By John Loci

Today in Astronomy History

July 19, 1912
A 190 kg meteorite explodes over the town of Holbrook, Arizona.

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July 2008

The New moon for July occurs on Wednesday, July 2^nd, which means the weekend of July 5-6 will be the best weekend for Dark Sky Viewing.

The Full moon for July occurs on July 18^th and is known as the Buck Moon or Thunder Moon.

Aphelion

Mercury is the Morning Star in July, reaching it’s greatest western elongation on July 1^st. Mercury is visible for about 3 weeks and will disappear into the glare of the Sun around July 19^th.

Mercury starts this July in the constellation Taurus, the Bull, until the 9^th of the month when it moves, briefly into the constellation Orion.  The next day, on July 10^th, Mercury moves into Gemini. Finally, later in the month, on July 25^th, after it has disappeared into the glare of the Sun, Mercury moves into the constellation Cancer, the Crab.

Venus is the evening star this month.  Venus begins this month in the constellation Gemini, the Twins, until July 10^th, when it will move into the constellation Cancer, the Crab. Finally on July 26^th, Venus will move into the constellation Leo, the Lion, where it will finish out the month.

On July 18 Venus, will pass through the Beehive Cluster (M44).

Mars is located in the constellation Leo, the Lion, and is viewable in the evening, all month.

On July 1, Mars can be observed less than 0°45’ from the star Regulus.

On July 6^th, look for Mars, Saturn conjunction with the waxing,
crescent moon all clustered with 4° of each other.

Finally on July 10^th, Mars and Saturn will pass within 0°40’ of each other.

Jupiter is located in the constellation Sagittarius until January 2009.  Since Jupiter reaches opposition on July 9^th, Jupiter will be visible all night for the entire month and is in the best position for observing for the year.  Views on Jupiter will be fantastic until October.

Jupiter is currently in retrograde motion. It will reach opposition on July 9^th, the same day as the first quarter moon. On July 17 Jupiter will set less than 3°30’ from the waxing, gibbous moon.

Saturn is located in the constellation Sagitarrius, the Archer, until January 2009 and is viewable all night, all month.

On July 10^th, Mars and Saturn will pass within 0°40’ of each other.

Uranus is located in the constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer, until the year 2009. This month Uranus is visible from the middle of the night to morning.

At the beginning of the July, Uranus rises around Midnight and by the end of the month, Uranus rises around 10:00pm.

July 15 - The relative position on Uranus and Neptune

Neptune is found in the constellation Capricornus, the Sea Goat, until the year 2010. This month Neptune is visible from the late evening to morning.

At the beginning of July, Neptune rises around 10:30am and by the end of July, Neptune rises around 8:30pm.

The former planet, Pluto, is found in the constellation Sagittarius, the Archer, until the year 2023. This month Pluto is observable all night.  This puts Pluto in excellent position for observation this month.

July 15 the relative position of Pluto in July

All star charts made by Imaginova’s Starry Night Pro Software

7/1/2008 Mercury's Greatest Western Elongation (21° 47' 8") - Best Morning View

7/1/2008 Mars less than 0°45' from the star Regulus

7/2/2008 New Moon

7/3/2008 Earth reaches Aphelion

7/6/2008 Mars, Saturn, Waxing, crescent Moon in conjunction - less than 4° of each other

7/9/2008 First Quarter Moon

7/9/2008 Jupiter Opposition

7/10/2008 Mars & Saturn pass within 0°40' of each other

7/17/2008 Saturn sets within 3°30' of the Waning, Gibbous Moon

7/18/2008 Full Buck Moon

7/18/2008 Venus passes through the Beehive Cluster (M44)

7/25/2008 Last Quarter Moon