{"id":785032,"date":"2024-07-01T00:39:51","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T05:39:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=785032"},"modified":"2024-07-01T00:39:51","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T05:39:51","slug":"stargazing-calendar-for-july-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=785032","title":{"rendered":"Stargazing Calendar for July 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Artist\u2019s view of bright spots on Ceres based on a detailed map of the surface compiled from images taken from NASA\u2019s Dawn spacecraft. Image Credit: ESO\/L.Cal\u00e7ada\/NASA\/JPL-Caltech\/UCLA\/MPS\/DLR\/IDA\/Steve Albers\/N. Risinger. License: CC BY 4.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 2024 promises to be a spectacular month for stargazing enthusiasts and astronomy aficionados, with major events including the oppositions of dwarf planets Ceres<\/strong> and Pluto<\/strong>, as well as several meteor shower peaks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The opposition of Ceres on July 6 and Pluto on July 23 will provide prime viewing opportunities for these distant celestial bodies. Additionally, the July Pegasids, Southern Delta Aquariids, and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers will peak, offering ample chances to witness shooting stars. With minimal interference from the Moon on key dates, stargazing in July 2024 will be an unforgettable experience for all who look up and marvel at the cosmos.<\/p>\n

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Would you like to be notified of stargazing events?<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n

List of Meteor Showers in July 2024<\/h2>\n
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  1. Antihelion Source<\/strong>: Start on December 10; multiple peaks; end September 10.<\/li>\n
  2. June Bootids<\/strong>: Start on June 22; peak on June 27; end on July 2.<\/li>\n
  3. July Pegasids<\/strong>: Start on July 4; peak on July 10; end on July 17.<\/li>\n
  4. Piscis Austrinids<\/strong>: Start on July 15; peak on July 28; end on August 10.<\/li>\n
  5. Southern \u03b4-Aquariids<\/strong>: Start on July 12; peak on July 30; end on August 23.<\/li>\n
  6. \u03b1-Capricornids<\/strong>: Start on July 3; peak on July 30; end on August 15.<\/li>\n
  7. \u03b7-Eridanids<\/strong>: Start on July 31; peak on August 8; end on August 19.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    We also have a complete list of\u00a0meteor showers for the entire year of 2024 here.<\/p>\n

    List of Planetary Conjunctions in July 2024<\/h2>\n
      \n
    1. Conjunction of the Moon and Mars<\/strong> in Aries on July 1.<\/li>\n
    2. Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter<\/strong> in Taurus on July 3.<\/li>\n
    3. Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury<\/strong> in Cancer on July 7.<\/li>\n
    4. Conjunction of Mars and Uranus<\/strong> in Taurus on July 15.<\/li>\n
    5. Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn<\/strong> in Aquarius on July 24.<\/li>\n
    6. Conjunction of the Moon and Mars<\/strong> in Taurus on July 30.<\/li>\n
    7. Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter<\/strong> in Taurus on July 30.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      July 1: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars<\/h2>\n

      The Moon and Mars will be at conjunction by sharing the same right ascension and passing within 4\u00b005\u2032 of each other.<\/p>\n

      Around the same time, the two bodies will also make a close approach (appulse) reaching 3\u00b049\u2032 from each other, but not sharing the same right ascension.<\/p>\n

      Look for the two bodies in the constellation of Aries. The Moon will be a very thin waning crescent (15%) at 25 days old, close to new moon \u2013 and will not interfere much with stargazing this first half of July 2024. Despite this, the Moon will still be at apparent magnitude of -10.9, while Mars will be at magnitude 1.0.<\/p>\n

      \"Aries\"Aries
      Aries Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 2: Close approach of the Moon and the Pleiades<\/h2>\n

      The Moon and the Pleiades (also known as M45 or Messier 45) will make a close approach, passing within only 15.6 arcminutes of each other.<\/p>\n

      Both objects will be in the constellation of Taurus with the Moon being at apparent magnitude -10.4; and the Pleiades at 1.3. The Moon will be a 26 days old waning crescent at 8%.<\/p>\n

      \"Taurus\"Taurus
      Taurus Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 3: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter<\/h2>\n

      The Moon and Jupiter will reach conjunction passing within 5\u00b001\u2032 of each other while sharing the same right ascension.<\/p>\n

      The Moon will be at apparent magnitude -9.9 and Jupiter at magnitude -2.0 both in the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the close approach of the Moon and the Pleiades.) The Moon will be a 27 days old waning crescent at 5%.<\/p>\n

      July 6: Dwarf planet Ceres at opposition<\/h2>\n

      The dwarf planet 1 Ceres<\/strong> will be at opposition at around midnight local time. It will reach the highest point in the sky and opposite to the Sun.<\/p>\n

