August Delivers Celestial Eclipses and Exciting Events
WHO:
WTOP - Greg Redfern is the author of the "Eyes to the Skies" feature.
Sky and Telescope - The podcast discusses celestial events.
WHAT:
Live Science - On August 12, a daytime solar eclipse will partially cover the sun across Alaska, eastern Canada, and parts of the northeastern U.S., with northern Canada experiencing up to 93% coverage.
Live Science - In the U.S., Fairbanks, Alaska, will see 37% of the sun covered, while Boston will experience 16% coverage.
Live Science - In Europe, London will see a 91% eclipse and Paris will experience a 92% eclipse.
Live Science - The Perseid meteor shower is expected to produce between 50 and 75 meteors per hour under dark skies during its peak on the night of August 12-13.
WTOP - On August 7, a slim lunar crescent moon will accompany the Pleiades in the east before dawn.
WTOP - On August 9, reddish Mars and the thin crescent moon will be visible side by side in the eastern sky before dawn.
WTOP - On August 10, Algol will go to minimum brightness for two hours centered at 2:23 a.m. before getting brighter.
WTOP - On August 11, Mercury and a razor-thin lunar crescent will be visible above the eastern horizon before dawn.
WTOP - On August 15, Jupiter and Mercury will form a very close pair before dawn, with Mercury slightly to the left of Jupiter.
WTOP - On August 15, Venus will be visible in the west after sunset, accompanied by the crescent moon.
WTOP - On August 20, a bright waxing gibbous moon and the star Antares will be close together in the south after dark.
WTOP - On August 30, Algol will be visible again at 4:06 a.m.
WTOP - August features partial eclipses of the sun and moon.
WTOP - A partial solar eclipse will occur on August 12, obscuring about 1% of the sun in the D.C. region.
WTOP - The peak of the Perseid meteor shower will take place on August 12 and 13.
WTOP - A deep partial lunar eclipse will occur on August 28, starting at 9:23 p.m. and ending at 3:01 a.m. on August 29.
WHERE:
WTOP - The events will be widely visible in the D.C. region.
WTOP - Total eclipse of the sun will be visible in parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain, and a small corner of Portugal.
WHEN:
WTOP - The partial solar eclipse will take place on August 12, starting at 1:17 p.m. and ending at 2:27 p.m.
WTOP - The peak of the Perseid meteor shower will occur on August 12 and 13.
WTOP - The deep partial lunar eclipse will start on August 27 at 9:23 p.m. and end on August 28 at 3:01 a.m.
WHY:
WTOP - August is described as peak Milky Way viewing in the Northern Hemisphere, making it an exciting month for stargazers.
HOW:
Live Science - Skywatchers are advised to use ISO 12312-2 certified solar eclipse glasses throughout the entire partial eclipse and to fit binoculars, telescopes, and cameras with solar filters before viewing.
WTOP - For photographing the eclipse, the Solar Snap app is recommended for smartphone users.
WTOP - Viewers are advised to use solar eclipse glasses or filters from reputable suppliers to safely view the solar eclipse.
WTOP - Tips for photographing the eclipse using smartphones and cameras are provided.
(UPDATED August 1, 2026 19:20 UTC)
On August 12, a daytime solar eclipse will partially cover the sun across Alaska, eastern Canada, and parts of the northeastern U.S., with northern Canada experiencing up to 93% coverage. In the U.S., Fairbanks will see 37% of the sun obscured, while Boston will have 16% coverage, and in Europe, London and Paris will witness impressive eclipses of 91% and 92%, respectively. Additionally, the Perseid meteor shower is expected to light up the night of August 12-13 with between 50 and 75 meteors per hour, and skywatchers are reminded to use ISO 12312-2 certified solar eclipse glasses and equip their viewing tools with solar filters.
--
(UPDATED August 1, 2026 17:17 UTC)
On August 7, a slim lunar crescent will grace the eastern sky alongside the Pleiades before dawn, followed by reddish Mars and the thin crescent moon appearing side by side on August 9. As we move through the month, Algol will reach minimum brightness for two hours on August 10, and on August 11, Mercury will be visible above the eastern horizon with a razor-thin lunar crescent. Mark your calendars for August 15 when Jupiter and Mercury will form a close pair before dawn, and Venus will be seen in the west after sunset, accompanied by the crescent moon.
--
(UPDATED August 1, 2026 16:21 UTC)
This August, stargazers can look forward to several celestial events, including a partial solar eclipse on August 12, which will obscure about one percent of the sun in the D.C. region from 1:17 p.m. to 2:27 p.m. The peak of the Perseid meteor shower will also occur on August 12 and 13, while a deep partial lunar eclipse will take place starting on August 27 at 9:23 p.m. and ending on August 28 at 3:01 a.m. Viewers are encouraged to use solar eclipse glasses or filters from reputable suppliers for safe viewing and can find tips for photographing the eclipse with smartphones and cameras.