July 2024 guarantees to be a spectacular month for stargazing lovers and astronomy aficionados, with main occasions together with the oppositions of dwarf planets Ceres and Pluto, in addition to a number of meteor bathe peaks.
The opposition of Ceres on July 6 and Pluto on July 23 will present prime viewing alternatives for these distant celestial our bodies. Moreover, the July Pegasids, Southern Delta Aquariids, and Alpha Capricornids meteor showers will peak, providing ample probabilities to witness capturing stars. With minimal interference from the Moon on key dates, stargazing in July 2024 can be an unforgettable expertise for all who lookup and marvel on the cosmos.
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Record of Meteor Showers in July 2024
- Antihelion Supply: Begin on December 10; a number of peaks; finish September 10.
- June Bootids: Begin on June 22; peak on June 27; finish on July 2.
- July Pegasids: Begin on July 4; peak on July 10; finish on July 17.
- Piscis Austrinids: Begin on July 15; peak on July 28; finish on August 10.
- Southern δ-Aquariids: Begin on July 12; peak on July 30; finish on August 23.
- α-Capricornids: Begin on July 3; peak on July 30; finish on August 15.
- η-Eridanids: Begin on July 31; peak on August 8; finish on August 19.
We even have a whole record of meteor showers for the whole yr of 2024 right here.
Record of Planetary Conjunctions in July 2024
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mars in Aries on July 1.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter in Taurus on July 3.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury in Most cancers on July 7.
- Conjunction of Mars and Uranus in Taurus on July 15.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn in Aquarius on July 24.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mars in Taurus on July 30.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter in Taurus on July 30.
July 1: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
The Moon and Mars can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 4°05′ of one another.
Across the identical time, the 2 our bodies can even make an in depth method (appulse) reaching 3°49′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
Search for the 2 our bodies within the constellation of Aries. The Moon can be a really skinny waning crescent (15%) at 25 days previous, near new moon – and won’t intervene a lot with stargazing this primary half of July 2024. Regardless of this, the Moon will nonetheless be at obvious magnitude of -10.9, whereas Mars can be at magnitude 1.0.
July 2: Shut method of the Moon and the Pleiades
The Moon and the Pleiades (also called M45 or Messier 45) will make an in depth method, passing inside solely 15.6 arcminutes of one another.
Each objects can be within the constellation of Taurus with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -10.4; and the Pleiades at 1.3. The Moon can be a 26 days previous waning crescent at 8%.
July 3: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and Jupiter will attain conjunction passing inside 5°01′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
The Moon can be at obvious magnitude -9.9 and Jupiter at magnitude -2.0 each within the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the shut method of the Moon and the Pleiades.) The Moon can be a 27 days previous waning crescent at 5%.
July 6: Dwarf planet Ceres at opposition
The dwarf planet 1 Ceres can be at opposition at round midnight native time. It should attain the very best level within the sky and reverse to the Solar.
On the identical time Ceres can be closest to the Earth (perigee) at a distance of 1.89 AU. At the moment it will likely be the brightest, with an obvious magnitude of seven.3. Look within the constellation of Sagittarius with binoculars or a telescope. The Moon can be a sooner or later previous waxing crescent at about 1%, so it received’t be interfering with stargazing throughout the July 2024 Ceres opposition.
At a mean diameter of 939.4 km Ceres is the biggest asteroid and first one found in 1801, by Giuseppe Piazzi. Ceres was named after the Roman goddess of agriculture. It is usually the closest dwarf planet and has a floor gravity of slightly below 3% of Earth’s.
July 7: Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
The Moon and Mercury can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 3°13′ of one another.
The 2 celestial our bodies will meet within the constellation of Most cancers with an obvious magnitude of -9.0 for the Moon and -0.2 for Mercury. The Moon can be a two days previous waxing crescent at 5%.
July 10: July Pegasid meteor bathe peak
The July Pegasids are a small meteor bathe with a median of three meteors per hour (ZHR) throughout the peak if circumstances are preferrred.
