July's moon begins a few days past new phase, so presents a thin curve in the western evening sky at sundown. July h, just past first quarter, Mars is less than one degree away, an occultation in the Southern Hemisphere. A couple of days later, Saturn is occulted in the South Pacific, and for us the Ringed Planet is about half a degree away. The moon is full July 12. By July 22, Aldebaran, the bright star in Taurus, is less than two degrees away; Venus is a few degrees north July 24; likewise for Mercury July 25.
After the first few days in July, Mercury is visible in the eastern morning sky just before sunrise, reaching its highest point July 12. Venus and Mercury share the spotlight for a few days from July 12 to 20, only seven degrees apart, then Mercury pulls away as it descends behind the sun (superior conjunction).
Venus, Mercury, and the moon form a nice trio in the eastern morning sky July 24. You have to be up early to see it, though, as sunrise is around 5 a.m. The moon will just be a thin crescent and will disappear quickly in the sun's glare. Venus gradually gets lower each day, running up to its own superior conjunction later in September.
Mars is in the southwest at sunset, and remains visible throughout the evening, setting close to midnight. The night of July 5 will be a good time to view the first-quarter moon and Mars very close together. July 12, Mars will be within two degrees of Spica, the bright double star in Virgo, The Maiden.
Jupiter is too close to the sun to view.
Saturn closely follows Mars across the sky during all of July, rising and setting a little later. As the month progresses, Saturn closes in July Red Planet. July 7 will see a close encounter of Saturn with the moon; an occultation in the Southern Hemisphere. Saturn has been retrograding for the past couple of months, and it begins proper motion July 21.
Uranus rises in the east about 1 a.m. and is visible with optical aid until just before sunrise around 4:30.
Neptune rises, like Uranus, around midnight and is only visible with a telescope until just before sunrise.
- 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 president, assistant editor and a contributor to the Observer's Handbook, production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. He was given the RASC Service Award at the 2012 General Assembly in Edmonton.
