{"id":796407,"date":"2026-08-01T00:23:10","date_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:23:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/796407\/"},"modified":"2026-08-01T00:23:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-01T00:23:10","slug":"when-to-watch-perseids-planets-and-full-moon-in-boise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/796407\/","title":{"rendered":"When to watch Perseids, planets and full moon in Boise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boise stargazers gather \u2018round, the best meteor shower of the year<\/a> is almost here.<\/p>\n

August brings the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, known for its plentiful shooting stars and explosive fireballs.<\/p>\n

Night owls across the Gem State can also catch glimpses of a partial lunar eclipse, planets and the full Sturgeon Moon.<\/p>\n

\"Mercury Mercury and Venus will be visible in the night sky in August 2026. Which planets are visible in the night sky in August?<\/p>\n

Mercury will be at its farthest distance from the sun<\/a> on Sunday, Aug. 2, according to astronomy website EarthSky.<\/p>\n

For the best view, look in the direction of the sunrise as the sky is getting lighter. The planet will appear low in the sky.<\/p>\n

Mercury will have a \u201cclose encounter\u201d with Jupiter on Saturday, Aug. 15, EarthSky said.<\/p>\n

Venus will reach its greatest distance from the sun on Aug. 15.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarth\u2019s brightest neighboring planet<\/a> will be shining in the western twilight after sunset,\u201d EarthSky said. \u201cYou can\u2019t miss Venus! It\u2019s exceedingly bright and will penetrate the bright twilight.\u201d<\/p>\n

When to watch Perseid meteor shower in 2026<\/p>\n

Considered the \u201cBest meteor shower of the year,\u201d the Perseid meteor shower<\/a> is also the most popular, according to NASA.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long \u2018wakes\u2019 of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth\u2019s atmosphere,\u201d the space agency said.<\/p>\n

The meteor shower produces up to 50 to 100 meteors per hour.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey occur with warm summer nighttime weather, allowing sky watchers to comfortably view them, NASA said.<\/p>\n

The Perseid meteor shower is also known for its fireballs \u2014 explosions of light and color that last longer than a typical meteor streak.<\/p>\n

Although the Perseids are active until Monday, Aug. 24, the meteor shower reaches its peak<\/a> on Wednesday, Aug. 12, and Thursday, Aug. 13, according to the American Meteor Society.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 2026, the moon is new on Aug. 12, so conditions are optimum for viewing this shower,\u201d the society said.<\/p>\n

In the Northern Hemisphere, the best times to view the Perseids are during the pre-dawn hours, NASA said.<\/p>\n

\"The The Perseid meteor shower streaks across the summer sky in 2015. The annual stellar event will reach its peak August 11 through August 13. Courtesy of Getty Images\/iStockphoto Where to watch shooting stars in Idaho?<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery August Idaho\u2019s night sky becomes more spectacular than usual,\u201d Brian Rich, a summer intern at the Idaho Conservation League, said in a blog about the Perseid meteor shower. \u201cNights in Idaho may be darker than for most of the nation<\/a>… Without a spectacular dark sky, Idaho would not be the same place that we love and protect.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Gem State is home to the first Darky Sky Reserve in the U.S. which was officially recognized in 2017, according to the Idaho Dark Sky Alliance website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The nonprofit group \u201ccollaborates with municipalities, government agencies and partner organizations… to support dark sky activities\u201d such as wishing on shooting stars.<\/p>\n

The alliance is hosting its fourth annual Perseid-Palooza<\/a>, a guided observation of the Perseid meteor shower, on the nights of August 11 and 12 at 8:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Astronomy enthusiasts can meet at the Sawtooth Observatory in Stanley on Tuesday, Aug. 11 for the first night of stargazing. The following night\u2019s observations will be held at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden.<\/p>\n

\u201cLocal astronomers and night sky enthusiasts will lead participants on a cosmic tour including the Perseid meteor shower, deep sky objects and summer constellations,\u201d the Visit Sun Valley website said. \u201cThe event will include meteor watching and telescope observing, plus kids\u2019 astro-activities.\u201d<\/p>\n

When is the next full moon in 2026?<\/p>\n

August\u2019s full moon<\/a> will reach peak illumination at 9:19 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, according to online clock Time and Date.<\/p>\n

\"An An airplane travels across a full moon. Tom Brenner The New York Times Why is August\u2019s full moon called the Sturgeon Moon?<\/p>\n

August\u2019s full moon is known as the Sturgeon Moon<\/a> due to the \u201cabundance\u201d of fish that could be easily caught in the Great Lakes at this time of year, according to the Old Farmer\u2019s Almanac.<\/p>\n

Sturgeon were an \u201cimportant food staple for Native Americans,\u201d the almanac said.<\/p>\n

Is there a partial lunar eclipse in August?<\/p>\n

A partial lunar eclipse<\/a> will occur around 9:12 p.m. on Aug. 27, according to Space.com.<\/p>\n

North and South America will have the best views of the blood-red moon.<\/p>\n

\u201cViewing conditions will depend on the local weather, with western U.S. states, northern Chile and inland Brazil statistically offering the best odds of clear skies,\u201d Space.com said.<\/p>\n

As the full moon passes into Earth\u2019s umbral shadow, it will dim and \u201clook slightly reddish-orange,\u201d Space.com said. \u201cHowever, it won\u2019t be a true \u201cblood moon<\/a>\u201c because at no point will there be lunar totality \u2014 when the entire lunar surface falls under Earth\u2019s shadow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Where are the best places to stargaze?<\/p>\n

For the best views of shooting stars, planets and more, head away from the city. The ideal stargazing locations<\/a> offer \u201cunobstructed views of the horizon,\u201d National Geographic said. \u201cMountains, moorlands, deserts and remote islands are good choices, thanks to their isolation, clear conditions and lack of light pollution.\u201d<\/p>\n

Loading\u2026<\/p>\n

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