Mars is our pick of the planets in August 2026.
During August, Mars gradually shifts further from the Sun into the morning sky, becoming easier to observe.
It starts the month in Taurus – positioned between Elnath and Tianguan – rising nearly four hours before dawn as a faint orange (+1.3 magnitude) star.
Early in the month, a telescope will show a minuscule 4.7-arcsecond disk, with the planet angled so its northern polar cap faces Earth.
More observing advice
Key visual events and changes across the month include:
- 9 August: A thin, waning crescent Moon passes just under 4 degrees north of Mars, forming a striking dawn pair.
- 15 August: Moving eastward toward Gemini, Mars slides extremely close – just 0.6 degrees south – to the centre of the open cluster M35.
- Late August: Mars begins rising around 01:00 BST. While its brightness stays steady at +1.3 magnitude, its apparent diameter expands to 5.1 arcseconds, making it easier for larger telescopes (200mm+) to capture surface details.
Here's our guide for all of the planets in August 2026.
Mercury
- Best time to see: 1 August, from one hour before sunrise
- Altitude: 4° (very low)
- Location: Gemini
- Direction: East-northeast
Morning planet, best at the start of the month when it rises 1.5 hours before the Sun, shining at mag.
+0.4. Greatest eastern elongation occurs on 2 August, separated from the Sun by 19°. It then heads back towards the Sun for superior conjunction on 27 August. It’ll probably be lost from view from 20 August onwards.
On 15 August, shining at mag. –1.1 and rising 1.3 hours before the Sun, it can be seen 43 arcminutes west-northwest of mag. –1.6 Jupiter. At the end of the month, evening planet Mercury will be at mag. –1.4, but it won’t be well placed and is unlikely to be seen.
Venus
- Best time to see: 1 August, 30 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 7° (low)
- Location: Virgo
- Direction: West
Evening planet that, despite an excellent separation from the Sun, lies very low at sunset, worsening throughout August. On 1 August, mag. –4.1 Venus sets 1.2 hours after sunset, low in the west. Greatest eastern elongation is on 15 August, 45.9° from the Sun. On 16 August, it sits 7° northwest of a 19%-lit waxing Moon. By 31 August, mag. –4.3 Venus sets 49 minutes after sunset.
Mars
- Best time to see: 31 August 04:40 BST (03:40 UT)
- Altitude: 27°
- Location: Gemini
- Direction: East
- Features: Surface albedo markings, polar caps
- Recommended equipment: 150mm or larger
Read our complete guide to observing Mars in August 2026.
Jupiter
- Best time to see: 31 August, 05:30 BST (04:30 UT)
- Altitude: 12°
- Location: Cancer
- Direction: East
Emerging morning planet best seen at the end of the month. On 15 August, it appears very close to Mercury. By the end of August, Jupiter rises 2.4 hours before sunrise.
Saturn
- Best time to see: 31 August, 03:30 BST (02:30 UT)
- Altitude: 40°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South
Morning planet Saturn reaches a peak altitude of 40° under darkness from 20 August. Shining at mag. +0.5, it has two close encounters with the Moon. On 4 August, the 71%-lit waning gibbous Moon sits 5.8° to its north at 03:00 BST (02:00 UT). On 31 August, a 90%-lit waning gibbous Moon lies 5.7° north-northwest of Saturn at 03:30 BST (02:30 UT).
Uranus
- Best time to see: 31 August, 03:45 BST (02:45 UT)
- Altitude: 42°
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: East-southeast
Improving morning planet reaching 17° altitude under relative darkness on 1 August, but over 40° under darkness by the end of the month. Shining at mag. +5.7, Uranus is currently in Taurus between the Pleiades and Hyades, close to mag. +4.9 Omega (ω) Tauri.
Neptune
- Best time to see: 31 August, 02:50 BST (01:50 UT)
- Altitude: 37°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South
Neptune is a morning planet. Currently in Pisces and shining at mag. +7.8, it requires at least binoculars to see. Reaches 37° when due south under darkness from 18 August.
If you are a practical observer or an astro imager, share your observing adventures and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
