What’s Up in the Night Sky? July 2023

Fred Barrett | Jul 05, 2023

Oh my, oh my! It’s summer nights with only a few hours of darkness plus bugs galore to keep you company, but that’s not to say that enjoyable night sky travelling can’t be done.

With Solstice done, the dark time is getting longer as the sun sets earlier and covering up your exposed areas and generous application of bug spray sure helps. The most beautiful constellations and fascinating deep sky objects are front and centre for your observing menu in summertime.

I’ve spoken of the summer triangle as a satisfying challenge in many previous summer columns. That search for the brightest stars in 3 prominent constellations provides a wonderful journey through the sky and will refresh your familiarity with all that our summer dark sky can offer. Look up a past column in this paper’s archives for directions or do an internet search to plan your observing trip.

Soon after sunset in early July, Mars and Venus chase each other near Regulus, that bright star below the Mane (looks like a hook) of the constellation Leo the Lion. Look 15 degrees or so above the western horizon as soon as the Sun has plunked down and darkness approaches. Mercury is nearby but close to the horizon. July 9th is an especially good night to view those planets. Mars is faint just beside Regulus and it will take concentration to view it, especially with bright Venus just below.

Saturn rises within the constellation Aquarius close to midnight as July begins and about 2 hours earlier by month’s end. During the night, it moves toward the southwest. You cannot not have a good look at this planet during the month!

Great Jupiter rises in the east about 2 am in early July and soon after midnight late in the month. About an hour before sunrise on the 12th, Uranus is just below a waning crescent Moon with Jupiter above and to the right.

We have a meteor shower from July 12 to August 21 with a peak night on the 30th. It is called the Southern Delta Aquariid shower and its radiant is just below Jupiter in Aquarius. It’s best viewed in the nights leading up to the peak because the Moon is waxing to a Full Moon as the peak approaches. Start observing a few hours before dawn. Don’t forget that although the radiant may still be below the eastern horizon, meteor streaks can still be seen all over the sky coming from the direction of the radiant. A rate of 25 meteors per hour is possible.

Here are the highlights for this month: July 3: Full Moon. This one is named for the growing antlers of the male deer. They’re getting ready to rumble. July 4: The Moon is at perigee, closest – 358,058 Km. July 6: The Earth is at aphelion or its greatest distance from the Sun – 151.2 million Km. Yes, that’s right – the Earth is farthest from the during the summer! The Moon is 3 degrees south of Saturn at 11 pm. July 7: Venus is at max brightness. July 9: Last quarter Moon. An hour after sunset, Mars and Venus are close to Regulus. July 10: The Moon passes 0.7 degrees north of Regulus at 4 am. July 12: About an hour before sunrise Uranus is just below a waning crescent Moon with Jupiter above and to the right. July 17: New Moon. July 20: The Moon is at Apogee, farthest – 403,930 Km. The Moon is 8 degrees north of Venus at 5 am – quite a sight! The Moon passes 3 degrees north of Mars at midnight. July 25: First quarter Moon. July 28: Mercury passes 0.1 degree south of Regulus at p pm. July 30: Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks.

Don’t forget to check out events at the North Frontenac Dark Sky site, or as it’s known now, the North Frontenac Astronomy Park.

Also check the Lennox and Addington Dark Sky Viewing Area for observing opportunities this summer.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) website has a listing of astronomy events for Ontario and the Kingston branch of the RASC website lists events happening, especially in our area.

And that’s a wrap! Keep looking up.