Watch the Moon meet Saturn, look for shooting stars and find the Northern Crown this week

by

When you buy through links in our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.

Two people sit together and look at the night sky with their naked eyes. The person on the right points at the stars.

Take a moment to sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonder of the night sky with your naked eye. | Credit: Oscar Gutierrez Zozulia via Getty Images

From a close encounter between Saturn and the moon to the southern Delta Aquarids and a good view of the Northern Crown, there’s plenty to see this week (July 22 to July 28), even with the naked eye.

A good one telescope or a few binoculars will help you see some of the fainter objects in the night sky, but the naked eye is sufficient to stars And star signswatch the moonexperience meteor showers and see satellites whizzing through the night sky.

Here’s what you can see in the night sky this week without any equipment. All you need to enjoy it is curiosity, patience, and good weather.

Related: The Brightest Planets in July’s Night Sky: How to See Them (and When)

This Week’s Stargazing Goals

MONDAY, JULY 22 — MERCURY (AFTER SUNSET)

A white outline around a black image of a half-shadowed Mercury, pockmarked with white craters. The frame is centered on the left of a landscape with a hazy red sky above a low, grassy horizon. A thin green line runs in half from the upper left, cutting through the loop of a red line going up and down the right. Blue lines at the top connect stars to show constellations.A white outline around a black image of a half-shadowed Mercury, pockmarked with white craters. The frame is centered on the left of a landscape with a hazy red sky above a low, grassy horizon. A thin green line runs from the upper left in half, cutting through the loop of a red line going up and down on the right. Blue lines at the top connect stars to show constellations.

Since Mercury orbits close to the sun, it is usually lost in its glare. However, it is sometimes possible to see it briefly, just before sunrise or after sunset. The latter will happen tonight when it reaches its “greatest elongation east”, and is 27 degrees east of the sun as seen from Soil.

Just after sunset, look west for a reddish dot just above the horizon. It will be about 14 degrees from the sun and shining at size +0.5. Slightly above that, the star Regulus, in Leo, will be magnitude +2.3, while closer to the horizon, the star Regulus will be magnitude +2.3. Venusat a much brighter magnitude of -3.9, but likely difficult to see in the haze near the horizon.

TUESDAY, JULY 23 — BRIGHT MOON SHINES WITH SATURN (OVERNIGHT)

An open, black starry sky above a low horizon of city trees and buildings beyond, shows thin blue lines connecting the stars and representing constellations.An open, black starry sky above a low horizon of city trees and buildings beyond, shows thin blue lines connecting the stars and representing constellations.

An open, black starry sky above a low horizon of city trees and buildings beyond, shows thin blue lines connecting the stars and representing constellations.

The now waning crescent moon will rise around midnight and appear in the east-southeast next to Saturnwhich will shine at magnitude +0.8. Both will be visible for the rest of the night, fading in the west as dawn breaks. You won’t see Saturn’s rings with your eyes alone — you’ll need a telescope for that — but the yellowish disk will be easy to find.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 24 — BRIGHT MOON COVERS SATURN (OVERNIGHT)

Because the moon is relatively close to Earth, its apparent position relative to the background stars and planets will vary depending on where you are. From North America and Europe, the waning gibbous moon will be close to Saturn again tonight, rising after midnight. However, from a path across Asia and Africa, the moon will appear to occult Saturn, causing it to disappear from view for a few hours.

THURSDAY JULY 25 – VENUS, MERCURY AND REGULUS (AFTER SUNSET)

a dark blue sky with thin, cloudy clouds and two bright points of light, one of which is Venus and the other Mercury.a dark blue sky with thin, cloudy clouds and two bright points of light, one of which is Venus and the other Mercury.

a dark blue sky with thin, cloudy clouds and two bright points of light, one of which is Venus and the other Mercury.

Look west-northwest just after sunset and you’ll see Venus sinking into the horizon at magnitude +3.9, although higher in the sky than it was on Monday. Slightly to the left and higher in the sky is Mercury, and above it Regulus at magnitude +1.4. Mercury will shine at a relatively bright magnitude +0.6 over the next few evenings, dipping into the glare of the Sun as Venus rises.

FRIDAY JULY 26 — NORTHERN CROWN (OVERNIGHT)

a series of small blue and white stars form a crown, an arch shape in the sky.a series of small blue and white stars form a crown, an arch shape in the sky.

a series of small blue and white stars form a crown, an arch shape in the sky.

This week is an excellent time to Northern Crown (Corona Borealis). Look west after sunset and you will see a bright star Arcturus in the constellation Bootes. Look high above for Vegathe brightest star in the constellation Lyra. Between the two is a warp of seven stars. This is easiest to find in a dark sky, but can also be seen well from a city. It is worth familiarizing yourself with the Northern Crown, because between now and September a faint “nova” star close to the warp, called T Coronae Borealis, will partially explode, making it a star that you can see with the naked eye for a short period. This happens every 80 years.

Related: A rare nova sparks a ‘new star’ in the sky this year

SATURDAY JULY 27 – LAST QUARTER MOON (OVERNIGHT)

A large quarter moon hangs centrally in the starry sky, with its shadow half on the right.A large quarter moon hangs centrally in the starry sky, with its shadow half on the right.

A large quarter moon hangs centrally in the starry sky, with its shadow half on the right.

Look east-northeast at midnight and you will see a waning, gibbous Moon rising. It has been a week since the full moon and a week of the new Moonwhich means it is now half lit. Not only is it a beautiful sight, but it also means the night sky is free of moonlight in the early evening. That makes next week perfect for naked-eye stargazing before bed.

SUNDAY JULY 28 — SOUTHERN DELTA AQUARIUMS METEORS PEAK (OVERNIGHT)

Meteor shower trails appear as long, white streaks of light against a background of the Milky Way.Meteor shower trails appear as long, white streaks of light against a background of the Milky Way.

Meteor shower trails appear as long, white streaks of light against a background of the Milky Way.

There is always some confusion about when the annual Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower peaks. It is active from mid-July through late August, but because it is so broad, there is no specific night to stay up late looking up. If you look around midnight tonight through Tuesday, July 30, you have a good chance of seeing something. falling starsbut they can be faint. The show will be at its best in the Southern Hemisphere and the southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, where the Aquarius zodiac sign is at its highest in the sky.

Want to try capturing some of these events on camera? Check out our guide on astrophotography for beginners. If you don’t have everything you need, be sure to check out our guides on the best cameras for astrophotography And the best lenses for astrophotography.

Jamie Carter is the author of stargazing in 2024 And A stargazing program for beginners.

Editor’s Note: If you have a beautiful photo of the night sky and would like to share it with Space.com readers, please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Leave a Comment