Celestial Events in July 2019
July 2019 Sky Report
Summer is in full swing. For me, this means long nights at the beach to stargaze and hang by the ocean. With warmer evenings come greater opportunities to ditch light polluted areas and admire the sky up above. Whether you plan on learning constellations or sitting back to enjoy a meteor shower, allow July’s sky report to inspire a night with the local stargazing club or a pair of binoculars.
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July 2: New Moon and Total Solar Eclipse
The month of July debuts with a new moon total eclipse. With the absence of light reflecting from the moon, stars will be ever-present. This will also create an ideal viewing for Saturn on the fourth. For those in South America, the eclipse will glide across the South Pacific and follow a path of totality across Chile and Argentina. To keep up with this sky report, TimeandDate will be livestreaming the event on Youtube.
July 4: Earth at Aphelion
The Earth will reach its maximum distance from the sun this year at 94,511,180 miles. The beginning of July serves as potent energy leading up to the opening of the Lions Gate. This portal opens August 8-12 where the sun is in Leo and the star Sirius perfectly aligns with the Pyramids of Giza.
July 9: Saturn at Opposition
By this time the moon will have reached its first quarter casting a half moon glow on the Earth. Saturn will be opposite of the sun making it closest to the Earth. Skywatchers will be poised to see Saturn at its brightest and largest this evening. Despite Saturn’s close proximity, the planet will appear as a star-like point so a telescope is still needed to distinguish its qualities and rings.
July 16: Full Thunder Moon & Partial Lunar Eclipse
July’s full moon has different names and origins—as do many moons. Aside from the thunder moon, it is also known as the buck moon and hay moon. People across the world (Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and South America) will also be able to see a partial lunar eclipse depending on the weather.
July 28 & 29: Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower
While the 28th into the 29th marks the peak of the shower (average 15-20 per hour), the show continues a week surrounding this date. This sky show is a result of debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. Fortunately, the moon will be in its waning crescent allowing for a darker viewing sky.
The night sky is busy this month and full of reminders telling us the air is not empty. Whether you are an avid skywatcher, work with its cosmic energies, or are new to the celestial field, appreciating its beauty is something we can all enjoy.
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