Bresser August Sky Guide
August brings steadily expanding hours of astronomical darkness across the northern hemisphere. Observers situated at higher latitudes will nevertheless need to wait a little longer for true darkness to return completely. For mid-northern latitudes located near fifty degrees north, the beginning of the month provides roughly three and a half hours of true darkness each night. By the end of August, this nocturnal window increases to just under six and a half hours. This welcome extension significantly enhances the quality of both visual observations and deep sky astrophotography.
Equatorial regions experience much steadier patterns of daylight and darkness throughout the year. While readers situated at equivalent southern latitudes encounter the opposite trend, as their hours of darkness gradually decrease.
The month also features two remarkable astronomical highlights for stargazers. On the 12th August a total solar eclipse crosses parts of the Arctic and Europe - with Northern Spain being particularly blessed with a healthy portion of totality. This will offer a breathtaking spectacle for anyone positioned along this central track. Later that same night the Perseid meteor shower reaches its annual peak. As these two events coincide with a New Moon, the night sky remains exceptionally dark and free from lunar interference, creating perfect conditions for watching the Perseids at their best.
Wherever you find yourself in the world, it’s a busy month in the skies above us - so let’s see what’s in store for us this month…
The Solar System
The Sun
July 2026 delivered dynamic space weather driven by significant solar disk activity and monitored closely by NOAA and other solar observers around the world. The month opened with energetic flaring from active regions like AR4479, which launched coronal mass ejections toward Earth. This interaction triggered a prominent G3-class strong geomagnetic storm on the 4th July, producing widespread and vibrant auroral displays across high latitudes and select mid-latitude areas.
Following a quieter mid-month interlude solar energy intensified sharply as expansive new structures rotated into view. Most notably active region AR4493 emerged with a complex beta-gamma-delta magnetic field configuration. This powerhouse quickly expanded into the dominant flaring source on the solar disk, generating a series of frequent M-class solar flares and associated minor radio blackouts. Recurrent coronal hole high-speed streams simultaneously brushed past Earth producing intermittent unsettled periods and minor G1 geomagnetic enhancements. These combined solar dynamics kept auroral observers globally on alert throughout the latter half of the month.
Sunspot levels for June - the last full month’s available data at time of writing, were slightly down on predictions - 96 to 100 predicted. This is well in line with the predicted decline in activity, which still remains distinctly above average.
As usual, websites such as www.spaceweather.com and Michel Deconinck’s monthly newsletter (Aquarellia Observatory Forecasts) cover various aspects of amateur solar observations and provide valuable insights into the current state of the Sun. Signing up for the AuroraWatch app, developed by Lancaster University in the UK, is also highly recommended for those seeking advance warnings of impending auroral events.
However, the true highlight of the Sun this month is undoubtedly the Total Solar Eclipse on the 12th August, which is mainland Europe’s first since 1999, presenting an extraordinary spectacle for astronomical observers. The path of totality traverses Greenland, Iceland and Northern Spain. Observers stationed along this narrow corridor will experience up to two minutes and twenty seconds of Totality, witnessing the solar corona directly, as daylight briefly turns to twilight. For those remaining in Western Europe, away from the path of Totality, the event manifests as a deep partial eclipse, shortly before sunset, obscuring between 99-87 percent of the solar disc, in a wide track that takes in the rest of Iceland, Portugal, Spain, France, the UK and Ireland, Belgium, much of the Netherlands, Western Germany, Switzerland, Northern Italy and parts of Slovenia, Austria and Croatia. Parts of Greenland, Northern Morocco and Algeria also fall in this zone of greatest partial eclipse. Beyond this track of largest partial coverage, the partial eclipse will be seen as far west as practically the whole of Canada and parts of the Eastern seaboard of the USA, as far south as Senegal, Guinea and Cote D’Ivoire in Western Africa, plus north to the whole of Scandinavia, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and parts of the Russian Federation, Belarus, Ukraine and a reasonable swathe of Eastern European nations too.
Timing and location selection are vital to optimise the viewing experience. First contact across the British Isles begins shortly after six o'clock in the evening BST, (which is 7 o’clock CEST for much of the rest of Europe) - reaching maximum obscuration around ten past seven. Because the Sun sits low near the west-northwest horizon during the event, securing an unobstructed viewpoint, such as a coastal headland, or elevated terrain is essential. Observing conditions in Spain offer the highest probability of clear skies, whereas high-latitude locations carry increased cloud risk.
