Monthly sky – August 2025

Here are some details on the Moon’s phases, close approaches of planets and other astronomical events to watch for during the month of August.

August 1: First Quarter Moon (50%) – 8:41 a.m. EDT.

August 1: The Moon at its peak (54%) – furthest possible distance from the Earth (406,700 km), at 4:36 p.m. EDT.

August 6: Conjunction – Close approach: Saturn (mag: +0.74) – Neptune (mag: +7.71 –visible with binoculars or a small telescope, but not with the naked eye) can be observed in a southeasterly direction around 2:00 a.m. EDT. Neptune is located just above Saturn.

August 7: Venus (mag: -4.3) at its highest altitude in the morning sky. Venus will reach a maximum altitude of 29° above the eastern horizon at sunrise on August 7, 2025.

August 7: The Moon at aphelion (98%), its greatest distance from the Sun – 152,457,150 km – at 4:57 p.m. EDT.

August 9: Full Moon (100%) – 3:54 a.m. EDT.

August 11: Conjunction – Close approach: the Moon (90%) – Saturn (mag: +0.74) at the lower left of the Moon and Neptune (mag: +7.71 – visible with binoculars or a small telescope, but not with the naked eye) at the upper left of Saturn. Look eastward starting at 11:00 p.m. EDT. On August 12, the Saturn-Neptune duo will be visible to the right of the Moon (82%).

August 12: Maximum Perseid meteor shower at 11:59 p.m. EDT (shower visible from July 17 to August 24). Highly active shower that should reach peak activity around 11:59 p.m. EDT on August 12, 2025, the best fireballs therefore being observable after dusk on August 12 even if the Moon (83%) pollutes the sky a little bit with its light after it rises around 9:30 p.m. EDT.

August 13: Conjunction – Close approach: Venus (mag: -3.95) – Jupiter (mag: -2.0). Venus will be located just to the south of Jupiter. The two bodies are visible before sunrise around 5:00 a.m. EDT.

August 14: The Moon at perigee (24%) – the closest distance from the Earth (356,500 km) at 1:58 p.m. EDT.

August 15: Conjunction – Close approach: the Moon (51%) – open cluster M45 (the Pleiades) – visible to the left of the last quarter Moon rising, barely, to the east around 11:30 p.m. EDT.

August 16: Last Quarter Moon (50%) – 1:12 a.m. EDT. 

August 17: Maximum Kappa Cygnids meteor shower at 8:55 p.m. EDT (shower visible from August 3 to August 25). Very light shower, difficult to see.

August 19: Mercury (mag:- 0.2), at its maximum eastward elongation, i.e., its greatest separation from the Sun (14.0° altitude) at sunrise.

August 20: Conjunction – Close approach: the Moon (17%) – Jupiter (mag: -2.0) to the right of the Moon, and Venus (mag: -3.94) below and to the right of the Moon. Visible for early risers or late-to-bedders around 4:00 a.m. EDT looking east.

August 21: Mercury (mag: -0.2), at its greatest altitude in the morning sky (15.0° altitude).

August 21: Conjunction – Close approach: the Moon (4%) – Mercury (mag: -0.2). Superb conjunction visible in the east around 5:00 a.m. EDT with a very thin crescent moon. Of course, as was the case yesterday you’ll see Jupiter (mag: -2.0) northeast of the Moon, and Venus (mag: -3.94, very bright), between the two.

August 23: New Moon (0%) – 2:07 a.m. EDT.

August 25: The Moon at perihelion (6%) – its closest distance from the Sun (149,597,871 km) at 1:24 p.m. EDT.

August 26: Conjunction – Close approach: the Moon (8%) – Mars (mag: +1.2). Superb conjunction, low on the western horizon, just after sunset and before the thin crescent Moon sets. Mars is located slightly to the right of the Moon.

August 31: First Quarter Moon (50%) – 2:25 a.m. EDT.