Moon Phases
Mon., July 8, 3:14 a.m. EDT
New Moon
The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it
is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a
morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an
evening or two after New Moon.
Mon., July 15, 11:18 p.m. EDT
First Quarter Moon
The First Quarter Moon rises around 1:15 p.m. and sets
around 12:30 a.m. It dominates the evening sky.
Mon., July 22, 2:16 p.m. EDT
Full Moon
The Full Moon of July is usually called the Hay Moon or Buck
Moon. In Cree it is called Opaskwuwipizun, meaning “Moon when ducks begin to
molt.” The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only
night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the
month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.
Mon., July 29, 1:43 p.m. EDT
Last Quarter Moon
The Last Quarter Moon rises around 11:45 p.m. and sets
around 2 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.
Observing Highlights
Mon., July 1, 9 p.m. EDT
Pluto at opposition
Dwarf planet Pluto will be directly opposite the Sun in our
sky on July 1. It requires a large telescope to detect it against the rich
backdrop of the center of our Galaxy. Note all the deep sky objects in close
proximity to Pluto’s direction.
Wed., July 3, twilight
Venus in the Beehive
If you have a low western horizon and a very clear sky, you
may be able to spot Venus against the backdrop of the Beehive Cluster, one of
the closest open clusters which is number 44 in Charles Messier’s catalog.
Tue./Wed, July 16/17, 12:00 midnight EDT
Spica and the Moon
The first quarter Moon passes just north of the bright star
Spica in Virgo. In the central Pacific Ocean, southern Central America, and
northwestern South America, the Moon will pass in front of Spica, occulting its
light.
Tue. and Wed., July 16 and 17, morning twilight
Mars close to Messier 35
If you have a low eastern horizon and a very clear sky you
may catch the planet Mars, recently emerged from behind the Sun, as it passes
close to the open cluster Messier 35 in Gemini.
Sun. and Mon., July 21 and 22, dusk
Regulus and the Venus
Venus will pass just north of the bright star Regulus in
Leo.
Mon., July 22, dawn
Mars and Jupiter
The two planets Mars and Jupiter will be in a close
conjunction less than a degree apart at the feet of the Gemini twins.
Tue. July 30, dawn
Mercury at greatest elongation west
Mercury joins Mars and Jupiter in the dawn sky, best viewed
in binoculars about half an hour before local sunrise.
Planets
Mercury is between
Earth and the Sun for most of the month, reappearing in the dawn sky around
July 20. It is at greatest elongation westward from the Sun on July 30.
Venus is now an
“evening star” setting just after the sun.
Mars emerges from
behind the Sun in the morning sky, passing close to Messier 35 on July 16 and
17, and Jupiter on July 22. It will be many months before Mars will be close
enough to reveal any detail in amateur telescopes.
Jupiter is the
brightest object in the morning sky for most of the month. It spends the whole
month in Gemini.
Saturn is high in
the western sky at just after sunset, and sets around midnight.
Uranus is in Pisces,
in the morning sky.
Neptune is in
Aquarius all month, rising in late evening and visible the rest of the night.
Pluto is in
opposition in Sagittarius on July 1.
Geoff Gaherty
Starry Night Software Support
All graphics © 2013 Starry Night Software
