Today in Astronomy History

July 29, 1958
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the NASA & Space Act of 1958, and creates NASA.

July 29, 1999
The Deep Space 1 spacecraft flew by asteroid Braille.

July 29, 2005
Astronomers at Mount Palomar discover the dwarf-planet Eris. Eris is the largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System.

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July 2010

The New Moon for July occurs on Sunday, July 11 which will make the weekend of July 10-11 the very best for dark sky observing.

The Full Moon occurs on July 25^th and is known as the Full Sturgeon Moon or Full Grain Moon.

Total Solar Eclipse

On July 11th, there is a Total Eclipse of the Sun which will be visible across the South Pacific and can be partially visible to the south part of South America.

This movie shows the July 11, 2010 Solar Eclipse as view from the Moon. Note the Moon's shadow moving west to east across the South Pacific. Each frame is one minute.

Aphelion

The Aphelion is the point in Earth’s elliptical orbit that it is furthest from the Sun. This is the opposite point to the Perihelion when the Earth is at its closest point to the Sun, which occurs in January.

Mercury emerges into the evening sky from the glare of the Sunset around July 8^th.

Mercury begins July, hidden by the Sun, in the constellation Gemini (The Twins) and on July 8^th, as it crosses into the constellation Cancer (The Crab), it emerges from the glare of the Sun. On July 19^th, Mercury moves into the constellation Leo (The Lion).

Mercury, M44 and Moon
On the evenings of July12th and 13th, Mercury can be observed passing through the Beehive Cluster (M44) and on July 12th, the waxing, crescent moon will pass less than 5° from Mercury.

On July 27^th, Mercury and the Star Regulus will be in conjunction and be a mere 0°25’ apart.

Venus is the Evening Star and can be found in the constellation Leo (The Lion) for the entire month of July.

Venus & Regulus
On July 9^th, Venus and the Star Regulus will be in conjunction less than 1° from each other.

On July 14^th, the waxing, crescent Moon will pass within 6°45’ of Venus.

Mars is observable in the evening hours all month. Mars set at the start of July around 11:35 pm (PDT) and by the end of the month is setting around 10:20 pm (PDT).

Mars begins July in the constellation Leo (The Lion) and on July 17^th passes into the constellation Virgo (The Maiden).

Mars and Moon
On July 15^th, Mars sets less than 7° of waxing, crescent Moon.

July 31^st finds Mars and Saturn in conjunction less than 1°50’
from each other.

Jupiter can be found in the constellation Pisces (The Fish) from the very late evening to morning hours of July. Jupiter rises around 12:30 am (PDT) at the start of July and by the end rises around 10:30 pm (PDT).

Jupiter Uranus and Moon
On July 3^rd, the waning, gibbous Moon sets about 7° from Jupiter.

On July 23^rd, Jupiter begins retrograde motion across the sky moving each night from West to East.

Jupiter Uranus and Moon
On July 30, the waning, gibbous Moon passes less than 6° from Jupiter.

Saturn is located in the constellation Virgo (The Maiden) until December 2012. Saturn is observable from the very late evening hours through the morning, rising around 12:20 am (PDT) at the start of July and by the end rising around 10:25 pm (PDT).

July 31^st find Mars and Saturn in conjunction less than 1°50’
from each other.

Uranus can be found in the vicinity of the planet Jupiter all month. Uranus is located in the constellation Pisces (The Fish) until May 2012. Uranus is observable from the very late evening hours though morning this month. At the start of July Uranus rises around 12:20 pm (PDT) and by the end of the month rises around 10:20 pm (PDT).

Jupiter Uranus and Moon
On July 3^rd, the waning, gibbous Moon passes within 5°45’ of Uranus.

Jupiter Uranus and Moon
On July 30^th the waning, gibbous Moon passes within 5°30’ of Uranus.

Moving in retrograde this month, Neptune is located in the constellation Aquarius (The Water Bearer) for the entire month of July. Neptune can be observed from the very late evening hours though morning. Uranus rises about 12:20 am (PDT) at the start of July, and by the end, rises around 10:20 pm (PDT).

On July 27^th, the waning, gibbous Moon passes within 3°35’ of Neptune.

Pluto is located in the constellation Sagittarius (The Archer) until the year 2023. Pluto is in excellent position for observing and is up all night all month.

On July 23^rd, the waxing, gibbous Moon passes with 6° of Pluto.

7/3/2010 Waning, crescent Moon passes less than 5°45' from Uranus and less than 7° of Jupiter

7/4/2010 Last Quarter Moon

7/6/2010 Earth reaches Aphelion - It's furthest point away from the Sun

7/8/2010 Mercury emerges into the evening hours from the glare of the sunset.

7/9/2010 Venus in conjunction with the star Regulus less than 1° from each other.

7/11/2010 New Moon

7/11/2010 Tolar Solar Eclipse

7/14/2010 Waxing Crescent Moon pas less than 6°45' of Venus

7/15/2010 Waxing Crescent Moon pas less than 7° of Mars

7/18/2010 first Quarter Moon

7/23/2010 Jupiter start retrograde motion against the stars

7/23/2010 Waxing, gibbous Moon pass within 6° of Pluto

7/25/2010 Full Sturgeon Moon

7/27/2010 Mercury in conjunction with the Star Regulus passing within 0°25' of each other

7/27/2010 Waning, gibbous Moon passes less than 3°35' from Neptune

7/30/2010 Waning, crescent Moon passes less than 5°30' from Uranus and less than 6° of Jupiter

7/31/2010 Conjunct between Mars and Saturn less than 1°50' from each other.

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