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The Night Sky in July

The Night Sky in July

IF we watch the evening sky more regularly at the beginning of July, in particular the planets Mars and Mercury, we will note Mercury approaching Mars a little more every day.

They draw closest to each other on July 10, with the distance between the two planets becoming less than one degree. They are now in the constellation Cancer somewhat to the east of the open star cluster Praesepe.Praesepe is also called the beehive, while astronomers call it M44.Because of its dimensions, this star cluster is an impressive object particularly when viewed with binoculars.On July 27, Mercury reaches its eastern elongation, i.e. its widest angular distance from the Sun.Jupiter as well can be found in the evening sky in the constellation Lion.Saturn will be in the constellation Twins [Gemini] and reaches its conjunction to the Sun on July 8.This means that it will be almost exactly behind the Sun in the day sky and will thus be invisible to us.Venus has moved from the eastern to the western side of the Sun, so we can see it in July as the bright morning star in the constellation Bull [Taurus].At present the evening sky is decorated by the winter constellations.The well known winter triangle is made up of the brightest stars of three constellations:Vega in the Lyre, Deneb in the Swan and Atair in the Eagle.By 11 p.m., the bright stars Fomalhaut in the Southern Fish and Achernar in the River Eridanus have crossed the horizon, and the constellation Crane can be found in the Southeast.By 2 a.m., Pegasus has appeared in the Northeast, as well as the Whale in the East.The constellations Bull, Orion, Great Bear and the bright star Canopus in the Keel will follow until sunrise.The course of the Moon July 2: Full Moon. Moon in the Archer July 9: Last quarter. Moon in the Fishes July 17: New Moon. Moon invisible in the Twins July 25: First Quarter. Moon in Maiden July 31: Full Moon. Moon again in the ArcherRising and setting times on July 15: Mercury sets at 19h13, Venus rises at 03h38, Mars sets at 18h54, Jupiter sets at 21h16, Saturn rises at 06h11.Moonrise at 04h57.Sunrise at 06h31 and Sunset at 17h32.Eberhard v. Grumbkow, Phone 064-402 025.E-Mail:grumbkow@iway.naThey are now in the constellation Cancer somewhat to the east of the open star cluster Praesepe.Praesepe is also called the beehive, while astronomers call it M44.Because of its dimensions, this star cluster is an impressive object particularly when viewed with binoculars.On July 27, Mercury reaches its eastern elongation, i.e. its widest angular distance from the Sun.Jupiter as well can be found in the evening sky in the constellation Lion.Saturn will be in the constellation Twins [Gemini] and reaches its conjunction to the Sun on July 8.This means that it will be almost exactly behind the Sun in the day sky and will thus be invisible to us.Venus has moved from the eastern to the western side of the Sun, so we can see it in July as the bright morning star in the constellation Bull [Taurus].At present the evening sky is decorated by the winter constellations.The well known winter triangle is made up of the brightest stars of three constellations:Vega in the Lyre, Deneb in the Swan and Atair in the Eagle.By 11 p.m., the bright stars Fomalhaut in the Southern Fish and Achernar in the River Eridanus have crossed the horizon, and the constellation Crane can be found in the Southeast.By 2 a.m., Pegasus has appeared in the Northeast, as well as the Whale in the East.The constellations Bull, Orion, Great Bear and the bright star Canopus in the Keel will follow until sunrise.The course of the Moon July 2: Full Moon. Moon in the Archer July 9: Last quarter. Moon in the Fishes July 17: New Moon. Moon invisible in the Twins July 25: First Quarter. Moon in Maiden July 31: Full Moon. Moon again in the ArcherRising and setting times on July 15: Mercury sets at 19h13, Venus rises at 03h38, Mars sets at 18h54, Jupiter sets at 21h16, Saturn rises at 06h11.Moonrise at 04h57.Sunrise at 06h31 and Sunset at 17h32.Eberhard v. Grumbkow, Phone 064-402 025.E-Mail:grumbkow@iway.na

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