Check out the night sky this month, August 2026. Highlights include the Perseid meteor shower, a bright Venus in the evening, and both a partial solar eclipse and a partial lunar eclipse. The sights are described in these videos and links to websites:
A solar eclipse, one of the year’s best meteor showers, Venus at its brightest in the evening sky, and a partial lunar eclipse to close out the month.
On August 12, a total solar eclipse crosses northern Russia, Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain, and a small corner of Portugal. In parts of the United States, from Alaska to North Carolina, the eclipse will be partial. Use certified eclipse glasses or a safe solar viewer whenever any part of the Sun is visible.
Later that night, the Perseid meteor shower peaks under the dark skies of the New Moon. Around August 14 through 16, Venus shines low in the west after sunset, and on August 27-28, a partial lunar eclipse is visible from much of the Americas and parts of Europe and Africa.
0:00 Intro 0:11 Solar eclipse 0:41 Perseid meteor shower 1:27 Venus after sunset 1:41 Partial lunar eclipse 2:22 August Moon phases
Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/.
“….where in the night sky to look for the Perseid meteor shower.” Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky this month, including the August 2026 solar eclipse and the peak of one of the year’s best meteor showers.
This month we’ve got three big celestial events to cover: eclipses of the Sun and Moon, and especially good prospects for the Perseid meteor shower. Plus we’ll track down a few planets, and gaze at the center of our galaxy. So load up on the bug juice, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.
** August 2026 Night Sky: Total Solar Eclipse, Perseid Meteor Shower & Comet Tempel 2 | Late Night Astronomy
Wondering what you can see in the night sky this August? This monthly guide covers the Total Solar Eclipse, the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, Comet 10P/Tempel, and a partial lunar eclipse.
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Timestamps: 0:00 Night Sky August 2026 0:30 Total Solar Eclipse (August 12) 2:12 Perseid Meteor Shower Peak 3:20 Partial Lunar Eclipse (August 27) 4:10 Ouranos Sponsored Ad 5:29 Comet 10P/Tempel 2 Viewing Guide 6:23 The Moon 7:04 The Planets 8:46 Deep Sky Challenge
For many decades, students in university programs have designed and built small satellites and operated them in orbit. With the arrival of standardized Cubesat designs and hardware, high school and even grade school students have joined in the smallsat fun. Such endeavors grew out of the AMSAT initiative of the amateur radio community, which launched the first non-government satellites in 1961. (For more smallsat history, see Satellite Building in the HS archives.) Note that the term Amateur Satellites refers to the use of amateur radio bands for communications, not the quality of the satellites.
Here is a brief sampling of recent student smallsat projects and programs:
On April 11, student-built satellite Lion Cub arrived at the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX rocket. The nanosatellite is scheduled to remain docked at the ISS until June 29, when it will be deployed into low Earth orbit in what Smith described as “very ceremoniously for us, kind of unceremoniously in video, it just sort of gets ejected out of a launch rail.” At that point, Lion Cub will attempt its central mission: releasing a small stuffed Roaree and photographing it against the backdrop of space.
The CubeSat team first formed in 2022, when a group of students set out to build a satellite without fully knowing how they would get it to space. In 2023, the team proposed Lioness, CSI’s larger scientific satellite mission, and secured a NASA launch contract. The team later joined a multi-university collaboration led by California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, to build Lion Cub, a smaller proof-of-concept satellite that Archer Ankrum, SEAS ’29, a member of the structures team, described as “a test to prepare ourselves” for the full process before the stakes were higher.
More than 180 Grade-8 students at Qatar Academy Doha (QAD), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), took part in the CubeSat Explorer Challenge- a hands-on learning experience organised by Boeing, INJAZ Qatar and Pure Minds Academy to spark early interest in space, satellite technology and other STEM-related careers.
“This programme didn’t just introduce students to space – it brought space to them. It’s no longer a distant concept, but an accessible, exciting career path they can pursue and build here in Qatar,” said Wael Zaoud, Boeing managing director for the Middle East and North Africa. “Qatar is steadily expanding its space capabilities and creating opportunities for the next generation of engineers and researchers. As a company that helped put the first human on the Moon, Boeing is proud to support young talent who will shape Qatar’s aerospace industry.”
