The Night Sky in August 2026
The days now are getting noticeably shorter as we move towards the Autumn and we can look forward to the earlier sunsets to allow longer observation sessions.
At the start of the month sunset is just after 21:05 with sunrise around 05:26 and by the end of the month it will be around 20:01, a full hour earlier with sunrise at 06:17.
There are also three major astronomical events this month.
The Partial Solar Eclipse
On 12th August weather permitting there is a chance to see a partial solar eclipse.
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2026-august-12 this site has full details.
Aprt from clouds the other issue is that for us in Norfolk the eclipse starts around 18:14 BST, the Sun will be lower in the sky and a good view to the west will be ideal. Maximum will be around 19:10 BST and last contact around 20:03 BST
(source: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2026-august-12 )
For us in Norfolk the eclipse will mean that about 65% of the Sun will be covered. As seen from the map above totality is a very narrow path.
To observe use only equipment properly protected with solar filters of for naked eye viewing certified solar eclipse glasses. These can be found at various sources and are not expensive.
https://altairastro.com/celestron-solar-eclipse-glasses-16508-p.asp are an excellent source and Norwich based. Similar can also be bought via Amazon…
The Moon
The month starts with a gibbous waning Moon, the new Moon occuring on the 12th August ready for the eclipse. Full Moon will occur on 28th August and there is a good opportunity to see a deep partial eclipse. Lunar eclipes follow a solar eclipse by roughly two weeks.
The eclipse will start at 02:24 BST and reach maximum around 05:13 BST and finish at 06:20 BST
Full details can be found here https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2026-august-28
Meteors
This month sees the peak of the Perseids. The Perseids started in July on the 17th and continue to 24th August. The peak should occur around 10-15th August. This meteor shower has its origins from the Swift-Tuttle comet of 1862, the Perseids are the debris. It should be a bright display (weather dependant of course) and maybe fireballs too?
No telescopes needed, they can be seen with the naked eye from a sun bed…observe after midnight as that is when our part of the globe faces the direction of travel. For those with all sky cameras turn them on. Alternatively you can use a mobile phone or any DSLR mounted on a tripod and pointed towards Perseus and set to take 20-30 second and ISO 1600 or as a minimum with a 10 sec gap between.
As it is a new Moon on 12th August then the viewing will not be marred by moon light.
Source Wikipedia
The planets
Mercury: At the start of August Mercury will be low in the morning sky and 1.5 hrs before sunrise. It is not best placed for observing this month.
Venus: It too will be low but in the evening sky, just 7º at the start of the month.
Mars: Mars is now a morning object but not particularly high. The waning crescent Moon will be 4° above it on 9th August. And on 15th August it will be close to M35 in Gemini.
Jupiter:
Saturn: Of all of the planets Saturn is best placed for observation. The planet was edge on in 2025 and the rings more or less invisible. They continue to open but it is not until 2032 will they again be at a maximum viewing angle. For those of you with more powerful telescopes or binoculars then Neptune can be found close to Saturn.
The constellations
Well placed to the south east from the beginning of the month onwards is the combined constellation of Andromeda & Pegasus.
Pegasus (the winged horse) is easy to spot as the four major stars form a large square, from the top left star count two brighter stars to the left, this is part of Andromeda the daughter of Cassiopeia, another nearby constellation, Andromeda was the princess who was chained to rocks as a sacrifice to the Kraken, but was rescued by Perseus on Pegasus. Perseus is also a constellation in this area.
From the second star of Andromeda look for a star just above and then with a pair of binoculars or a telescope look above that star and you should see a fuzzy blob. This is the Andromeda galaxy, 2,600 million light years away. If you are in a dark skies area like Kelling then this can also be a naked eye object, the furthest object we can see with the naked eye.
Andromeda (constellation) – Wikipedia
Pegasus (constellation) – Wikipedia
The Andromeda galaxy is heading towards our own galaxy and in 14 billion years the two will clash.
Also well placed is Lyra, the lyre, its main star Vega forms part of the summer triangle of Deneb (Cygnus) , Altair (Aquila) and Vega (Lyra) The Ring nebula is a beautiful object to observe and image, the remains on a star exploding leaving a white dwarf at its center.
Lyra also contains the double double star system which is actually five stars! Imagine sun rises on any planets in that system. The 4 major stars can be separated by a pair of binoculars and make a beautiful view..
duttonlf@gmail.com
Clear Skies!
Frank Dutton FRAS
Kings Lynn & District Astronomical Society.