Sky Briefing #012 — Moonless Perseids, Galeão and the Farnborough Split
The Delta Aquariids have been active since July 12 — no announcement, no mention on the boarding screen, just the season’s first meteors burning in over the Southern Hemisphere. On July 8, GOL’s first A330 lifted off from Galeão for JFK: the airline’s first long-haul service in 25 years of existence. Farnborough opens July 20. And on August 12, the Perseid peak lands on a moonless sky.
Skies
The Perseids 2026 peak on a new moon night — best conditions since 2018. New moon falls August 12 at 17:37 UTC, right in the middle of the Perseids’ active window. No moonlight, ZHR 90 to 100, best viewing 02:00 to 04:00 UTC on the morning of August 13. Anyone on an overnight north Atlantic or north Pacific flight around August 12 is sitting in the best astronomy seat of the year. North-facing window, 15 minutes of dark adaptation. Next comparable new-moon alignment: 2029. EarthSky — Perseids 2026
Aviation
GOL connects Galeão to JFK nonstop: the airline’s first long-haul route. Three times weekly from July 8, on a leased Wamos Air A330. Departure from Rio 21:55 local time, arrival JFK 06:55 the next morning. Until American and Delta resume their own GIG–JFK service for the winter schedule, GOL is the only nonstop option between Rio and Manhattan. 25 years as a domestic-only carrier. Now crossing the north Atlantic for the first time. For anyone planning Brazil this summer: fares are in the early booking window. One Mile at a Time — GOL GIG–JFK
Philippine Airlines signs at Farnborough: first Boeing order since 2007. 15 Boeing 787-10s and nine Airbus A350-1000s, announcement expected July 20. A split-manufacturer deal; Boeing will frame it as the return of an important Asian customer whose last Boeing purchase was 19 years ago. Delivery slots before 2030 are gone. These jets reach Manila’s fleet around 2032. The signing shapes PAL flights in 2032, not now. Aerotime — PAL Farnborough
Air Canada opens Montreal–Berlin: the first A321XLR to land at BER. Air Canada launched three-weekly service from Montreal-Trudeau to Berlin Brandenburg on July 2. No widebody, no lie-flat in economy, but a nonstop without the Frankfurt stopover. The Canada–Germany corridor previously went through Amsterdam, London or Frankfurt as the standard connection. Berlin Brandenburg now hosts its first-ever transatlantic narrowbody service. That is the route a widebody would never fly. Simple Flying — New Atlantic Routes 2026
because you need to know that on August 12, the north-facing window seat on any transatlantic flight is the best astronomy seat of the year.