This week in astronomy, sky-watchers in North America can enjoy a variety of celestial events. Starting on Monday, July 8, Jupiter will be visible in the northeast before sunrise, shining just above Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus. Mars and the Pleiades star cluster will also be visible, with Capella above in the northeast. In the evening, a 10%-lit waxing crescent moon will be seen in the west, with Venus and Mercury making appearances as well. Regulus, a bright star in the constellation Leo, will be to the left of the moon.
On Tuesday, July 9, the crescent moon will continue its journey past Regulus, getting closer to the star. As the week progresses, sky-watchers in New York City can enjoy the third and fourth “Manhattanhenge” moments on Friday and Saturday. This phenomenon occurs when the setting sun aligns with the east-west streets of Manhattan, creating a stunning visual display. The sun will set on the grid at 8:20 p.m. EDT on Friday and 8:21 p.m. EDT on Saturday.
The highlight of the weekend will be on Saturday, July 13, when the First Quarter Moon will occult bright star Spica in the constellation Virgo. The event will occur between 21:40 EDT on Saturday and 00:58 EDT on Sunday, with different regions experiencing different phases of the occultation. The disappearance will be visible in the Eastern U.S. states, the full occultation in the Midwest U.S. states, and the reappearance in the Northwestern U.S. states.
For the most accurate information regarding celestial events in your location, consult online planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Live. These resources can provide you with planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset, and moonrise/moonset times specific to your area. Additionally, keep up with the latest updates on stargazing and astronomy by following the author on Twitter and Instagram and checking out their books, including “Stargazing in 2024, A Stargazing Program For Beginners” and “When Is The Next Eclipse?” Enjoy the beauty of the night sky with clear skies and wide eyes.
