It looks set to be a great month for stargazers across the country, with some of the best astronomical events taking place over the next few weeks.
From the stunning Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower to an out-of-this-world view of Mercury, July has been an epic month for show-stopping celestial events.
But luckily for those who may have missed seeing any, August also has a stellar line-up of dazzling astronomical displays to look forward to.
Not only will space enthusiasts be in for a chance to see the planet Venus, but will also be treated to two very special meteor showers!
Best of all, most will all be easy to spot in the sky without needing to fork out for any high-tech camera or telescopes.
Scroll down to see what’s ahead to get excited about over the next few weeks.
August 3 - Full Sturgeon Moon
On this night, the moon will be fully illuminated as it appears on the opposite side of the earth as the sun, resulting in a full moon.
In early native American tribes, this particular full moon was often called ‘sturgeon moon’ because large sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes and other major lakes were more easily caught around this time of year.
For your best chance of seeing it, wait until its fully dark outside, and if you can, head to an area with little light pollution.
August 11-12 - Perseids Meteor Shower
The Perseid meteor shower is one of the best stargazing events of the year.
At it's peak, the display can produce as many as 150 meteors an hour.
The shower takes place every year as the Earth ploughs through dusty debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle.
As the particles, ranging in size from a grain of sand to a pea, hit the Earth’s atmosphere at 60km (37 miles) per second, they burn up and streak across the sky.
The best part about the Perseid meteor shower is that you can see it with the naked eye so there's no need for an expensive telescope or camera to enjoy it.
August 13 - Venus at Greatest Western Elongation
To catch a glimpse of Venus, look low in the eastern sky a little before sunrise.
During this time Venus will reach its greatest western elongation of 45.8 degrees from the sun.
This will be the best opportunity to see the planet as it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky.
August 19 - New Moon
During a new moon, the moon and sun have the same elliptical longitude, meaning the lunar disk is not visible from earth.
This month, the phase will occur at 2.42am.
As there is no moonlight interference, this is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters.
