New ------------ 1st 04:09 to 21:20
1st Quarter ---- 9th 13:39 to 01:00
Full ------------- 15th 21:28 to 04:00
Last Quarter -- 23rd 11:20 to 13:27
Planets
The first up this month is Neptune just as the month starts, at midnight! Or as the Military Forces will have it, 00:01hrs, as midnight doesn’t exist for them, it’s either 23:59 or 00:01. It’s not going to be easy to see it in the darkish twilight, but should be just possible with binoculars at mag 8. At the end of the month it’ll be up by 10pm.
Next is Uranus at 1am. At mag 5.8 it should be easier, but will still need binoculars. On the 31st it’ll be up by 11pm.
Jupiter next and at mag –2.3 it should be easy without optical aid, even though it’s only 37arcsec in size. It’ll be up by midnight at month’s end. It will be worth serious observation by the 31st, as it’ll be 28° up by dawn’s twilight, promising much for later months.
Then Mars at 3am, at mag 1.4, though very small it should be seen easily in the lightening day. It rises at 2am on the 31st.
Venus is next to rise, at 4am, and at a bright mag –3.9 it should be easy to see though only 10arcsec and only 40 mins before the Sun breaks the horizon. However, that’s as much as you’re likely to be able to see of Venus till after September when it starts to get clear of the Sun.
Mercury can be seen in the west on the 1st, after sunset, it’ll be available for nearly an hour then. It’ll be available all month though getting lower and closer to the Sun’s level by the end of July, though 24° away from it.
Saturn will have set on the 1st, by 1am and by 11pm on the 31st, so make the most of it, as it’s nearly gone, and won’t be back till November mornings.
Meteor Showers. Several showers peak in July but none of significance other than the southern Delta Aquarids with a ZH Rate of 20. Though the radiant doesn’t get more than 20° above the southern horizon. You’ll get a few hours before the ¾ Moon rises in the east on the date of the peak. It will be far enough away not to interrupt.
Comets. None known of any promise yet.
