In early August, the Moon will successively approach six planets of the Solar System. It will be possible to see it next to Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter before dawn, said Vladilen Sanakoev, an engineer at the UrFU observatory.
The cosmic series will begin on August 3 with an encounter with Neptune – a telescope will be needed for observation. The next day, Saturn will be nearby, and on August 7, Uranus, which can be attempted to find with binoculars.
On August 9, the Moon will pass near Mars, and on August 11, it will approach Mercury and Jupiter. The latter pair will be very low above the northeastern horizon, so it is better to choose a place without houses and trees in front of your eyes.
Another notable event of the month is expected on the night of August 12 and 13 – the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. No special instruments will be required: glowing trails will be left by particles of the Swift-Tuttle comet, burning up in the atmosphere at an altitude of 100 to 160 kilometers.
From August 25, in the early morning, it will also be possible to observe the flyovers of the International Space Station. It shines brighter than most night objects, second only to the Moon in brightness. Moreover, it is in August, after a period of bright summer nights, that it truly gets dark again.
Read more on the topic:
- The Moon has shrunk over millions of years: scientists have discovered the reason for the Earth's satellite's contraction
- The Perseid meteor shower in 2026 will be especially visible: the Moon will not interfere with summer observations
- Six Planets Will Be Visible on the Night of the Perseid Meteor Shower on August 12-13