The August night sky

The main event of the next few weeks is the great American eclipse but plenty of Perseid meteors should be visible despite a bright moon

The great American eclipse on 21 August is not the only notable event in a crowded month for starwatchers. That total eclipse of the Sun is the first to be visible from the US mainland since 1979 and the first to be visible from coast to coast since 1918. I gave some essential pointers to its safe observation in our previous Starwatch and will return to it again in our next note on 14 August.