Trade the indoor lights for the twilight glow this August.
Whether you’re an avid astronomer with a backyard telescope or enjoy admiring a warm summer night, the sky is offering a front-row seat to a brilliant planetary display, a dramatic lunar event, and a full Sturgeon Moon.
First up, Venus shines brightly low in the western sky shortly after sunset from Aug. 14-16. According to Time and Date, during this window the planet reaches its farthest separation from the Sun in our evening sky, making it the perfect time for viewing through a telescope, where it will appear half-lit like a tiny crescent moon.
Second up, on the night of Aug. 27 and stretching into the early hours of Aug. 28, depending on your time zone, the Full Moon will pass through Earth’s outer shadow, creating a striking partial lunar eclipse, according to NASA, who says that it will be visible across much of North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Africa.
And to cap off the month, Aug. 28 is the full Sturgeon Moon that can be seen at its brightest at 12:18 a.m., according to NASA.
Adding a bit of lore to the night sky, NASA states that August’s Full Moon carries the moniker “Sturgeon Moon.” The name traces back to Native American tribes and early settlers who found that late summer was the optimal season for catching large sturgeon in the Great Lakes.
So, step outside, look at the skies, and let August’s celestial double feature light up your summer nights.
