August Skywatch Delivers Eclipses, Perseids, and Venus Glow
August offers a busy celestial lineup: a total solar eclipse visible from northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, and northern Spain with a partial view in parts of the United States; the Perseid meteor shower peaks Aug. 12–13 under unusually dark skies due to the New Moon; Venus shines in the western sky Aug. 14–16 at its greatest eastern elongation; and a deep partial lunar eclipse occurs the night of Aug. 27–28 across the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The guide also includes safety tips for solar viewing and tips for watching the Perseids.