This Week’s Night Sky Delights

Every Monday, I curate the northern hemisphere’s standout celestial events for the upcoming week. However, make sure to check my main feed for more comprehensive articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses, and other topics.

The Night Sky This Week: July 24-30, 2023

Venus, the brilliant “Evening Star” throughout most of 2023, is now descending from view as July comes to a close. This week, take one final glimpse at Earth’s sister planet before it disappears from twilight. In its place, Mercury rises above Venus in the post-sunset sky. Venus will return in September, this time as the “Morning Star,” after traversing the sun’s glare.

Monday, July 24: Moon And Spica

Tonight, shortly after sunset, look southwest to witness the 41%-lit waxing crescent moon positioned just 2º away from Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, located approximately 250 light-years distant.

Tuesday, July 25: First Quarter Moon

Tonight marks the First Quarter Moon, when it appears half-lit as viewed from Earth. Stargazing becomes more challenging and less awe-inspiring during this phase due to the increased brightness caused by moonlight. However, it’s an excellent opportunity to observe lunar craters along the terminator using a pair of binoculars.

Tuesday-Thursday, July 25-27: Venus Meets Mercury

During twilight this week, look westward to witness an intriguing celestial event: the convergence of Venus and Mercury, Earth’s neighboring planets. They will be a mere 5° apart from each other as they swap positions in the sky, with Venus descending and Mercury rising. The best viewing time is right after sunset near the western horizon.

Friday, July 28: Mercury And Regulus In Conjunction

Tonight, immediately after sunset, the elusive “Swift Planet” becomes visible since it’s sufficiently distanced from the sun’s glare. Moreover, it will be an extraordinary sight as it aligns just 0.1º away from Regulus, the brightest star in the Leo constellation, situated approximately 78 light-years away. For a unique perspective, employ binoculars to observe this conjunction.

Saturday/Sunday, July 29/30: Southern Delta Aquariids

The Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower occurs each year from mid-July to mid-August as Earth intersects the dust cloud created by comet P/2008 Y12 in the inner solar system. In a dark sky, expect to witness around 25 “shooting stars” per hour during the peak, which is anticipated to be shortly before midnight on Saturday in North America. Unfortunately, the 89%-lit moon will diminish the meteor shower’s impact until around 03:00 a.m. when it sets.

Object Of The Week: The International Space Station

If you haven’t yet witnessed the International Space Station (ISS) passing overhead, make use of NASA’s “Spot The Station” service. By signing up, you’ll receive daily emails notifying you of the precise time the ISS will be visible from your location. This awe-inspiring spectacle begins in the west and concludes in the east, taking approximately five to six minutes to traverse the sky.

The times and dates provided in this article refer to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate information tailored to your location, consult online planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Live. Additionally, you can check planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset, and moonrise/moonset times on websites such as Time and Date.

Wishing you clear skies and unforgettable celestial experiences!

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