This week is packed with celestial drama from one of the year's most-anticipated meteor showers to a rare pairing of the two brightest planets in our sky. Venus and Jupiter cozy up in the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday, the same night the Perseids peak, while the bright moon keeps company with Saturn and Neptune. Later in the week, enjoy the Milky Way rising from the Teapot, the moon gliding toward the Pleiades, and a third quarter phase that opens the door to darker evening skies. Whether you're chasing meteors, photographing planets, or tracing constellations, there's something worth stepping outside for each night.
In the eastern sky between 4 a.m. and sunrise, Venus and Jupiter shine less than a finger's width apart, their closest pairing of the year. The duo will share binocular views all week.
Late Tuesday night, a waning gibbous moon shines to the left of Saturn, with faint Neptune just above the ringed planet. A telescope will reveal Neptune's bluish disk.
The Perseids reach their peak tonight, delivering up to 100 meteors per hour. A bright moon will reduce numbers, but this shower's brilliant fireballs are still worth the watch, especially before dawn.
Look south after dusk to spot the Teapot asterism in Sagittarius. When it's highest, around 10 p.m. local time, the Milky Way streams from its "spout," marking the center of our galaxy.
The half-lit moon rises near the Pleiades star cluster, with Uranus nestled below. In western time zones, the moon may be close enough to the cluster to fit together in binoculars.
The moon reaches third quarter at 1:12 a.m. EDT (05:12 GMT), rising around midnight and lingering into the afternoon. This phase begins a week of dark evening skies, perfect for Milky Way viewing.
The third quarter moon arrives on Saturday, Aug. 16, offering ideal conditions for late-night stargazing. With the moon not rising until around midnight, the evening hours are free of bright moonlight, making it the perfect time to explore faint star clusters, nebulas, and the glowing band of the Milky Way.
Want to explore more? Check out our ultimate guide to observing the moon for tips and tools to get the most out of each phase.
The Perseids are one of the most visually spectacular meteor showers of the year and are known for spawning impressive fireballs that light up the night sky.
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