July is an exciting month for stargazers as it brings various celestial events, including the Buck Moon and meteor showers. Here's a comprehensive look at what you can expect in the night sky during July 2024.
Firstly, on July 1, Crescent Moon Above Mars will be visible. Mars rises in the east-northeast beginning of the night and is accompanied by a thin crescent moon. This sight is an excellent opportunity to observe these two planets together.
On July 5, Earth reaches its farthest point from the sun, known as Aphelion Day. At this time, Earth is about 94,510,538 miles away from the sun.
The Full Buck Moon will rise on Sunday July 21 and reach peak illumination at 6:14 a.m. EDT. This moon derives its name from the abundant growth of buckthorn shrubs during this time of year.
Two meteor showers, Southern Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids, will peak at the end of July with around 20 shooting stars per hour. These meteor showers provide a spectacular display for skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Perseids meteor shower will peak on Aug. 11-12 with up to 100 meteors per hour, making it one of the most popular and impressive displays of the year.
To make your stargazing experience even more enjoyable, consider using a telescope or binoculars to observe planets, star clusters like Aldebaran, Pleiades and Hyades, and other celestial bodies. Happy stargazing!
