The moon is at first quarter at the beginning of July. July 3, it is among the stars of Virgo, the Maiden. The moon occults objects four times in the month, none of which are visible from North America. The first one is July 3, when Spica is 0.8 degrees north of the moon. The second occultation is July 7, when the moon is at waxing gibbous phase and Antares is 0.4 degrees north. However, the moon overpowers even the bright Antares, so probably a non-event.
The moon is full July 10. Sometimes the moon is south of the ecliptic, and other times during the month, it’s north of that imaginary line that represents to plane of the planets’ orbits. When the moon appears to cross the ecliptic, it’s called a node, and ascending node this month is July 15. Neptune and Saturn, July 16, are three and four degrees south of the moon, respectively. By July 20, the Pleiades (M45) and the waning crescent moon share the spotlight. New moon is July 24. July 26, Regulus is 1.3 degrees south; July 28, Mars is 1.3 degrees north; July 30, Spica is one degree north. All three events are occultations, but not visible from the Northern Hemisphere.
Mercury continues to delight Southern Hemisphere observers, not so much in the north. It swings out in its orbit, reaching its greatest elongation east on July 5 and thereafter closes in on inferior conjunction by the end of the month.
Venus remains a bright beacon in the morning sky before sunrise, but gradually fading as July progresses. The waning crescent moon passes by July 20 and 21.
Mars is visible for a short while after sunset, still among the stars of Leo, the Lion. The thin waxing crescent moon passes by July 28.
Jupiter struggles to be seen in the early morning twilight after mid-month. While the gas giant was behind the sun, it moved into the Gemini constellation, where it will remain for the rest of the year. The waxing crescent moon passes five degrees to the north July 23.
Saturn is in a good position for observing, rising in the east near midnight. July 14, it appears to be motionless, then begins retrograding against the background stars. The moon is four degrees north July 16th.
Uranus rises very early in the east, ascending into the morning twilight sky.
Neptune is near Saturn, and like the Ringed Planet, the distant planet appears to stop moving, then reverses direction to retrograde for the remainder of the year.
On July 28, the south delta Aquariid meteors peak in the evening.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was national president for two terms, is now the editor of the Observer’s Handbook, and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour and he is a Fellow of the RASC.