Some meteors might also be noticed between July 4 and 17, enriching your stargazing this summer season of 2024. They may radiate from the constellation of Pegasus on the pace of 65 km/s on common.
July 15: Conjunction of Mars and Uranus
Mars and Uranus can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside a mere 33′ of one another.
Across the identical time, the 2 planets can even make an in depth method (appulse) reaching 32.1 arcminutes from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
Search for the 2 planets within the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the shut method of the Moon and the Pleiades.) Mars can be at obvious magnitude 0.9, whereas Uranus can be at 5.8. The Moon can be waxing gibbous (68%) at 10 days previous.
July 22: Mercury at best jap elongation
Mercury can be at its highest level above the horizon within the morning sky, making it the perfect time to view the planet. Search for it low within the western sky simply earlier than dawn. Will probably be at obvious magnitude 0.3 within the constellation of Leo.
The Moon will sadly intervene with stargazing for many of the remaining month of July 2024. Throughout Mercury’s best jap elongation it will likely be 17 days previous, waning gibbous at 97%.
July 23: Dwarf planet Pluto at opposition
The dwarf planet will attain its highest level within the sky at round midnight native time as a result of it will likely be precisely reverse to the Solar within the sky.
At about the identical time, Pluto can even attain perigee, the closest level to the Earth, at 34.05 AU from Earth. It’s right now that Pluto can be brightest within the sky. Regardless of this, you will want a telescope to identify this dwarf planet as a result of it’s going to have an obvious magnitude of solely 15.0. Look within the constellation of Capricornus. The Moon will sadly make it even more durable to identify Pluto, as it will likely be 18 days previous, waning gibbous at 90%.
July 24: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
The Moon and Saturn will attain conjunction passing inside 23′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
At across the identical time the 2 our bodies can even make an in depth method (appulse) reaching 20.8 arcminutes from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension. In some components of Asia and Africa this distance can be so shut as to result in a lunar occultation of Saturn, which means the Moon will cross in entrance of Saturn thereby hiding it from view briefly. In case you’re in northern Somalia, southern and jap India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, or southern China amongst others, you’re in luck!
The Moon can be at obvious magnitude -12.5 and Saturn at magnitude 0.7 each within the constellation of Aquarius. The Moon can be 19 days previous waning gibbous at 79%.
July 25: Shut method of the Moon and Neptune
The Moon and Neptune will make an in depth method (appulse) passing inside solely 29.9 arcminutes of one another.
In some components of the world this distance can be so shut as to result in a lunar occultation of Neptune, which means the Moon will cross in entrance of Neptune thereby hiding it from view briefly. In case you’re in Papua New Guinea or the Solomon Islands amongst others, you’re in luck!
Each objects can be within the constellation of Pisces with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -12.4; and Neptune at 7.8. The Moon can be a 20 days previous waning gibbous at 72%.
July 28: Piscis Austrinid meteor bathe peak
The Piscis Austrinids will peak with a zenithal hourly fee of 5 if stargazing circumstances are optimum.
Some meteors might also be noticed between July 15 and August 10. They may radiate from the southern constellation of Piscis Austrinus on the pace of 35 km/s on common.
July 29: Shut method of the Moon and the Pleiades
Similar to earlier this month, The Moon and the Pleiades will make an in depth method for a second time, passing inside solely 3.9 arcminutes of one another.
Each objects can be within the constellation of Taurus with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -11.4; and the Pleiades at 1.3. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the primary shut method of the Moon and the Pleiades.) The Moon can be a 24 days previous waning crescent at 25%.
July 30: Southern δ-Aquariid meteor bathe peak
The Southern Delta Aquariids will peak this July 2024 with a zenithal hourly fee of 25 if stargazing circumstances are preferrred. With the Moon a 25 days previous waning crescent at 25%, the circumstances can be near preferrred, baring unfavorable atmospheric circumstances.
Some meteors might also be noticed between July 12 and August 23. They may radiate from the constellation of Aquarius, close to one of many constellation’s brightest stars, Delta Aquarii, on the pace of 41 km/s on common. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Saturn.) The meteors from this bathe originate from comet 96P Machholz.
