Topline
With the Perseid meteor bathe fading and the full photo voltaic eclipse now over, consideration turns to the following main occasion within the evening sky. A waxing moon glides previous Venus, Spica and Antares this week, whereas the Milky Manner stays spectacular beneath more and more moonlit skies. It’s additionally the proper time to organize for Aug. 27–28’s deep partial lunar eclipse, when 96% of the moon will move via Earth’s darkish shadow within the most interesting lunar eclipse seen anyplace on Earth till the tip of 2028. Right here’s every thing it’s essential to find out about stargazing this week, Aug. 17-23.
The crescent Moon and, to its left, planet Venus, make for lovely surroundings at Paranal, Chile, the sight of ESO’s Very Giant Telescope.
ESO/Y. Beletsky
Timeline
Look southwest about 45 minutes after sundown for the sight of a 30%-lit waxing crescent moon near vibrant star Spica and Venus. The three will type a tough line.
Now 40%-lit, the waxing crescent moon shall be farther from Spica and Venus, however the alignment remains to be there to see.
Look to the southwest after darkish to see a 60%-lit waxing gibbous moon simply beneath Antares, the brightest star within the constellation Scorpius. Antares is named the “rival of Mars” due to its reddish colour — and since the 2 move shut to one another each few years.
Look southwest about 45 minutes after sundown on Monday, Aug. 17, for the sight of a 30%-lit waxing crescent moon near vibrant star Spica and Venus.
Stellarium
THE SKY AFTER A METEOR SHOWER
With the Perseids previous their peak, meteor charges drop shortly, however they don’t cease. You should still see occasional meteors this week, particularly within the hours after midnight. Nonetheless, what to give attention to isn’t the potential for “capturing stars,” however the Milky Manner. It arches excessive overhead after darkish, working from the northeast via the zenith and down towards the southwest. Greatest seen firstly of the week earlier than the moon turns into vibrant, this band of sunshine is the mixed glow of about 400 billion distant stars inside our galaxy. If you have a look at it, you’re looking alongside the airplane of the Milky Manner, into areas wealthy with star formation, mud lanes and clusters. Late August is among the finest occasions to see the Milky Manner from the Northern Hemisphere.
The total moon on Aug. 27–28, 2026 can even be a really deep partial lunar eclipse. (Photograph by Gary Hershorn/Getty Photos)
Getty Photos
PREPARING FOR THE PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE
The total moon on Aug. 27–28, 2026 shall be one thing particular — a really deep partial lunar eclipse. In the course of the occasion, 96% of the lunar disk will move into Earth’s umbra, the darkish central a part of its shadow. It will likely be probably the most spectacular lunar eclipse seen anyplace on Earth till the full lunar eclipse on Dec. 31, 2028. At most eclipse, solely a skinny sliver of the moon will stay in direct daylight whereas the remaining glows shades of copper, orange and deep pink as daylight is filtered via Earth’s ambiance. Though technically not a real “blood moon” as a result of the moon by no means reaches totality, it is going to carefully resemble one. The eclipse shall be seen throughout North and South America, Europe and Africa, with the perfect views from the Americas, the place your entire occasion happens in a darkish sky throughout the darkish of evening. Together with its penumbral and partial phases, the eclipse will final about 5 hours and 38 minutes, with the partial section alone lasting 3 hours and 27 minutes.
The occasions and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For probably the most correct location-specific data, seek the advice of on-line planetariums like Stellarium.
