Seven spectacular night sky events to watch out for this summer

Image source, Getty Images By Sophia Herod , BBC Weather  and  Jillian Macmath , BBC Weather Published 27 minutes ago Summer 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. Summer Triangle Image source, Getty Images Image 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. Total solar eclipse Image source, Getty Images Image 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. How to watch a solar eclipse safely Published 19 March 2015 Partial lunar eclipse Image source, Getty Images Image caption, A partial lunar eclipse at moonset in Florida, United States Solar and lunar eclipses often occur close to each other because the Moon'