A monthly look at astronomical events in the sky and on Earth

Compiled by Steve Sawyer

Welcome to Julys what’s up. I hope you’re all enjoying the warmer weather and the brighter evenings. Even with the bright nights there’s still plenty to see. And don’t forget July is also an excellent month for spotting noctilucent clouds. This was taken a few nights ago from my front door.

So what’s on this month?

In July, the light nights continue, providing an opportunity to observe noctilucent clouds. As the month progresses, and especially after midnight, some of the major constellations become more visible.

In the northern horizon, Capella, the brightest star in Auriga, skims just above the horizon. Cassiopeia shines prominently in the northeast, with Perseus starting to ascend above the horizon to its south. The Milky Way, stretching from Perseus through Cassiopeia towards Cygnus, graces the northeastern sky. Under dark and clear skies, the faint constellation of Lacerta can be discerned lying across the Milky Way between Cassiopeia and Cygnus.

In the eastern sky, the stars of Pegasus are now well above the horizon, with the main line of Andromeda stars roughly parallel to the northeastern horizon. Alpheratz, located at the northeastern corner of the Great Square of Pegasus, marks a notable point. Cepheus and Ursa Major flank Polaris and Ursa Minor on opposite sides, with Cepheus in the east and Ursa Major in the west. Draco’s head is nearly at the zenith, making the entire winding constellation easily visible.

Scorpius, despite partially remaining hidden, is best observed during this time of year, with its deep red star, Antares, glowing just above the southern horizon. Around midnight (UT) or 01:00 BST, the distinctive ‘Teapot’ asterism of Sagittarius and the dense star clouds at the Milky Way’s centre can be seen in the south. The Great Rift, a series of dust clouds obscuring more distant stars, extends down the Milky Way from Cygnus towards Sagittarius. Near its northern end lies the small constellation of Sagitta and the Dumbbell Nebula (M27) within Vulpecula.

The sprawling constellation of Ophiuchus dominates the meridian for much of the month, splitting the constellation of Serpens into its western half, Serpens Caput (Head of the Serpent), and its eastern half, Serpens Cauda (Tail of the Serpent). The bright ‘Summer Triangle’, comprising Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus, and Altair in Aquila, begins to dominate the southern sky, continuing its prominence throughout August and into September. The small constellation of Lyra, featuring Vega and a distinctive quadrilateral of stars to its east and south, is positioned not far south of the zenith.

y Diary

Astronomy Events for July

Date	Time	Event
01	18:26	Mars (magnitude 1.0) 4.1° south of the Moon
02	10:07	Uranus (magnitude 5.8) 4.0° south of the Moon
03-Aug.15		α-Capricornid meteor shower
03	08:28	Jupiter (magnitude -2.0) 5.0° south of the Moon
03	12:01	Aldebaran 9.9° south of the Moon
05	05:06	Earth at aphelion (152,099,894 km = 1.016725 AU)
05	22:57	New Moon
06	00:04	Dwarf planet Ceres at opposition (magnitude 7.3)
06	15:04	Venus (magnitude -3.9) 3.9° south of the Moon
06	16:29	Pollux 1.8° north of the Moon
07	18:32	Mercury (magnitude -0.3) 3.2° south of the Moon
09	12:00	Regulus 3.0° south of the Moon
12-Aug.23		Southern δ-Aquariid meteor shower
12	08:11	Moon at apogee = 404,362 km
13	22:49	First Quarter
14	02:31	Spica 0.9° south of the Moon
17-Aug.24		Perseid meteor shower
17	20:16	Antares 0.2° south of the Moon
21	10:17	Full Moon
22	06:39	Mercury at greatest elongation (26.9° east, magnitude 0.3)
24	05:41	Moon at perigee = 364,917 km
24	20:46	Saturn (magnitude 0.9) 0.4° south of the Moon
25	14:54	Neptune (magnitude 7.8) 0.6° south of the Moon
28	02:51	Last Quarter
29	17:30	Uranus (magnitude 5.8) 4.2° south of the Moon
30		α-Capricornid meteor shower peak
30		Southern δ-Aquariid meteor shower peak
30	10:37	Mars (magnitude 0.9) 5.0° south of the Moon
30	17:59	Aldebaran 10.1° south of the Moon
30	23:53	Jupiter (magnitude -2.1) 5.4° south of the Moon

This table organizes the celestial events by date and time, listing each event’s details for easy reference.
This table captures the astronomical events for July, including phases of the moon, planetary alignments, and other notable occurrences.

Sky Maps

Looking South on the 15th at 22:00

Looking North on the 15th at 22:00

The two charts above show all DSOs of magnitude 6.0 or brighter. They are both taken from
SkyViewCafe.com and correct for the 15th of the month. For a clickable list of Messier objects with images, use the Wikipedia link.

