Astronomical Events August 2020
WHAT'S IN THE SKY AUGUST 2020
Plan ahead for these astronomical events happening in August 2020! With the exit of comet NEOWISE a meteor shower peaks on the night of August 11 for more opportunities to capture streaks of celestial rocks in the night sky.
Check off your accessory list with our top ten guide recommended by OPT experts. Contact us if you have any questions about equipment.
Read on to learn what's in the sky August 2020. Download your FREE calendars here and save the date!
MOON PHASES, PLANETS, AND METEOR SHOWER AUGUST 2020
August 3 - Full Moon
This full Moon was known by some early Native American tribes as the Sturgeon Moon because the large sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes and other major lakes were more easily caught at this time of year. This Moon has also been known as the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon.
August 11, 12 - Perseids Meteor Shower
The Perseids meteor shower will produce up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak! Every year, the shower runs from July 17 to August 24. This year the meteor shower will peak on the night of the 11th into the early morning of the 12th. Find a dark location for the best viewing after midnight.
August 13 - Venus
The planet Venus will reach greatest western elongation. This is the best time to view Venus because it will be at its highest point in the morning sky. Look for the bright planet in the eastern sky before sunrise. Check out our guide here to learn more on how to see planets with a telescope!
August 19 - New Moon
This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE CONSTELLATIONS IN AUGUST 2020
Lyra Constellation
- Eclipsing stars, Beta Lyrae & RR Lyrae
- Ring Nebula
- Messier 56
- NGC 6791: One of the oldest clusters in our galaxy!
Sagitta Constellation
- Globular cluster Messier 71
- The Necklace Nebula
Aquila Constellation
- The Glowing Eye Nebula (NGC 6751)
- NGC 6709 and NGC 6755
- Globular Cluster NGC 6760
Southern Hemisphere Constellations in August 2020
Scutum Constellation
- Wild Duck Cluster (Messier 11)
- Messier 26
Sagittarius Constellation
- Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8)
- Omega Nebula (Messier 17)
- Trifid Nebula (Messier 20)
- The globular clusters Messier 22, Messier 28, Messier 54 (extragalactic cluster)
- Sagittarius Star Cloud (Messier 24)
- Messier 55, Messier 69, Messier 70 and Messier 75
- The open clusters Messier 18, Messier 21, Messier 23 and Messier 25
Corona Australis Constellation
- Corona Australis Molecular Cloud
- NGC 6729
- IC 4812
- NGC 6726/6727
Telescopium Constellation
- Elliptical galaxy NGC 6868
- NGC 6845
- NGC 6584
- elliptical galaxy IC 4889
- planetary nebula IC 4699
Pavo Constellation
- NGC 6752, the third brightest globular cluster in the sky
- NGC 6744
- Interacting galaxies - NGC 6872 (Condor Galaxy, one of the largest spiral galaxies known) and IC 4970
- Triplet of colliding galaxies designated as IC 4686, IC 4687 and IC 4689
Curious what astronomical events are happening the rest of 2020? Check out our astronomical events calendar for all of 2020! If you're looking to get started in astrophotography, check out our beginner's guide here. Clear skies! 🔭✨
12 Responses
Dave
I look forward to this monthly what’s in the sky. It is short, concise and to the point. Thank you guys for your efforts. Clear Skies and good sales….Dave
OPT
Hi Dennus, you are very welcome! Thank you for your feedback, we are glad you enjoyed it. Clear skies!
OPT
Hi Anthony, thank you for your feedback! We are so pleased to hear the positive impact our monthly blogs are making for you. We hope the skies clear up for you soon out there!
OPT
Hi Terry, firstly, thank you for your service. We apologize for the delay in your order and appreciate your consideration on our delay time. We are investigating this matter and will provide an update as it gets resolved.
OPT
Hi Mike, thank you for providing us with valuable feedback on this important matter. We apologize for the delay in response time and for failing to provide you with exceptional customer service. We are working to resolve this issue.
Dennus Baum
Wow! this is great information. Thank You, Dennus
Anthony Fuller
Thanks OPT for the Astronomy events for August. I really appreciate it! Especially during this pandemic time, it’s been raining so much in Georgia that it prevents me from observing. But it’s good to read your updates on what’s in the sky for a particular month. Thanks again and keep up the great updates!
Terry Litts
I understand the delay on my order 132612, (not happy) but I understand you have a military discount of which I was unaware. I am a 20 active service retiree and am I eligible for that discount? Seems reasonable considering the delay and the sights I am missing in the evening sky!
Mike Turner
I also am not to happy about not getting at least a status about order number 131384. I understand the whole COVID-19 issue, especially where your are in California. Initially when I placed the order 10 days after the 1st order, the messages regarding the virus impact was 2-4 weeks. Now it’s 2-6 weeks and I only learned that today and no one sent me an email saying that. I’ve tried chat, email and phone communications with no success. Leaving PAID customers hanging after spending large amounts of “HOBBY” money when all they ask is to communicate those issues.
It will be very hard to place any additional purchases in the future with this non-customer care type attitude. My order, is also in my mind as being canceling very soon.
OPT
Hi Tony, thank you for bringing this to our attention. We are disappointed to learn that we failed to provide you with the upmost customer service. It was not our intention to mislead you with the product information. We are looking into this and working on making it right to prevent this situation from happening again.
fototaker Tony
I had hope to see some of the listed events, and it’s my fault I ordered so late on 27 June, but after emails and phone calls without any replies to neither, if I don’t get a reply by Friday 7 August of my order#133058, I’ll cancel. I am not happy of lack of communication regarding the order, and if you state your company has a “same day shipping guarantee” then either stick by it or state the reason for the delay. I called earlier today and just got an email reply, and have been informed that the Star Tracker Star Adventure I ordered will NOT be in supply until mid-August. What pain would it have been to have told that while ordering it by phone? I am happy they offered me a military discount, but what good is the order if it is backed up so far into the future? To say the least, I am not happy and I am afraid I will have to cancel the order. It should NOT have come to this, the client asking about an order, and of course, I should have been told about the delay and not-in-stock issue. It would have saved ME time and worry, and not put such a bad impression on you the company.
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OPT
August 17, 2020
Hi Dave, thank you for your valued feedback! We look forward to publishing our What’s in the Sky Blog each month and are pleased to know you enjoy them! Take care.