July will be a special month in the sky. Scorpius (the Scorpion), the most characteristic constellation in the summer sky, will be at its highest and best for observation. To find it, look south as soon as it gets dark for the bright reddish star Antares which represents the heart of the scorpion. Its body and tail extend to the left and down to near (or below) the southern horizon before curving back up like a fish hook. Its tail ends with a two-stared stinger. The scorpion’s upper body extends to the upper right of the heart for a shorter distance and ends with three stars in a nearly straight line at right angles to the body. They represent the scorpion’s head and the base of its pinchers. The rest of the pinchers are formed in the black of the sky.
Even though Scorpius never gets very far above the southern horizon, it is useful in finding other constellations. The two-stared stinger points to Sagittarius (the Archer) that follows close behind Scorpius. While much of the constellation is below the southern horizon, its brightest stars will be visible for much of the night. These fairly bright stars form the outline of a teapot. An irregular box of four stars on the left forms its handle, and on the right, a triangle of three stars pointing down forms its pour spout. A triangle joining the upper right star of the handle, the upper left star of the pour spout, and a star above a line between these two forms its lid. A line from the lower right star of the handle to the bottom point of the pour spout forms the base. Your fist at arm’s length will just cover the teapot.
Scorpius also can be used to find Libra (the Scales). To locate it, look to the west of the head of the scorpion for two fairly bright stars that lead Scorpius across the sky. The other stars of Libra are dim and the pattern is hard to trace out unless the sky is very dark. Interestingly, the two brighter stars once represented the claws of the scorpion until the Romans used them to form Libra. Their names still reflect this. The brighter one, which is on the south, is Zubenelgenubi (or southern claw) and the northern star is Zubeneschamali (or northern claw). Farther west beyond Libra is the very bright Spica in Virgo (the Maiden).
During July, Jupiter will move into the morning sky and join Saturn and Mars. Bright Saturn will lead the way, rising at about 1:00 in early July and 11:00 by the end of the month. Mars will rise at about 3:00 as July begins and 2:00 by the end of the month. Jupiter will rise at about 4:00, or about an hour after Mars as July begins, but just after Mars by the end of the month. Mars is moving eastward in its orbit much faster than Jupiter, and it will be much closer to Jupiter by the end of the month. In the evening, you may glimpse Mercury low in the west just after sunset during the first half of the month
Observing Highlights
July 1 Before dawn, the Moon will be above Mars. It will move in its orbit and be between Mars and Jupiter on the 2nd.
July 3 The Moon will be the upper left of brilliant Jupiter.
July 7 The crescent Moon will be above Mercury low in the western sky. Start looking 20 minutes after sunset.
July 8 The crescent Moon will be to the right of Regulus, the brightest star in Leo (the Lion). The Moon will move in its orbit and be to the left of Regulus on the 9th.
July 13 Star Party sponsored by Grout Museum & Black Hawk Astronomy Club, Prairie Grove Park, Waterloo, 9-10:30. This will be a special evening because the Moon will move over and hide the bright star Spica in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden) from about 10:00 to about 11:15 CDT. The eastern states will miss the reappearance of Spica and the west will miss its disappearance. The northwestern states will miss the event entirely.
July 17 The Moon will be close to the left of Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius (the Scorpion).
July 23 The Moon will be close to the right of Saturn. It will be to Saturn’s left on the 24th.
July 30 The Moon will be to the left of Mars, farther to the upper right of Jupiter, and the upper left of Aldebaran in Taurus (the Bull).
Moon Phase Date Rises Highest Point Sets When Visible
New Moon July 5 Sunrise Noon Sunset Not visible
First quarter July 13 Noon Sunset Midnight P.M.
Full moon July 21 Sunset Midnight Sunrise All night
Last quarter July 27 Midnight Sunrise Noon A.M.
. *Dates and times are approximate.
Sources: StarDate, Jan-Feb. 2024. Vol. 52, No. 1.
Chartrand III, M. R. Nat. Audubon Soc. Field Guide to the Night Sky. A. A. Krump, Inc, NY pub. 1995.
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