August 2026 promises to be a real treat for everyone who loves to look at the night sky. This month will be rich in bright astronomical events: the peak of the most popular meteor shower, the visibility of a comet through binoculars, close planetary conjunctions, and even eclipses. Of course, to see most of these wonders, it’s best to go out of town. Mikhail Nevsky, head of the teaching observatory at the Department of Space Physics at Southern Federal University, has compiled a detailed guide to the main celestial events in August for residents of the Rostov region.

The main comet of the summer is 10P/Tempel 2.

The real “highlight of the program” will be the Tempel‑2 comet. It was discovered by the German astronomer Ernst Tempel back on July 4, 1873, and since then it has been regularly observed during each return to the Sun. Its orbital period is only 5.3 years. It passed the closest distance to Earth (about 61.9 million km) on August 3, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to observe it.

The best conditions for observation are just at the beginning of August. The comet will be visible as a blurred grayish spot, most likely without a clearly defined tail. Its brightness will be about 6.9 magnitudes — this is just at the limit of what a good field binocular can detect. The main reference point in the sky is the bright star Altair (alpha of the constellation Aquila), and you should look for the comet slightly above and to the left of it.

“It is expected that the comet will be visible as a blurred spot without a clearly defined tail. However, observations are unlikely to be possible in an urban environment: light pollution from streetlights, air pollution, and the presence of high‑rise buildings along the horizon will hinder visibility,” warns Mikhail Nevsky.

A meteor shower with hundreds of meteors per hour.

The main event for everyone who loves watching meteor showers is the Perseid meteor shower. Its activity began as early as July 17, and the peak will occur on the night of August 12–13, 2026.

In 2026, the conditions for observation will be almost ideal — the Moon won’t interfere, as it will be in the old or very young moon phase and won’t brighten the sky.

“On the night of the peak, you can count up to a hundred meteors per hour.” “It’s best to observe meteors after midnight,” advises Mikhail Nevsky.

The radiant point (the point from which the meteors appear to originate) is located between the constellations Cassiopeia and Perseus. This meteor shower is the result of Earth passing through the dust trail left by Comet Swift‑Tuttle. Particles of cometary material burn up in the atmosphere, creating the effect of “shooting stars”.

At the peak of activity, up to 100 meteors per hour will burn up in the atmosphere. The best time to observe is after midnight and before dawn. The light from city lights will interfere, so the ideal option is to go out of town, away from the light pollution.

The planetary parade on August 12: what Rostov residents will actually see

The morning planetary parade on August 12 is an event that is widely covered in the media. However, according to an astronomer, its significance is greatly exaggerated. Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune will indeed line up in a single row. But what of this can actually be seen?

“At dawn, in the south, it’s easy to see Saturn with the naked eye, its rings gradually becoming visible. As you turn and move your gaze further east, you can also see the orange Mars. But Jupiter and Mercury are completely hidden in the Sun’s rays — there’s no way to see them, even though they’re on the same line. Uranus and Neptune are only visible through telescopes,” explains Mikhail Nevsky.

Eclipses in August 2026: will they be visible in the Rostov Region?

Residents of the Rostov Region won’t be lucky with eclipses this month.

The total solar eclipse on August 12 will pass by. It will be visible only in the northern regions of the country — on the Taymyr Peninsula, as well as in Murmansk and St. Petersburg, as a partial eclipse at sunset. For the Rostov Region, this event will go unnoticed.

The penumbral lunar eclipse on the night of August 27-28 will also be virtually unnoticeable for residents of our region.

“The initial phases will begin as the Moon sets, virtually imperceptible to the eye, and the entry into Earth’s shadow will begin when the Moon sinks below the horizon,” the astronomer comments.