The Doctor of Sciences spoke about the celestial phenomena of summer in Moscow

In the summer of 2026, Moscow residents will be able to observe planetary convergence, meteor showers, partial solar and penumbral lunar eclipses. The astronomical season will begin on June 21, the day of the summer solstice, when daylight reaches its maximum duration. Sergey Chumakov, Honorary Doctor of Sciences, educator and teacher, told Izvestia about this on May 30.

Rare celestial configurations

In the first decade of June, residents of the capital region will be able to observe the convergence of Jupiter and Venus. The planets will be visible low above the horizon in the western sky. You can watch them moving towards each other from the 8th to the 12th after 21:40.

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In July, the focus will shift to the moon and its passage near other objects. So, on July 12, the Earth's satellite will be next to the Pleiades star cluster, which will require binoculars to view. The very next night, on July 13, the Moon will approach Mars.

Star showers and eclipses

The main event of August will be the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, which falls on August 12-13. Under favorable weather conditions, observers will be able to see up to 50 meteors per hour. Earlier, on July 31, the Delta Aquarid peak is expected, but a full moon and a short night may interfere with the view.

In addition to meteor showers, there will be two eclipses at the end of summer. On the evening of August 12, Muscovites will see a partial solar eclipse, during which the Moon will cover about 8% of the solar disk. A penumbral lunar eclipse is forecast for August 28, but conditions for observing it in Moscow may be unfavorable.

Features of summer observations in Moscow

Astronomical summer in the capital will begin on June 21, the day of the summer solstice. On this date, the daylight will reach its maximum, and the night will be the shortest of the year. The expert noted that since the end of June, dusk has been falling in Moscow, resembling white nights, when full-fledged darkness practically does not occur for several weeks.

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To successfully observe meteors, the expert advises traveling outside of cities. Urban buildings and street lighting make it difficult to see less bright flashes.