August presents many opportunities to view astronomical wonders that are sure to impress experts and those just getting interested in watching the night sky. From meteor showers to planetary conjunctions, keep reading to learn when to look up to see these amazing events.
Perseid Meteor Shower (August 11-12)
The first event is the annual Perseid Meteor Shower, which will start on Sunday, August 11th, and last until Monday, August 12th. It always provides an amazing show, and you can watch it without any equipment.
View this event after midnight, if possible, when the constellation Perseus is highest in the sky. The moon sets at about 11:30 pm, so you should be able to get a good view of 50 to 75 meteors per hour at the shower’s peak if the sky in your area is clear.
Jupiter and Mars Conjunction (August 14th)
On August 14th, Jupiter and Mars will be in close conjunction, appearing almost as a double planet in the night sky. It’s a great opportunity to view two bright planets at the same time. This conjunction only occurs every 2 – 2.5 years, and the proximity of the planets will vary each time.
To view the event, you’ll need to get up about an hour before dawn and have a clear view of the eastern horizon. You will see it in the constellation Taurus, and though you can see it with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope will allow you to see Jupiter’s moons and the reddish hue of Mars more clearly.
Messier 15 and Messier 2 Globular Clusters (August 13 and 14)
For those looking to use their telescope, Messier 15 and Messier 2 will be well-positioned for viewing on August 13th and 14th, respectively. These are some of the oldest known star clusters, and Messier 15 might even contain a black hole.
View these objects around midnight with a small to medium-sized telescope. M15 will be in the Pegasus constellation, and M2 will be in Aquarius.
The Lagoon Nebula (Throughout August)
Located in the constellation Sagittarius, the Lagoon Nebula is another must-see in August for anyone interested in astronomy. It has a colorful glow that you can see using long-exposure photography, and you can see it with binoculars or a small telescope.
You can see the Nebula late in the evening any time in August. Look for the Teapot asterism in Sagittarius, and the Lagoon Nebula will be just above its handle.
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