August Universe Unfolds Beautifully
Summary
August offers a rich set of skywatching events, including favorable views of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus, along with the Perseid meteor shower. The month also brings a new moon, Janai Purnima, and solar and lunar eclipses, though neither eclipse will be visible from Nepal.
Key Points
- Mercury is briefly visible before dawn early in the month, while Venus shines in the western evening sky and Mars, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus are also observable at different times.
- The new moon falls on 12 August and the full moon on 28 August, which coincides with Janai Purnima.
- A total solar eclipse on 12 August and a partial lunar eclipse on 28 August will not be visible from Nepal.
- The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of 12–13 August, with up to 100 meteors per hour under dark skies.