Eye safety demands rigorous adherence throughout all partial phases. Direct observation of the solar disc requires ISO 12312-2 certified eclipse glasses, such as the Bresser Eclipse Glasses available here. Standard sunglasses offer zero protection against severe retinal damage for longer term solar viewing, so should never be used as an equivalent. Optical instruments such as telescopes, binoculars or camera lenses must be fitted with approved front-aperture solar filters (such as those from Explore Scientific here), prior to targeting the Sun. Only within the path of totality, during the brief window when the Moon completely covers the solar face, may observers safely remove protective eyewear. Photographers should utilise a sturdy tripod, bracket exposures and practise on the uneclipsed Sun ahead of time to refine focusing and exposure parameters. But safety is the key for everyone who plans to watch the event - even while very low in the sky as this eclipse will be, the Sun can still do damage. Don’t ignore the dangers and risk your eyesight.
We won’t have to wait long for another Total Solar Eclipse, as the next one after this will be visible on 2nd August 2027, from Southern Spain and North Africa (which will also be visible partially across huge swathes of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and out to parts of the Far East). There will also be an Annular Solar Eclipse in Portugal and Spain (also seen partially across much of Western Europe and Africa) in January 2028.
The Moon
The Moon begins August in a Waning Gibbous phase, a few days past late-July’s Full Moon and illuminated at roughly 88%. Residing in Aquarius at this point, it lies relatively low in the southern sky for northern observers, where atmospheric lensing can cause the Moon to appear slightly larger and warmer in hue, when near the horizon, than when found higher up. Naturally, readers in the southern hemisphere will experience the exact opposite, with the Moon riding higher in their night sky at this time of year. Being heavily illuminated, the start of the month will not provide an optimum experience for deep sky observers and imagers, a situation compounded by the late-running twilight hours for those in temperate northern latitudes.
The Moon travels through Aquarius into Pisces and Aries, reaching Last Quarter phase on the 6th of August. During this initial week, pre-dawn observers can catch the waning moon tracking through the watery constellations, near Saturn and Neptune in the early morning sky.
The following week sees the Moon creeping rapidly towards the Sun as its phase slims. Moving from Aries through Taurus and Gemini, it enters Leo where it meets the Sun to become New on the 12th of August. This New Moon is exceptionally significant, as the lunar disc passes directly in front of the Sun to produce (as previously mentioned) a total solar eclipse visible across parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, while presenting a dramatic partial eclipse for observers over much Europe and beyond
Emerging into the evening sky as a delicate waxing crescent, the Moon continues its journey through Leo and Virgo, passing the brilliant Venus on the evening of the 15/16th of August. The two bodies will form a striking visual pairing, low in the western twilight shortly after sunset.
After this, the Moon continues through Libra, reaching First Quarter phase on the 20th of August. It then traverses Scorpius and the borders of Ophiuchus, before entering Sagittarius. It spends the next few days quickly passing through the deepest southernmost part of the ecliptic before emerging to reach Full phase on the 28th of August in Aquarius. This Full Moon is accompanied by a shallow partial lunar eclipse, as the Moon passes through Earth's shadow. The Eclipse begins at around 2.15am (BST) and enters the Umbral phase just over an hour later at 3.36am (BST). The eclipse reaches its deepest phase at around 5.14am, when around 96% of the Moon is completely in the Earth’s shadow. The event will end after the Moon has set from Europe, with those in the Americas able to see the entirety of the eclipse, from start to finish.
While skies are becoming dark once more, as true astronomical darkness returns to mid-northern latitudes, the end of the month will again (eclipse aside), not be ideal for deep sky observations and imaging due the Full Moon’s influence.
The Moon ends August in Pisces at a Waning Gibbous phase of around 90% illumination. The Moon will rise in the late evening a little before 9pm BST, transiting in the early morning hours and setting in the late morning hours, the following day.
Mercury
While never the easiest of planets to observe, Mercury is exceptionally well-placed for observation during early August. Rising at just after 4 am in the early part of the month, Mercury attains an altitude of just under 13° off the horizon (as observed from 50° north)at sunrise, shining at a steady +0.2 magnitude and displaying a 7.7 arc second diameter disc, which is illuminated by just under 39%.
The 2nd of August sees Mercury reaching its greatest western elongation from the Sun as it sits relatively high in the constellation of Gemini. After this point, it will begin to dip down towards the Sun again, making observation progressively more difficult as time passes.
By the time we get to mid August mercury will be a lot brighter at -1.2 magnitude but will now sit just over 10° high of the horizon at Sunrise. The morning of the 15th is significant, as Mercury and the now morning planet Jupiter are situated in close conjunction in the sky. The two are separated from each other by around 2/3 of a degree and the brighter Jupiter will signpost Mercury’s position well.
