ZANESVILLE ASTRONOMY CLUB
An affiliate of the NASA Night Sky Network

The 9 August FREE Astronomy Club event will begin at 9:00 PM. Meet at the Rogge Pavilion beside the Lewis Observatory on the Ohio University Zanesville campus. In addition to planets and other objects, we will be watching the Perseids meteor shower. Bring lawnchairs and snacks if you wish. Expect a crowd for this fun annual star party event.  On summer nights, a light sweater or jacket is advised and insect repellent. 

AUGUST HIGHLIGHTS 
The biggest star party of the year is always the August event because of the Perseids meteor shower 17 July-26 August. They are considered the best show of the year for those living in the northern latitudes. The rate on peak night is 50-75 per hour.  The parent object is Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle with peak night August 12-13.The good news is that peak night will be New Moon, the best time to see a meteor shower. 
     Sagittarius is still well placed for viewing. The Summer Triangle dominates the sky. In the east you can find Saturn and Neptune in Pisces in late evening.  Mars is in Gemini and climbs the eastern sky in the early morning hours. On 15 Auhgust there is a very tight conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury.  The pair will be very low on the horizon in the east just before sunrise. 
     There is a total solar eclipse on 12 August seen in the northeastern U.S., Canada, North Pole, Greenland, Iceland and Spain. On 28 August there is a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible across North America and South America.  
       Overnight on 2 & 3 August, a waning gibbous Moon meets up with Saturn. In the early hours of 7 August, it swings through the Pleiades, and two days later on 9 August, the waning crescent Moon and Mars meet up in the east, best seen before sunrise.
     There is conjunction between the old crescent Moon and Mercury in the east before sunrise on 11 August. The young crescent Moon will join Venus on 15 August, though it will be very low on the western horizon after sunset.  It will shine higher, to Venus' left the next evening.  At the end of the month on 30 August, the bright waning gibbous Moon will shine near Saturn and Neptune in the east after dark.  Early risers can catch them in the southwest before sunrise on 31 August.     

AUGUST EVENT  CALENDAR uses the Moon to locate objects, then use your binocs or scope to zoom in on the event.

02       Mercury 19.5 degrees W of Sun
06       Last quarter Moon
07       Pleiades Cluster 12 degrees S of Moon
09       Mars 4.4 degrees S of Moon
10       Moon at perigee
12       New Moon
12       Total Solar Eclipse (partial visible from North America)
12       Peak of Perseids meteor shower
15       Venus 45.9 degrees E of Sun
16       Venus 2,2 degrees N of Moon
17       Spica 2.6 degrees N of Moon
20       First Quarter Moon
21       Antares 0.7 degrees N of Moon
22       Moon at apogee
28       Deep partial lunar eclipse
28       Full Moon
 
Zanesville Astronomy Club 2026
Southeastern Ohio residents and club members are invited to view our night skies at the Lewis Observatory on the OUZ campus in Zanesville, Ohio. 
Please sign the guest book upon arriving.  Dress for the weather.  
Meetings and events are scheduled March through November. 

If you would like to use the club Dobsonian telescope during our viewing events to enable sharing it with others, please let a coordinator know when you arrive. Thanks to all who bring and  share their personal telescope! You can also check telescopes out of our local John McIntire Public Library as easily as checking out a book. 

If you wish to receive the Zanesville Astronomy Club newsletter, send an email to: irenebaron@irenebaron.com with subject matter the word ASTRONOMY. In the message include your full name, email address, street address, city & state.  

If you need help repairing your scope, contact Coordinator Chuck Bruckelmeyer during the event to arrange a meeting.  He guides owners through repairs.  

If you need help learning how to use your telescope, let one of the Coordinators know during a viewing event. They can show you at that time or arrange a private time. They can also answer your questions and offer help setting up your telescope.

Please share this information and URL link with family and friends who may be interested in learning more about astronomy and our FREE local events. All ages have attended with much praise for learning more about the night sky.

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THE CHRISTMAS STAR HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED

Unraveling the Christmas Star Mystery 
by Irene Baron

Irene used NASA Jet Propulsion Library astronomy programs to identify  the Christmas star. Her nonfiction book discusses the research that took place daily over several years. 

This nonfiction astronomy book was awarded the GOLD MEDAL as the 2013 EXEMPLARY CHRISTIAN EDUCATION BOOK, or the best Christian Education book of the year! Buy on Amazon or where ever books are sold.   Http://cutt.ly/we5mqvt 
Bring the copy of your book to any club event to have it autographed by the author. She usually has a few available for sale.