% 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; 93.4% 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 09 05:27 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 18:06 UTC. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 9.0; direct motion; 98.3% 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 09 05:42 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 18:06 UTC. Jupiter: In solar glare; magnitude -1.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.6; retrograde motion; 99.8% 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 23:21 UTC. 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. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 07 14:51 UTC. 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. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 04:22 UTC. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.4; 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: 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

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 03:08; sets 18:08 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.1. The disk is 41.3% illuminated (crescent). It is 19.4° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.997° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 8.6° away. Mercury: 8.6° from Pollux 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 0.2° below the horizon. Rises 08:44; sets 21:02 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.3. The disk is 55.0% illuminated (gibbous). It is 45.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.029° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 1.7° away. Venus: 1.7° 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 0.5° above the horizon. Rises 20:54; sets 09:26 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -11.3. The disk is 81.4% illuminated (waning gibbous). It is 128.8° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 13.074° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 14.3° away. Neptune is 4.8° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 05:27 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 05:42 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 23:21 UTC. Conjunction with Uranus in ecliptic longitude Aug 07 14:51 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 04:22 UTC. Moon: 14.3° from Fumalsamakah 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 21.5° below the horizon. Rises 00:56; sets 16:29 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.3. The disk is 93.4% illuminated (gibbous). It is 46.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.673° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Elnath, 5.5° away. Ceres is 2.5° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 05:27 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 18:06 UTC. Mars: 5.5° from Elnath in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 04:23; sets 19:11 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 3.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.221° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Acubens, 8.6° away. Jupiter: 8.6° 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 9.1° below the horizon. Rises 21:49; sets 10:22 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.6. The disk is 99.8% illuminated (nearly full). It is 116.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.012° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 16.3° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 23:21 UTC. Saturn: 16.3° 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 20.2° below the horizon. Rises 23:46; sets 14:54 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.8. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 65.6° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.031° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 7.3° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 07 14:51 UTC. Uranus: 7.3° 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 4.3° below the horizon. Rises 21:21; sets 09:29 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 126.5° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.014° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 18.5° away. Moon is 4.8° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 03 04:22 UTC. Neptune: 18.5° 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 23.0° below the horizon. Rises 01:13; sets 16:31 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 9.0. The disk is 98.3% illuminated (gibbous). It is 44.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.379° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Elnath, 7.6° away. Mars is 2.5° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 05:42 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Aug 09 18:06 UTC. Ceres: 7.6° from Elnath 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 12.7° above the horizon. Rises 19:17; sets 03:58 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.4. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 172.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.023° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.9° away. Pluto: 8.9° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.