P615 CEEFAX 615 Thu 24 Aug 19:14/51 1/5 THE SKY AT NIGHT THE PLANETS MERCK$Y is well placed for southern hemisphere obsjrvjrs, but not unfortunbtely for northern hemisphere obsjrvjrs. SATURN is in Aquarius below the Square of Pegasus. Saturn will not bj as bright as usual as the Earth passed through the ring plane on Aug 11 (for the second time this year). The rings are edgewise on to us, so that for some time the planet will lose some of its usual beauty. It is a good time to look for the satellites. MARS will not reappear until next year. TV Links 610 BBC1 601 Here&Now BBC1 TV BBC2 TV SkyP615 CEEFAX 615 Thu 24 Aug 19:11/18 2/5 THE SKY AT NIGHT THE MOON New on August 26 and September 24; First quarter on September 16. VENUS reaches superior conjunction on 21 August and during this period is badly placed. STARS The summer triangle (Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus and Altair in Aquila) is high up and dominates the evjnjng sky. The constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius are at their best, although low in the south. Look out for the star-clouds in Sagittarius which hide our view of the centre of the galaxy. TV Links 610 BBC1 601 Here&Now BBC1 TV BBC2 TV SkyP615 CEEFAX 615 Thu 24 Aug 19:11/38 3/5 THE SKY AT NIGHT ERIC ILJTT has died after a long illness. He made the models and designed the graphics for the programme for over thirty years. He was a man of great talent. He will bj sadly missed. TV Links 610 BBC1 601 Here&Now BBC1 TV BBC2 TV SkyP615 CEEFAX 615 Thu 24 Aug 19:11/17 4/5 THE SKY AT NIGHT FORTHCOMING PROGRBMMES Sunday 20 August BBC1 (rps Saturday 26 August BBC2) - Planets around stars Sunday 17 Sept BBC1 (rps Saturday 23 Sept BBC2) - The Outer Giants Sunday 15aOct BBC1 (rps Saturday 21 Oct BBC2) - A new instrument for the Anglo-Australian Telescope Timings and days of repeats can alter. TV Links 610 BBC1 601 Here&Now BBC1 TV BBC2 TV SkyP615 CEEFAX 615 Thu 24 Aug 19:14/31 5/5 THE SKY AT NIGHT $he Sky At Night Information Line keeps you up to date with the latest astronomical news. The number is 0891 800 330 -acalls cost 39p per minute cheap rate; 49p per minute at all other times. TV Links 610 BBC1 601 Here&Now BBC1 TV BBC2 TV Sky