It is an exciting month of August for fans of the night sky and space as there will be three meteor showers that will manifest from the cosmos, and it will also be filled with massive appearances from other heavenly bodies. The entire month would see a spectacle brought by the cosmic entities that will show itself to the planet, making this month a special one for space fans.
August Meteor Showers: Perseids, Kappa Cygnids, Alpha Aurigids
Trevor Brexon from Wikimedia Commons
August is offering a lot for space fans this month, and according to CNET, there will be three meteor showers to see in the night sky.
The first one is the nearest occurring meteor shower best known as the Kappa Cygnids, and it has already started last Saturday, August 3. However, do not worry if you were not able to see it on its opening weekend, as it will last until August 25.
It is also important to note that Kappa Cygnids' peak will take place this August 17, with this specific meteor shower being a rare event as it does not take place each year.
Despite starting last July, Perseids is set to reach its peak this August 11 to 13, with the weekend to be filled with the gracious display of lights filling the dark skies. Perseids will run until September 1, the longest among the August bunch.
Lastly, there is the Alpha Aurigids which would arrive in the latter part of the month, beginning this August 25 and would last until September 10. Its peak is expected from August 31 until September 1.
Expect a massive display in the night sky with multiple planets appearing in the night sky throughout the month, and by August 24, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible throughout the night. Moreover, it would also be followed by Uranus, and around 5:45 AM, Mercury will also show itself in the skies.
Spotting Meteor Showers in the Sky
Among the important things to note for spotting meteor showers in the sky is getting the timing right, and many guides offer schedules on when to venture to your preferred spot to see the seasonal lights in the skies. While the peak is the mostideal time to go out and see the meteor showers, do not worry if you are unable to meet it, as there are also other times before and after the said peak.
It also does not matter if you do not have fancy equipment like telescopes or specific lenses that can zoom to great lengths to give you a better view, as meteors can be seen by the naked eye. Moreover, you may also take photos or videos of it using only smartphones, with most smartphones in the market now capable of zooming to impressive lengths and capturing significant detail.
While each year has its distinct months or seasons where meteor showers will be seen, around the same schedule it had the previous year, there are rare moments like this August 2024 where there would be a lot. For meteor showers alone, there are three coming this month including the Perseids, Kappa Cygnids, and Alpha Aurigids heading the night show, alongside a lot more to see in the night sky.
