When Can You See the Perseid Meteor Shower and Other Celestial Phenomena in August?
August consistently offers some of the best sky views of the year, thanks in large part to the abundant Perseid meteor shower, which peaks in the middle of the month. But there are several other planetary events worth staying up late for—here’s when and how to catch the best celestial events this month.
Where and when to see the Perseid meteor shower
The Perseids offer some of the best meteor viewing all year, with shower heights of up to 100 meteors per hour. This year’s Perseids span from July 14 to September 1 and are expected to peak early on August 12 as Earth passes through the dust trail left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
Residents in the Northern Hemisphere will be able to see the best views after moonset between midnight and 1am local time on August 12, with the most meteor showers occurring in the hours before dawn. For maximum results, go to a place with little or no light pollution and an open view of the sky and look at the constellation Perseus in the northeast/east. If you can get high – above any haze – even better.
If you need guidance on where and when to look, stargazing apps like Sky Tonight and Star Walk 2 can point you in the right direction.
Where and when to see the supermoon in August
A supermoon is a full or new moon that passes particularly close to Earth on its orbital path, causing it to appear larger and brighter than the normal moon. The first supermoon of 2024 will be visible on August 19. It will be best seen at sunset towards the horizon from east to southeast. The August supermoon has a number of names in indigenous cultures , such as the Sturgeon Moon, Corn Moon, Rice Moon, and Black Moon, as well as the Rising Moon and Red Moon.
Where and when to see Mars and Jupiter in August 2024
At the end of the month, stargazers will be able to see Mars and Jupiter close to the Moon. NASA predicts the best view in the eastern sky will occur on August 27, about an hour before sunrise. Mars and Jupiter will also be close to each other on August 14, visible near the horizon from east to northeast around 2 a.m. local time.
On August 28, six planets—Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn—will be in close proximity to each other, with Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn being the most visible. According to Star Walk , Saturn will be visible near Aquarius in the late afternoon, while Jupiter and Mars will appear at night.