The night sky is a breathtaking spectacle to see every night. But every year, come August, numerous celestial events are worth looking up to, even if you’re not a stargazer. Starting from the annual meteor shower to a one-of-a-kind comet that won’t come back for another few million years, here are all the cool things to see in the sky this upcoming August.
In our opinion, each and every one of these events is worth the trip to a remote, dark location. After all, don’t you think it’s worth driving a few miles to behold a spectacle happening thousands and thousands of miles away?
We mentioned the annual Perseid meteor shower at the beginning of the article, but this year, it’s going to be a little different than usual. Since August's full moon overlaps with the peak of the meteor shower (effectively overshining the meteors), we recommend taking advantage of the darkest days of the month. Try to catch the early start of the meteor shower during the first nights of the month. Contrary to popular belief, watching a meteor shower is best done just before dawn (not in the middle of the night).
Did you know?
Calling this phenomenon a meteor "shower" makes it sound like the meteors are coming toward us. But that is hardly the case. The annual Perseid meteor shower is caused by the journey of the Earth through an ice belt in the Milky Way. This ice belt is the space debris of a comet that completes a circle around the sun every 133 years.
Scientists estimate that in 2,000 years, the comet will hit the Earth with a force much larger than the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. Just reading about it made a chill go down my spine! But knowing that this will be eons in the future provides some comfort.
Did you know you could see the Milky Way with the naked eye? This can only happen during the summer, and August is peak season. As always, a clear, dark night will give you your best shot at a clear view. I like to think of it as sitting and looking out of the window, only that the window is the actual sky, and we’re looking out into the galaxy instead of the street. According to Treehugger, by mid-August, the Milky Way will be visible by 10 PM and directly overhead by midnight.
The meteor shower and the Milky Way will be best seen in the northern to mid-southern hemispheres.
This event will likely not be as interesting to those who don’t take a special interest in either photography or outer space. We are, of course, talking about the last super moon of the year. A 'super moon' is a term used to describe the phenomenon of a full moon reaching its closest approach to Earth. It will peak on the evening of August 11 at 9:36 PM and be visible throughout the entire earth in both hemispheres.
On August 14, Saturn will be the closest it's been to Earth all year. It will also shine brightly enough for you to see it with the naked eye, and with a basic pair of binoculars or a small home telescope, you might even get a glimpse of its rings!
To find it, look for the brightest "star" (actually planet) in the evening sky. That would be Jupiter. You will be able to see Saturn all night long, as it rises just after sunset in the east and sets just after sunrise in the west. If you do bring out a pair of binoculars, make sure you look for Titan- Saturn‘s moon. If the sky will be cloudy or the moon will obscure your planet show, know that Saturn will remain just as bright throughout the month.
Saturn will be visible throughout the entire earth.
Mind-Blowing Images From the 2019 Astronomy Photo Contest
Held by the Royal Observatory Greenwich, these are the winners of the 2019 Insight Investment Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition
These Details About Outer Space Are Captivating & Shocking
There is so much we don't know yet about the vast universe we live in. This video explores some lesser-known facts about outer space.
An Astronomical Event That TRULLY Won't Happen Again
This comet will only pass the Earth once. See it now before it's too late!
7 Discoveries of Albert Einstein that Changed the World
The 7 biggest discoveries of Albert Einstein and how they changed the world forever.
What's so Exciting About James Webb Space Telescope?
Why the new James Webb space telescope is much, much better than Hubble.
Take an Interactive Tour of Our Colossal Milky Way Galaxy
Fly Through the Milky Way Galaxy!
The Most Frightening and Bizarre Creatures of the Ocean
Terrifying and alien creatures of the dark depths of the ocean
16 Fascinating Plants You Have to See to Believe!
How many of these interesting plants have you seen before?
I Bet You've Never Seen Animals Like These Before!
From a pink dolphin to a brown panda, you have probably never seen these weird and rare variations of animals.
Fly Through the Most Royally Stunning Castles of Europe!
I love this wonderful drone footage of the great castles and palaces of old Europe so much I just had to share it with you. It's a true life fairytale.
HEARTWARMING: Animals Embracing Newfound Freedom
In this touching compilation video of animals tasting freedom for the first time wwill melt your heart.
Admire the Never Ending Beauty of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful and awe-striking natural wonders of the USA - take a tour through this must-see location in this video.
Spore to Fungi: The Lifecycle of Mushrooms in Fast-Forward
Enjoy this look into one of nature's most incredible shows: the lifecycle of the mushroom in time-lapse over 2 years.
These Animal Facts Are Both Adorable and Interesting
Twenty fascinating animal facts that we bet you never knew about!
West Canada is Wild, Strong and Ever So Pretty
The wilds of West Canada are some of the most jaw dropping natural scenes in all the world we live on.
