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Sky Watch by Geoff Burt

Sky Watch by Geoff Burt

Sky Watch - the night skies above Petersfield in August 2026

Aug 1, 2026 · 6 min · 6 segments

Welcome to ‘Sky Watch’, your personal 'Petersphere' stargazing bulletin for August! Once in a while we get a special astronomical event, and this month the Petersphere is due for a deep partial…

Welcome to ‘Sky Watch’, your personal 'Petersphere' stargazing bulletin for August! Once in a while we get a special astronomical event, and this month the Petersphere is due for a deep partial eclipse of the Sun. On August 12th, over 90% of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon at maximum, which will significantly lower sunlight and produce a noticeable effect! For more, listen to this month's Sky Watch. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to ‘Sky Watch’, your personal 'Petersphere' stargazing bulletin for August! Once in a while we get a special astronomical event, and this month the Petersphere is due for a deep partial…

Speakers: Claire VennisHost

Top entities: Sun×5 Moon×5 Saturn×6 Petersfield×2 Mars×4

Deep Solar & Lunar Eclipses0:21 – 1:55

C

Claire VennisHost

0:21

Once in a while, we get a special astronomical event, and this month, the petersphere is due for a deep, partial eclipse of the sun.

C

Claire VennisHost

0:31

Over 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon at maximum, which will significantly lower sunlight and produce a noticeable effect.

C

Claire VennisHost

0:40

The eclipse occurs on the 12th, beginning around 6pm, reaching maximum a little after 7pm, and ending around 8pm, shortly before sunset.

C

Claire VennisHost

0:52

Weather statistics say we have a 50-50 chance of reasonably clear skies in August.

C

Claire VennisHost

0:57

So, assuming the petersphere clouds cooperate, there's one essential aspect we must bear in mind.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:04

Safety first.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:07

Solar observations are the only potentially dangerous activity in astronomy.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:12

Never look directly at the sun.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:15

If you do, you will permanently damage your eyesight.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:19

Solar observation should only be attempted using official, approved solar filters.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:25

Otherwise, the safest way of all is to follow the event online.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:29

Eclipses always happen in pairs due to the relative positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:35

In the case of a solar eclipse, the Moon passes in front of the Sun and casts its shadow on Earth.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:41

Then, about two weeks after this month's solar eclipse, our newest neighbour in space will have traversed half its orbit around Earth.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:49

So in the pre-dawn hours of the 28th, we'll get a deep partial lunar eclipse.

SunEntityStar
97%5 mentions
MoonEntityNatural satellite
91%5 mentions
SaturnEntityPlanet
85%6 mentions
PetersfieldCityTown in England
79%2 mentions
MarsEntityPlanet
74%4 mentions
SagittariusEntityConstellation
68%4 mentions
JupiterEntityPlanet
62%3 mentions
NeptuneEntityPlanet
53%3 mentions
UranusEntityPlanet
53%3 mentions
VegaEntityStar
44%3 mentions
VenusEntityPlanet
38%3 mentions
MercuryEntityPlanet
32%2 mentions
AltairEntityStar
24%2 mentions
DenebEntityStar
24%2 mentions
PerseidsEntityMeteor shower
15%5 mentions
EarthPlacePlanet
9%3 mentions
CentaurEntityMythical creature
3%1 mention

Celestial EventsScience > Astronomy
Observation TipsScience > Astronomy > Meteor Showers > Perseid Meteor Shower
Planetary ObservationsScience > Astronomy > Planets
AstronomyScience
Perseid Meteor ShowerScience > Astronomy > Meteor Showers
EclipsesScience > Astronomy > Celestial Events
Solar EclipseScience > Astronomy > Celestial Events > Eclipses
Lunar EclipseScience > Astronomy > Celestial Events > Eclipses
Meteor ShowersScience > Astronomy
PlanetsScience > Astronomy
Science
VenusScience > Astronomy > Planets > Planetary Observations
SaturnScience > Astronomy > Planets > Planetary Observations

Deep Solar & Lunar Eclipses0:21 – 1:55

C

Claire VennisHost

0:21

Once in a while, we get a special astronomical event, and this month, the petersphere is due for a deep, partial eclipse of the sun.

C

Claire VennisHost

0:31

Over 90% of the sun will be obscured by the moon at maximum, which will significantly lower sunlight and produce a noticeable effect.

C

Claire VennisHost

0:40

The eclipse occurs on the 12th, beginning around 6pm, reaching maximum a little after 7pm, and ending around 8pm, shortly before sunset.

C

Claire VennisHost

0:52

Weather statistics say we have a 50-50 chance of reasonably clear skies in August.

C

Claire VennisHost

0:57

So, assuming the petersphere clouds cooperate, there's one essential aspect we must bear in mind.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:04

Safety first.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:07

Solar observations are the only potentially dangerous activity in astronomy.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:12

Never look directly at the sun.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:15

If you do, you will permanently damage your eyesight.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:19

Solar observation should only be attempted using official, approved solar filters.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:25

Otherwise, the safest way of all is to follow the event online.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:29

Eclipses always happen in pairs due to the relative positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:35

In the case of a solar eclipse, the Moon passes in front of the Sun and casts its shadow on Earth.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:41

Then, about two weeks after this month's solar eclipse, our newest neighbour in space will have traversed half its orbit around Earth.

C

Claire VennisHost

1:49

So in the pre-dawn hours of the 28th, we'll get a deep partial lunar eclipse.

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