August sees the return to the northern hemisphere of properly dark night skies. With it getting darker earlier, stargazing gets easier. It’s great cosmic timing because along with convenience comes a conjunction of Mars and Jupiter, the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower and much more.
Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing, moon- watching and the night sky in August 2024:
* Crescent Moon and “Earthshine” (August 5-8): Observe the crescent moon as it hangs low in the western sky. With binoculars, see the illuminated “dark side” of the moon due to Earthshine.
* Peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower (August 11-12): Expect around 60 meteor showers per hour overnight. The best views will be at about 1:00 a.m. local time as the constellation Perseus rises high into the sky.
* Jupiter and Mars in Conjunction (August 15): Look to the east early in the day for two planets, just 20 arcminutes apart. This is an excellent sight for the naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes.
* “Super Blue Sturgeon Moon” (August 19): The first of four supermoons in 2024 will be a full moon that gets attention due to its elliptical orbit and being the only blue moon of the year. This term has two meanings: either the second full moon in a calendar month or the third of four full moons in one astronomical season.
* Moon and Saturn in Conjunction (August 20): Observe the waning moon shining next to Saturn, which will look increasingly impressive as it brightens towards its annual opposition next month.
* Last Quarter Moon and the Pleiades (August 26): A half-moon will rise together with the best- looking star cluster, the Pleiades, in the east. This is a spectacular sight for both the naked eye and binoculars.
The given times and dates apply to mid-northern latitudes. For location-specific information, consult online planetariums like SkySafari Pro, Stellarium, and The Sky Live.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2024/08/01/see-the-perseids-a-super-blue-moon-and-the-milky-way-augusts-night-sky/