The moon has just passed full phase among the stars of Sagittarius, the Archer, as the month begins. The next event is July 10, when the moon is among the stars of the Pleiades, in Taurus, the Bull. July 11, Mars and Uranus join with the moon’s waning sliver for a photo op, but you have to be up very late or very early – 2 a.m. By July 13, the moon is at perigee of 359,112 kilometres. New moon occurs on the following day, and the Beehive Cluster (M44) provides a backdrop on July 15.
July 16 sees Regulus 0.5 degrees north of the moon, and July 17 has Venus two degrees north of the thin sliver of a three-day-old moon. First quarter occurs July 21. July 24, Antares is 0.6 degrees north. These two close approaches, first Regulus, then Antares, are occultations in the Southern Hemisphere. July 25, the moon is at apogee of 405,548 kilometres. Full moon is July 29.
Mercury is too close to the sun for viewing, and even when the speedy planet does become visible in the east, it’s just before sunrise and only for a fleeting few minutes.
Venus keeps on pleasing as the Evening Star, gradually getting closer to the horizon with each passing day. The bright planet hasn’t reached greatest elongation yet, but the ecliptic governs the viewing angle. The thin, waxing crescent moon passes by July 17.
Mars in the east among the stars of Taurus, the Bull, gains further separation from the sun, making it easier to spot. Blue-green Uranus shares the spotlight July 4, a mere seven arcminutes away from the Red Planet. See if you can glimpse the two planets with strikingly different colours – a telescope is likely needed. July 11, you can see Mars, Aldebaran, the Hyades, Uranus and the crescent moon near the Pleiades, all grouped together.
Jupiter is too close to the sun for viewing.
Saturn rises around midnight in Pisces, the Fish. It appears stationary against the starry backdrop July 27, then it begins retrograde motion for the next four months – giving the best opportunity for late-night viewing. The last-quarter moon glides by July 7.
Uranus gains elevation away from the sun in the eastern morning sky. Watch for the close conjunction with Mars July 4.
Neptune continues to dog Saturn, rising an hour ahead of the Ringed Planet, shortly before midnight. The distant blue planet begins retrograde motion July 9.
On July 29, the south delta Aquariid meteors peak in the early morning.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was national president for two terms, is now the editor of the Observer’s Handbook, and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour and he is a Fellow of the RASC.
