In early July, the Moon will pass close to all three neighboring planets of Earth’s inner solar system, as well as the two largest planets orbiting the Sun.
First, the gas giants Saturn And Jupiter It will be viewable next to the moon before sunrise earlier in the month. later in July, MercuryAnd Venus And Mars It will light near the crescent moon after sunset.
All five planets and Earth’s moon will be easily visible to the naked eye from anywhere in the world with clear skies. However, a good pair of Stargazing binoculars or nice small telescope It will enhance the view.
The first conjunction (a celestial event in which two objects appear close together in Earth’s night sky) of the moon and planet will occur on July 7, when an 80% waning gibbing moon will be visible just below Saturn. The two objects will rise in the southeastern night sky in the early morning and remain visible until dawn.
On July 11, a 37% waning Gibbos moon, centered slightly above Jupiter, will rise in the east late at night. The next morning, the Moon will have diminished to 27% illumination and will be visible just below Jupiter.
Mercury, Venus and Mars — the solar system’s three other rocky planets — will be closely grouped with a thin, grainy crescent moon in the early evening in the western night sky from July 19 to July 21.
Since the crescent moon will be barely 5% illuminated on July 19, this will be the hardest night to see near the rocky planets. This will also be true of Mercury, which will be very low on the horizon. However, the bright planet Venus will be conspicuous along with the crescent moon, while Mars can easily be seen above. Don’t mistake Mars for Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, which will lie between Venus and Mars. Use binoculars, find a clear view towards the western horizon and start searching about 35 minutes after sunset, according to when the curves line upa site run by astronomer Jeffrey Hunt.
On July 20 — the 54th anniversary of Apollo 11, the first moon landing — the crescent moon will be much easier to see. In addition to being 10% illuminated, the Moon will have risen higher and will be shining alongside Mars, just above Venus. Mercury will remain low on the west-northwest horizon. While gazing at the triple planets, look for them “Da Vinci glow” on the dark side of the moon. This phenomenon is also called Earth’s light, and it is caused by the reflection of sunlight from the Earth’s oceans, clouds and ice.
The following evening, July 21, a crescent moon will appear 16% higher than the western horizon, but it will align with Mars and Venus. Mercury will be to the right of Venus.
On the following nights, the Moon will leave the scene and climb higher into the post-sunset sky, with Venus sinking into the sun’s glare while Mercury continues to rise above it. On July 28, Mercury will shine within a tenth of a degree of Regulus in twilight, according to Adler Planetarium. It must be an amazing sight, even to the naked eye.
You can check the exact altitude and planetary times for your location using the Night Sky page at www.nightsky.com time and dateOr planetarium programs like Stellarium Web Online Star Map.
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