The Planets:
Mercury:  Mercury reaches superior conjunction on August 5, and will be moving low into our evening sky briefly at dusk.  Viewing of this planet is very limited this month.
Venus:  Rising in the east-northeast around 3 AM, Venus is the brightest planet to be seen this month at a magnitude of -4.5.  Venus will dance in the sky with Jupiter this month, passing the largest planet within 1.25 degrees on August 6 in the month's most spectacular view.  In the days following, Venus descends quickly, rising lower in the sky each morning.  Venus is viewable until sunrise.  Look for the slim crescent moon next to Venus on August 16.
Mars:  Don't wait any longer to view Mars!  This planet still dominates our evening sky, although its magnitude will decrease from -1.4 to -0.8 by month's end due to the increasing distance between Earth and Mars.  If you have a telescope, you can witness the shrinking of the southern polar cap due to seasonal changes.  Mars is visible in the southeastern sky at sunset in the constellation of Ophiucus, and sets in the southwest.  By month's end, Mars will be low in the sky by midnight.
Jupiter:  Jupiter, shining at a magnitude of -2, is Venus' dance partner in the spectacular conjunction of these two planets on August 6.  Jupiter rises about 3 hours before sunrise in the east-northeast.  On August 15, watch the moon (at 18.7% phase) occult Jupiter around 3:40 PM.  This occultation takes only a few minutes so be sure to start looking early so you won't miss it!
Saturn:  Far to the upper right of Venus and Jupiter, Saturn rises around 3 AM in the constellation of Taurus the Bull.  If you see Saturn through a telescope, you will see the great ring system tilted toward great viewing.  Although not as bright as Venus and Jupiter, Saturn will begin to brighten from now through December.

On August 3, look for a lovely triangle of the Moon, Saturn and the eye of Taurus the Bull (the star Aldebaran).  The waxing gibbous moon is to the upper right of Mars on the evening of August 26.

Meteor Showers:
Comets passing through our solar system lose part of their tails when melted by the sun's heat, leaving dusty debris behind.  As earth revolves around the sun, earth spins through these pockets of space clutter.  This frictional encounter with earth's atmosphere disintegrates these particles producing "shooting stars" and the larger fireballs, sometimes called bolides. Like rain showers, meteor showers are not totally predictable.  Because of the interference of light from the last-quarter moon, this year's view of the long-awaited Perseid meteor shower may not be spectacular on peak night. A shower like the Perseids does not just last one night however.  The best views begin slightly before the peak day of August 12, and run for the next week.  The predawn hours between 3 AM and 6AM will probably be best for viewing in the northeastern sky.  A better view can be obtained by turning off all exterior lights.  If you don't want to view, turn off your exterior lights and give your neighbors a chance.  Of course, the best viewing is away from the light pollution of the city. 

Constellations:  Corona Austrina, Lyra, Sagittarius, Scutum, Telescopium

Looking for a Little More?  If this Skyline whets your appetite, but you aren't ready to dive into the observing lists, try this website:  skymaps.com/downloads.html.  It offers a two page pdf brochure that you can print out for free.  It has a basic skymap and short lists of visual, binocular, and small telescope objects.  It is really good--check it out!