BACKYARD STARGAZER: Previewing the skies of July
By Francis Parnell
In July the Moon visits bright stars and even brighter planets.
At dusk on the 2nd, look towards the west to spot the waxing crescent Moon 6 degrees to the right of Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, the Lion.
Dog Days begins on the 3rd, bringing 40 days of hot, muggy weather. The Greeks believed that “Sirius,” the Dog Star, rose with, and added its heat, to that of the Sun. Sirius means “Scorching!”
At 3 a.m. on the 4th, Earth is at Aphelion, its greatest distance from the Sun all year, at 94,508,549 miles.
On the 7th at dusk, look high in the south-southwest to find the waxing gibbous Moon in Virgo 5 degrees upper left of Spica, the brightest star in Virgo.
The waxing gibbous Moon visits Scorpius on the 10th. Look south to see it 2 degrees upper left of red Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion.
On the 13th, be sure to catch the Full Buck Moon rising. The Moon is at Perigee, only 221,991 miles from Earth; the largest appearing Full Moon this year! Observe it rising behind distant trees or buildings and experience the “Moon Illusion.” The average Earth/Moon distance is 238,855 miles.
The waning gibbous Moon rises in the east-southeast on the evening of the 15th and trails yellow Saturn by about 6 degrees.
One hour before sunrise on the 19th, look southeast to see the almost last-quarter Moon 3 degrees lower left of bright Jupiter.
Look high in the south-southeast one hour before sunrise on the 21st to see the Moon with red Mars just 2.5 degrees to its left.
At dawn on the 26th, a thin lunar crescent and brilliant Venus are 3.5 degrees apart in the east-northeast. Another neat conjunction.
FAST FACT: In June I mentioned the 13 constellations of the Zodiac. Starting at the Spring Equinox and heading eastwards, it’s Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, Sagittarius, Capricornus, and Aquarius. The Sun spends six days in Scorpius, but 18 days in Ophiuchus. Its lower eastern part extends into the Zodiac ever since the International Astronomical Union created official boundaries for all 88 constellations in 1930. That’s why there are 13 constellations the Sun is “in” each year. In ancient Greek, Zodiac means “circle of little animals.”
“Keep looking up!”
