The Night Sky This Week

Every Monday I pick the celestial highlights for the week across North America (this also applies to the northern mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere). Check the main feed Check out more articles on stargazing, astronomy, solar eclipses and more.

This week’s sky: July 15-21, 2024

A full moon will rise this weekend, filling the night with intense moonlight. A few days before, a waxing crescent moon will shine near Antares, one of the largest stars known to astronomers. You’ll also have a chance to see Mars and Uranus conjunction and the Red Planet shining near the Pleiades, a bright open star cluster.

Tonight also marks the start of the Perseid meteor shower, the most popular of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. At its peak on the nights of August 11 and 12, up to 100 “shooting stars” could appear per hour, according to the NASA/NASA/Astronomy Daily. American Meteor Society.

Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:

Monday, July 15: Mars conjunction with Uranus

If you look up at the eastern horizon a few hours before sunrise, you’ll see bright Mars just above Jupiter. If you look at Mars through binoculars, you might even spot Uranus just above and to the left of the Red Planet.

Wednesday, July 17: The Moon and Antares

Looking south after sunset, you’ll see the 87-percent-illuminated waxing crescent moon, located very close to Antares, the bright red supergiant star in the constellation Scorpio, about three degrees apart. “Heart of the Scorpion” is about 700 times the diameter of the Sun and is one of the largest stars known to astronomers. From South Africa, the moon will briefly obscure Antares.

Saturday, July 20: Mars and the Pleiades

Look to the east before sunrise to find Mars shining about four degrees from the Pleiades star cluster. One of the closest and most beautiful open star clusters in the night sky, the Pleiades (catalog number M45) are also known as the “Seven Sisters” for their seven bright stars, although in light-polluted areas only six are easily visible. They form a small but totally unmistakable “Big Dipper” shape.

Saturday, July 20: The full “Buck Moon” rises

A particularly low and late-rising full moon, the seventh full moon of 2024 and the second full moon of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the “Buck Moon” (also known as the “Thunder Moon” or “Hay Moon”), will be best visible at moonrise on Saturday, July 20.

The dates and times listed apply to mid-latitude locations, please consult an online planetarium for the most accurate location-specific information. Sky Safari Pro, Stellarium and Sky Live. check Planet Rising/Planet Setting, Sunrise and sunsetand Moonrise/Moonset Time to check where you are.

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May the clear skies and big eyes be with you.