July begins with the moon just past full phase and five degrees south of Mars. July10, Aldebaran is occulted as the moon passes in front of the bright star. This event is favourable in central and northern North America, good viewing for Canadian observers wishing to see solar system motion in action.
The moon is new July12, and with that comes eclipse season and the second solar eclipse of 2018. The first partial eclipse would hardly have been viewed by anyone, since it occurred in February over Antarctica. This second solar eclipse is again a non-starter, only seen from south of Australia, with greatest eclipse again being partial and over Antarctica.
Eclipses come in pairs or threes, and this season is one of the latter, with a total lunar eclipse July 27. Again unfavourable for Canadian viewers, as only a slight tip of eastern Newfoundland will see the final stages of the event.
A third partial solar eclipse occurs on Aug. 11.
Back to July 15, the moon is less than two degrees south of the Beehive Cluster and two degrees north of Mercury. A day later, Regulus is 1.8 degrees south of the moon and Venus is 1.6 degrees south. This should present a good photo opportunity with the Beehive, Mercury, Regulus and Venus all in a tight grouping with the tiny sliver of the moon.
July 21, Jupiter is four degrees south, and by July 25, Saturn is two degrees south. The moon is full July 27.
Mercury reaches greatest elongation east July 11, when it begins to swing in front of the sun. The angle of the ecliptic hugging the horizon makes this an unfavourable apparition for northern viewers. Watch for the nearby moon July15.
Venus remains a great western evening beacon throughout the month, but it drops considerably – 14 degrees in latitude – but still quite high in the sky. The moon makes a tight conjunction July16.
Mars observers have long been waiting for this month, as the Red Planet reaches opposition in the early morning of July 27 and closest approach to Earth July 31. The full moon makes an appearance July 27, as well.
Jupiter is in the evening sky throughout the month, beginning prograde (eastward) motion July 11.
Saturn crosses the sky through the night, joining the moon July 25.
Uranus is briefly visible just before sunrise in the eastern sky.
Neptune is visible briefly, but about for an hour longer than Uranus.
The South Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks in the early morning of July 28.
— James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and is now the society’s past-president, 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
