KUWAIT CITY, Aug 3: The Al-Ajari Scientific Center has announced that August will bring a series of notable astronomical events visible in Kuwait’s skies.

Starting on August 6, observers can witness the conjunction of the planets Saturn and Neptune. According to a statement issued by the center on Sunday, Saturn will pass just 1.08 degrees south of Neptune, with both planets sharing the same ascendant. These celestial bodies will be visible either in the morning or evening when they reach an altitude of 21 degrees above the eastern horizon.

The center also highlighted the August moon, known as the “Sturgeon Moon,” which will occur on the ninth day of the month. This name derives from the sturgeon fish’s abundance in the Great Lakes during this period.

Another significant event will take place on August 12, when the bright planets Venus and Jupiter will appear in conjunction, separated by less than one degree. On the same day, the Perseid meteor shower will begin and continue through August 13. While the Perseids are among the most active and brightest meteor showers of the year, the presence of a bright gibbous moon is expected to reduce the number of meteors visible to the naked eye.

Mercury will reach its longest western elongation on August 19, making it the best time to observe the planet as it appears farthest from the sun in the morning sky.

On August 21, Mercury will be seen in conjunction with the thin waning crescent moon in the early morning sky. Shortly after, the new moon will occur on August 23, a time when the sun and moon align with Earth positioned on the opposite side of the moon.

Towards the end of the month, on August 26, the moon and Mars will approach within 27.2 degrees of each other, with the moon at three days old. The center noted, however, that this conjunction may be difficult to observe in Kuwait City if the pair does not rise higher than 14 degrees above the horizon.

These events promise to make August an exciting month for astronomy enthusiasts across the country.