Julys Objects

The Sun

The sun has been pretty active this past month and just in the past day a CME caused a G4 class storm. Unfortunately this happened during the daytime otherwise we might have seen displays like those in May. Keep an eye out using the web resources listed below.

Resources

For more info on the sun and solar weather look here : –

Space Weather Enthusiasts Dashboard | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Auroa Forecasts

A bit US centred but still useful

Aurora Dashboard (Experimental) | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

And our own Met-office have an excellent space weather forecast page here Space Weather – Met Office

The Moon

Julys moon calendar from Sky View Café (skyviewcafe.com)

Moon Feature

Apennine Mountain Range

Description: The Apennine Mountain Range, also known as the Montes Apenninus, is one of the most impressive and prominent mountain ranges on the Moon. It stretches over 600 kilometres along the southeastern edge of the Mare Imbrium, curving gracefully in a northeast to southwest direction.

Key Features to Observe:

Height: The peaks of the Apennines rise sharply, with some reaching heights of over 5 kilometres.
Craters: Notable craters such as Conon and Eratosthenes can be found near or within the range, providing excellent points of interest for amateur astronomers.
Ridges and Valleys: The range features rugged ridges and deep valleys that cast dramatic shadows, especially around the time of the First Quarter and Last Quarter phases of the Moon.

Best Time to View:

First Quarter Moon: Around the First Quarter phase, the Apennines are illuminated by the rising Sun, casting long shadows that highlight the rugged terrain. This phase typically occurs around July 12th.
Last Quarter Moon: Similarly, around the Last Quarter phase, the setting Sun provides an equally stunning view with shadows in the opposite direction. This phase can be observed around July 28th.

See the sky diary for this months lunar events as there are some nice viewing opportunities .

A full yearly lunar calendar can be found here :-

https://www.mooninfo.org/moon-phases/2024.html

Planets

Mercury

Very low in the sky and sets around an hour after sunset

Venus

Also low in the sky and setting shortly after sunset

Mars

An early morning planet rising around 3 hours before sunrise

Jupiter

Another morning planet rising before sunrise, improving position as the month rolls on.

Saturn

Early evening planet not easily viewed this month

Uranus

Lost in the morning twilight this month

Neptune

Early morning planet which also improves towards the end of the month.

Meteor Showers

α-Capricornids Meteor Shower

Active Period: July 3 – August 15
Peak: Around July 30
Radiant: Near the star Alpha Capricorni in the constellation Capricornus
Meteor Rate: Approximately 5 meteors per hour at peak
Characteristics: This shower is known for producing bright fireballs, which can be spectacular to observe. The meteors are slow-moving, making them easier to spot.

Southern δ-Aquariids Meteor Shower

Active Period: July 12 – August 23
Peak: Around July 30
Radiant: Near the star Delta Aquarii in the constellation Aquarius
Meteor Rate: Approximately 25 meteors per hour at peak
Characteristics: The Southern δ-Aquariids produce faint meteors, but their high rate during peak makes them a good target for observation. The meteors are medium-speed.

Perseids Meteor Shower

Active Period: July 17 – August 24
Peak: August 12-13 (However, early meteors can be seen in late July)
Radiant: Near the constellation Perseus
Meteor Rate: Up to 100 meteors per hour at peak
Characteristics: The Perseids are one of the most popular and well-known meteor showers, producing a large number of bright meteors. Observing conditions improve as the month progresses towards the peak.

Comets

Julys comets. Go here for detailed locations and finder charts Visual Comets in the Future (Northern Hemisphere) (aerith.net)

Month	Evening	Mag	h	Midnight	Mag	h	Morning	Mag	h
2024 Jul	13P/Olbers	7	19	C/2023 V4 (Camarasa-Duszanowicz)	11	9	C/2023 V4 (Camarasa-Duszanowicz)	11	5
	C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)	8	20	C/2021 S3 (PanSTARRS)	12	64	154P/Brewington	11	24
	C/2023 V4 (Camarasa-Duszanowicz)	11	32
	C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)	12	9
	C/2021 S3 (PanSTARRS)	12	56
	C/2021 S3 (PanSTARRS)	12	59
	479P/2023 WM26 (Elenin)	13	16
	C/2021 G2 (ATLAS)	13	14

Deep Sky (DSO’s)

The Sagittarius Cluster (M22)

Type: Globular cluster
Location: Constellation Sagittarius
Apparent Magnitude: 5.1
Description: M22 is one of the brightest globular clusters visible from Earth. It contains hundreds of thousands of ancient stars tightly packed together. Look for a fuzzy ball of light in the southern sky during summer nights.

Can be found low in the southern sky

The Tweedledee Cluster (IC 4756)

Type: Open cluster
Location: Constellation Serpens
Apparent Magnitude: 4.6
Description: IC 4756 is an open cluster with a loose arrangement of stars. It’s nicknamed “Tweedledee” due to its proximity to NGC 6633 (“Tweedledum”). You can spot it without binoculars or a telescope if the sky is dark enough.