July 30: α-Capricornid meteor bathe peak
The Alpha Capricornids will peak with a zenithal hourly fee of 5 if stargazing circumstances are good.
Some meteors might also be noticed between July 3 and August 15. They may radiate from the constellation of Capricornus, on the low pace of 23 km/s on common. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing Pluto at opposition.) The meteors originate from comet 169P/NEAT, which was as soon as considered an asteroid named 2002 EX12.
July 30: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
The Moon and Mars can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 5°01′ of one another.
Across the identical time, the 2 our bodies can even make an in depth method (appulse) reaching 4°54′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
Search for the 2 our bodies within the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the shut method of the Moon and the Pleiades.) The Moon can be a really skinny waning crescent (20%) at 25 days previous, and so is not going to intervene a lot with stargazing this final stretch of July 2024. Regardless of this, the Moon will nonetheless be at obvious magnitude of -11.2 , whereas Mars can be at magnitude 0.9. Jupiter can even be close by ready for its personal conjunction with the Moon the subsequent day.
July 30: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and Jupiter will attain conjunction passing inside 5°22′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
Across the identical time, the 2 our bodies can even make an in depth method (appulse) reaching 5°18′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
The Moon can be at obvious magnitude -10.9 and Jupiter at magnitude -2.1 each within the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the shut method of the Moon and the Pleiades.) The Moon can be a 26 days previous waning crescent at 16%.
Moon Phases in July 2024
As you understand, the Moon has a huge impact on the visibility of celestial our bodies and astronomical occasions within the evening sky. So that can assist you with stargazing, right here’s a calendar of the phases of Moon for this month of July 2024:
Positions of the Planets in July 2024
- Mercury: The closest planet to the Solar could be seen at daybreak and nightfall travelling throughout the constellation of Gemini then Most cancers. This planet, being the closest to the Solar, will seem to maneuver shortly within the evening sky and its place will change within the following weeks.
- Venus: The sister planet could be seen travelling throughout the constellation of Gemini. Similar to Mercury, Venus can solely be seen at daybreak and nightfall.
- Mars: The pink planet could be seen within the constellation of Aries then Taurus.
- Jupiter: The gasoline large is seen within the constellation of Taurus. Jupiter can simply be noticed with the bare eye, even in extremely illuminated cities.
- Saturn: The ringed large could be seen with the bare eye within the constellation of Aquarius.
- Uranus: The ice large could be seen within the constellation of Taurus with using a telescope.
- Neptune: The blue large requires a telescope pointed within the constellation of Pisces in an effort to be seen.
Positions of Dwarf Planets and Massive Asteroids in July 2024
- Ceres: The asteroid belt’s lone dwarf planet could be seen within the constellation of Sagittarius with the assistance of a telescope.
- Vesta: This huge asteroid could be seen within the constellation of Most cancers with a telescope.
- Pallas: The asteroid could be noticed with a telescope within the constellation of Serpens.
- Hygiea: The fourth largest asteroid could be discovered with a telescope within the constellation of Pisces.
- Pluto: This distant dwarf planet could be discovered within the constellation of Capricornus with the assistance of a big telescope.
Main astronomical occasions subsequent month – August 2024
- August 6: Asteroid 16 Psyche at opposition.
- August 6: Asteroid 7 Iris at opposition.
- August 8: η-Eridanid meteor bathe peak.
- August 12: Perseid meteor bathe peak.
- August 17: κ-Cygnid meteor bathe peak.
- August 31: Aurigid meteor bathe peak.
Conclusion
Briefly, July 2024 is ready to be a exceptional month for stargazing, highlighted by the oppositions of dwarf planets Ceres and Pluto, together with the peaks of a number of meteor showers, together with the July Pegasids, Southern Delta Aquariids, and Alpha Capricornids. These occasions supply distinctive alternatives to watch among the most charming phenomena within the evening sky.
To remain up to date on these and different celestial occasions, and to obtain stargazing calendars, ensure to enroll in our publication. Completely happy stargazing!
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