星空有约｜金木极近、英仙座流星雨极大等天象将在8月“上线”

Group 1 - The August "Starry Sky Theater" program features significant astronomical events, including the smallest first quarter moon and the largest last quarter moon of the year, as well as a close encounter between Venus and Jupiter, the Perseid meteor shower, and the best observation conditions for Mercury's western elongation [1][2] - The smallest first quarter moon will occur on August 1 at 20:41, while the largest last quarter moon will take place on August 16 at 13:12, providing opportunities for public observation [1] - On August 12, Venus and Jupiter will come within less than 1 degree of each other, creating a rare close encounter, with the best viewing time being one hour before sunrise [1][2] Group 2 - The peak of the Perseid meteor shower is expected on the night of August 12 to the early morning of August 13, although bright moonlight may hinder visibility [2] - Mercury will reach its best western elongation on August 19, with this being the best observation opportunity of the year, allowing the public to potentially see the planet with the naked eye or binoculars [2] - Additional noteworthy celestial events in August include Saturn's conjunction with Neptune, the opposition of asteroid 2 (Juno), lunar occultation of the Pleiades, and Mars' conjunction with the moon [2]