Seven spectacular night sky events to watch out for this summer
Summary
This summer offers several special events to observe in the night sky, including the Summer Triangle, a partial solar eclipse in August 2026, and a partial lunar eclipse in August 2024. Other highlights include close planetary alignments and views of the International Space Station.Key Facts
- The Summer Triangle is a group of three bright stars: Vega, Altair, and Deneb, visible throughout most of summer.
- The summer solstice on June 21 marks the Sun’s highest point in the northern hemisphere sky.
- A partial solar eclipse will be visible in the UK on August 12, 2026, with about 90% of the Sun covered at peak time.
- Total solar eclipses happen worldwide roughly every 18 months, but are rare from the same place; the UK’s next total eclipse is in 2090.
- Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and parts of the Arctic Ocean will see total solar eclipse in 2026.
- A partial lunar eclipse will occur on August 28, 2024, with about 90% of the Moon in Earth’s darkest shadow visible from the UK.
- Venus and Jupiter will appear very close in the sky around June 9, an event called a "cosmic kiss."
- Safe viewing tips for eclipses include using certified eclipse glasses or pinhole projectors, not looking directly at the Sun.
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