The next few days see Mercury rapidly dropping sunward, but brightening as it goes. Mercury reaches -1.7 mag a few days before it reaches superior conjunction on the 27th August. Subsequently, while the whole of August is exemplary as far as observation of mercury is concerned, it is really the third week of August that Mercury is at its best balance between peak brightness and elevation above the horizon. Although this means getting up early, this is one of the best times of the year to try and catch the solar system’s elusive innermost planetary member.
Venus
Venus begins August as a resident of Virgo. At -4.2 magnitude, displaying a 55% illuminated, 21 arc second diameter disc, Venus is certainly noticeable, but lacking in altitude from mid northern latitude upwards. On the evening of the first, Venus sits just a little above 13° high as the sun sets. Subsequently, despite its potential prominence, it is likely Venus will be obscured by local buildings and trees, unless you find a particularly open Westerly horizon to attempt to find it from.
Venus will reach maximum elongation on 15th August. That evening it will be joined in very loose conjunction with a very early waxing Crescent Moon. The two will form a pretty pairing for those with a clear enough horizon to witness the event.
After maximum elongation, Venus appears to dip towards the horizon and loses altitude as it does. By the end of August, despite increasing its magnitude to a brilliant -4.5, Venus sits just over 7 1/2° of the horizon (as observed from 50° north) at sunset. By this point it will be a 30 arc second diameter target, illuminated by just under 39%.
Mars
The Red Planet is a morning target and still rather in the doldrums as far as size and brightness is concerned. At +1.3 magnitude, displaying a 4.7 arc second diameter disc, Mars is hardly prominent in Taurus at the beginning of the month. The planet has at least retained an acceptable separation from the horizon of just over 32° (as observed from 50° north) as the Sun rises on the morning of the 1st.
Nothing much changes as far as Mars is concerned and we find the planet still static at +1.3 magnitude at August’s end. It will have increased its apparent size fractionally to 5.1 arc seconds, but at a distance of over 277,000,000 km / 172 million miles from Earth is still a very long way away from us. It will be the end of the year until we see a reasonable uplift in both size and brightness of Mars.
Jupiter
Just emerging from late July‘s superior conjunction, Jupiter is too close to the Sun for serious observation during August. By the time we get to the end of the month, Jupiter will stand around 20° high in the east at sunrise, shining at a healthy -1.8 magnitude. It will be another month or so before it is of reasonable altitude to observe seriously telescopically again in the morning sky.
Saturn
Saturn is in great shape for early morning observation during August. The planet starts the month in Pisces, at +0.6 magnitude, with an apparent size of 18.5 arc seconds. It will rise at just after 11 pm (BST) and transit a little before sunrise, at an altitude of just under 43° (as observed from 50° north).
Saturn, as reported last month is now in a retrograde motion, in its run-up to opposition in October. This is always a heartening time for observers of the outer planets and while an early start is needed, Saturn will reward the patient observer. As we have discussed in previous sky guides, it has been some time since Saturn was as well-situated as it is now for Northern hemisphere observers. Its ring system is beginning to open up an appreciably, which adds subtly to the maximum brightness of the planet. This, coupled with the increase in altitude above the horizon of the planet, put it in a much more positive observing light.
By the time we get to the end of August, Saturn will have brightened very slightly to +0.5 magnitude and now displays a 19.3 arc second diameter disc. The planet will rise at a little after 9 pm and transit at around 3:30 am the following morning. On the morning of the 31st, Saturn will be joined in Pisces by the waning Gibbous Moon, which will appear a little to the north of the planet and for beginners, will serve as a handy guide to its location.
Uranus and Neptune
Neptune lies a little further to the west of Saturn in Pisces, during August. At +7.8 magnitude, displaying a 2.3 arc second diameter disc, it is always the preserve of binoculars or telescopes. Mid-month, will see Neptune rising at a little before 10 pm and transiting at just before 4 am (both BST). By the end of August, we will be under a month from Neptune‘s opposition.
Uranus, always the brightest of the two outgas giants is a residence of Taurus and can be found between the prominent Pleiades and Hyades Star clusters of the constellation. At +5.7 magnitude, the planet is visible to the naked eye under good, dark observing conditions - though is always a lot easier a target in binoculars. Higher powered, large aperture telescopic observations will reveal subtle albedo detail on its 3.6 arc second diameter disc. Uranus will rise at a little before midnight in mid August and transit at just before 8 am the following morning. It will have attained a reasonable altitude for telescopic observation from mid-Northern latitudes, a couple of hours before sunrise.
