Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration
Astronomical Diary
Calendar of Astronomical Events AUGUST 2026
Date Event Time
02 Mercury at greatest elongation west 04:07 p.m.
03 Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky ---
04 Close approach of the Waning Gibbous Moon and Saturn 06:37 a.m.
05 Mercury at dichotomy 06:19 p.m.
08-14 Philippine Space Week ---
10 Moon at Perigee (Distance = 363,361.722 km) 07:18 p.m.
12 Perseid meteor shower (ZHR = 150) ---
13 Venus at dichotomy 03:44 a.m.
15 Venus at greatest elongation east 02:32 p.m.
16 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus 04:47 p.m.
17 κ-Cygnid meteor shower (ZHR = 3) ---
21 Moon at Apogee (Distance = 404,576.541 km) 04:21 p.m.
31 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn 04:07 p.m.
Moon Phases
Last Quarter
Aug 06 10:21 AM
New Moon
Aug 13 01:37 AM
First Quarter
Aug 20 10:46 AM
Full Moon
Aug 28 12:18 PM
Rise and Set Times of Planets
Date Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn
Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set
Aug 01 04:17 am 05:05 pm 08:51 am 09:00 pm 02:19 am 03:15 pm 05:33 am 06:17 pm 10:07 pm 10:21 am*
Aug 11 04:31am 05:21 pm 08:52 am 08:51 pm 02:09 am 03:06 pm 05:03 am 05:46 pm 09:28 pm 09:41 am*
Aug 21 05:14 am 05:56 pm 08:51 am 08:40 pm 01:58 am 02:55 pm 04:33 am 05:15 pm 08:47 pm 09:01 am*
Aug 31 05:59 am 06:24 pm 08:47 am 08:46 pm 01:47 am 02:43 pm 04:03 am 04:44 pm 08:06 pm 08:19 am*

* = following day

Stars and Constellation

August invites us to explore the wonders of the night sky, with Aquila, Sagitta, and Lyra shining brightly in the north, while Scutum, Sagittarius, Corona Australis, Telescopium, and Pavo grace the southern sky. Together, the constellations make August a rewarding month for stargazing and appreciating the beauty of the cosmos. These constellations will appear directly overhead at 09:00 p.m. on 15 August 2026, as shown in Figure 1. [1]
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Figure 1: The view of the night sky featuring the prominent August constellations at 09:00 p.m. on 15 August 2026 using the Stellarium software.

Situated along the celestial equator, Aquila is a favorite among stargazers for its distinctive stellar pattern and visibility from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Its brightest star, Altair (Alpha Aquilae), is a white main-sequence star located about 16.73 light-years from Earth and serves as the prominent reference point for locating the constellation Aquila. It also forms the Summer Triangle asterism with Vega in Lyra and Deneb in Cygnus. Accompanying Altair are Tarazed (Gamma Aquilae), an orange bright giant, and Alshain (Beta Aquilae), a binary system composed of a yellow subgiant and a faint red dwarf. Beyond its bright stars, Aquila hosts several notable deep-sky objects, including the Glowing Eye Nebula (NGC 6751) [Figure 2a], a planetary nebula distinguished by its intricate shell structure and high degree of ionization. Other planetary nebulae in the constellation include the Phantom Streak Nebula (NGC 6741), visible as a small, faint disk in amateur telescopes, and the Snow Globe Nebula (NGC 6781). [2,3]

Sagitta, the Arrow, is a small and faint northern constellation covering only 80 square degrees, making it the third smallest constellation in the sky. Despite its small size, Sagitta contains several fascinating deep-sky objects and astronomical features of interest. Its distinctive arrow shape makes it relatively easy to identify under dark-sky conditions, even though it contains no stars brighter than 3rd magnitude. Its brightest star, Gamma Sagittae, is a red giant located about 274 light-years from Earth. It has an apparent magnitude of 3.5 and is approximately 1.5 times the Sun’s mass and 60 times its radius. Among its most prominent celestial objects is Messier 71, a loosely concentrated globular cluster located about 13,000 light-years away with a visual magnitude of 6.1. The constellation also contains the Necklace Nebula (PN G054.2-03.4) [Figure 2b], a planetary nebula spanning roughly 2 light-years and located about 15,000 light-years away, as well as the planetary nebula NGC 6886 [Figure 2c] and the unbarred spiral galaxy NGC 6879. [2,4]
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Figure 2: The Northern Constellations

Sagittarius, known as The Archer, is the 15th largest constellation in the sky, covering 867 square degrees. It contains seven stars brighter than magnitude 3.0, including Kaus Australis (Epsilon Sagittarii), its brightest star, which shines at magnitude 1.79 and lies about 143 light-years from Earth. The second-brightest star, Nunki (Sigma Sagittarii), is a blue-white star located approximately 228 light-years away. One of the most recognizable features of Sagittarius is the Teapot asterism, whose distinctive shape makes the constellation easy to locate, with its spout pointing toward the center of the Milky Way. Rich in deep-sky treasures, Sagittarius contains numerous nebulae, star clusters, and other celestial objects, including the Lagoon Nebula (M8), Omega Nebula (M17), [Figure 3a] Trifid Nebula (M20) [Figure 3b], and the Sagittarius Star Cloud (M24), one of the densest star fields visible through binoculars. [2,5]

