Sydney Observatory night sky mapA map for each month of the year, to help you learn about the night sky 

August 2012www.sydneyobservatory.com

This star chart shows the stars and constellations visible in the night sky for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide and Perth for August 2012 at about 7:30 pm (local standard time). For Darwin and similar locations the chart will stillapply, but some stars will be lost off the southern edge while extra stars will be visible to the north. Stars down to a brightness or magnitude limit of 4.5 are shown. To use this chart, rotate it so that the direction you are facing (north, south, east or west) isshown at the bottom. The centre of the chart represents the point directly above your head, called the zenith, and the outer circular edge represents the horizon. 

South Celestial Pole

LMC

SMC

Centre of the Galaxy

 ANTLIA

 APUS

 AQUARIUS

 AQUILA

 ARA

BOOTES

CANES VENATICI

CAPRICORNUS

CARINA

CENTAURUS

CHAMAELEON

CIRCINUS

COMA BERENICES

CORONA AUSTRALIS

CORONA BOREALIS

CORVUS

CRATER

CRUX

CYGNUS

DELPHINUS

DORADO

EQUULEUS

GRUS

HERCULES

HOROLOGIUM

HYDRA

HYDRUS

INDUS

LIBRA

LUPUS

LYRA

MENSA

MICROSCOPIUM

MUSCA

NORMA

OCTANS

OPHIUCHUS

PAVO

PHOENIX

PISCIS AUSTRINUS

PUPPIS

PYXIS

RETICULUM

SAGITTA

SAGITTARIUS

SCORPIUS

SCULPTOR

SCUTUM

SERPENS

TELESCOPIUM

TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE

TUCANA

VELA

VIRGO

VOLANS

VULPECULA

SERPENS

 Achernar 

 Alpha Centauri 

 Altair 

 Antares

 Arcturus

Canopus

Deneb

Hadar 

Mimosa

Spica

Vega

Zubenelgenubi 

 

     N    o   r   t    h

   N   E

 E  a s t    

S   E   

South

  S   W

    W   e    s     t 

     N      W

 

High in the sky are the constellations Scorpius (the Scorpion) and Crux (the Southern Cross). The Southern Cross is easilylocated using the two nearby Pointer stars. Near the end of the Scorpion’s tail is the unofficial constellation of the Teapot inSagittarius. Saturn and Mars are near the star Spica in the constellation of Virgo. From 13 to 17 August, Mars is within threedegrees of Saturn. On 22

nd, Mars is next to the crescent Moon. The best time to view the Moon with a small telescope or 

binoculars is a few days either side of the first quarter Moon on the 24th.

Sydney Observatory, with a magnificent view overlooking Sydney Harbour, is open 10am to 5pmdaily – except closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and open 10am to noon onNew Year’s Eve. Open Monday to Saturday for night sessions (times vary depending on theseason) for sky viewing through one of our telescopes (cosy planetarium session if cloudy), and3D movies about the Universe. Bookings are essential for night programs.

For more information, check the website at www.sydneyobservatory.comor call (02) 9921 3485.Sydney Observatory is at Watson Road, Observatory Hill, in the historic Rocks area of Sydney.

Sydney Observatory is part of the Powerhouse Museum. The Sydney Observatory night sky map is prepared by Dr M Anderson using thesoftware TheSky. © 2012 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney.

Star brightnessZero or brighter 1

stmagnitude

2nd

 3

rd

4th 

Moon phaseFull moon: 02nd

Last quarter: 10thNew moon: 18th

First quarter: 24thFull moon: 31st

Chart keyBright star Faint star EclipticMilky WayPlanetLMC or Large Magellanic CloudSMC or Small Magellanic Cloud

P 

OCTANS

SOUTHERN CROSS  

Zubeneschamali 

LIBRA

Omega Centauri 

Centaurus A

CRUX

POINTERSCENTAURUS

Coalsack 

Centre of the Galaxy

 AntaresM22 

SAGITTARIUS

SCORPIUS

 

Teapot M4

M7 

Jewel Box 

 

Zubenelgenubi 

First quarter Moon on 24th

M6 

  Mimosa

NGC 6231

47 Tucanae

Barnard’s star 

P

Saturn

Venus1 August 

 

 Alpha Centauri 

PMars