10 of the Largest Living Birds in the World
Check out this list of the largest and heaviest birds that inhabit our planet today.
Inspired Gardening: The Most Beautiful Garden Quotes
Gardening is more than just a hobby - it's a quality that teaches us and inspires. Here are 12 heartwarming quotes that will inspire your gardening.
These Photos Prove How Colorful and Beautiful Our World Is
Our planet is so beautiful and full of color, and these photo go a long way to proving just that.
16 EERIE Close-Ups of Bugs Under a Microscope
Take a look at these terrifying close-ups of insect faces.
15 Bizarre Animals You Just Don't See Every Day...
There are so many odd species of animals roaming the corners of the Earth. 15 bizarre looking animals I never knew existed on the planet!
These Ocean Species Look Like They're From Another Planet
These ocean species are unlike anything I've ever seen before.
This Stunning Bird of Prey Video Will Leave You in Awe!
Be humbled by the extreme beauty of these birds of prey in their natural environment.
These Cute Animal Encounters Took People by Surprise
Enjoy these touching images of harmony between animals and humans.
This Man Saved the Tiniest Bird You've Ever Seen
This video is heart melting. Such a good guy this man is, saving the tiniest birds you've ever seen. See the tiny eggs transform into tiny creatures of fluff and feather.
I Never Knew Bosnia Could Be So Breathtaking!
An incredible video of Bosnia & Herzegovina filmed for six months, displaying the natural beauty of this gorgeous country.
The Flowers & Blossoms of Fruit Trees Are Achingly Pretty
There are few things in this world that are quite as magical as a flowering or blossoming fruit tree. Take a look at 15 stunning images of fruit tree flowers.
WATCH: These Two Elephants Meet After 20 Years...
Being apart for 20 years can be hard, and when these 2 elephants finally met again, the results were simply beautiful.
Watch 1 Little Seed Become a Tree With NO Soil
From seed to fruit in 1 minute - watch this process unfold in a particularly satisfying time lapse.
Collection: The World's Mightiest Mountains
Look through our biggest ever collection of incredible landscape photos of mountains from every corner of the Earth. Enjoy!
These Landscape Photos Won Awards for a Good Reason
The winners of The International Landscape Photographer of the Year contest have been announced, and it’s the perfect excuse to gaze at their stunning pictures.
Animal Kingdom: Meet the World’s Grumpiest Cat
Pallas’s cats are perhaps the most unusual wild cats of our planet.
13 Incredible & Intricate Homes of Animal Architects
The amazing homes animals build for themselves are both mesmerizing and brilliant. Behold nature’s most amazing architects.
The Beautiful Wildlife of Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is a wonderful place that has a large number of wild animals.
This is How Mountain Goats Defy Physics and Gravity
They're known to be able to defy the laws of physics, and today we'll discover exactly how they do that.
20 Ways to Turn that Blank Wall into a Vertical Garden
Gardening can be done anywhere and sometimes you just don't have land. That hasn't stopped these creative people from growing plants in all sorts of spaces.
The Internet's Burning Questions About Biology, Answered
Watch biologist Thor Hanson answer some fascinating questions about biology in this video.
The Ocean’s Floor Is Alive with Colorful Sea Slugs
The ocean is vast and mysterious, populated with alien like colorful creatures. These sea slugs are mesmerizingly beautiful.
16 Award-Winning Shots That’ll Take Your Breath Away
The 2020 winners of the nature photography competition BigPicture have been announced, and they are astounding!
Best of Animal Photography: 17 Stunning Images
Check out the most amazing shots of animals caught on camera from “The Decisive Moments Magazine”.
Beautiful! This Nimble Bird is a Magical Sight to Watch
Both strong and beautiful the hummingbird is a magical sight to watch. Look through this beautiful tribute to the nimble bird.
These Pictures Perfectly Capture the Magic of Fall
Enjoy this beautiful collection of fall pictures.
These Gardens Will Inspire You to Pay them a Visit
Take a walk through some of the most beautiful gardens from around the world.
Watch this Colorful Caterpillar Turn into a Stunning Moth!
Watch as this gorgeous caterpillar goes through the various stages of growth, to eventually emerge as a beautiful puss moth.
These Magnificent Cherry Blossoms Will Take Your Breath Away
Cherry blossoms are beautiful flowers associated with Japan and springtime. Discover the other parts of the world lined with these exquisite flowering cherry trees.
Breathtaking! Nature Has Never Looked This Beautiful!
Check out some of the finest photos from National Geographic's 2017 'Nature Photographer of the Year' awards.
These Photographs Beautifully Capture Stunning Sunsets
Enjoy this stunning series of orange, red and golden sunsets, and share with those who have beauty in their heart.
Humans Aren't the Only Devoted Parents...
Beautiful examples of the kind of parents you'll find in the animal kingdom.