This week (July 22-28), there’s a lot you can see with just the naked eye, from the close approach of Saturn and the Moon to the Delta Aquarids meteor shower in the south and great views of the Northern Crown.
good telescope Or a pair binoculars It helps you see faint objects in the night sky, but the naked eye is good enough to make out their features. Performer and signclock Moonexperience Meteor shower And see satellite Flying through the night sky.
This week, we’ll show you what you can see in the night sky without any equipment — all you need to enjoy it is curiosity, patience, and good weather.
Related: The brightest planets in July’s night sky: How (and when) to see them
This week’s stargazing goals
Monday, July 22 — Mercury (after sunset)
Since Mercury Because it orbits so close to the Sun, it’s usually lost in glare, but you can sometimes see it briefly before sunrise or after sunset, the latter of which will be visible tonight when it appears 27 degrees east of the Sun and reaches its “greatest eastern elongation.” Sun From the perspective Earth.
If you look west just after sunset, you will see a red dot just above the horizon. It is about 14 degrees from the sun. size +0.5. Just above it is the star Regulus in the constellation Leo at magnitude +2.3, and close to the horizon. Venusshines at a much brighter magnitude of -3.9, but can be hard to see in the haze on the horizon.
Tuesday, July 23 — Bright Moon shining alongside Saturn (nighttime)
The moon will rise around midnight local time and appear in the southeast sky. SaturnSaturn shines at magnitude +0.8. Both remain visible for the rest of the night but fade to the west at dawn. Saturn’s rings are not visible to the naked eye (you’ll need a telescope for that), but the yellowish disk is easy to spot.
Wednesday, July 24 — Bright Moon obscures Saturn (all night)
Because the Moon is relatively close to Earth, its position in relation to the background stars and planets will vary depending on where you are. Tonight, in North America and Europe, the waning half Moon will approach Saturn again, rising just after midnight. But from its path through Asia and Africa, the Moon will appear to obscure Saturn, making it invisible for several hours.
Thursday, July 25 – Venus, Mercury, Regulus (after sunset)
If you look to the west-northwest just after sunset, you’ll see Venus at magnitude +3.9 sinking below the horizon, but higher in the sky than on Monday. High in the sky a little to the left will be Mercury, and above it Regulus at magnitude +1.4. Mercury will shine at a relatively bright magnitude +0.6, sinking into the Sun’s glare over the next few nights as Venus rises.
Friday, July 26th — Northern Crown (night)
This week, Northern Crown (Corona Borealis). If you look to the west after dark, you can see a bright star. Arcturus The constellation of Boötes. If you look up at the sky VegaThe brightest stars in the constellation Lyra. There are seven stars that form a curve between them. It’s easiest to find in a dark sky, but it’s also quite visible from the city. It’s worth getting familiar with the Northern Crown, because between now and September, a faint “nova” near the curve, called T Corona Borealis, will partially explode and become visible to the naked eye for a short period of time. This happens every 80 years.
Related: A rare nova ignites a “new star” in the sky this year
Saturday, July 27th – Waning Crescent Moon (nighttime)
Look east-northeast at midnight and you’ll see a waning half moon rising. full moon And a week later New MoonThat means it’s only half-light, which is not only a beautiful sight, but it also means there will be no moonlight in the sky in the early evening, making next week the best time for some naked-eye stargazing before bedtime.
Sunday, July 28 — Delta Aquarids meteor shower peak (nighttime)
There’s always some debate about when the annual Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower peaks. It’s active from mid-July to late August, but the peak is broad, so there’s no specific night to stay up late and keep your eyes peeled for. If you watch from midnight tonight through Tuesday, July 30, you’ll likely see some meteors. shooting starbut can also be faint. The show is best seen in the southern latitudes of the Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Aquarius It is the highest point in the sky.
Want to capture these events on camera? Check out our guide. Astrophotography for BeginnersIf you don’t have everything you need, The best cameras for astrophotography and The best lenses for astrophotography.
Jamie Carter is Stargazing in 2024 and Stargazing Program for Beginners.
Editor’s note: If you have a great astronomy photo you’d like to share with Space.com readers, send it to [email protected] with your photo, comments, name and location.
