Mars and meteors: sky observation guide in July

(NewsNation) — July 2024 promises to be a heavenly celebration for sky watcherswith events ranging from meteor showers to planetary alignments.

July 1st: The month begins with a rare sighting of Comet 13P/Olbers, visible for the first time in 69 years. Best viewed in early July, the comet can be seen after sunset, traveling under Ursa Major toward the northwestern horizon until about midnight.

Mars will also appear in the sky, where skywatchers will see a thin Crescent moon just above the Red Planet, Popular Science reported. The Adler Planetarium states that Mars will be slightly brighter than first magnitude in July and will gradually become even brighter as the year progresses.

July 3: Early risers may witness a conjunction between Jupiter and the moon. The celestial bodies will appear within five degrees of each other, with the moon gliding above Jupiter.

July, 5th: The Earth reaches its furthest point from the sun, known as aphelion. At this point, our planet will be approximately 94,510,538 miles from the sun. However, this distance does not affect the Earth’s seasons, which are determined by the planet’s axial tilt.

On the night of the new moon, the stars and galaxies will be brighter, Travel and Leisure reported.

July 10: Hawaiians will experience Lahaina Noon when the sun is directly overhead at solar noon in this biannual event.

July 12th to 13th: New York City residents and visitors have another chance to experience Manhattanhenge. This phenomenon occurs when the setting sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan’s street grid, creating a stunning visual effect. The American Museum of Natural History recommends seeing 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd or 57th streets.

July 21: The full “Moon Buck“rises, reaching peak lighting at 6:14 a.m. EDT. Named for the growing antlers of male deer during this season, it is also known by other names in several Native American cultures.

Mercury will also reach its greatest eastern elongation, offering a rare opportunity to spot the elusive planet just after sunset in the constellation Leo.

July 29th to 30th: The month ends with the peak of Delta Aquarid Meteor rain. Stargazers can expect up to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. Rain is best viewed from dusk to midnight, before moonrise.

For optimal viewing of these celestial events, experts recommend finding a dark place, away from city lights, and allowing your eyes to adjust to the darkness for about 30 minutes.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story