When you buy through links on our site , we may garner an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it work .
The arrival of August think two things for astronomer — " shooting stars " and theMilky Way . In 2024 , you’re able to see both at the same time if you know on the dot where and when to look .
For both sights , a dark sky unhampered by light pollution is important . you’re able to find a dark sky by doing two things . First , get far off from cities and any artificial lighting . That might think choose anInternational Dark Sky Placeor , in Canada , aDark - Sky Preserve , where artificial brightness level is reduce and shape . Or it may mean identifying somewhere that seem obscure on aflame pollution single-valued function . Second , you must search skyward when the moonshine is down . This calendar month , there ’s a new Sun Myung Moon on Aug. 4 , which will keep the post - sunset sky dark until about Aug. 8 .
Go see the Milky Way in August and you may also see “shooting stars."
That makes the first week of August apotheosis for blob " shooting stars " — while you also look for theMilky Way . genuine darkness wo n’t come until midnight for most of the Northern Hemisphere , but look to the southeast after dark , and you ’ll have a chance of seeing the Sagittarius arm of the Milky Way arching across the night sky .
relate : The milklike Way will be seeable without a scope this summer . Here are the key night to watch for .
To the naked eye , our galaxy ’s arm looks like a blurry band of spark . If you need assurance that you ’re looking in the right place , look for the three bright stars high in the southeast after dark — Vega , Deneb and Altair — which make up the famous " Summer Triangle " asterism . The Milky means flows through the Summer Triangle , roughly from Deneb to Altair .
With suitably dark skies , you wo n’t ask any gear to view the milklike direction — but a near pair ofstargazing binocularsor abackyard telescopecan help focalize on specific stars , nebulas and other feature nestled within our galaxy .
— The good shooting star exhibitioner of 2024 are yet to come . Here are the fundamental night to ascertain for .
— Space photo of the week : A cosmic ' fogey ' holding some of the oldest champion in the existence
— ' Double ' meteor shower will illume up the sky next workweek . Here ’s how to watch .
Even in dark sky , meteor showers will never " light up the night sky , " as some will have you consider . However , other August should be a great time to pick out some meteors , becausethree annual showers will be active . The Delta Aquariids ( July 18 to Aug. 21 ) and the Alpha Capricornids ( July 7 to Aug. 15 ) will be on the wane and not particularly prolific , but they ’ll lend a few shooting star per minute . More significantly , the Perseid meteor showerwill be on the rise ( July 14 to Sept. 1 ) . Perseid " spud stars " will be visible as the exhibitor builds to its peak on Aug. 11 to12 .
According to theAmerican Meteor Society , youmay see around 50 to 75 Perseidsafter midnight during the outcome ’s peak , making it one of the most spectacular meteor shower of the year .
In the night after the Perseids , the synodic month will get much brighter , plow into a full " Sturgeon Moon , " on August 19 but travel out of the pre - midnight sky by Aug. 26 . That will pass the way for more post - sunset views of the Milky Way before the month is out . It will set in the beginning each night before disappearing from scene in October , so get it while you’re able to !
Space photo of the week : Bizarre 1 - armed spiral beetleweed stuns Hubble scientist
Did uranologist just discover the smallest galaxy in the creation ?
Hatnefer ’s heart Scarabaeus sacer : An recherche ancient Egyptian gold necklace inscribe with the Book of the bushed
