Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of August 2026

Posted by Guy Pirro | 08/02/2026 01:02AM | Comments

Welcome to the night sky report for August 2026 -- Your guide to the constellations, deep sky objects, planets, and celestial events that are observable during the month. In the middle of the month, a total solar eclipse will cut across northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and part of Portugal, with a partial eclipse in parts of the US, the Perseid meteor shower will peak under dark skies, and Venus will reach its greatest eastern elongation and shine low in the west after sunset. At the end of the month, a partial lunar eclipse will be visible from much of North and South America and parts of Europe and Africa. Also, in August, a number of star-studded figures will soar overhead. Look for the constellation Lyra, shaped as a small parallelogram, which points to Epsilon Lyrae and the Ring Nebula (M57, NGC 6720). You can also spot three bright summer stars: Vega, Deneb, and Altair, which form the Summer Triangle. Keep observing around the group of stars commonly known as the Teapot and you’ll be looking toward the center of the Milky Way. In that direction, you can see the Lagoon Nebula (M8, NGC 6523). The night sky is truly a celestial showcase. Get outside and explore its wonders from your own backyard.