Stargazers can look forward to a spectacular display of summer skies this August. The iconic Perseid meteor shower will peak on August 12, with up to 100 shooting stars per hour visible at speeds over 133,000 miles per hour.
Astrophysicist Jackie Faherty notes that August is all about the Perseids, and it’s a prime time for spotting fireballs. The summer triangle, comprising Deneb in Cygnus, Vega in Lyra, and Altair in Aquila, will be visible in the east after sunset and can be seen throughout the night.
Another bright star to watch for is Antares, often mistaken for Mars due to its reddish hue. It will be visible in the Scorpius constellation on August 3, right next to the moon. The red star is expected to go supernova at some point, making it a striking sight.
The Milky Way’s white, cloudy ribbon across the sky will be directly overhead, but stargazers need to find a dark location away from city lights to fully appreciate its beauty. On August 23, the night of the final Perseid meteor shower before a new moon, conditions will be ideal for stargazing.
The month also brings Saturn’s appearance, with the ringed planet rising around 8:30 p.m. by the end of August. With these celestial events and others, August promises to be an exciting time for stargazers.
Source: https://gothamist.com/news/august-brings-the-meteor-shower-nyc-stargazers-wait-all-year-to-see