After the Supermoon craze, night sky watchers can expect a lot of activities in the heavens in July.
Venus will be peeking near the western horizon at dusk. It will be a bright object and can be easily spotted even while in the major urban areas. It can be likened to an airplane making its descent and with its landing lights in full blast.
According to Washington Post's Blaine P. and Friedlander Jr., the crescent moon will be appearing just below the Morning Star planet on July 10 and then start to scoot across the sky the following nights.
Early risers may have a glimpse of Jupiter just before dawn by mid-July. It can be spotted in the direction of east-northeast very close to the horizon. By July 22, Mars will also be moving eastward and overtake the big planet. People from the East Coast can easily spot these heavenly bodies do a tango in the skies starting July 16 although Mars might be a bit dim.
Saturn will be up amid the Virgo constellation at night. Those with a telescope can see the ringed-planet easily as well as its big moon called Titan that is about the size of Mercury. The Thunder Moon, as the Native Americans call the first quarter moon, will be moving close to Saturn on July 15 and pass under the bright planet the next day.
The July planetary scene will not be complete without the closest planet to the sun, Mercury, that will appear near the horizon as the month is about to end. It will be a dim object that can be located east northeast. Binoculars will help but it will be next to impossible when one is amid urban lights. Those who can spot Jupiter and Mars do their dance might be able to spot Mercury just staring at the two planets above it in the July Skies.
According to Indiana University, those waiting for meteor showers will be able to see the Delta Aquarid that will peak on the dawn skies of July 30. While the moon might be too bright at this time, there will be bright shooting stars streaking the sky just before daybreak. Those who want to watch this shower need to look in the direction of the Aquarius constellation.
