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From a close encounter between Saturn and the Moon to the southern Delta Aquarius and a good view of the northern crown, there’s plenty to see this week (July 22 to July 28) with just your naked eye.
good telescope Or a pair of binoculars It will help you see some faint objects in the night sky, but the naked eye is enough to know that. stars And HoroscopesHe watches the moonexpertise meteor shower We see Satellites Soar through the night sky.
Here’s what you can see in the night sky this week without any equipment. All you need to enjoy it is curiosity, patience and good weather.
Related: The Brightest Planets in the Night Sky in July: How to See Them (and When)
Stargazing Goals for This Week
Monday, July 22 – Mercury (after sunset)
since Mercury This planet orbits very close to the Sun, and is usually hidden in its glare. However, it can sometimes be seen briefly, just before sunrise or after sunset. The latter occurs tonight when it reaches its “greatest eastern elongation,” appearing 27 degrees east of the equator. the sun As we have seen from Land.
Look west just after sunset to see a red dot just above the horizon. It will be about 14 degrees from the sun and rise at Magnitude +0.5. Directly above it will be the star Heart of Leo, magnitude +2.3, in Leo, while closer to the horizon will be Venuswhich shines brighter at magnitude -3.9, but will likely be difficult to see in the haze of the horizon.
Tuesday, July 23 – Bright Moon Rises with Saturn (Overnight)
The waning gibbous moon will appear around midnight in the east-southeast along with SaturnSaturn will appear in the sky at +0.8 degrees. Both will remain visible for the rest of the night, then fade into the west as dawn breaks. You won’t see Saturn’s rings with your eyes alone — you’ll need a telescope for that — but its yellowish disk will be easy to spot.
Wednesday, July 24 – Bright Moon Occultates Saturn (Overnight)
Because the Moon is relatively close to Earth, its apparent position against the backdrop of stars and planets will vary depending on where you are. From North America and Europe, the waning gibbous Moon will again be close to Saturn tonight, rising after midnight. However, from a path across Asia and Africa, the Moon will appear to eclipse Saturn, hiding it from view for a few hours.
Thursday, July 25 – Venus, Mercury, and Heart Star (after sunset)
Look west-northwest just after sunset, and you might see Venus at magnitude +3.9 disappearing over the horizon, though higher in the sky than it was on Monday. A little to the left and higher in the sky will be Mercury, with the star Antares at magnitude +1.4 above it. Mercury will shine at a relatively bright +0.6 magnitude, disappearing into the Sun’s glare over the next few evenings as Venus rises.
Friday 26th July – Northern Crown (Night)
This week is the time to find out. Northern Crown (Corona Borealis). Look west after dark, and you will see bright stars. Spotted fish In the constellation Boar. Look up for VegaThe brightest star in the constellation Lyra. Between the two stars is a seven-star curve. It’s easiest to find in a dark sky, but it’s quite possible to see it from a city. It’s worth getting to know the northern crown because between now and September, a faint nova star near the curve, called T Coronae Borealis, will partially explode, making it a star visible to the naked eye for a short time. This happens every 80 years.
Related: Rare New Star Ignites ‘New Star’ in the Sky This Year
Saturday, July 27 – Last Quarter Moon (Night)
Look east-northeast at midnight, and you will see the waning gibbous moon rising. It has been a week since Full Moon And a week of new MoonThis means that the sky is now partially illuminated. As well as being a beautiful sight, it means that the night sky is free of moonlight in the early evening. This should make next week perfect for stargazing with the naked eye before bed.
Sunday, July 28 – Southern Aquarian Meteor Shower (Night)
There is always some uncertainty about when the annual Delta Southern meteor shower will peak. It is active from mid-July through late August, but because there is such a broad peak, there is no specific night to stay up late to look up. Looking around midnight tonight through Tuesday, July 30 will give you a good chance of seeing some shooting starsBut it may be faint. The view will be best in the Southern Hemisphere and southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, where Aquarius He is at his highest in the sky.
Want to try capturing some of these events with your camera? Check out our guide on Astrophotography for BeginnersIf you don’t have everything you need, be sure to check out our guides on Best Cameras for Astrophotography And Best Lenses for Astrophotography.
Jimmy Carter is the author of Stargazing in 2024 And Stargazing Software for Beginners.
Editor’s Note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo you’d like to share with Space.com readers, send your photo(s), comments, name and location to [email protected].
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