Comets
Comet 10P/Tempel reaches the climax of its 2026 apparition during early August, delivering its most favourable return in nearly six decades. The periodic comet reaches perihelion on 2nd August and makes its closest approach to Earth on 3rd August at a distance of 62 million kilometres. Predicted to peak between magnitude 7.4 and 8.0, it remains comfortably visible through standard 50mm + aperture binoculars, small aperture telescopes, or smartscopes.
A stark contrast exists between observing perspectives in the two hemispheres. For readers in the southern hemisphere, August offers prime, high-elevation viewing. Residing at a southerly declination on the border of Capricornus and Piscis Austrinus, 10P/Tempel transits nearly overhead near the zenith around local midnight. Observers in South America, southern Africa, and Australasia will enjoy pristine viewing conditions through minimal atmospheric disturbance.
Conversely, for mid-northern observers across Europe and North America, the comet remains situated low in the southern sky. Reaching a maximum altitude of roughly 20 to 25 degrees above the southern horizon at transit point, at around 2:00 am BST, mid month. A clear, unobstructed southern viewpoint is essential to overcome atmospheric haze.
The end of the first fortnight of August provides ideal dark-sky conditions globally, as the Moon wanes towards its New Moon phase on 12th August. Visual observers can expect a soft, diffuse coma, whilst digital imagers can capture a prominent greenish coma and extended dust trail.
Meteors
The peak of the Perseid meteor shower, seen overnight on the 12th/13th of August 2026, offers extraordinary viewing conditions this year for observers the world over. The peak coincides precisely with a New Moon, thus the night sky remains entirely free from lunar glare. This pitch darkness allows even faint meteors to show up clearly against the background sky.
The shower occurs as Earth passes through debris left by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Entering the upper atmosphere at hypersonic speeds of roughly fifty-nine kilometres per second, these dust particles ionise into glowing plasma trails. Observers can anticipate seeing between fifty and one hundred meteors per hour, under pristine dark skies - alongside the occasional brilliant fireballs known as bolides.
Activity reaches its highest frequency between midnight and dawn when the radiant in Perseus climbs high into the north-eastern sky. Meteor watching is arguably the most inclusive of astronomical endeavours, as no special equipment is required. Telescopes and binoculars are detrimental to viewing, as their narrow field of view restricts the observer’s perspective. Instead, observers should lie back on a blanket or reclining chair to take in a wide expanse of the overhead sky. Take in as much sky as you can from your vantage point - meteors can be seen all over, in any direction, but Perseids can always be traced back to their radiant.
Escaping urban light pollution by travelling to a rural dark-sky site, dramatically boosts your visible tally. Allowing twenty to thirty minutes for dark adaptation and avoiding bright mobile phone screens helps tremendously when trying to pick out fainter Perseids. But even right in the centre of cities, the brightest can still be seen, if the sky is clear of clouds.
While the Perseids peak on the 12th/13th, they can be seen from any point from late July, often up to the end of August. Don't despair if the peak night is cloudy - this ever-reliable meteor show continues to deliver very reasonable returns either side of this.
DEEP SKY DELIGHTS - THE SUMMER TRIANGLE PART 1: AQUILA, VULPECULA, SAGITTA AND DELPHINUS
The Summer Triangle is an asterism that consists of the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair and was a term first associated with these stars by the Austrian astronomer Oswald Thomas in the early-to-mid 20th century, when he referred to it as Grosses Dreieck (Great Triangle) in the late 1920s and Sommerliches Dreieck (Summerly Triangle) in 1934. This area of sky takes in a huge swathe of sky: the constellations of Cygnus, Lyra, Aquila, Vulpecula and Sagitta. In part one of our coverage of this area of the heavens, we will take in the objects contained within the latter three of these constellations, plus some objects in the neighbouring adjacent constellation of Delphinus. This rich area of the Milky Way and its surroundings contains some of the best deep sky objects in the whole sky.
Starting from the most southerly tip of the Summer Triangle, we come to the major constellation of Aquila, The Eagle. Despite its size and prominent position along the plane of there Milky Way, this constellation is curiously lacking in major Deep Sky objects. The only one of great note is the interesting NGC 6741, otherwise known as The Phantom Streak. This object is a planetary nebula of +11.69 mag and diminutive in size (as many planetaries are), at just 0.1 arc minutes across. Looking like a ghostly parallelogram, the Phantom Streak is not an easy object, but its cocoon-like structure can be discerned by those with access to larger telescopes. It is a rewarding find for those with the ability to find it. The distance of NGC 6741 is not certain. Some sources list it as lying 7000 light years distant, though others think it a closer object at around 5000 light years from us. The Phantom Streak is notable for the possibility that its central star, a white dwarf remnant of a star much like the Sun, may be running out of hydrogen fuel and its dropping in luminosity. This means the Phantom Streak may not be visible in its present form for much longer - a sign we live in a dynamic Universe. Catch it while you can!
