Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).
Brief Calendar of Events
| 4 |
Fri |
Earth at aphelion |
| 5 |
Sat |
Mercury at superior conjunction |
| 7 |
Mon |
First Quarter Moon |
| 10 |
Thu |
Moon at perigee |
| 13 |
Sun |
Full Moon |
| 17 |
Thu |
Moon occults Mars |
| 21 |
Mon |
Last Quarter Moon |
| 22 |
Tue |
Moon at apogee |
| 28 |
Mon |
Delta Aquariids meteor shower |
| 29 |
Tue |
New Moon |
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 occultation of Mars by the Moon can be seen from Central America, Columbia, Venezuela, and the Caribbean around 8 UT on 17 July.
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 early in the month as it reaches superior conjunction on 5 July. Look for it in the west after sunset later in the month in the constellations Gemini, Cancer and Leo. It will appear low for northern hemisphere observers but will rise rapidly for viewers in the south.
- Venus
- The "morning star" is low in the east just before sunrise and declines rapidly for southern hemisphere planet watchers. Look for Venus in the constellations Taurus, Gemini and Cancer.
- Mars
- Mars is occulted by the Moon on 17 July. It rises by mid-evening in the constellation Aquarius.
- Jupiter
- Jupiter is setting ever earlier as it heads toward conjunction next month. Look for it early in the evening in the constellation Leo.
- Saturn
- Now a morning sky object, the ringed planet is the bright object in the constellation Gemini. It passes near mu Geminorum (Tejat) mid-month.
- Uranus
- Rising just before Mars, Uranus can also 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 several hours after midnight 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
- With New Moon only a day away, dark skies greet this year's observations of the Delta Aquariids meteor shower.
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
- 1730 hours (1830 hours daylight savings)
- 1930 hours (2030 hours daylight savings)
- 2130 hours (2230 hours daylight savings)
- 2330 hours (0030 hours daylight savings)
- 0130 hours (0230 hours daylight savings)
- 0330 hours (0430 hours daylight savings)
- 0530 hours (0630 hours daylight savings)
Southern Hemisphere : 30° S
- 1730 hours (1830 hours daylight savings)
- 1930 hours (2030 hours daylight savings)
- 2130 hours (2230 hours daylight savings)
- 2330 hours (0030 hours daylight savings)
- 0130 hours (0230 hours daylight savings)
- 0330 hours (0430 hours daylight savings)
- 0530 hours (0630 hours daylight savings)
For More Information...
- Consult our online glossary for non-technical explanations of many of the astronomical terms used in these pages.
- Blue moons, eclipses, the dates of Easter and much more can be found at the Interactive Astronomy Pages.
- For more information about the objects and events described in SkyEye, visit these astronomy-related sites.
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.
Copyright © 1995-2003 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman
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Obliquity
Last modified on 30 June 2003
https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/archive/2003/jul2003.html