What to Expect in the Night Skies This August

Your August astronomical calendar is here, promising a trio of exciting celestial events all packed into one week of time. From a much-anticipated meteor shower to a full moon, here is what you need to remember to check out in the night skies this month.

Sturgeon Full Moon - August 8 and 9

The last full moon of the meteorological summer will rise on Friday, August 8, before fading away in the morning hours of August 9. The August full moon is most commonly referred to as the Sturgeon Moon. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the moon gets this moniker from the large fish that are plentiful in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain.

Other nicknames for the full moon this month include the Ricing Moon, the Mountain Shadows Moon, and the Black Cherry Moon. As with all full moons, you will enjoy maximum brightness and visibility if conditions are clear in your area.

Jupiter and Venus Planetary Alignment - August 12

Astronomy enthusiasts are also eagerly awaiting the conjunction of Jupiter and Venus. Already two of the brightest planets in the galaxy, the beauty will be amplified when they appear side-by-side just before daybreak on Tuesday, August 12.

You can expect to see the duo rise just after 3 am local time. They will be easiest to spot between the hours of 4 am and 5 am. While you do not need a telescope to see the planetary pair, you will want to find a clear view of the eastern sky to scope them out.

If clouds obstruct your view on Tuesday, experts advise trying again the next morning. The two planets will remain next to each other at this time as well.

Perseid Meteor Shower - August 12 and 13

There is no doubt that the highlight of the August astronomical calendar will be the Perseid meteor shower. Set to peak on the night of August 12 and into August 13, the Perseids are widely regarded as the best meteor shower of the year. Unfortunately, this year's shower will be partially muted by the timing of a brighter and bigger moon.

The presence of the waning gibbous moon will compromise the appearance of the shooting stars on the peak night of the show. According to the American Meteor Shower (AMS), the moon's stage will result in a reduction of shower activity of at least 75%. This means that only the brightest shooting stars will be visible to the naked eye. Rather than expecting 60 to 100 meteors each hour, stargazers should expect to tally between 10 and 20 during the same time frame.

You can improve your chances of running up the count by training your eyes on the darkest portions of the sky where the moon is not shining. Although the meteors may begin their journey across the sky right after sunset, the peak of the activity will happen under the full cover of darkness in the middle of the night.

The month of August is known for delivering favorable weather conditions for catching the beauty of the night skies. The warmer temperatures and generally clearer skies both work together to make this a good time of the year to be intentional about stargazing.

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