July 4 to 16: Venus and Regulus
Venus puts on a fine show as it passes Regulus in Leo, shining brilliantly above the western horizon from just a few minutes after sunset. To easily pick up Regulus, you’ll most likely want to wait until about 45 minutes after sunset, when the sky has darkened sufficiently. On the first evening, the pair sit about 18° above the horizon at that time, with Venus to the lower right of the star.
Over the following nights, Venus slips by Regulus. They are closest on the 9th, when Venus has moved to the upper right of the star. It’s worth coming back on the 16th to see the crescent Moon just to the left of Regulus, and then again the following night when the Moon has shifted a little way to the left of Venus.
Image courtesy of Stellarium
July 8 to 13: Mars Appears Close to Aldebaran in Taurus
Step outside at about 45 minutes before sunrise on the 8th and you can find Mars over the eastern horizon, with Aldebaran glinting almost directly below it. Both are roughly the same brightness (with Aldebaran being slightly brighter), and both shine with a coppery hue, giving you a good opportunity to compare the star and planet.
The pair are joined by the crescent Moon on the 10th, which appears to the upper left of Mars, while Mars itself sits to the upper left of Aldebaran, forming a neat line.
Image courtesy of Stellarium
July 29: Buck Moon
July’s Full Buck Moon will rise on Wednesday, July 29th. The Full Moon in July is called the Buck Moon because the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full-growth mode at this time. Bucks shed and regrow their antlers each year, producing a larger and more impressive set as the years go by. During July, the new antlers of male buck deer grow larger and more noticeable. This is linked to their breeding season, where their antlers play a role in securing a mate and issuing dominance amongst other male deer.
The Buck Moon is one of the brightest summer moons. Rising high in the warm July skies, it can look especially dramatic against hazy horizons or summer thunderstorms.
Its brightness makes it perfect for capturing wide-field nightscapes, city skylines, or reflections over lakes and beaches. Its timing in mid-summer provides some of the most comfortable nights of the year for observing.
Image courtesy of Old Farmer's Alamanac
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