Celestial Events to Watch Out for in July
During the summer, July presents abundant celestial events for sky enthusiasts. Look forward to observing Mercury in the evening sky, a Lunar occultation of Antares, and the Moon reaching perigee, promising excellent stargazing opportunities. The constellations, steeped in captivating myths and legends, will be prominently displayed, narrating ancient tales through the starry language of the cosmos. Gather your telescopes and binoculars, and join fellow astronomy enthusiasts under the expansive summer sky to witness these remarkable celestial spectacles. Prepare to keep your eyes skyward this July as we delve into the list of celestial events for the upcoming month.
Conjunction of the Moon and Mars – July 1
On July 1st, the Moon and Mars will share the same right ascension, with the Moon passing 4°05′ north of Mars. Visible in the dawn sky from New Delhi, they will rise at 02:00 IST, appearing 35° above the eastern horizon before sunrise. Although too distant to fit within a telescope’s field of view, they will be visible to the naked eye or through binoculars.
Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter – July 3
By July 3rd, the Moon and Jupiter will align in the same celestial longitude, with the Moon passing 5°01′ north of Jupiter. From New Delhi, observe them in the morning sky rising at 03:10 IST, reaching an altitude of 23° before dawn breaks around 05:08. Both shining brightly in Taurus, they will be visible without telescopic aid.
Conjunction of Mars and Uranus – July 15
On July 15th, Mars and Uranus will share the same right ascension, with Mars passing 33′ south of Uranus. Appearing in the dawn sky from New Delhi, they will rise at 01:36 IST and reach an altitude of 35° above the eastern horizon before fading from view around 04:26. Visible through binoculars, Mars and Uranus will both be in Taurus.
Messier 55 is Well Placed – July 17
The globular cluster M55, located in Sagittarius with a magnitude of 6.3, will be ideally positioned in the evening sky. On July 17th, it will peak around midnight local time, visible from New Delhi between 10:03 PM and 2:38 AM. While faint, it can be observed using binoculars or a small telescope.
Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn – July 25
On July 25th, the Moon and Saturn will closely approach each other in the sky, sharing the same right ascension with the Moon passing 23 minutes north of Saturn. Visible in the morning sky from New Delhi starting at 22:36, they will reach their highest point at 03:29, appearing about 54° above the southern horizon before sunrise. Both in Aquarius, they will be observable without a telescope, offering a wonderful opportunity for closer observation if you have one.