The CubeSat Explorer Challenge introduced school students to the role satellites play in modern economies. Working in teams, students designed and built miniature satellite prototypes equipped with environmental sensors, programmed microcontrollers, collected live data and presented their findings. Through the experience, students gained insight into how satellite technologies support decision-making in areas such as air quality monitoring and climate research.
MARMOTSat, the second CubeSat from UVic’s Centre for Aerospace Research (CfAR) and the UVic Satellite Design Team (UVSD) is set to launch in July aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite has already been integrated into its deployment canister at the Canadian Space Agency, and the team expects it to reach orbit and deploy within hours of liftoff.
Once in orbit, MARMOTSat will collect data on the structure and composition of the ionosphere, the charged layer of the Earth’s atmosphere that plays a role in everything from radio propagation to satellite navigation. Researchers are particularly interested in how the ionosphere is shifting in response to human-caused climate change, which is a connection that is still not well understood.
“MarmotSat: Student-Built Canadian CubeSat Brings Open-Source Amateur Experiments to VHF and 10 Meters” – ANS-186 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins – ANS – mailman.amsat.org – July.5.2026 – “For amateurs, the interesting part of MarmotSat is its payload, which marks the debut of the Modular CubeSat Radio (MCR), an open-source, GNU Radio-compatible software-defined radio platform developed by the team. Built around a low-power HF SDR derived from the Hermes Lite 2, the MCR for this mission includes the SDR, an onboard computer, a camera, HF and VHF RF front ends, and simple wire antennas: a base-loaded half-wave tape-measure whip for HF and a half-wave tape-measure dipole for VHF.”
** SNAPPY, the Solar Neutrino Astro-Particle PhYsics CubeSat. was developed by students and researchers at Wichita State University. The NASA funded spacecraft reached orbit on May 3, 2026 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg AFB in California.
Two College of Charleston students built ultraviolet imaging systems, one of which went to the ISS in April of 2026 and another was integrated into a Cubesat that reached orbit on July 7th:
** SPARCS ( Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat) at Arizona State University
The Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) is a small space telescope about the size and shape of a family-size cereal box, launched on SpaceX rocket into low-earth orbit on January 11, 2026.
The science mission which SPARCS will undertake is monitoring the flares and sunspot activity of low-mass stars of M and K spectral type, in the far- and near-ultraviolet to assess how habitable the space environment is for planets orbiting these kinds of stars.
BRODIE: What have you learned by doing this? Not necessarily just about sort of the data and what it is telling you, but maybe what have you learned about things that might interest you or about yourself or about sort of the universe more broadly?
SINK: Yeah, there’s there’s so many things that I’ve learned from this project. I think the realm of satellites in general, I really didn’t understand and the potential for science. So if our little toaster that’s out in space with a telescope is able to contribute to something as big as like looking for habitable planets and things like that, I think it really put in perspective like how cool science really is and how cool space is.
And on the technical side of things, I’ve learned a whole lot of data this, satellite that, right? But I think the absolute coolest thing is just the potential for what we can actually do out there.
The club brings together more than 50 students passionate about aerospace, astrophysics and space technology. Through technical projects, outreach initiatives and industry engagement, the team has built a growing presence within Canada’s space sector while giving students direct experience in mission design, systems engineering and research collaboration.
Today, the team is working on one of its most ambitious initiatives yet: the development of Carleton’s first student-led 3U CubeSat focused on wildfire detection. Alongside the CubeSat mission, CUonOrbit has also completed three high-altitude balloon launches, with a fourth mission planned for summer 2026.
By 2030, the PHAT-Sat project plans to launch a three-unit CubeSat equipped with advanced, hyperspectral cameras that can point toward Kansas and the surrounding region and help detect crop health anomalies. Farmers and drought managers could then analyze that satellite imagery to implement precision agriculture techniques for better irrigation, resource management and sustainability.
In the meantime, the class decided to formulate a “pathfinder” mission to PHAT-Sat by spinning off what had previously been a smaller, secondary payload into NuKAT, a two-unit satellite tentatively set to launch in 2027.
