Download or play Sky & Telescope's astronomy podcast, and you'll get a guided tour of the night sky. In early evening look for Mars and Saturn embedded in Scorpius toward south, and key an eye out for Perseid meteors.

Mars-Saturn-Antares in August
During August, the positions of Mars and Saturn change with respect that of Antares and the stars of Scorpius.
Sky & Telescope diagram

Ask a skywatcher what’s special about August, and the response will likely be the Perseid meteor shower. These “shooting stars” are caused when little bits of grit shed by a comet called Swift-Tuttle slam into our atmosphere. Every August, we plow right through this stream of dusty debris. The shower should reach its peak late on Thursday night, August 11th, and Friday morning, the 12th.

While you’re waiting for the Perseids to show up, look toward south for a trio of stars in the shape of a triangle. Its very bright right corner is anchored by Mars. To its upper left is Saturn, and below that, the dimmest of the three, is the only true star: Antares, the heart of the constellation Scorpius. Mars moves eastward quite a bit this month, and by month’s end the triangle collapses to a line.

For more tips on what to see in the night sky during August, listen to (or download) our monthly astronomy podcast below.

Comments


Image of Pleiades Co.

Pleiades Co.

July 29, 2016 at 4:50 am

I wish you would have given the ZHR for the persieds

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Image of J. Kelly Beatty

J. Kelly Beatty

August 1, 2016 at 10:52 am

thanks for chiming in. the Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) is an idealized value that few observers ever achieve — and this year it's especially uncertain. typically the Perseids have a ZHR near 90, but the bright Moon will cause fewer to be seen, while conversely predictions for an enhancement might yield a ZHR near 150. even then there's disagreement: one dynamicist says that'll come at 12:40 UT on the 12th, while another predicts 4:56 UT.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Image of Robert Victor

Robert Victor

August 1, 2016 at 9:03 am

From your "Tour August's Sky": "Its very bright right corner is anchored by Mars. To its upper right is Saturn, ..." Change to: Its very bright right corner is anchored by Mars. To its upper left is Saturn,

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Image of J. Kelly Beatty

J. Kelly Beatty

August 1, 2016 at 10:54 am

thanks, Bob. now fixed. (the recording had it correctly.)

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Image of puck5862

puck5862

August 5, 2016 at 5:39 pm

Thanks Kelly. Really great podcast. I'm new to the sport. Do you have any ideas on where to find some dark sky near my home? Live in a suburb of Chicago. Heavy light pollution.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Image of Braveson

Braveson

August 9, 2016 at 3:03 am

Hi puck5862,
Where to find some dark sky near your home? (Live in a suburb of Chicago)...
As a mid-westerner, you are victim to a rather dense population. It seems that the a 1 hour drive south on I-55 will put you in the area of Braidwood which is listed as a Dark Sky area here > http://www.observingsites.com/ds_il.htm

You must be logged in to post a comment.

You must be logged in to post a comment.