This month in the sky
The night sky in August 2027
In August 2027 the best-placed deep-sky targets around midnight are M39, M15, M2. The darkest nights fall around the new moon on 2 August. Planets in the night sky: Saturn (most of the night).
Moon and darkness
| New moon | 2 August |
|---|---|
| Full moon | 17 August |
| Full darkness at 52° N | about 4.3 hours a night |
Plan faint galaxies in the week around new moon; bright nebulae and clusters also work near full moon.
Best placed around midnight
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M39 | open cluster | 32′ | City-friendly | 86° | 82° | DWARF mini |
| M15 | globular cluster | 12′ | City-friendly | 50° | 62° | Odyssey |
| M2 | globular cluster | 13′ | City-friendly | 37° | 49° | Odyssey |
| M30 | globular cluster | 11′ | City-friendly | 15° | 27° | Odyssey |
| M72 | globular cluster | 6′ | City-friendly | 25° | 37° | mosaic or too small |
| M73 Four-star asterism | star group | 1′ | City-friendly | 25° | 37° | mosaic or too small |
Already high in the evening
These targets culminate around 22:00 this month: ideal if you do not want to stay up late.
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M11 Wild Duck Cluster | open cluster | 14′ | City-friendly | 32° | 44° | Odyssey |
| M29 | open cluster | 7′ | City-friendly | 77° | 89° | Odyssey |
| M27 Dumbbell Nebula | planetary nebula | 8′ | City-friendly | 61° | 73° | Odyssey |
| M56 | globular cluster | 7′ | City-friendly | 68° | 80° | Odyssey |
| M71 | globular cluster | 7′ | City-friendly | 57° | 69° | Odyssey |
| M75 | globular cluster | 6′ | City-friendly | 16° | 28° | mosaic or too small |
| M57 Ring Nebula | planetary nebula | 1′ | City-friendly | 71° | 83° | mosaic or too small |
Planets
Calculated for the 15th at 52° N: planets at least 10° high while it is dark.
- Saturn: most of the night, up to 43° high
Meteor showers
- Perseids, peak around 12 August
Questions and answers
- What is the best smart telescope target in August?
- M39 is among the best-placed targets around midnight, and the DWARF mini frames it best.
- When are the darkest nights in August?
- Around the new moon on 2 August, when moonlight does not brighten the sky.