The night sky will be very lively this month — several of Earth’s neighboring planets will appear close to the Moon over the next few weeks, providing an interesting spectacle for astronomy fans.
According to NASA’s July skywatching guidelines, prepared by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, there will be opportunities to observe multiple planets moving in the night sky near the moon throughout the month.
On July 11, Jupiter will be visible in the sky below the eastern crescent, just before sunrise.
This text is a translation of A condition From CTV News.
The new moon, which is the time of the month when the moon appears to have completely disappeared from the sky, will occur on July 18th. But only two days later, when the moon appears again in the form of a thin crescent in the sky, it will be accompanied by Mars and Venus.
Mars is weaker in the sky this month than it has been in the past because its current position in its orbit places it farther from Earth, according to NASA. Although it is visible to the naked eye, you may need binoculars to see its distinctive red color.
Despite its lower brightness, Mars may be easier to spot in the sky on July 20, when it will appear next to the Moon in the western sky after sunset. You may have to dig around a bit to find Venus, less so than the others, but once you spot it, it will be clearly visible, because it will be much brighter than Mars. According to NASA, it will be “very low in the sky.”
Mars and Venus will be visible all month, according to NASA, but July 20 is when the full moon comes closest. They were closer together in June, but now these two planets will move apart and descend lower in the sky as the month progresses, particularly Venus which will appear very low in the sky.
Those who want to see Mars and Venus come together will also have a great opportunity at the beginning of the month.
According to the Astronomy Blog when the curves line upheld by astronomer Jeffrey L. Hunt, Sunday will see Venus and Mars near the bright star Regulus, an event we won’t see again until 2053.
Those hoping to catch a glimpse of this rare event should start looking for Venus about 45 minutes after sunset, according to the blog, and then Mars. Regulus will appear in the upper left of Mars, closer to Venus than to Mars itself.
The blog post adds that Mercury will be just above the horizon on July 19 and 20, but is unlikely to be visible with the other planets due to glare from the sun and the fact that it is setting. Only 45 minutes after sunset.
Saturn will also appear in the night sky throughout the month, according to NASA, appearing high in the south late at night and early in the morning. A bright star called Fomalhaut should be visible between Saturn and the horizon, making it easier to locate Saturn in the sky.
According to NASA, Fomalhaut is 440 million years old, which makes it a relatively young star.
Planets are likely to be visible to the naked eye, atmospheric conditions permitting, no matter where you live. However, for those who live in more isolated areas and have access to places with very dark skies, July is also the perfect time to view the Milky Way itself.
If you are in a dark enough area, away from the light pollution of cities, the core of the Milky Way will appear as a brighter band in the night sky, showing the brilliance of star clusters millions of miles away.
