Posted by: Rich Fefferman

The good news I have for you readers is that this August will have several interesting sky events. The bad news is that most of them occur in the predawn sky, although with sunrises getting later as we move on towards the end of summer, you don’t have to get up that early to see them.

First and best known would be the annual Perseid meteor shower, which occurs every year in mid-August, when the Earth intersects the orbit of Comet Swift-Tuttle. The debris burns up in our atmosphere, producing the “falling stars.” The Perseids are probably second to the December Geminids in the number of meteors, but they happen at a time of year when it is usually comfortable to go outside. Under ideal conditions, you might see as many as 1 or 2 meteors per minute, emanating from a point in the sky just below the “W” in Cassiopeia. Unfortunately, this year is far from ideal, as a very bright, almost full Moon will hang in the south to southwestern sky. This will probably drown out the majority of the meteors. If you live close to city lights, reduce this number even further. If you want to watch anyway, the best time to look will be between about 1 am and dawn, early on the mornings of August 12th or 13th. Lesser numbers of meteors will be seen before and after these dates. Try to watch the darkest part of the sky, probably the north. Bring a lawn chair or sleeping bag and bug spray, as you will be outside, sitting still for a long time, a sitting duck for mosquitoes. Although this year is something of a bust for the Perseids, the sky will be moon-free for the 2026 maximum.

ALT TEXT: White dots mark stars on a map of the night sky. Trees form the horizon.

If you trace back the trail of one of the Perseid meteors, it will appear to come from a point a little below the sidewise “W” that makes up the stars of Cassiopeia. Direct your attention a few fist widths away from this point, in the darkest part of the sky.

I have been watching the Perseids for more than fifty years now and to be honest, I normally skip them in a year like this with such heavy moon interference. However, I do plan to be out a couple of hours before sunrise, maybe starting around 4 am on the mornings of August 12 or 13. Why? Because a couple of other cool events will be happening at the very same time. If you look closely on the morning of the 12th, Saturn will appear very close to the Moon, perhaps almost drowned out by its light. Binoculars might help you to spot it. The next morning, the Moon will have shifted about a fist’s width to the left, unfortunately even closer to the meteor shower radiant, but Saturn will be easier to spot. Saturn actually rises just south of east as early as 10:30 pm in early August and 8:30 pm by the end of the month, so we will soon have a good evening planet to see.

Even more impressive will be very close gathering of the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter. Early in August, Venus will be well to Jupiter’s upper right, but its rapid motion will cause it to pass less than a degree from Jupiter on the morning of the 12th and almost as close the next morning. Venus will be much the brighter of the two. As the month continues, the two planets will have completed their game of switcheroo, with Venus now appearing to the lower left, as shown below.

ALT TEXT: White dots mark stars on a map of the night sky. Trees form the horizon.

Venus and Jupiter shine most closely together on the morning of August 12, joining the Perseid meteors. Mercury might be glimpsed in binoculars far to their lower left but will brighten and be easier to see in another few days.

Adding still more to the scene will be the emergence of usually elusive Mercury, far to the bright duo’s lower left, close to the east-northeastern horizon. With its lit side mostly facing away from Earth, the innermost planet will likely need binoculars to be seen on the 12th but will brighten substantially in the days after that. The peak of Mercury’s best morning appearance of 2025 will be near August 20th, as shown below. If there is a bit of haze or cloud you still may want to bring binoculars along, but it should be distinctly visible to the unaided eye. A beautiful crescent moon will pass through the area around this time, helping point the way. Binoculars will help you see the earthshine illuminating the unlit part of the thin crescent. Once found, you may be able to keep track of Mercury for most of the rest of August.

ALT TEXT: White dots mark stars on a map of the night sky. Trees form the horizon.

Mercury will have its best morning appearance of 2025 in the second half of August. A line from separating Jupiter through Venus points to it.

Are there any planets to be seen during convenient evening hours? Yes, but it won’t be very easy. Mars will shine as an inconspicuous “star” low in the western sky just after sunset during August. The best time to identify it will be on the evening of August 26, when the crescent moon will form a triangle with Mars and the star Spica. Now the far side of the Sun as seen from Earth and about as dim as it ever gets, Mars shines only about 1/16 as brightly as it did during its peak back in January. Bring binoculars along to see this trio, glimmering dimly in the twilight.

ALT TEXT: White dots mark stars on a map of the night sky. Trees form the horizon.

Mars will be our sole evening planet during much of August. This chart for the night of August 26 may help you find it. You may need binoculars to spot Mars and Spica in the late twilight.