August sky guide: Shooting stars, visible planets, and Moon events you shouldn't miss
August 12–13: The Perseids Meteor Shower (Shooting Stars Galore)
The Perseids are one of the best meteor showers of the year and they're happening right now. They've been going since late July and will continue lighting up the sky until August 24. But their peak, the night they're supposed to be the most active lands on August 12–13.
At its best, the Perseids can produce up to 150 meteors per hour. That's like two or three shooting stars every minute. But here's the twist. This year, the full moon (August 9) is just a few days before the peak, so its bright light might wash out the faint meteors. That doesn't mean you won't see any, just that the show won't be as dramatic unless you find a really dark spot.
If you're in India, the best time to catch the shower is after midnight until before sunrise on August 13. Try heading away from the city, somewhere like Spiti, Ladakh, Rann of Kutch or even rural parts of Karnataka or Uttarakhand. The darker the sky, the better the show. And if you miss the peak? Don't worry. You can still catch a few meteors in the days after especially around August 16–20, when the moonlight starts to fade and the skies darken again.
Later in the month, something more poetic will grace our skies. On August 26, westward just after sunset, there will be a delicate crescent moon hanging low in the sky and sitting right next to it will be a small, reddish dot and that's Mars. They'll be visible around 8:15 PM, close to the horizon and will appear to hover next to each other for about an hour before they fade away with the twilight.
You don't need binoculars – just a clear view of the western sky. Maybe even a rooftop or balcony will do.
August 12 (early morning): Venus and Jupiter will rise together in the eastern sky, super close, just 1° apart. They'll look like two very bright stars next to each other.
August 19: Mercury will be at its best for viewing, east before sunrise. It's tiny and easy to miss, so try using a stargazing app to help you spot it.
August 23: It's a New Moon, which means no moonlight at all, perfect for spotting fainter stars and maybe even the Milky Way.
You don't need to be an astronomy expert to enjoy what the sky has to offer- just a little time and a patch of open sky. So step outside, look up and let the universe remind you how beautiful stillness can be.
(This article has been curated by Kaashvi Khubyani, who is an intern with The Indian Express.)
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