July is a great month for stargazing, with meteor showers and planets aligning in the night sky. The Delta Aquariids meteor shower, which peaks around July 30th, will start becoming visible this weekend. This meteor shower is caused by debris from Comet 96P/Machholz, a sungrazer comet that orbits the sun every five years. When this debris enters Earth’s atmosphere, it burns up and creates the glowing streaks we see in the sky.
Later in the month, the Perseids meteor shower, considered the best meteor shower of the year by NASA, will begin on July 17th. During the peak on August 12-13, you might see between 50 to 100 meteors an hour. These meteor showers are best viewed on clear nights, so make sure to check the weather forecast for July.
In addition to meteor showers, the moon will be making its way past some iconic night sky objects. On July 24th, you can spot Saturn near the moon, and just after midnight on July 30th, Uranus and the Pleiades star cluster will be visible just above the moon. If you look slightly to the left, you’ll see Mars and Jupiter above the horizon.
Stargazing is a wonderful way to connect with the universe and marvel at the beauty of the night sky. Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or just starting out, these celestial events provide a great opportunity to look up and appreciate the wonders of space. So grab a blanket, find a dark spot away from city lights, and enjoy the show nature has to offer this July!
