Read our August sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!
Map
Constellations
These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.
Cygnus the Swan appears high in the eastern sky at sunset. It moves to cross the zenith later in the night, before beginning to set and disappearing at sunrise low in the north west. Find it by looking for the asterism The Northern Cross.
Pisces, the Fishes, rises due east around 22:30 BST at the beginning of the month, and 23:30 BST at the end of it. During the night it climbs higher towards the south, disappearing in the west at the beginning of the month and the south at the end of it. Best views will be just before dawn.
Cassiopeia, the Queen, is a circumpolar constellation so can be seen all year round. In August, it appears in the north eastern sky at sunset and moves around to the south, and finally to the west where it disappears at dawn. Look for the distinctive W shape.
Planets
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. The following effects are not visible: Mercury will be at inferior solar conjunction on the 1st, greatest elongation west on the 19th, dichotomy on the 21st, and perihelion on the 27th.
Venus can be seen very low on the north eastern horizon this month. It appears in the morning sky, rising shortly before the Sun. Better views will be at the end of the month when sunrise occurs a little later. Venus will be in conjunction with Jupiter on the 12th, at highest altitude on the 14th, and in conjunction with the Moon on the 20th.
Mars is difficult to see this month, only visible during sunset low on the western horizon at the beginning of the month. Mars will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 26th.
Jupiter can be seen low in the eastern sky this month, rising in the early hours of the morning. It climbs higher as the night continues and best views will be just before dawn at the end of the month, when it is at its highest. Jupiter will be in conjunction with Venus on the 12th and in conjunction with the Moon on the 19th.
Saturn rises about the same time as the Sun sets and so is visible all night. It climbs higher and moves across the southern sky to disappear high in the south west at sunrise. Saturn will be in conjunction with Neptune on the 6th and in conjunction with the Moon on the 12th.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It rises in the east about midnight at the beginning of the month and about 22:30 BST at the end of it, before moving higher into the south over the course of the night to disappear at dawn.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It follows extremely close to Saturn this month, and is in conjunction with Saturn on the 6th.
Meteor Showers
The Perseids reach their peak on the 12th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Perseus. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors can be seen all night. Best displays are likely to be just before sunrise when Perseus is at its highest, but peak activity occurs at 21:00 BST, so dusk displays will be good too. You will be able to see up to 143 meteors per hour.
The κ-Cygnids reach their peak on the 18th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Draco. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors can be seen all night. Best displays are likely to be between 22:00 and 02:00 BST, as Draco is at its highest around 22:00 BST and peak activity occurs around 02:00 BST. You will be able to see about 2 meteors per hour.
Moon
First Quarter: 1st, 31st (blue moon)
Full Moon: 9th
Last Quarter: 16th
New Moon: 23rd
The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 14th and apogee, its furthest point on the 1st and the 29th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will be at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 7th and perihelion, its closest point, on the 25th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon has a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 16th. They can be seen in the constellation of Taurus and will be visible from 22:49 BST through to dawn. Best views will be just before sunrise, as that’s when the pair will be at their highest. Too big to fit in the field of view of a telescope, the pair can be seen with the naked eye or binoculars.
Points of Interest
Asteroid 2 Pallas reaches opposition on the 10th. At this same point, it also reaches perigee. Lying in the constellation of Delphinius, it will be visible all night, reaching its highest point around 00:19 BST. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to view this.
Asteroid 89 Julia reaches opposition on the 10th. At this same point, it also reaches perigee. Lying in the constellation of Aquarius, it will be visible between 23:08 and 03:06 BST, reaching its highest point around 01:07 BST. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to view this.
The globular cluster Messier 15 is well placed for observation in the coming weeks, particularly on the 15th. It will be in the constellation of Pegasus and is visible all night, reaching its highest point around 01:01 BST. You will need binoculars to view this.
The globular cluster Messier 2 is well placed for observation in the coming weeks, particularly on the 15th. It will be in the constellation of Aquarius and is visible all night, reaching its highest point around 01:01 BST.
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Last updated: 16th July 2025.