KUWAIT: If you’ve ever wanted to get into stargazing, August is the perfect month to start. The Ojairi Scientific Center says the skies over Kuwait will be filled with rare and beautiful celestial events this month — from planet pairings and meteor showers to striking moon phases. Things kick off on August 6, when Saturn and Neptune will appear side by side in the sky. “The two planets share the same right ascension,” the center explained, with Saturn passing just 1.08 degrees south of Neptune. That means they’ll be close together from our point of view — best spotted in the early morning or evening when they reach 21 degrees above the eastern horizon.
Next up is the ‘Fish Moon’ on August 9. This is the name traditionally given to the August full moon, known in English as the Sturgeon Moon — because it used to mark the peak time to catch sturgeon fish in North America’s Great Lakes. It’s one of the year’s most striking full moons.
Then, on August 12, two of the brightest planets in the sky, Venus and Jupiter, will shine just a finger’s width apart. “They will appear less than one degree apart in the sky,” the center noted. That same night, the Perseid meteor shower will begin — one of the most anticipated annual meteor shows. The Perseids are known for being especially bright and active, but there’s a catch this year: a nearly full, bright moon will be in the sky too. “It will reduce the number of meteors that can be seen,” the center said. Still, the show is worth looking up for, especially in darker areas away from city lights.
On August 19, early risers will have a chance to catch Mercury at its greatest distance from the Sun. This moment, called “greatest elongation,” makes the tiny planet easier to spot in the morning sky — something that doesn’t happen often. Just two days later, on August 21, Mercury will rise near a thin crescent moon. “It will appear beside a delicate waning moon,” the center said — another pretty sight for anyone up before sunrise.
On August 23, we’ll see a new moon — the moment when the moon is directly between the Earth and the Sun. It’s invisible to the naked eye, but it also means the nights around that date will be darker — perfect for stargazing or catching the tail end of the Perseid meteors. Finally, on August 26, the moon and Mars will line up in the sky. “They will pass within 27.2 degrees of each other,” the center said. But this time, you may need binoculars or a high vantage point to see them. “It will be difficult to observe from Kuwait City unless they rise higher than 14 degrees above the horizon.”
All in all, August offers a sky full of action — a free show for anyone curious enough to look up. Whether you’re a space nerd or just someone who wants an excuse to go outside at night, it’s a good month to keep your eyes on the stars.
