Scorpius and Sagittarius highlight July nights, scooting low across the south. Antares highlights the scorpion’s hook-shaped body, with teapot-shaped Sagittarius to its left. Under dark skies, the Milky Way rises from the teapot’s spout like steam. Meanwhile, the Big Dipper stands high in the north and northwest during the evening, with its handle to the upper left and bowl to the lower right.
The full Moon of July is known as the Hay Moon, Thunder Moon, or Apollo Moon.
Perigee July 13
Apogee July 25
Moon phases are Central Time.
Several stellar nurseries in Serpens Cauda, the tail of the snake, are busily churning out baby stars. The constellation is in the southeast at nightfall, above and to the upper right of the teapot outlined by some of the brightest stars of Sagittarius.
Two planets accompany the Moon tonight. Bright Jupiter, the solar system’s largest planet, is close to the upper right of the Moon as they climb into view in late evening. Fainter Saturn, the second-largest planet, is about the same distance to the left of the Moon.
Two planets accompany the Moon tonight. Bright Jupiter, the solar system’s largest planet, is close to the upper right of the Moon as they climb into view in late evening. Fainter Saturn, the second-largest planet, is about the same distance to the left of the Moon.
The Moon is full tonight, providing a brilliant light for the holiday night. Yet it won’t be in view all that long. It is the Short-Night Moon — the full Moon that’s in sight for a shorter period than any other full Moon of the year.
The Moon is full tonight, providing a brilliant light for the holiday night. Yet it won’t be in view all that long. It is the Short-Night Moon — the full Moon that’s in sight for a shorter period than any other full Moon of the year.
The star 61 Cygni is one of our closest stellar neighbors, just 11 light-years away. And it consists of two stars, not one. Even so, it’s only barely visible to the unaided eye. It is a faint dot not far from the graceful outline of Cygnus, the swan.
The star 61 Cygni is one of our closest stellar neighbors, just 11 light-years away. And it consists of two stars, not one. Even so, it’s only barely visible to the unaided eye. It is a faint dot not far from the graceful outline of Cygnus, the swan.
Look for Antares to the right or lower right of the Moon as night falls. The star is the bright heart of the scorpion. Antares is a supergiant, so it is hundreds of times the Sun’s diameter and millions of times its volume.
Look for Antares to the right or lower right of the Moon as night falls. The star is the bright heart of the scorpion. Antares is a supergiant, so it is hundreds of times the Sun’s diameter and millions of times its volume.
July is an “imperial” month. In the original Roman calendar it was the fifth month of the year, named Quintilis. Julius Caesar reworked the calendar, however, and made Quintilis the seventh month. The Roman senate changed its name to Julius — July.
