The sky is about to put on an incredible show through August, as celestial events occur throughout the month. But one day in particular will offer the ultimate stargazing experience.
On Wednesday, Aug. 12, there will be a planetary alignment early in the morning, a solar eclipse in the afternoon, a new moon at night and the Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak.
The Perseid meteor shower is considered the "best meteor shower of the year," according to NASA. It can produce between 50 and 100 meteors, also known as shooting stars, in one night. On Aug. 12, it will peak, producing the most shooting stars.
Since these celestial events also coincide with the new moon on Aug. 12, skies will be extra dark and the moon's light won't interfere as much.
Here's what to know.
Skywatching events happening on Aug. 12
On Aug. 12, the following celestial events will occur, according to NASA and Star Walk:
- A planetary parade, also known as a planetary alignment, including six planets, will be visible in the hours before sunrise.
- A partial solar eclipse will be visible in U.S. states from Alaska to North Carolina beginning at around 11:34 a.m. ET, according to Time and Date. The maximum eclipse will occur at 1:46 p.m. ET. (Remember, you need special solar eclipse glasses to safely view this.)
- Perseid meteor shower peaks from the evening of Aug. 12 to the morning of Aug. 13.
There will also be a new moon, which will make the night sky "ideally dark," per NASA.
The US will not see a total solar eclipse
The Aug. 12 total solar eclipse will only be visible from Greenland, Iceland, Spain, Russia and parts of Portugal. Residents in some U.S. states will be able to see a partial eclipse using specialized eclipse glasses.
In the U.S., the sun will look like a cookie with a small bite taken out of it, according to NASA.
What states will be able to see the partial solar eclipse?
The following states will be able to see a partial solar eclipse on Aug. 12, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting and National Eclipse, an organization that provides information on upcoming eclipses:
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Indiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Vermont
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
The planets will align and parade through the sky
On the morning of Aug. 12, six planets will align and look like they are parading across the night sky, according to Star Walk.
The following planets will be visible in the hours leading up to sunrise:
- Jupiter
- Mercury
- Mars
- Uranus
- Saturn
- Neptune
Only a few of the planets will be visible to the naked eye. Mars and Saturn will be easier to spot, but astronomers wanting to see Uranus will need binoculars, while those wanting to see Neptune will need a telescope, according to Star Walk.
Beginning on Aug. 14, just a few days after the parade, Venus will be at its brightest and outshine each star around it as it reaches its greatest eastern elongation, which is when it reaches its "widest apparent separation from the Sun," according to NASA. It will look like it is "half lit, like a tiny lunar phase" to the backyard astronomers who catch a glimpse of the planet through a telescope.
While searching for the planets, don't be surprised if they look like stars. Using an astronomy app, like Star Walk, Sky Tonight or SkyView, will make it easier to pinpoint where the planets are.
A partial lunar eclipse at the end of August
On Aug. 27, leading into the early morning of Aug. 28, there will be a lunar eclipse that will be visible in North and South America. Unlike the solar eclipse, the entire U.S. will be able to see the whole or part of the lunar eclipse.
The East Coast and some of the Midwest will be able to experience the full partial lunar eclipse, which will cover 93% of the moon, according to NASA. The West Coast will be able to see some of the lunar eclipse.
Tips for stargazing
Those who plan to stay up at night to watch all these magnificent events occur should do the following:
If you plan to watch, experts recommend:
- Check the weather and cloud coverage in your area to make sure conditions are optimal for viewing the celestial events.
- Find a dark location away from light pollution.
- Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark.
- Avoid looking at phones or bright lights.
To be as comfortable as possible, dress appropriately for the weather, use bug spray and bring a blanket, a sleeping bag or a reclining chair to lie on.
Contributing: Saleen Martin, USA TODAY
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aug. 12 is the ultimate day for stargazing. Why you should look up
