9 night sky events to see in August, from a total solar eclipse to the return of the northern lights
This month brings an exceptional lineup of celestial events, with rare alignments, brilliant meteors, and dramatic eclipses lighting up the sky.
Stargazers have waited all year for this action-packed August—a month with an exceptional total solar eclipse over a sliver of Europe, and near-perfect Perseid meteor shower conditions.
And that’s just the start. August’s sky sights range from planet groupings to a second eclipse, plus the return of northern lights season late in the month.
Here’s how to make the most of this month’s night-sky happenings, including when and where to look.
Pre-dawn planet gathering—All August
August brings a spectacular morning planet parade, with Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune visible for roughly several hours before sunrise. You’ll need a telescope or strong binoculars to spot Uranus and Neptune. Around an hour before dawn, Mercury and Jupiter join the show, just above the east horizon.
(12 spectacular night sky events to see in 2026.)
For the best view, head out on August 4 to watch the moon and Saturn travel close together; they’ll be visible soon after twilight. Soon before sunrise from August 8 to 11, another spectacle begins: a tight planet alignment above the east horizon, with Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and the moon appearing in a diagonal line. It’s a visual representation of the ecliptic—the plane all planets follow around the sun.
Mercury at greatest western elongation—August 2
Speedy Mercury is often too close to the sun to spot easily. On August 2, the view improves as it hits its greatest western elongation, or its farthest apparent separation from the sun. The timing coincides perfectly with August’s early morning planet parade. Watch for the swift planet, along with many of our other interstellar neighbors, in the pre-dawn hours—especially early in the month.
Moon occults Pleiades—August 7
After midnight on August 7, many U.S. stargazers can watch the waning crescent moon cross over several of the Pleiades star cluster’s blue dots. It’s known as the lunar occultation of the Pleiades, and the entire spectacle lasts roughly an hour, starting around midnight when the moon and the star cluster rise. Viewing varies based on your coordinates. You’ll see the most dramatic show, with several of Pleiades’s pinpricks disappearing as the moon slides across, in the eastern U.S.
Total solar eclipse—August 12
Mid-August brings the much-anticipated total solar eclipse. The marvel, which occurs when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, will bring temporary dusk to Europe’s tight path of totality. This includes eastern Greenland, western Iceland, and northern Spain, where the late afternoon’s stretch of dim totality—when the moon fully covers our bright star—will last between one to just over two minutes.
Much of Europe, northwest Africa, and eastern Canada will enjoy a partial eclipse of varying degrees. Those in the easternmost U.S. will enjoy a small stint of the eclipse that afternoon, too. Make sure to have your eclipse glasses handy for safety.
Perseid meteor shower peaks—August 12-13
The Perseids are a summer stargazing staple, and this year, they could put on quite the show. The meteor shower’s peak from August 12-13 coincides with a new moon, which means no lunar light will obstruct this year’s Perseid show. Under inky skies, you could see over 100 meteors per hour. The Perseids are known for their exceptionally speedy trains—the trail that follows the space rock after it hits our upper atmosphere. The best viewing occurs from midnight to dawn.
(Why this year’s Perseid meteor shower will be one to watch.)
Near-total lunar eclipse—August 27-28
All 50 U.S. states will enjoy at least a glimpse of late August’s partial lunar eclipse. During this event, Earth’s shadow will cover around 96 percent of the full moon. Since it’s partial, it won’t become a bright-red blood moon like this March’s total lunar eclipse, but stargazers can still admire a subtle orange glow. Catch it in the southern sky around midnight on the East Coast on August 27, and around 9 p.m. on the West Coast. Use a stargazing app to confirm exact timing for your location.
(Learn more about the three types of lunar eclipse.)
Full “sturgeon” moon—August 28
August’s full moon lights up the sky around 12 a.m. ET on August 28. While the night of August 27 into 28 is the best time to watch for the eclipse effect, you can also spot the orb looking especially large and luminous as it rises the evening of August 28. Admire the moonrise along the east horizon, roughly around when the sun sets. It’s known as the full “sturgeon” moon for the proliferation of sturgeon fish around the Great Lakes and the northeast’s Lake Champlain, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Moon nears Saturn—August 30-31
The moon closes this busy celestial month with a close approach of Saturn overnight from August 30 to 31. The pair will appear within five degrees, or three finger widths, of each other. Watch them rise together above the east horizon about two hours after sunset. They’ll travel across the ecliptic throughout the night, disappearing come sunrise. The rest of the month’s planet parade will follow behind them, including Mars and Jupiter, which are most noticeable to the naked eye.
Aurora season begins—Late August
Late August marks the return of northern lights season as darkness gradually returns to Arctic skies. Night sky seekers in destinations such as Alaska, northern Canada, Iceland, and Scandinavia may catch the first aurora displays if clear skies and strong solar activity align. For the best viewing, head away from city lights and keep an eye on the space weather forecast before venturing out.