Messier 16 (The Eagle Nebula)

Type: Emission nebula
Location: Constellation Serpens
Description: M16 is famous for its “Pillars of Creation,” massive columns of gas and dust where new stars form. It’s best observed through a telescope, especially in hydrogen-alpha filters.

Messier 8 & M20 (The Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae)

M8 (Lagoon Nebula)
- Type: Emission nebula
- Location: Constellation Sagittarius
- Description: M8 resembles a faint, elongated cloud with a central star cluster. It’s visible to the naked eye under dark skies. Can be found low in the southern sky.
M20 (Trifid Nebula)
- Type: Combination of emission, reflection, and dark nebulae
- Location: Constellation Sagittarius
- Description: M20 features three distinct regions: red emission nebula, blue reflection nebula, and dark lanes. Can be found low in the southern sky.

Messier 57 (The Ring Nebula)

Type: Planetary nebula
Location: Constellation Lyra
Description: M57 appears as a small, ghostly ring due to a dying star shedding its outer layers.

NGC 6888 (The Crescent Nebula)

Type: Emission nebula
Location: Constellation Cygnus

ISS and other orbiting bits

Plenty of over passes to look out for this month

Date	Visible	Max Height*	Appears	Disappears
Sat Jun 29, 2:48 AM	4 min	17°	13° above S	10° above ESE
Sun Jun 30, 2:01 AM	2 min	12°	12° above SE	10° above ESE
Sun Jun 30, 3:34 AM	6 min	37°	10° above SW	10° above E
Mon Jul 1, 2:48 AM	5 min	29°	17° above SSW	10° above E
Tue Jul 2, 2:01 AM	3 min	22°	21° above S	10° above E
Tue Jul 2, 3:35 AM	7 min	52°	10° above WSW	10° above E
Wed Jul 3, 1:15 AM	2 min	16°	16° above SE	10° above ESE
Wed Jul 3, 2:48 AM	6 min	44°	12° above WSW	10° above E
Thu Jul 4, 12:28 AM	< 1 min	10°	10° above ESE	10° above ESE
Thu Jul 4, 2:01 AM	5 min	36°	20° above SW	10° above E
Thu Jul 4, 3:36 AM	7 min	58°	10° above W	10° above E
Fri Jul 5, 1:14 AM	4 min	29°	26° above S	10° above E
Fri Jul 5, 2:48 AM	7 min	56°	10° above WSW	10° above E
Sat Jul 6, 12:27 AM	2 min	22°	22° above SE	10° above E
Sat Jul 6, 2:00 AM	7 min	51°	10° above WSW	10° above E
Sat Jul 6, 3:36 AM	7 min	52°	10° above W	10° above ESE
Sat Jul 6, 11:39 PM	2 min	16°	16° above SE	10° above ESE
Sun Jul 7, 1:12 AM	6 min	44°	12° above SW	10° above E
Sun Jul 7, 2:48 AM	7 min	57°	10° above W	10° above ESE
Sun Jul 7, 10:50 PM	2 min	12°	11° above SSE	10° above ESE
Mon Jul 8, 12:24 AM	6 min	35°	10° above SW	10° above E
Mon Jul 8, 2:00 AM	7 min	58°	10° above W	10° above E
Mon Jul 8, 3:37 AM	6 min	37°	10° above W	10° above SE
Mon Jul 8, 11:36 PM	6 min	28°	10° above SW	10° above E
Tue Jul 9, 1:12 AM	7 min	56°	10° above WSW	10° above E
Tue Jul 9, 2:49 AM	6 min	45°	10° above W	10° above ESE
Tue Jul 9, 10:48 PM	5 min	21°	10° above SSW	10° above E
Wed Jul 10, 12:24 AM	6 min	50°	10° above WSW	10° above E
Wed Jul 10, 2:01 AM	7 min	52°	10° above W	10° above ESE
Wed Jul 10, 3:38 AM	5 min	23°	10° above W	10° above SSE
Wed Jul 10, 11:36 PM	6 min	43°	10° above WSW	10° above E
Thu Jul 11, 1:12 AM	7 min	57°	10° above W	10° above ESE
Thu Jul 11, 2:49 AM	6 min	30°	10° above W	10° above SE
Thu Jul 11, 10:48 PM	6 min	35°	10° above SW	10° above E
Fri Jul 12, 12:24 AM	7 min	58°	10° above WSW	10° above E
Fri Jul 12, 2:01 AM	6 min	38°	10° above W	10° above SE
Fri Jul 12, 3:39 AM	3 min	13°	10° above WSW	10° above S
Fri Jul 12, 11:36 PM	7 min	55°	10° above WSW	10° above E
Sat Jul 13, 1:13 AM	6 min	46°	10° above W	10° above ESE
Sat Jul 13, 2:50 AM	3 min	18°	10° above WSW	18° above SSW