August arrives loaded with spectacles in the night sky, with Full Moon, planetary alignments, conjunctionsand one of the best meteor showers of the year. If you are a lover of the sky, be prepared to get up early or stay up late: this month, looking up will be very worthwhile.
August 9: Sturgeon Full Moon
The Moon will reach its full phase on August 9 at 07:55 GMTThe Full Moon is located in the constellation Capricorn. Although technically the Full Moon lasts only an instant, it will be fully illuminated for two or three nights. In the following days it will enter its waning phase (August 16), will reach the New Moon on the 23rd and will grow again until closing the month with a fourth crescent on the 31st.
Important points
August 11: Alignment of 6 planets
Six planets -Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune- will form a morning planetary alignment. Four of them will be visible with the naked eye (Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn), while for Uranus and Neptune you will need binoculars or a telescope. Venus and Jupiter will be particularly close on August 12separated by less than 1 degree: a spectacle you can cover with your little finger.
Saturn will be seen in Pisces, bright and golden, just above the nearly full Moon. Mercury will be the most difficult to see, very low above the eastern horizon before dawn. The best time to observe the alignment will be between the August 9 and 12The best conditions will be in dark places and in the southern hemisphere. The best conditions will be in dark places and in the southern hemisphere.
August 11-12: Perseid Meteor Shower Peak
The Perseids will peak on the night of August 11-12with up to 100 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, the Moon will still be very bright (91 %), which will affect visibility. Still, you will be able to see bright meteors if you observe from a dark place without artificial lights. Look northeast toward the constellation Perseus between 2 and 5 a.m.
🎯 Key tips:
- Arrive 30 minutes early to allow your eyesight to adjust to the darkness.
- Bring a blanket, warm clothes and a hot drink.
- Don't use your cell phone: its light affects your night vision
🌠 Featured conjunctions of the month.
- August 12: Venus near Jupiter (at only 0°52′), and the Moon near Neptune.
- August 16: Moon next to the Pleiades, the famous star cluster in Taurus
- August 19-21: The Moon will meet Jupiter, Venus and Mercury on consecutive days.
- August 23: New Moon, ideal for observing the sky without lunar interference
- August 26: Moon will pass close to Mars in Virgo
Conclusion
August 2025 is a stellar month for astronomy lovers. Alignments, conjunctions and meteor showers remind us that the universe is in constant motion. If you have clear skies and a little patience, every early morning will be an opportunity to marvel.
📸 Did you capture something with your camera? Tag @canalmeteo or use the hashtag. #CieloCanalMeteo so that we can share it.
