Name: Astronomy Night at Chamberlin Observatory
Start: 2026-08-06T14:30:00-06:00
End: 2026-08-06T17:00:00-06:00
Location: Chamberlin Observatory

Look Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.

August 13:

👀 The Perseid meteor shower peaks on the night of Aug 12-13. The new moon creates great observing conditions for the shower, which can produce swift, bright meteors (up to 100 per hour) with persistent trains. Best viewed from a dark rural location. After midnight.
🖥️ Standley Lake Stargazing: Weekly Livestream: Free Online program via Zoom: 6:00PM
🌑 New Sturgeon Moon at 11:36 AM.
☀️ Total Solar Eclipse occurs from 16:58 to 18:34 UT brought about by the alignment with the sun, the new moon and the earth. The eclipse will not be visible from Denver. but can be seen along a narrow path crossing Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Spain.

August 14:

Astronomy in the Park - Photo by NPS — Astronomy in the Park – Photo by NPS

🔭 Rocky Mountain National Park Star Party: Free, in-person event at 📍RMNP Park & Ride parking area: 8:30 PM
🔭 Colorado Springs Star Party: Free, in-person event at 📍Cheyenne Mountain State Park: 8:30PM
🔭 Standley Lake Stargazing at Eldorado Canyon State Park: Free, in-person event at 📍Eldorado Canyon State Park (registration required):7:30PM

August 15:

🔭 DAS Open House Star Party: Free, in-person event at 📍Chamberlin Observatory: 8:00 PM
🔭 Northern Colorado Star Party: Free, in-person event at 📍Bobcat Ridge (registration required): 8:00PM
🔭 Colorado Springs Star Party: Free, in-person event at 📍Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument: 8:30PM
🔭 Chimney Rock Night Sky Program: Ticketed, in-person event at 📍Chimney Rock National Monument ($20.00): 7:00PM

August 16:

👀 Look for the waning crescent Sturgeon Moon next to Venus and Spica in the constellation Virgo low in the western sky after sunset: 8:45PM

This Week’s Solar System Summary:

The Sun rises about 6:12 AM at the start of the week and about 6:18 AM by Sunday, while sunset shifts from 7:59 PM to 7:51 PM. Daylight continues to decrease by about a minute or two each day as Denver moves toward late summer.
The Moon rises in the evening at the start of the week and shifts into the late evening and overnight hours by the weekend, while moonset moves from the afternoon into the evening.
Venus remains the brightest object in the evening sky after the Moon, shining low in the west after sunset and setting between 11:00 PM and 11:15 PM.
Mercury continues to improve in the predawn sky and reaches greatest western elongation on August 14. Look for it very low in the eastern sky about 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise.
Jupiter climbs higher into the morning sky each day, rising earlier before dawn and becoming an increasingly easy target in the eastern sky.
Saturn rises well before sunset and is visible nearly all night. It reaches its highest point around midnight and remains an excellent telescopic target.
Mars remains low in the eastern dawn twilight but continues to improve slowly as it moves farther from the Sun.
Uranus rises before midnight and is well placed for telescopic observing during the late-night and predawn hours.
Neptune rises in the evening and is visible for most of the night. With opposition less than a month away, it continues to improve as a telescopic target.

This Week’s Meteoric Activity:

You can keep track of the activity of meteor showers as well as those beyond the limits of visual observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal.

Perseids (PER): Peak on the nights of August 12–13 in Perseus: About 75–100 meteors per hour under dark skies. These swift meteors are often bright and leave persistent trains. The waning crescent Moon should provide favorable viewing conditions after it sets.
Southern Delta Aquariids (SDA): After midnight in Aquarius: About 2–5 per hour. Activity continues to decline following the late July peak.
Alpha Capricornids (CAP): After midnight in Capricornus: About 1–2 per hour. Though rates are low, this shower is famous for producing brilliant, slow-moving fireballs.
κ-Cygnids (KCG): Before dawn in Cygnus: About 1 per hour. Activity is increasing ahead of its August 17 peak and may produce an occasional bright meteor.
Anthelion (ANT): 1:00 AM in western Capricornus: About 2 per hour.
ι-Aquariids North (IAN): After midnight in Aquarius: Less than 1 per hour.
Piscis Austrinids (PAU): After midnight in Piscis Austrinus: Less than 1 per hour. This shower is nearing the end of its activity period.