Planets visible to the naked eye

August offers a smooth transition between a busy morning sky and an evening sky where Venus takes centre stage. The beginning and middle of the month are especially favourable for observing before dawn. The end of the month, meanwhile, is marked by Mercury disappearing from view and the Moon returning near Saturn and Neptune.

Visibility of the planets in the Montréal area in August 2026

Mercury – visible in the morning, then solar conjunction

Mercury is one of the highlights early in the month. It reaches its greatest western elongation on August 2, followed by its highest point in the morning sky on August 5, about 15° above the eastern horizon at sunrise.

A very thin crescent Moon pays Mercury a visit on August 11. The planet then joins a planetary parade on August 13 and passes near Jupiter on August 15. It then disappears into the Sun’s glare before reaching superior solar conjunction on August 27.

Venus – brilliant in the evening sky

Venus reaches its greatest eastern elongation on August 14 and becomes the evening sky’s most prominent object. The Moon joins it around August 15 and 16, shortly after sunset, forming a pairing low in the western sky that is easy to spot.

Mars – visible at dawn

Mars is visible in the early morning hours. On August 7, it appears alongside the Moon, Uranus, the Pleiades, Saturn, Neptune and Ceres, then meets a thin crescent Moon on August 9. It also takes part in the planetary parade on August 13.

Jupiter – low in the eastern sky, near Mercury

Jupiter remains low in the morning twilight, but becomes especially interesting to observe on August 13 during the planetary parade, and again on August 15 when it passes near Mercury around 5:30 a.m. A very clear horizon will be essential for a good view.

Saturn and Neptune – a celestial duo

Saturn features in several lunar encounters, notably on August 2, 4 and 30. Neptune remains close to Saturn but is visible only with binoculars or a telescope. On August 30, the Moon, Saturn and Neptune form a visible trio as they rise around 9 p.m.

Uranus – near the open star cluster M45 (the Pleiades)

Uranus remains near the Pleiades. Uranus also takes part in the planetary parade on August 13, but under Montréal’s city skies, binoculars or a telescope are recommended for spotting it.