      \"Ceres\"Ceres
      Ceres photo acquired by the Dawn space probe on May 4, 2015, at a distance of 13641 km. Credit: NASA \/ JPL-Caltech \/ UCLA \/ MPS \/ DLR \/ IDA \/ Justin Cowart.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      At the same time Ceres will be closest to the Earth (perigee) at a distance of 1.89 AU. At this time it will be the brightest, with an apparent magnitude of 7.3. Look in the constellation of Sagittarius with binoculars or a telescope. The Moon will be a one day old waxing crescent at about\u00a01%, so it won\u2019t be interfering with stargazing during the July 2024 Ceres opposition.<\/p>\n

      At a mean diameter of 939.4 km Ceres is the largest asteroid and first one discovered in 1801, by Giuseppe Piazzi. Ceres was named after the Roman goddess of agriculture. It is also the nearest dwarf planet and has a surface gravity of just under 3% of Earth\u2019s.<\/p>\n

      \"Sagittarius\"Sagittarius
      Sagittarius Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 7: Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury<\/h2>\n

      The Moon and Mercury will be at conjunction by sharing the same right ascension and passing within 3\u00b013\u2032 of each other.<\/p>\n

      The two celestial bodies will meet in the constellation of Cancer with an apparent magnitude of -9.0 for the Moon and -0.2 for Mercury. The Moon will be a two days old waxing crescent at 5%.<\/p>\n

      \"Cancer\"Cancer
      Cancer Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 10:\u00a0July Pegasid meteor shower peak<\/h2>\n

      The July Pegasids are a small meteor shower with an average of 3 meteors per hour (ZHR) during the peak if conditions are ideal.<\/p>\n

      Some meteors may also be spotted between July 4 and 17, enriching your stargazing this summer of 2024. They will radiate from the constellation of Pegasus at the speed of 65 km\/s on average.<\/p>\n

      \"Pegasus\"Pegasus
      Pegasus Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 15: Conjunction of Mars and Uranus<\/h2>\n

      Mars and Uranus will be at conjunction by sharing the same right ascension and passing within a mere 33\u2032 of each other.<\/p>\n

      Around the same time, the two planets will also make a close approach (appulse) reaching 32.1 arcminutes from each other, but not sharing the same right ascension.<\/p>\n

      Look for the two planets in the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the close approach of the Moon and the Pleiades.) Mars will be at apparent magnitude 0.9, while Uranus will be at 5.8. The Moon will be waxing gibbous (68%) at 10 days old.<\/p>\n

      July 22: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation<\/h2>\n

      Mercury will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky, making it the best time to view the planet. Look for it low in the western sky just before sunrise. It will be at apparent magnitude 0.3 in the constellation of Leo.<\/p>\n

      The Moon will unfortunately interfere with stargazing for most of the remaining month of July 2024. During Mercury\u2019s greatest eastern elongation it will be 17 days old, waning gibbous at 97%.<\/p>\n

      \"Leo\"Leo
      Leo Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 23: Dwarf planet Pluto at opposition<\/h2>\n

      The dwarf planet will reach its highest point in the sky at around midnight local time because it will be exactly opposite to the Sun in the sky.<\/p>\n

      \"Pluto\"Pluto
      New Horizon\u2019s true color view of Pluto as it approached the dwarf planet on July 14, 2015. It will be at opposition this month.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      At about the same time, Pluto will also reach perigee, the closest point to the Earth, at 34.05 AU from Earth. It\u2019s at this time that Pluto will be brightest in the sky. Despite this, you will need a telescope to spot this dwarf planet because it will have an apparent magnitude of only 15.0. Look in the constellation of Capricornus. The Moon will unfortunately make it even harder to spot Pluto, as it will be 18 days old, waning gibbous at 90%.<\/p>\n

      \"Capricornus\"Capricornus
      Capricornus Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 24: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn<\/h2>\n

      The Moon and Saturn will reach conjunction passing within 23\u2032 of each other while sharing the same right ascension.<\/p>\n

      At around the same time the two bodies will also make a close approach (appulse) reaching 20.8 arcminutes from each other, but not sharing the same right ascension. In some parts of Asia and Africa this distance will be so close as to lead to a lunar occultation of Saturn, meaning the Moon will pass in front of Saturn thereby hiding it from view temporarily. If you\u2019re in northern Somalia, southern and eastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, or southern China among others, you\u2019re in luck!<\/p>\n

      The Moon will be at apparent magnitude -12.5 and Saturn at magnitude 0.7 both in the constellation of Aquarius. The Moon will be 19 days old waning gibbous at 79%.<\/p>\n

      \"Aquarius\"Aquarius
      Aquarius Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 25:\u00a0Close approach of the Moon and Neptune<\/h2>\n