Students at Cal Poly’s hands-on aerospace lab watched months of design and late-night fabrication reach orbit when their latest CubeSat rode a launch vehicle out of Vandenberg late last month. The mission not only puts a small satellite into space — it also underlines how undergraduate labs are training the next generation of engineers in real flight operations. …
… Cal Poly’s PolySat Lab — a multidisciplinary, student-run workshop that builds compact research satellites — confirmed the CubeSat reached orbit after a launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base at about 4 a.m. on March 30. Ground teams have established two-way contact and continue to track and receive data from the spacecraft.
is named after Astronaut Dr. Sally Ride, the first American woman in Space and an inspiration for women and the LGBTQ+ community. The objectives of this mission are to evaluate CPCL’s capability of designing, manufacturing, and testing a CubeSat while simultaneously providing a project management basis for future CPCL flight missions. SAL-E launched successfully on SpaceX’s Transporter 16 rideshare mission and first contact was made soon after.
The CubeSat concept was actually first developed by a collaboration between teams at Cal Poly and Stanford.
A live CubeSat tracking demonstration and outreach sessions on space technology, healthcare and defence applications drew school students’ attention on the second day of the 5th IEEE Wireless, Antenna and Microwave Symposium (WAMS-2026) at a college in Narsapur.
[CubeCats President Everett Metzler] said leaks on the International Space Station pushed back the deployment and that he only learned a few days ago it was going ahead. The deployment is the final step in a 10-year plan to deliver LeopardSat-1 from the maker space into the hands of a NASA astronaut.
“An astronaut is going put it inside of an airlock, and then put the deployer outside, and it’s going to launch into space. So, at first, it’s going to start tumbling, then it’s slowly going to detumble over time, and then after a few hours, it’s going to start and – hopefully – transmit back to us,” Metzler said.
Metzler said the satellite carries different carbon-based materials to test how they hold up against radiation in space. He said finding the right material could help make longer missions to the moon and even Mars possible.
The CubeCats’ work will continue after deployment. The group still has to record the data and is already planning its next satellite.
** KENSAT is a one person run project that will send a CubeSat
carrying an LLM into low earth orbit — designed, owned, and operated by a single individual rather than a state or a corporation. It performs inference in space, and beams the answer back to anyone listening.
… a large language model on-orbit. A power-gated NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano executes neural-network inference in space, and the results are downlinked over a custom UHF radio link to amateur ground stations.
… a 520 km sun-synchronous orbit and circle the planet about sixteen times a day.
On board: a tiny always-on flight computer that keeps the satellite alive, a GPU that runs the language model, a UHF radio for talking to the ground, and a small lithium battery topped up by body-mounted solar panels.
The radio antenna is a pair of tape-measure strips that spring open the moment the satellite is ejected from its deployer. No motors, no actuators, no moving parts that can fail.
Getting a complex electronics project off the ground is never easy, but Ken Chan’s latest creation presents some unique challenges. That’s because Chan’s project is designed to literally get off the ground — way off. It is called KENSAT, and it is a 2U CubeSat that is scheduled to go into orbit around the Earth this fall. Perhaps the coolest thing about KENSAT is that it’s not being built in a NASA clean room, but in Chan’s home lab.
Getting Started with Amateur Satellites – “a complete guide to working amateur satellites, covering tracking, antennas, radio selection, and step-by-step operation for FM, SSB, and digital modes.”
Cal Poly’s CubeSat Laboratory (CPCL) – “where the CubeSat standard originated, and where the CubeSat Design Specification is maintained and published. In addition to providing the CDS, CPCL hosts the annual CubeSat Developer’s Workshop in San Luis Obispo, and provides a central point for CubeSat community resources.”
CubeSatSim Lite Fully Assembled – AMSAT – This “low-cost, fully assembled satellite simulator” is designed to help users learn about satellite communications by transmitting simulated telemetry signals that can be received with common amateur radio equipment.Operating on the 70 cm amateur band at 434.900 MHz, the CubeSatSim Lite allows users to receive and decode signals using a wide range of radios and software-defined radio (SDR) setups. Digital telemetry and images can be decoded using software such as FoxTelem, APRS decoders, or SSTV applications.”
Check out the night sky this month, July 2026. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.
** What’s Up: July 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA | NASA JPL
A predawn meetup between the Moon and planets, a returning comet, dark skies for the Milky Way, and Saturn’s unusually thin rings.
Before sunrise on July 11 and 12, look east/southeast for the waning crescent Moon, Mars, and Saturn. Uranus is in the same part of the sky, but you will need binoculars or a telescope to spot it.
