Summer fun’s not over yet — not even a little. You still have plenty of time to pop the backyard tent, roast some s’mores, and check out several stellar celestial sights before school starts again.
Make the most out of what’s left of summer & gaze on these starry nights
To plan a next-level stargazing night, you have one of two options:
- Set the scene in your backyard with food, preferably a fire, friends, family, and tents or blankets. Cuddle up, turn off outdoor lights, and enjoy a quiet summer evening outside. Consult this guide on Milky Way & Star Photography if you plan on posting pics.
- Google “places to stargaze [in your state].” Take a short drive, depending on where you live, to some undisturbed locales known for their breathtaking views — those unaffected by light pollution. With any luck, you might be in driving distance of the top dark-sky parks in the U.S.
Reason #1 you’re better off buying a house this summer: Housing prices are expected to rise. Use our Cost of Waiting Calculator to find out how much you could save by buying sooner.
Now to the gazing. Sync your Google calendars so you can enjoy at least six notably star-studded nights before summer’s end:
- August 12-13: Perseid Meteors, a.k.a. the most active meteor shower you’ll see all year. Shooting stars are to be expected.
- Aug. 15: Sturgeon Moon, August’s full moon named after the sturgeon found in North American lakes.
- Aug. 17: Summer Triangle, easiest to spot at nightfall and into the evening in late summer skies.
- September 9: Piscid Meteor Shower, expected to reach peak activity on this night with some shooting stars visible.
- Sept. 10: Neptune at Opposition, or when you’ll see the planet Neptune at its closest and brightest point of the year.
- Sept. 14: Harvest Moon, September’s full moon nearing the month’s equinox. It’s also a micro full moon, meaning it’s less vivid and at its farthest point from Earth in its orbit.
Wrap it all up by observing the Autumn Equinox on September 23 — the official end of summer — where you’ll see almost equal parts of day and night as the sun shines directly on the equator. Download the full celestial calendar 2019 for more summertime star-watching events in the meantime.
Sit back. Stargaze. Start your loan process from anywhere.
It’s true: You can get prequalified for a mortgage in the time it takes to light the fire pit for an end-of-summer starry night. Use LoanFly to find out how much house you can afford in minutes. If you’re already prequalified, you’re one step ahead and that much closer to nabbing your dream house when it becomes available. Prequalified homebuyers like you can keep using LoanFly — our all-in-one mortgage app — to search for houses, upload documents, and track loan status on the fly.
For educational purposes only. Please contact your qualified professional for specific guidance.
Sources deemed reliable but not guaranteed.