      The Moon and Neptune will make a close approach (appulse) passing within only 29.9 arcminutes of each other.<\/p>\n

      In some parts of the world this distance will be so close as to lead to a lunar occultation of Neptune, meaning the Moon will pass in front of Neptune thereby hiding it from view temporarily. If you\u2019re in Papua New Guinea or the Solomon Islands among others, you\u2019re in luck!<\/p>\n

      Both objects will be in the constellation of Pisces with the Moon being at apparent magnitude -12.4; and Neptune at 7.8. The Moon will be a 20 days old waning gibbous at 72%.<\/p>\n

      \"Pisces\"Pisces
      Pisces Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 28: Piscis Austrinid meteor shower peak<\/h2>\n

      The Piscis Austrinids will peak with a zenithal hourly rate of 5 if stargazing conditions are optimal.<\/p>\n

      Some meteors may also be spotted between July 15 and August 10. They will radiate from the southern constellation of Piscis Austrinus at the speed of 35 km\/s on average.<\/p>\n

      \"Piscis\"Piscis
      Piscis Austrinus Constellation Map. Credit: IAU and Sky & Telescope magazine (Roger Sinnott & Rick Fienberg). License: CC BY 3.0.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      July 29:\u00a0Close approach of the Moon and the Pleiades<\/h2>\n

      Just like earlier this month, The Moon and the Pleiades will make a close approach for a second time, passing within only 3.9 arcminutes of each other.<\/p>\n

      Both objects will be in the constellation of Taurus with the Moon being at apparent magnitude -11.4; and the Pleiades at 1.3. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the first close approach of the Moon and the Pleiades.) The Moon will be a 24 days old waning crescent at 25%.<\/p>\n

      July 30: Southern \u03b4-Aquariid meteor shower peak<\/h2>\n

      The Southern Delta Aquariids will peak this July 2024 with a zenithal hourly rate of 25 if stargazing conditions are ideal. With the Moon a 25 days old waning crescent at\u00a025%, the conditions will be close to ideal, baring unfavorable atmospheric conditions.<\/p>\n

      Some meteors may also be spotted between July 12 and August 23. They will radiate from the constellation of Aquarius, near one of the constellation\u2019s brightest stars, Delta Aquarii, at the speed of 41 km\/s on average. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Saturn.) The meteors from this shower originate from comet 96P Machholz.<\/p>\n

      July 30: \u03b1-Capricornid meteor shower peak<\/h2>\n

      The Alpha Capricornids will peak with a zenithal hourly rate of 5 if stargazing conditions are good.<\/p>\n

      Some meteors may also be spotted between July 3 and August 15. They will radiate from the constellation of Capricornus, at the low speed of 23 km\/s on average. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing Pluto at opposition.) The meteors originate from comet 169P\/NEAT, which was once thought to be an asteroid named 2002 EX12.<\/p>\n

      July 30:\u00a0Conjunction of the Moon and Mars<\/h2>\n

      The Moon and Mars will be at conjunction by sharing the same right ascension and passing within 5\u00b001\u2032 of each other.<\/p>\n

      Around the same time, the two bodies will also make a close approach (appulse) reaching 4\u00b054\u2032 from each other, but not sharing the same right ascension.<\/p>\n

      Look for the two bodies in the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the close approach of the Moon and the Pleiades.) The Moon will be a very thin waning crescent (20%) at 25 days old, and so will not interfere much with stargazing this last stretch of July 2024. Despite this, the Moon will still be at apparent magnitude of -11.2 , while Mars will be at magnitude 0.9. Jupiter will also be nearby waiting for its own conjunction with the Moon the next day.<\/p>\n

      July 30:\u00a0Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter<\/h2>\n

      The Moon and Jupiter will reach conjunction passing within 5\u00b022\u2032 of each other while sharing the same right ascension.<\/p>\n

      Around the same time, the two bodies will also make a close approach (appulse) reaching 5\u00b018\u2032 from each other, but not sharing the same right ascension.<\/p>\n

      The Moon will be at apparent magnitude -10.9 and Jupiter at magnitude -2.1 both in the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the close approach of the Moon and the Pleiades.) The Moon will be a 26 days old waning crescent at 16%.<\/p>\n

      Moon Phases in July 2024<\/h2>\n

      As you know, the Moon has a big impact on the visibility of celestial bodies and astronomical events in the night sky. So to help you with stargazing, here\u2019s a calendar of the phases of Moon for this month of July 2024:<\/p>\n

      \"Moon\"Moon
      July 2024 Moon phases calendar for stargazing. Credit: Astronomy Club of Akron.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Positions of the Planets in July 2024<\/h2>\n