3 astronomical events to look out for in August

Space mural in Downtown Huntsville astronomical events. — Watch out for these awesome astronomical events. (Curtis Venetta / Hville Blast)

It’s no secret that astronomy is a big deal here in the Rocket City. Whether you went to Space Camp as a kid or have visited the U.S. Space & Rocket Center since moving here, we all know Huntsville has a rich history with the cosmos.

There’s always something fascinating going on in outer space, and this August, you should be able to spot some astronomical events yourself.

1. Perseid meteor shower — Sunday, August 13

sky milky way — It’s called the Perseid meteor shower because it looks like it’s coming from within the constellation Perseus. (Photo by Michał Mancewicz on Unsplash)

Between 1-11AM on Sunday, August 13, the annual Perseid meteor shower will be visible. At its peak, the shower produces about 100 visible meteors per hour. You can view this spectacular shower so long as you are in a location away from clouds and excessive urban light sources.

2. Saturn will be visible — Sunday, August 27

Saturn and its rings — This is the best time of year to see Saturn in the sky. (Photo by NASA on Unsplash)

At about 3AM on Sunday, August 27, the planet Saturn will be at opposition, which is when the Earth ends up directly between the Sun and another planet in the solar system. At this time, Saturn will be the brightest and closest to Earth than it’s been all year, making it one of the most exciting astronomical events to witness.

If you don’t want to stay up to see the planet at opposition, you should still be able to spot Saturn in the sky after sunset on Saturday, August 26.

3. Super Blue Moon — Wednesday, August 30

silhouette trees at night time during full moon — You won’t want to miss this rare event. (Photo by Kym MacKinnon on Unsplash)

This event is one worth staying awake for, seeing as Super Blue Moons only occur once every 10 years. This will be the second full moon in the month of August, making it a Blue Moon. Additionally, since it’s the closest it could be to Earth — at its perigee — it’s considered a Super Blue Moon. The full moon will be visible for three days.

If you’re able to see any of these astronomical events and get some pictures, we would love to see them! Share your pictures on social media and tag us or DM us at @hvilleblast.

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