Telescopium, the telescope, is a small, faint, and relatively obscure constellation, with no stars brighter than magnitude 3.0. Its brightest star, Alpha Telescopii, is a white giant of magnitude 3.5 located about 278 light-years from Earth. Although it lacks prominent stars, Telescopium contains several notable deep-sky objects, including the Telescopium Group—a cluster of 12 galaxies approximately 120 million light-years away—featuring the elliptical galaxy NGC 6868 and the spiral/lenticular galaxy NGC 6861 [Figure 3c]. Other highlights include the interacting galaxy group NGC 6845 (Klemola 30), the globular cluster NGC 6584, the elliptical galaxy IC 4889, and the planetary nebula IC 4699. These distant objects offer rewarding targets for observers using moderate to large telescopes. Although Telescopium is difficult to see with the naked eye, it can be located by drawing an imaginary line between the constellations Corona Australis and Ara. Telescopium lies halfway between them. [2,6,7]
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Figure 3: The Southern Constellations

Planetary Location

Venus will shine brightly in the dusk skies of August, offering a spectacular sight for skywatchers. Saturn will be visible in the late evening until it is gradually lost in the glare of the Sun. Mars will continue to grace the pre-dawn sky throughout the month. During the first week of August, Mercury will join Saturn and Mars before sunrise; however, observing the smallest planet will become increasingly challenging thereafter due to its close proximity to the Sun. Jupiter will make its appearance in the early morning sky during the final week of the month. [1,9]

On 02 August at 04:07 p.m., Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation, lying 19.5° west of the Sun during its morning apparition. It will be at its highest point in the morning sky the following day, shining at magnitude 0.0. On 05 August at 06:19 p.m., the planet will reach dichotomy, a phenomenon when an inferior planet appears half-illuminated. [8,10,11,12]

On 04 August at 06:37 a.m., the Waning Gibbous Moon will make a close approach to Saturn, passing within 6°14’ of each other. Later that day, at 12:11 p.m., the pair will reach conjunction, with the Moon positioned 6°57’ north of Saturn. Both objects will be visible in the constellation Pisces, with the Moon shining at magnitude -12.3, while Saturn is at magnitude 0.4. The exact timing of these events will not be observable, as the close approach occurs while the Sun is high in the sky and the conjunction takes place after both objects have set below the horizon. However, the pair can be seen above the eastern horizon from around midnight until they are obscured by the Sun’s brightness. [8,13]
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Figure 4: The view of the eastern sky showing the pairing of the Moon and Saturn on 04 August at 12:00 a.m. using Stellarium.

On 09 August, at 01:32 p.m., the Moon and Mars will share the same right ascension, separated by 4°25’. At about the same moment, their angular separation will decrease to 4°24’, marking their appulse. The Moon will shine at magnitude -10.8 and Mars at magnitude 1.3 while against the background stars of the constellation Taurus. The exact occurrences of these events will not be observable, as they occur during daytime; however, the two objects can be seen rising together above the eastern horizon at around 03:00 a.m. and remain visible until they get lost in the glare of the Sun. [8,14]
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Figure 5: The view of the east northeastern sky showing the pairing of the Moon and Mars on 09 August at 03:00 a.m. using Stellarium.

On 13 August at 03:44 a.m., Venus will reach half-phase, also known as dichotomy, shining brightly at magnitude -4.5. The planet will also attain its greatest eastern elongation, achieving its greatest separation of 45.9° from the Sun at 02:32 p.m. on 15 August. Venus will already be below the horizon by the time the greatest elongation occurs; however, the planet will be visible in the western sky after sunset on the previous evening. [8,15]

On 16 August at 02:56 p.m., the Moon and Venus will pass within 1°50’ of each other in a close approach. The pair will then reach conjunction at 04:47 p.m., sharing the same right ascension and appearing 2°04’ apart. Both objects will be visible in the constellation Virgo, with the Moon shining at magnitude -10.6 and Venus at magnitude -4.3. Although these events occur during daytime, their close pairing will be observable from 07:00 p.m. and will remain in view until they set below the western horizon. [8,16]
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Figure 6: The view of the western sky showing the close pairing of the Moon and Venus on 16 August at 07:00 p.m. using Stellarium.

On 31 August at 10:32 a.m., the Moon and Saturn will make another close approach, passing within 6°17’ of each other. They will be in conjunction later that afternoon at 04:07 p.m., with the Moon positioned 7°02’ north of the ringed planet. The Moon will be shining at magnitude -12.5 and Saturn at magnitude 0.3, with both objects still located in the constellation Pisces. As these events occur while the objects are below the horizon, the pair will be visible together above the eastern horizon from around midnight until they are obscured by the brightening dawn sky. [8,17]
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Figure 7: The view of the eastern sky showing the pairing of the Moon and Saturn on 31 August at 12:00 a.m. using Stellarium.

