The top event this September is a spectacular total lunar eclipse: September 7, peaking at 8:12 p.m.

Meteors, commonly referred to by the somewhat misleading term "shooting stars", are the result of phenomena occurring much closer to us — in Earth's atmosphere. We observe their characteristic glow when a meteoroid, a small fragment of cosmic material, enters the atmosphere and burns up. In August, several meteor showers can be observed, but the Perseids, associated with the periodic comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, are the most spectacular of them.

In July, we will have many opportunities to spot the ISS. Telescope is not required!

Stars, planets, meteors and perhaps auroras?

This year's astronomical summer will begin on the morning of Saturday, June 21, at 04:42 a.m., when the Sun in its annual trek along the ecliptic will move farthest north from the celestial equator, reaching the point of the summer solstice, also known as the point of Cancer.