Seven spectacular night sky events to watch out for this summer

Image source, Getty ImagesBySophia Herod, BBC Weather and Jillian Macmath, BBC WeatherPublished46 minutes agoSummer brings the perfect opportunity to get outside and gaze up at the night sky. Not only is it the best time to see the Milky Way, which appears as a band of light stretching across the starscape, but there's also a meteor shower and solar eclipse to look forward to. As we approach the summer solstice on 21 June in the northern hemisphere, the Sun will be at its highest in the sky. This will allow for spectacular views of the International Space Station as well as some of the natural phenomena we're treated to seeing through summer. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Summer Triangle and meteors photographed on 12 August 2012, from Gruenstadt in Germany For centuries, we have looked up at the night sky in awe and wonder, but if you are new to stargazing, the Summer Triangle is a good place to start. It is an asterism (or recognisable group) made up of three bright stars forming a giant triangle. It is easy to spot and visible for most of the summer. Its corners are marked by Vega in the constellation of Lyra, the Harp, Altair in Aquila, the Eagle and Deneb in Cygnus, the Swan. Look toward the eastern horizon in early summer, or straight up if it is late summer. Vega is usually the first bright star you will spot at dusk. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A rare solar eclipse over the USA captured in 2025 where the Moon perfectly aligns to obscure the Sun, casting an ethereal glow Total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months, but witnessing one from the same location is much rarer. On average, a total solar eclipse is visible from any given spot on Earth only once every 400 years. The next total solar eclipse visible from the UK is not due until 2090. Before then, however, skywatchers can enjoy a spectacular partial solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, when the Moon will cover around 90% of the Sun at its peak. The exact timing and extent of the eclipse will vary across the country. In London, the event is expected to begin at around 18:17 BST, with maximum coverage occurring at approximately 19:13 BST. In Edinburgh it starts at 18:14 BST, peaking at 19:05 BST. While the UK will only see a partial eclipse, observers in Greenland, Iceland, northern Spain and parts of the Arctic Ocean will experience totality. The eclipse will also be visible, at least in part, across much of Europe, northern North America and north-west Africa. If you plan to watch the eclipse, remember never to look directly at the Sun. Instead, use certified eclipse glasses or a simple pinhole projector to view the event safely. Published19 March 2015Partial lunar eclipseImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A partial lunar eclipse at moonset in Florida, United States Solar and lunar eclipses often occur close to each other because the Moon's orbit around Earth is tilted by about five degrees. When the Sun, Earth and Moon align near one of the points where their orbital paths intersect, eclipse seasons occur, producing both solar and lunar eclipses within a matter of weeks. The next partial lunar eclipse visible from the UK will take place on 28 August. In London, the eclipse will begin at 03:33 BST and deepen until maximum eclipse at 05:12 BST, when around 90% of the Moon will be immersed in Earth's umbra, the darkest part of its shadow. As the eclipse progresses, the Moon will sink lower towards the horizon, so a location with an unobstructed view to the south-west will offer the best chance of seeing the event. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Moon sits above Venus and Jupiter, which are close together in the night sky in December 2008. The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will appear to meet in the night sky around 9 June. This rare and exceptionally close conjunction is often described as a 'cosmic kiss'. The two planets will appear to be about the same distance in the sky as the width of your little finger held out at arm's length. Look to the west-northwest horizon just after sunset and you will have around an hour to catch a glimpse. No equipment is needed. Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The International Space Station with a backdrop of planet Earth, as seen from NASA space shuttle Endeavour in May 2011 Summer is the best time to see the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS orbits Earth about 15.5 to 16 times per day. In mid-summer, nights are shorter and the Sun stays closer to the horizon, allowing the ISS to remain illuminated by the Sun for longer. This means you can sometimes catch several flyovers in just one evening. Thanks to its large solar panels, the ISS often appears as the brightest and fastest-moving object in the night sky, shining as a steady white light . Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Perseid meteor shower and the Milky Way put on a show in the night sky over a forest in Germany The Pe

Seven spectacular night sky events to watch out for this summer

Key takeaways

More in top