The Perseid Meteor Shower
Every summer, Earth crosses the trail of dust left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle. The result? Hundreds of shooting stars light up the sky! The peak is expected around August 12–13, but the event can be seen with the naked eye throughout the month.
A few tips:
- Avoid looking toward the Moon, as its brightness causes light pollution.
- Face northeast, the direction from which the Perseids appear to come.
The Summer Triangle
In the August sky, a distinctive geometric figure can help you find your bearings: the Summer Triangle. Easily recognizable to the naked eye, this asterism connects three of the sky’s brightest stars: Vega, Deneb, and Altair.
A few suggestions to explore in this region with your telescope:
- The Veil Nebula, in the constellation Cygnus: a vast structure, remnant of a supernova. Several segments are particularly striking, including NGC 6992 and NGC 6960.
- The Snowball Nebula (NGC 7662), in the constellation Aquila: a more subtle target that becomes visible after about 10 minutes of observation.
Your opinion matters
We’ve been sharing these observing suggestions with you each month — and now we’d love to hear from you: What do you think of this monthly series?
See you next month for more reasons to look up!
Happy stargazing with UNISTELLAR.
Further readings
3 Reasons to observe this month
On Jupiter: Imagine moons casting their shadows on a giant planet. Right now, Jupiter’s moons offer an exceptional show: eclipses visible even from urban areas. Each time a moon passes in front of the Sun, it creates a shadow that dances across Jupiter’s surface. Check our dedicated article to catch every passage of Io, Europa, or Ganymede.
Unistellar Community Included In Multiple Scientific Papers
Did you know Unistellar Citizen Astronomers are often cited in published scientific papers? Find out how you can contribute too!
When Is the Next Solar Eclipse, and How to Observe It With a Unistellar Telescope
An annular solar eclipse is visible from the Americas on October 14. Learn how to witness the Ring of Fire with your Unistellar Telescope!
Halloween Observing Guide: Spooky Deep-Sky Objects
These Halloween deep-sky objects will add some light to those dark, spooky nights. Treats, tricks, and telescopes await!
How Big Is the Solar System?
If the Sun were the size of a basketball, do you know how big the Earth would be? Find out how big the Solar System really is!
Fall Into Cygnus and More With September Deep-Sky Objects
Unistellar’s September targets include a bevy of star clusters and nebulae of all sorts. Celebrate stars in all stages of life this month!