Around July 14, use binoculars or a telescope to seek Comet 10P/Tempel 2 under dark skies of the New Moon. Those nights are also a great time to look for the Milky Way, while later in the month Saturn’s rings appear strikingly thin through a telescope.
0:00 Intro 0:11 Moon, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus before dawn 0:47 Comet 10P/Tempel 2 1:35 Dark skies for the Milky Way 2:34 Saturn’s thin rings 2:57 July Moon phases
Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/.
Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky this month, from the Moon and planets to the constellations and deep-sky objects.
This month’s episode offers great tips on how to be a better stargazer. It also highlights the bright star Spica, now prominent high in the southwest after evening twilight. It’s leading the parade of constellations, along with the brilliant planet Venus, that will grace the Northern Hemisphere’s summer skies. So grab curiosity and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.
** The Night Sky | July 2026 | Comet Tempel 2 | Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower | Late Night Astronomy
A major meteor shower peaks and we continue to track a comet traveling through our solar system. Let’s take a look at what you can go out to see in the night sky for July of 2026.
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Timestamps: 0:00 Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower 1:34 The Moon 2:10 Ouranos Ad 3:21 The Planets 4:12 Comet Tempel 2 4:56 Deep Sky Challenge
Check out the night sky this month, June 2026. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.
** What’s Up: June 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA | NASA JPL
Venus and Jupiter meet after sunset, the Moon passes in front of Venus, summer begins, and deep-sky treasures rise into view.
To start June, look west after sunset to spot Venus and Jupiter shining close together, with Mercury joining the view low in the sky.
Around June 9, Venus and Jupiter appear especially close in a planetary conjunction.
From June 11 through 15, Mercury joins the scene, creating a mini-parade of planets near the western horizon.
On June 17, from some locations, the Moon passes in front of Venus in an event called a lunar occultation. For viewers outside the exact viewing path, the Moon and Venus may still appear close together. [Important safety note: For many viewers, this event happens during the daytime. Never point binoculars, a telescope, or a camera near the Sun unless you are using proper solar-safe equipment.]
June also brings the summer solstice, marking the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
And once the sky gets dark, look for the Summer Triangle and deep-sky objects like the Dumbbell Nebula, Ring Nebula, North America Nebula, and Veil Nebula.
0:00 Intro 0:11 Venus and Jupiter after sunset 0:23 Planetary conjunction 0:35 Mercury joins the lineup 1:09 Moon passes in front of Venus 2:03 Summer solstice 2:43 Summer Triangle and deep-sky objects 3:27 Moon phases
Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/…
The evening sky in the west on June 14th. Credits: NASA
This month’s episode highlights the close pairing of Venus and Jupiter under way in the western sky after sunset. You’ll also learn why astronomers are fixated on a star in Corona Borealis — and how to find a huge but dim constellation that will likely be new to you. So grab curiosity and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.
** The Night Sky | June 2026 | Venus and Jupiter Meet | Moon Moves in front of Venus | Comet Tempel 2 | Late Night Astronomy
Venus and Jupiter make a close pass to each other right after sunset and the Moon moves in front of Venus. Let’s take a look at what you can go out to see in the night sky for June of 2026!
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Timestamps: 0:00 Jupiter and Venus Close Together 1:13 Lunar Occultation of Venus 2:18 The Moon 2:53 The Planets 3:26 Comet 10/P Tempel 2 4:24 Deep Sky Challenge
The night sky this month, May 2026, will include Eta Aquarid meteors and a Blue Moon. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.
** What’s Up: May 2026 Skywatching Tips from NASA | NASA JPL
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower brings shooting stars before dawn, the Moon meets brilliant Venus after sunset, and May wraps up with a rare Blue Moon.
Look to the early morning sky around May 5-6 for meteors from Halley’s Comet, though bright moonlight may wash out some of the fainter streaks.
Then on May 18, spot the crescent Moon near Venus low in the western sky just after sunset. May ends with a Full Moon on May 31.
May ends with a Blue Moon, meaning the second full moon in a single calendar month, but it will not actually look blue.
0:00 Intro 0:09 Eta Aquarids 1:25 Moon and Venus conjunction 1:54 Blue Moon 2:35 May Moon phases
Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/.
Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky this month, from the planets and the Moon to the stars, constellations and deep-sky objects.
