August means cooler evenings, a noticeable shortening of the daylight hours as we reach the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox, and (hopefully) clear skies to provide some prime sky watching conditions. It is also the time of year when people eagerly anticipate the annual
Perseid meteor shower. The peak of this year’s Persied’s will fall in the pre-dawn hours of August 12, but increased meteor activity usually occurs several days before and after the peak. The
New Moon will take place just four days earlier on August 8, so the very young Crescent Moon will not hamper viewing.