The night sky in August 2026
In August 2026, the Perseids meteor shower peaks, and the darkest skies fall around the New Moon on the 12th. There are also 2 eclipses this month.
Moon phases
The Moon sets the rhythm of the month — the New Moon brings the darkest skies for faint objects, the Full Moon the brightest nights. Dates are in UTC and may shift a day in your time zone.
Meteor showers
Peaks are approximate and shift a day year to year. Watch from the darkest site you can reach, after midnight, with no Moon in the sky. See our meteor-shower guide for the technique.
- Perseids — peaks around Aug 12, up to ~100/hr. The summer classic — bright, fast, and reliable.
Eclipses
- Total Solar Eclipse — Aug 12, 2026. Visible from northern North America, western Africa, Europe.
- Partial Lunar Eclipse — Aug 28, 2026. Visible from eastern Pacific, Americas, Europe, Africa.
Turn this month into a plan for your sky — Stella has the exact times, weather, and dark sites.
Coming soon —Join launch listPlan the best nights in August 2026.
Use the almanac with protected places, eclipse paths, dark-sky stays, and the practical tonight guide.
Browse parks, reserves, communities, observatories, and planetariums by darkness and region.
Open routeEclipse travelCompare eclipse pathsUse the 2024-2035 catalog to pair path timing with nearby dark-sky stays.
Open routeStargazing staysSleep near the skyExplore observatory hotels, aurora lodges, astrofarms, and dark-sky resorts.
Open routeTonight guideKnow what to look forStart with the practical guide, then use Stella for the exact window where you are.
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