Moving up past Altair, we take a brief dog leg East into the tiny constellation of Delphinus, The Dolphin. This lovely little collection of stars, though not especially bright, can easily be made out under dark conditions. Delphinus' kite-shaped arrangement of four stars and the Dolphin's tail marked by the prominently blue Epsilon Delphini is unmistakable.
Delphinus contains two globular clusters - nether particularly bright, but worth seeking out nonetheless. NGC 6934 is the more Southerly and is found just under 11 degrees almost due east of Altair. At +8.8 mag and 1.4 arc minutes in diameter it is hardly prominent, but is location in the rich star fields of the Milky Way go someway to explaining this. Small telescopes show the cluster as a soft, rather indistinct ball of light, but larger instruments will be needed to show the scant detail it offers up to observers. Lying over 50000 light years away, NGC 6934 was one of William Herschel's many discoveries - he first catalogued it in 1785.
Herschel also discovered NGC 7006 which is located some 11 degrees to the NE of NGC 6934. At +10.56, it is one of the fainter of our galaxy's globular clusters. This faintness is understandable when one considers NGC 7006's distance - an amazing 135,000 light years hence. This cluster is described by various observers as quite comet like in appearance - a condensed central region and a halo of stars are not as distinct as they are in its neighbour. A very large telescope of 16+ inches aperture will be needed to resolve individual stars in this challenging target.
Delphinus also contains a good planetary nebula: the Blue Flash, or NGC 6905. This is more easily seen in small telescopes than either of the globular clusters previously mentioned. Indeed, it is often overlooked, due to its proximity to the nearby M27 (more of which later), but the Blue Flash deserves more observation. A blue-white ball of light, with extending lobes either side, NGC 6905 is +10.89 mag and 0.8 x 0.6 arcminutes in dimension and lies 2200 light years away. Larger telescopes will start to pick up more of the object's uneven shape and central star. It seems decidedly egg-shaped to some.
Just under 7 degrees to the west of The Blue Flash, over the border into Sagitta, The Arrow, sits another globular cluster - M71.
Discovered in 1746 by Philippe Loys de Cheseaux, M71 is a very loose globular, which was perhaps understandably classed as an open cluster for a considerable amount of time. Binoculars show it well, but smaller telescopes will start to resolve it into stars. At 3.3 arcminutes diameter and +8.18 mag, M71 is a curious beast: its spectral makeup and spread of differing star types is much more suggestive of an open cluster, though observations of the radial velocities of its constituent stars have pointed to its globular nature. It is thought to be particularly young for a globular cluster, being "only" 9 billion years of age.
Moving further Westward, over the border into Vulpecula, The Fox, we come to one of the most celebrated clusters in the whole sky - Collinder 399, otherwise known as The Coathanger, for obvious reasons! The asterism of The Coathanger contains ten bright stars, one of which is an orange-yellow colour, which contrasts nicely with the blue-white of the other nine. A perennial binocular favourite, The Coathanger is a large object at 89 arc minutes diameter is best seen in widefield instruments at low powers. Its unlikely appearance always raises a wry smile, as it is one of the sky's greatest practical jokes.
From the ridiculous to the sublime, the next object is one of the best examples of its type in the entire firmament - M27, The Dumbell Nebula. This planetary nebula is to be found 8 1/3 degrees to the east of The Coathanger and is a richly rewarding object to observe in any telescope. Small telescopes show it as an elongated glowing box. Larger apertures show more and more of the distinctive "apple core" shape. Long duration exposure images show the whole object, including its ghostly outer layers, beautiful colours and complex internal structure. The Dumbell is a true Messier object, as it was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764 and at about half the diameter of the Moon and +7.09 is easily one of the most prominent examples of its kind in the sky.
We see M27 from the side on - hence its less-than-planetary shape. Were we observing it from a polar viewpoint, it would appear ring-like. But we are fortunate that the inner structure of the nebula is so well-defined from our perspective. M27's distance is heavily debated, but now appears to be around 1200-1700 light years away. Its age is thought to be relatively young - 3-4000 years-or-so. It is an easy object to locate and should not be missed by any observer.
NGC 6885 is another inhabitant of Vulpecula and lies 4 2/3 degrees NE of the Dumbell. It is a +8.10 open cluster, around 20 arc minutes in size. Although not exceptionally bright, NGC 6885 is easily located in binoculars and is probably best-seen in a large pair. This cluster contains over fifty member stars and has distance of around 1900 light years.
