Charting the Stars: Complete Guide to August 2024’s Astronomical Events in the UK!

In August, the UK skies are set to come alive with a series of spectacular astronomical events that every stargazer should mark on their calendars. This month, nights begin to lengthen in the Northern Hemisphere, providing more time for stargazing before midnight compared to earlier summer months. So, let’s take advantage of this chance.

What’s In the Spotlight for the UK? Best Astronomical Events of August

The highlight of the month is undoubtedly the Perseid meteor shower. It coincides with favourable viewing conditions, as the Moon will set early, leaving dark skies for optimal meteor watching. Additionally, August features a rare conjunction of Mars and Jupiter, and a Blue Sturgeon Supermoon. Down here on Earth, the UK is buzzing with space-related events and conferences that’ll blow your mind. But let’s get started with the cosmic wonders you can catch right from your own backyard.

4 August: New Moon

On this day, the night sky will welcome a New Moon, occurring at 12:13 PM EDT. This phase marks a perfect opportunity for stargazers, as the absence of moonlight allows for darker skies, enhancing visibility for celestial observations. For example, this New Moon will provide a great chance to observe planets like Venus and Mercury, which will be visible shortly after sunset.

12 August: Perseid Meteor Shower Peak

It’s one of the most anticipated celestial events of the year! On the night of August 12, 2024, and into the early hours of August 13, the Perseid meteor shower will peak, offering a dazzling display of shooting stars. The Perseids, known for their high hourly rate and bright meteors, are caused by Earth passing through debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. This year, the peak coincides with the Moon’s first quarter phase, ensuring relatively dark skies that will enhance visibility.

Observers in the UK can expect to see up to 100 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, with the best viewing times being after midnight until dawn. To maximize your experience, find a dark location away from city lights, allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness, and look towards the constellation Perseus, where the meteors will appear to radiate from.

14 August: Conjunction of Mars & Jupiter

During this astronomical event, the two planets will appear exceptionally close in the predawn sky, separated by only about 18 arcminutes, which is less than the apparent width of a full moon. Jupiter, with its bright magnitude of -2.2, will be the more prominent of the two. In contrast, Mars will exhibit a reddish hue, shining at a magnitude of 0.8.

This conjunction provides an excellent opportunity for both amateur and experienced astronomers to observe the planets in close proximity, and it will be visible to the naked eye. For those using binoculars or a small telescope, this event will also allow for the observation of Jupiter’s four largest moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—known as the Galilean moons, as well as some surface features of Mars. To catch this stunning alignment, viewers should look towards the eastern horizon approximately two hours before sunrise. 

19 August: Blue Sturgeon Moon and Sumermoon

This full moon is special for several reasons. First, it’s a “Blue Moon,” which in this case refers to the third full moon in a season with four full moons, rather than the usual three. Secondly, it’s known as the “Sturgeon Moon,” a name traditionally given to August’s full moon by Native American tribes who found this time ideal for fishing sturgeon in the Great Lakes. Adding to its significance, this Blue Sturgeon Moon will also be a supermoon, appearing larger and brighter than usual due to its closer proximity to Earth.

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The moon will reach peak illumination at 2:26 PM EDT (18:26 GMT) but will be visible throughout the night. This rare combination of a seasonal Blue Moon, traditional Sturgeon Moon, and supermoon makes it a must-see event for astronomy enthusiasts and casual observers alike. 

21 August: Lunar Occultation of Saturn

This phenomenon occurs when the Moon passes in front of Saturn, temporarily hiding it from view. The occultation will be visible from the UK region, weather permitting. The event will begin in the late evening hours, with Saturn disappearing behind the Moon’s dark limb. Exact timings will vary slightly depending on your specific location within the UK. For most observers, Saturn will vanish around 22:30 BST (21:30 UTC) and reappear from behind the Moon’s bright limb approximately an hour later, around 23:30 BST (22:30 UTC).

Through binoculars or a small telescope, you may be able to see Saturn’s rings and some of its moons before and after the occultation. The Moon will be nearly full during this event, at about 99% illumination, which will make for a striking visual contrast as Saturn disappears and reappears.

28 August: Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

This comet, discovered in early 2023, has been the subject of much anticipation and speculation among astronomers. Initially thought to have the potential to become a bright, naked-eye comet, recent observations suggest it may be undergoing a process of disintegration. As of this date, the comet will be approximately one month away from its closest approach to the Sun (perihelion), which is set to occur on September 27, 2024. Observers should look for the comet in the pre-dawn sky.

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While its brightness is uncertain due to the potential fragmentation, even if it doesn’t reach naked-eye visibility, it should still be observable with binoculars or small telescopes. The comet’s rapid motion – travelling at an impressive speed of about 180,610 miles (290,664 km) per hour relative to Earth – means its position will change noticeably even over short periods. the unpredictable nature of comets and the possibility of further fragmentation, observers are encouraged to check the latest astronomical updates for the most current information on Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS’s appearance and location.