August 2026 astronomical phenomena

August 2026 features a variety of celestial events, including the passage of comet 10P/Tempel—which reached its closest point to Earth on August 2—and the peak of the Perseid meteor shower around August 12–13. During the meteor shower peak, observers could see between “fifty and one hundred shooting stars per hour.” NASA has also highlighted naked-eye phenomena such as the zodiacal light, the gegenschein, and the zodiacal band.

A total solar eclipse occurred on August 12, traversing northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and parts of Portugal, with partial visibility in Italy and North America. NASA imagery from Spain has emphasized the necessity of eye protection and proper timing for such observations. Following this event, interest is shifting toward the next total solar eclipse expected in 2027.

Other notable events in the month include a virtual planetary parade involving Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Jupiter. Additionally, a partial lunar eclipse is scheduled for August 27–28. This event, visible across much of North America, occurs when Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow across the lunar surface; unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses can be viewed safely with the naked eye.