New moon
Aug 12
Sturgeon Moon
Aug 28
Dark-sky window
Aug 8 - Aug 16
excellent moon conditions
Best first target
M27
Ready · City-friendly
Monthly anchors
Ordered for this month's Munich guide view.
Planetary Nebula
The first planetary nebula ever discovered — a stellar death shroud 1,360 light-years away, expanding into space for the last 10,000 years.
Find it
Not visible to naked eye. Located in the small constellation Vulpecula, about 3° north of the bright star γ Sagittae (the middle star of Sagitta, the Arrow).
Planetary Nebula
The archetypal planetary nebula — a shell of gas expelled by a dying star, now illuminated by the hot stellar remnant at its center.
Find it
Not visible to naked eye. Located between the stars Sulafat (γ Lyrae) and Sheliak (β Lyrae), the two southern stars of the Lyra parallelogram.
Emission Nebula
One of the brightest and most massive star-forming regions in our galaxy — a stellar nursery rivaling the Orion Nebula.
Find it
May be glimpsed as a faint fuzzy patch under excellent conditions. Located about 2° south of the Eagle Nebula (M16).
Emission Nebula with Open Cluster
A giant stellar nursery 4,100 light-years away — one of only two star-forming nebulae visible to the naked eye from mid-northern latitudes.
Find it
Visible to the naked eye as a hazy patch in the Milky Way, about 5° north of the 'lid' of the Sagittarius Teapot. On dark nights, it appears as a distinct bright spot in the Milky Way.
Open Cluster
One of the richest and most compact open clusters known — resembling a flock of wild ducks in flight.
Find it
May be glimpsed as a fuzzy patch in dark skies. Located in the small constellation Scutum, in the dense star clouds of the Scutum Star Cloud.
Emission Nebula with Open Cluster
Home of the famous 'Pillars of Creation' — dense columns of gas and dust where new stars are being born, captured in one of Hubble's most iconic images.
Find it
The cluster may be glimpsed as a faint fuzzy spot in dark skies. Located in Serpens Cauda (the Serpent's tail), about 2.5° west of γ Scuti.
2 targets
In northern Sagittarius, south of the Eagle Nebula
1 target
In Lyra, between the southern stars of the parallelogram
1 target
In Scutum, within the Scutum Star Cloud
1 target
In Serpens Cauda, north of the Sagittarius Teapot
1 target
In Vulpecula, north of Sagitta the Arrow
Peak: August 12-13
100
meteors/hr
The most popular meteor shower thanks to warm August nights, reliable rates, and a high percentage of bright meteors. The parent comet has a 133-year orbit and last visited in 1992. Perseids are known for bright, fast meteors with persistent trains.
Best viewing
All night, best after midnight
Radiant is circumpolar from Europe - meteors visible in all directions
Photo notes
Point camera anywhere in the sky - meteors will appear in all directions. Warm nights allow longer imaging sessions.
Peak: July 30-31
25
meteors/hr
A reliable summer shower that peaks just before the Perseids. From southern Europe, rates are better than from northern locations. Meteors are medium-speed and often faint.
Best viewing
After midnight
South toward Aquarius
Photo notes
Can photograph alongside early Perseids for a two-radiant composite.
Peak: September 1
6
meteors/hr
A minor shower that occasionally produces surprising outbursts. The 2007 outburst reached ZHR of 130. Fast meteors from a radiant near the bright star Capella. Worth monitoring in early September.
Best viewing
After midnight until dawn
Auriga rises after midnight; best rates pre-dawn
Photo notes
Fast meteors create bright short trails. Be prepared for potential outburst activity.
Peak: July 30-31
5
meteors/hr
A minor shower by numbers, but famous for producing spectacular bright fireballs. The slow-moving meteors often leave persistent trains. Active at the same time as the Southern Delta Aquariids, so a good night for meteor watching overall.
Best viewing
After midnight
South toward Capricornus/Aquarius
Photo notes
Slow meteors and frequent fireballs make this an excellent photography target despite low rates.