“Look up” - What Kazakhstanis will see in the sky in August 2026
What to expect on August 12
According to data from the NASA, August 12 marks a convergence of several astronomical events. In the morning, multiple planets will be visible in the same area of the sky, while the Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak activity during the night.
This date also offers a chance to see a rare alignment of six planets in one sector of the sky, often referred to as a "planetary parade."
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A total solar eclipse will also occur on this day. However, it will not be visible from Kazakhstan, as the country lies outside the path of even the partial phases of the eclipse.
The total phase of the eclipse will be visible in parts of Europe, specifically Iceland and Spain, as well as the northeast of the Taimyr Peninsula in Russia. The maximum duration of the total phase will be 2 minutes and 18 seconds.
Kazakhstanis will, however, be able to observe the night sky events.
Planetary parade: Morning observations
According to experts from the Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will appear on one side of the sky over several days, roughly from August 9 to 14.
While often called a "planetary parade," the planets do not actually form a perfectly straight line; instead, they appear visually clustered in one sector of the sky along the ecliptic.
"Nominally, six planets and the Moon will be in the morning sky, but in practice, only Saturn, Uranus, Mars, and Neptune will be visible. Uranus and Neptune can be spotted with a telescope or binoculars if you are far from major population centers to minimize light pollution," the Fesenkov Institute reported.
The best time for observation is approximately 30–60 minutes before sunrise.
The Perseids: When to watch the "shooting stars"
Earlier, Rashit Valiullin, Deputy Director for Research at the V.G. Fesenkov Astrophysical Institute, shared that the Perseid meteor shower would reach its peak activity on the night of August 12–13.
According to Valiullin, the best time for residents of Kazakhstan to observe the sky is between midnight and dawn—roughly from 03:00 to 05:00 local time. During this period, the constellation Perseus rises sufficiently high above the northeastern horizon.
No telescope or binoculars are needed to watch the Perseids; the meteors are best viewed with the naked eye.
August Astronomical Calendar
August 12 is not the only date to mark on your calendar. Throughout the month, the Moon will pass close to various planets, and Mercury and Venus will reach positions ideal for viewing:
August 2 – Mercury reaches its maximum western (morning) elongation, located at a distance of about 19 degrees;August 3 – The Moon passes near Neptune;
August 4 – The Moon passes near Saturn;
August 6 – Last Quarter Moon at 07:21 Astana time;
August 7 – The Moon passes near Uranus in the constellation Taurus;
August 9 – The Moon approaches Mars in the constellation Taurus;
August 10 – The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to Earth. The distance will be approximately 363,288 kilometers from the center of the Earth;August 12 at 22:36 Astana time – New Moon;
August 15 – Venus reaches maximum evening elongation (46 degrees), and Mercury passes about 0.5 degrees north of Jupiter in the constellation Cancer;August 16 – The Moon passes near Venus;
August 20 at 07:46 Astana time – First Quarter Moon;
August 28 at 09:18 Astana time – Full Moon;
August 30 – The Moon passes near Neptune;
August 31 – The Moon passes near Saturn.
How to prepare for observations
Special equipment is not always necessary to observe all of the upcoming phenomena—the Perseid meteor shower and the planetary parade. The Perseids are best viewed with the naked eye, while binoculars or a telescope may be useful for spotting certain planets.
Astronomers recommend following a few simple rules:
choose a location with an unobstructed view of the sky;travel far from city lights to minimize light pollution;allow your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness;scan the entire horizon rather than focusing on a single point;check the weather forecast in advance to ensure clear skies.
Binoculars will be required to see Uranus, while a small telescope is needed for Neptune.
The best viewing conditions are found far from major population centers, where light pollution is minimal.
Those wishing to gaze at the August sky should mark the key date: the night of August 12–13. During this time, residents of Kazakhstan can observe the peak of the Perseids, and on the morning of August 12, several planets will align in a single area of the sky.