All the conjunctions and near approaches mentioned between the planet and the moon, or planet to planet, will be visible enough to fit within the field of view of a telescope and can also be viewed with the naked eye or using a pair of binoculars.

Meteor Shower

The Perseid meteor shower is an annual meteor shower active from 17 July to 24 August, reaching maximum activity around 12 August with peak rates of up to 150 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The shower is best observed before dawn, when the radiant in the constellation Perseus is positioned highest above the horizon. Rising in the east at approximately 10:03 p.m., the radiant remains above the horizon until around 05:16 a.m. The best observing opportunity occurs near dawn, between 05:00 and 06:00 a.m., when the radiant reaches its greatest altitude and meteor activity is most favorable. The peak coincides closely with the New Moon, allowing for dark skies with minimal interference from moonlight. [18]
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Figure 8: The view of the northern sky during the peak of the Perseid meteor shower on 12 August 2026 at 05:00 a.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

The κ-Cygnid meteor shower is a lesser-known meteor shower active from 3-25 August, with peak activity expected around 17 August. Under ideal dark-sky conditions, observers may see up to three (3) meteors per hour at the shower’s peak. The κ-Cygnids become visible after dusk as their radiant point, located in the constellation Draco, rises above the eastern horizon and remain observable until about 05:00 a.m. the following morning. The radiant reaches its highest altitude at approximately 09:00 p.m. [Figure 9], providing optimal viewing conditions as meteors appear higher in the sky. At the time of peak activity, the first-quarter Moon in Virgo will produce only minimal moonlight interference, allowing generally favorable conditions for meteor observations. [19,20]
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Figure 9: The view of the northern sky during the peak of κ-Cygnids on 17 August 2026 at 09:00 p.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

Meteor showers are observable through the naked eye, and no special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is needed. Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions.

Southeast Asia Planetarium, Education, and Outreach Conference (SEA-PEO 2026)

The inaugural Southeast Asia Planetarium, Education and Outreach Conference (SEA-PEO), held on 25–28 November 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, underscored the need for a regional platform for collaboration among planetarium professionals, educators, and astronomy outreach practitioners. Building on its success, the Philippines has been selected to host the 2nd SEA-PEO Conference on 23–25 November 2026 in Mactan, Cebu. Hosted by DOST-PAGASA and its partners, the conference will strengthen regional cooperation by facilitating the exchange of best practices, innovative technologies, and educational strategies while promoting inclusivity, accessibility, digital transformation, and collaborative initiatives in astronomy education and public outreach.

Conference Highlights:

✨Engaging the Public via Planetarium
✨Interdisciplinary Astronomy
✨Astronomy Education
✨Communicating Astronomy with the Public
✨Dark and Quiet Sky
✨Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Astronomy Communication

Important Dates:
• Registration Open and Abstract Submission: 15 May 2026
• Abstract Submission Deadline (Extended!): 31 July 2026
• Abstract Selection Announcement: 31 July 2026
• Conference dates: 23–25 November 2026

There is NO REGISTRATION FEE for this conference!

Join us as we bring together educators, communicators, and sky advocates to make astronomy more accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for everyone.

For more details, visit: https://indico.narit.or.th/e/SEAPEO2026
Email: seapeoconference@gmail.com | astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph
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Watch: Astronomical Events for August 2026

Notes and References

Notes:
*following day
• All times displayed are in Philippine Standard Time (PhST)

References:
[1] PAGASA Special Publication No. 840; The Philippine Star Atlas 2019/Stellarium Software
[2] C. Guide, “Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky.” https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/august-constellations/, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[3] Go Astronomy, “AQUILA CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Aquila, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[4] Go Astronomy, “SAGITTA CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Sagitta, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[5] Go Astronomy, “SAGITTARIUS CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Sagittarius, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[6] Go Astronomy, “TELESCOPIUM CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Telescopium, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[7] Label Stars by Star Registration, “Telescopium Constellation: The Ultimate Guide” https://labelstars.com/en/constellationslist/telescopium-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[8] Multi-Interactive Computer Almanac (MICA), Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[9] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Objects in your sky: Planets” https://in-the-sky.org/data/planets.php, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[10] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at greatest elongation west” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260802 11 101, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[11] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260802 11 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[12] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at dichotomy” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260805 11 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[13] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Saturn” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260803 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[14] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Mars” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260809 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[15] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Venus at dichotomy” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260812 11 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[16] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Venus” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260816 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[17] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Saturn” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260831 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[18] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Perseid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260813 10 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[19] J. Rendtel, IMO - International Meteor Organization, “2026 Meteor Shower Calendar” p. 12, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.
[20] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “κ-Cygnid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260818 10 100, Last accessed on 2026-07-23, 2026.


For more information, call or email:

Ms. Ma. Rosario C. Ramos
Chief, SSAS - RDTD
PAGASA - DOST
Diliman, Quezon City
Trunkline: 8284-0800 loc 3015, 3016, 3017
Email address: astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph

Astro Diary Archive