Citizen Astronomer: August 2025

The Perseids are back! Don’t miss August’s meteors, planets, and the Milky Way—it's at its peak.

Aug 02, 2025

Milky Way as seen in Joshua Tree. Licensed Adobe Stock Image by photographer Emrys.

August’s Night Sky: Meteors, Planets, and the Milky Way’s Peak

August is one of the best months of the year for citizen astronomers in the high desert. Warm nights, clear skies, and the return of the Perseids make it an excellent month to enjoy the night sky. Add in bright planets and the Milky Way’s vibrant core still riding high, and you’ve got plenty to see whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or just stepping outside with a pair of binoculars.

The Milky Way’s Summer Glow

August is still prime Milky Way season. Our galaxy’s bright core remains near Sagittarius in the southeast after sunset, arching overhead to Cygnus the Swan in the northeast. At a glance, the Milky Way looks like a hazy band of light, almost like someone brushed milk across the sky. What you’re really seeing are billions of distant stars, too far to distinguish individually with the naked eye.

If you want to add a little magic to your evening, grab binoculars. Scan along the Milky Way, and the cloudy light will resolve into countless stars—tiny, diamond-like points that bring the sky to life. The dense star fields near Sagittarius and Scorpius are especially dazzling this time of year.

Binocular Targets and Star Clusters

August is an excellent month to go cluster hunting. Messier Objects M7 and M6, both near Scorpius, remain excellent targets early in the evening, just above the southern horizon. These open clusters sparkle with dozens of stars, standing out beautifully in binoculars against the bright glow of the Milky Way.

Another late-summer highlight is the Double Cluster in Perseus, rising in the northeast later at night. This pair of open clusters is visible to the naked eye as a faint smudge, but through binoculars it’s a showpiece—two rich clusters side by side, like starry headlights in the night sky.

Planets on Display

August brings back some of the planetary favorites. Saturn is at opposition on August 15, meaning it’s directly opposite the Sun in our sky and visible all night long. This is Saturn at its brightest, and while its rings are still tilted edge-on, the planet’s golden glow is striking even without a telescope.

Mars is fading into the evening twilight and will be harder to spot. Jupiter, however, is on its way back, rising later in the night as the month progresses. If you’re out late for the Perseids, Jupiter will shine brilliantly in the east, joined by its four largest moons (Io, Ganymede, Callisto, and Europa), all visible through binoculars.

August’s Moon: The Sturgeon Moon (August 10)

The Full Sturgeon Moon rises on August 10, named for the large fish traditionally caught in late summer by Native tribes who fish around the Great Lakes. Like any full moon, it’s a perfect time for a moonlit walk, but it will wash out fainter stars for a few nights. The trade-off is worth it. Watching the full moon rise over the desert landscape is a treat all its own.

The Perseids: The Main Event (August 11–13)

Every August, Earth passes through a trail of dust left behind by Comet Swift-Tuttle, and the result is the Perseids, one of the brightest and most reliable meteor showers of the year.

This year’s peak comes on the nights of August 11–13, with rates of 50 to 80 meteors per hour under dark skies. The show is best viewed after midnight, but Perseids can streak across the sky any time after the constellation Perseus has risen in the northeast. You don’t need a telescope—just a wide-open view of the sky and a little patience.

The Moon will be big and bright around the shower’s peak, with the Sturgeon Full Moon falling on August 10. If you’d like to enjoy meteors under a dark sky without moonlight, head out a little earlier in the month. The First Quarter Moon on Thursday, August 7 will set before midnight during a busy Perseid night, giving excellent dark-sky conditions in the early morning hours. Joshua Tree National Park gets very busy during the Perseids, but they are visible all over the region. Just step outside and climb into a reclining chair or lay out on a blanket. Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the dark and just keep looking up!

Stargazing Pro Tips

August nights are still warm, but it’s smart to pack a light layer for the hours after midnight. Binoculars remain your best friend. They are easy to carry, perfect for exploring the Milky Way, and great for spotting planets or clusters. If you’re chasing meteors, skip the screens. Even glancing at your phone will ruin your night vision, so consider turning your screen brightness all the way down or using a red-light mode.

If you do want to use your phone, use it for celestial navigation. Star maps and apps like Stellarium or SkySafari can help you track the planets and find cluster targets. And if you’re watching the Perseids, just remember: the longer you look up, the more you’ll see.

August offers some of the most rewarding nights of the year for stargazing. With the Perseids lighting up the sky, Saturn shining at its best, and the Milky Way still stretching brilliantly overhead, all you really need is a clear desert night and a little time to look up.

Caitlin Gill is co-owner and Astronomy Guide for Joshua Tree Astronomy Adventures

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