Venus remains in the west at dusk. It outshines everything but the Sun and Moon, so you can begin observing it during deep twilight.
Saturn is now shining in the south/southwest at dusk. Although not as bright as Venus, it does outshine the stars around it, so you can’t miss it.
Mars and Jupiter emerge into the morning sky this month. Look for them low in the east/northeast at dawn, with Jupiter much brighter. Mars passes less than one degree from Jupiter on the morning of July 22.
The Big Dipper is above the North Star and to its left, with its handle pointing up. From that handle, you can ‘arc to Arcturus’ and then ‘speed on to Spica’; those stars are in the south at dusk. Leo, the Lion, sets in the west at dusk.
Antares, brightest star of Scorpius, the Scorpion, is in the south, with the ‘teapot’ of Sagittarius to its left. The Summer Triangle is high in the east. The stars of summer are here.
Moon Phases in July 2013:
New July 8, 2:15 a.m.
First Quarter July 15, 10:19 p.m.
Full July 22, 1:15 p.m.
Last Quarter July 29, 12:44 p.m.
At about 10 a.m. on Friday, July 5, the Earth is as far from the Sun as it will get this year — a position known as aphelion. It may seem counterintuitive to be farthest from the Sun now and closest to the Sun just after the New Year, however, the Earth’s orbit is almost a circle; the difference between perihelion and aphelion is too small to affect our seasons.
On most clear Saturday nights at the George Observatory, you can hear me do live star tours on the observation deck with a green laser pointer. If you’re there, listen for my announcement. I generally do one such tour on short May nights.
To enjoy the stars in any weather from the comfort of the HMNS Planetarium, click here for a full schedule.
