The sky of August 2025: Planets, Perseids, and constellations

Introduction

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August 2025 promises beautiful nights: the Milky Way crosses the sky from east to west, the Perseids peak despite the moonlight, and several planets shine before dawn. This guide updates the essential information for observing from metropolitan France.

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Planets to observe in August

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• \nMercury: farthest from the Sun on August 19, visible at dawn 30 minutes before sunrise, very low ENE.
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• \nVenus: beacon of the morning sky (−4.3 mag); it culminates at around 25° altitude and rises more than two hours before the Sun.
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• \nMars: orange disk (+1.6 mag) in the Virgo; sets around 00:30 CEST.
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• \nJupiter: −2 mag in the Gemini, rises around 03:00 and dominates dawn.
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• \nSaturn: in Pisces, rising ~22 h; the rings require ≥ 25× magnification – invisible with 10×50 binoculars.
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• \nUranus: +5.7 mag in the Taurus, observable with binoculars before dawn.
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• \nNeptune: +7.8 mag in the Pisces, with a telescope from 23:00.
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Major Constellations

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• \nSummer Triangle (Vega-Deneb-Altair) near the zenith around midnight.
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• \nBig Dipper : a pointer to Polaris.
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• \nScorpius & Sagittarius : low in the south-southwest, near the galactic center.
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• \nCarina/Canopus: invisible from 49° N; its Alpha Carinae does not rise above 37° N.
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Moon phases in August 2025

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• First Quarter: 1 August
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• Full Moon: 9 August
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• Last Quarter: 16 August
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• New Moon: 23 August
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The Full Moon on 9 August (84% illumination on the 12th) will hinder the Perseids; prefer the nights of 8–10 August or the interval before Moonrise.

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Phenomena not to miss

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Perseids (July 17 – August 23)

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Peak expected on 12 August at 20:00 UTC; best French window: 22:00–00:30 CEST before Moonrise. Up to 60 meteors/hour in a very dark sky.

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Other meteor showers

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• \nDelta Aquariids : July 18–August 21; broad peak around July 30, ZHR ≈ 20.
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• \nAlpha Capricornids : July 7–August 13, maximal plateau on July 30, ZHR ≈ 5 but many fireballs.
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Observing tips

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• Choose a dark site, far from public lighting.
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• Let your eyes adapt for 20 minutes to the darkness.
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• Use a sky app to locate planets and radiants.
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• Binoculars 10×50 for the Milky Way; telescope ≥ 70 mm (or 25×) for Saturn’s rings.
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Conclusion

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With these corrections, you have a reliable calendar: planets aligned before dawn, iconic constellations at the zenith, and Perseids to observe before moonlight. Prepare a lounge chair and binoculars; the August 2025 sky awaits you!