SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).

Brief Calendar of Events

DateEvent
2 Tue Moon at apogee
Last Quarter Moon
6 Sat Earth at aphelion
10 Wed New Moon
14 Sun Moon at perigee
17 Wed First Quarter Moon
20 Sat Jupiter at conjunction
21 Sun Mercury at superior conjunction
24 Wed Full Moon
28 Sun Delta Aquariids meteor shower
30 Tue Moon at apogee

The Sun and Moon

There are no eclipses this month.

Because the orbit of the Earth around the Sun is elliptical instead of circular, the distance between our planet and our star varies during the year. Aphelion, when the Earth is farthest to the Sun, always occurs in the first few days of July.

As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Gemini to the constellation Cancer.

The Planets

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
Mercury
Mercury is lost in the Sun's glare by mid-month as it reaches superior conjunction on 21 July. Look for it early in the month in the constellations Taurus and Gemini before it passes into Cancer.
Venus
The "evening star" continues to put on a wonderful show for southern hemisphere observers. Look for Venus to pass very near to the star Regulus in the constellation Leo on 10 July.
Mars
Mars is getting increasingly close to the Sun on its way to conjunction next month. Look for it in the west after sunset in the constellations Gemini and Cancer.
Jupiter
Jupiter is lost in the Sun's glare this month as it reaches conjunction on 20 July. Like the Sun, the largest planet in the solar system is in the constellation Gemini.
Saturn
Now a morning sky object, the ringed planet is the bright object located between the "horns" of the bull Taurus.
Uranus
Rising well before midnight, Uranus can be found in the constellation Aquarius.
Neptune
This blue gas giant can be found not far from its solar system neighbour Uranus. Look for it in the constellation Capricornus.
Pluto
Pluto sets early in the morning in the constellation Ophiuchus. However, because it is so small and faint, a large telescope is always needed to see it.

Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors

Minor Planets
A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
Comets
There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
Meteors
Observations of the delta Aquariids meteor shower will suffer in the bright skies just after Full Moon.

The Celestial Sphere

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.

Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)

Northern Hemisphere : 45° N

Southern Hemisphere : 30° S

For More Information...

Credits

Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of your favourite amateur astronomy magazine available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.

The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.

Obliquity Copyright © 1995-2002 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman
All Rights Reserved
Designed and maintained by Obliquity
Last modified on 30 June 2002
https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/archive/2002/jul2002.html