For astronomy enthusiasts, August 2026 will be a month to remember. Some of the most spectacular celestial phenomena—including ones that are easy to observe without telescopes or other specialized equipment—will all occur during the same week.
It’s a great time to get your viewing plans together and start refreshing your weather app to see whether the skies will be clear where you are to catch all the happenings in the heavens.
Perseid Meteor Shower
The Perseids are among the most spectacular meteor showers of the year, along with the Geminids in December and the Quadrantids in January. Every August, Earth passes through the trail of particles left behind by Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. As the fragments enter the atmosphere at high speed, they produce an intense meteor shower.
In 2026, activity will peak during the night of Wednesday, August 12, and extend into the early morning hours of the following day. It will coincide with the new moon. That means the sky will be exceptionally dark, offering prime viewing conditions.
The Perseids appear to radiate from the constellation Perseus. In reality, the meteors can streak across any part of the sky, but locating that constellation with the help of a stargazing app can make it easier to know where to look for the best chance of catching streaks across the night sky.
Solar Eclipse
The main astronomical event of the month will be a total solar eclipse. Not everyone will get a glimpse, though, with the path of totality crossing sliver of Spain, Portugal, Iceland, and Greenland. Areas outside those locations will still be treated to a partial eclipse.
The timing will be particularly dramatic, with totality set to occur at sunset on August 12. The Sun’s low position above the horizon will offer an unusual—and photogenic—scene.
This will be the Iberian Peninsula’s first time seeing a total solar eclipse in more than a century. Madrid is in the path of totality as are regions that include Galicia, Asturias, Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. In the rest of the country, the eclipse will be partial.
Those outside the eclipse path will also be able to follow the event. Agencies such as NASA and the European Space Agency will broadcast the event live. The main piece of advice for those trying to observe it: Do not under any circumstances stare directly at the sun.
Planetary Alignment
As if the solar eclipse and the meteor shower weren’t enough, in the early morning hours of August 12, an alignment of six planets will also occur. Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune will form an apparent line in the sky.
Observing this alignment is more challenging than watching the meteor shower given the faintness of some of the planets. However, if atmospheric conditions are favorable, it will be possible to see Mercury, Mars, and Saturn with the naked eye near the horizon shortly before sunrise. To observe Uranus and Neptune, you’ll need a telescope.
Lunar Eclipse
August 27 will close out the month with a partial lunar eclipse that will cover up to 96 percent of the moon’s disk. Unlike solar eclipses, which only cuts a very narrow path across the Earth’s surface, lunar eclipses can be seen from much larger regions of the planet. On this occasion, it will be visible across virtually the entirety of the Americas, from Canada to Argentina.
Also unlike this month’s solar eclipse, observing this one will require no special eye protection. Simply find a dark spot, away from light pollution and, if possible, with a clear horizon. The only protection you might need is from the cold, particularly if you’re in the southern hemisphere given the season.
This story originally appeared on WIRED en Español and has been translated from Spanish.
