Actual Astronomy - The Observer's Calendar for August 2026

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan who enjoy teaching astronomy classes and showing the public views through their telescopes. [email protected]

Episode 545 of the Actual Astronomy podcast features hosts Chris and Shane discussing the observer's calendar and planetary visibility for August 2026. Throughout the month, skywatchers can track key planetary positions, including Venus in the morning sky and Jupiter rising around 3:00 AM. Notable astronomical highlights include the Perseid meteor shower, multiple lunar feature viewings, and a partial lunar eclipse accompanying the Full Moon on August 28th.

Planet Positions & Visibility:

- Mercury: Very close to the Sun. Superior conjunction on the 27th.

- Venus: In W, evening sky all month.

- Mars: Rises at 3 AM in ENE.

- Jupiter: Hidden behind the Sun at the start of Aug. Will rise around 5 AM by the end of month.

- Saturn: Rises in E around midnight, transits around 5:00 AM, high in SSE at dawn.

Astronomical Events by Date:

- August 2

- Mercury at greatest morning elongation (19° from Sun)

- Comet 10P/Tempel 2visible at 2:25 AM

- Image for when moon leaves in second week of Aug.

- August 3

- Lunar Feature (Mare Orientale) visible at 4:45 AM

- Carbon star RS Cyg best in evening

- August 5

- Last Quarter Moon at 22:21

***August 5 Falcon 9 Upper Stage lunar impact anyone?***

- August 9

- Mars 4° SW of crescent Moon before dawn.

- Star cluster NGC 6791 well placed this evening

- August 10

- Moon at perigee

- Wild Duck Cluster (M11) well placed this evening

- August 11

- Mercury 2° South of Moon, just before dawn.

- Globular clusters M22 and M28 well placed this evening

- August 12

- New Moon at 13:37 — Partial solar eclipse for US east coast.

- Perseid meteors (ZHR=100), late evening, but best seen after midnight

- August 16

- Venus 9° W of Moon

- August 19

- First Quarter Moon at 22:46

- Lunar feature Barrow Ray visible at 8:30 PM

- Carbon star S Sct best in evening

- August 23

- Lunar feature Jeweled Handle visible at 12:00 AM

- Carbon star V CrB best in evening

- August 26

- Crater Bailly visible at 10:00 PM

- 57 Aql (colorful double star) visible

- August 28th

- Full Moon: Occurs at 0:19.

- Partial (96%) Lunar Eclipse

- 9 Metis at Opposition: Visible at magnitude m = 9.3 The asteroid was discovered on April 25, 1848, by Irish astronomer Andrew Graham. It was his only asteroid discovery and holds historical significance as the only asteroid ever discovered from an observatory in Ireland (the Markree Observatory). Scientists believe 9 Metis has a cataclysmic history. It is highly dense and rich in metals, leading researchers to conclude that it is likely the core remnant of an ancient, much larger primordial asteroid. This parent body was completely destroyed and stripped of its outer crust by a colossal space collision billions of years ago.

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