From the broad peak of the annual meteor shower in the southern delta water aquariums and views of the crescent moon to the east Venus and Milky Waythis week (July 29 to August 4) there is much to see with the naked eye.
Good telescope or a couple telescope will help you see some of them night sky‘s weaker subjects, but the unaided eye is enough to learn it stars and constellationwatches MoonExperiences meteor showers and he sees satellites whizzing across the night sky.
Here’s what you can see in the night sky this week without any equipment; all you need to enjoy it all is curiosity, patience and good weather.
Related: The brightest planets in the July night sky: How to see them (and when)
MONDAY JULY 29 – GREAT SOUTHERN DELTA-AQUARIIDS METEOR (BEFORE DAWN)
If you get up very early today, you might see some falling stars from the annual peak of the southern delta-Aquariid meteor shower. It’s active from mid-July to the end of August, and although it peaks in the early hours of Monday, it’s a broad peak, so you can see more meteors on Tuesday night and Wednesday.
Southern delta-Aquariid meteors can be faint. They tend to be more numerous from the Southern Hemisphere and southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, where Aquarius constellation is the highest in the sky.
MONDAY JULY 29 – THE MOON MEETS THE PLEIADS (BEFORE DAWN)
A waning crescent moon appears high above Mars and Jupiter this morning in the eastern night sky in the hours before sunrise. The moon appears very close to an open star cluster, the Pleiadesalso known as the Seven Sisters.
Uranium it will be very close but too faint to see. To appreciate the collective brightness of the seven bright stars of the Pleiades, look slightly to its side; your peripheral vision is more sensitive to low light than your direct vision.
TUESDAY JULY 30 – MOON OVER MARS AND JUPITER (BEFORE DAWN)
The planets and Pleiades will remain much as they were yesterday, but a smaller waning crescent moon will be seen near Mars this morning. Directly below the Moon will be Jupiter with Aldebaran – the brightest star Bull – transport. All four celestial bodies will roughly form a rectangle.
WEDNESDAY JULY 31 – MOON WITH MARS AND JUPITER (BEFORE DAWN)
Now, with a very thin crescent, the waning crescent will be located further to the left of the planets. Mars, Jupiter, and Aldebaran form a triangle that, along with the Moon, forms a Y shape — or a champagne flute on its side.
THURSDAY AUG. 1 – VENUS AND MERCURY (AFTER SUNSET)
Venus was largely lost sun‘s glare for several months, but it makes a break for the sky after sunset for easy viewing in August. Look to the west after sunset and see how brightly it shines. Quicksilver will be to the left of Venus.
FRIDAY AUG. 2 – THE MOON MEETS GEMINI (BEFORE DAWN)
The new moon is coming soon, but before it does, there’s a chance to capture the thinnest crescent moon possible. Look to the east just before dawn and the moon will be exposed, only dimly lit. This will be a tough target, so look for twin stars constellation Gemini, Castor and Pollux. They will form a ‘V’ shape with the crescent moon to the right of the upper star Castor.
SATURDAY 3rd AUGUST – ‘ARC TO ARCTURUS’ (AFTER SUNSET)
Here is one of the most famous and useful star hops in the northern hemisphere in spring and summer. Find Big Dipper in the northwest sky after dark and trace its four stars in a curve from its bowl, arcing toward the dazzling star above the west. It is Arcturusthe brightest star in the dragon-shaped constellation Boots.
SUNDAY AUGUST 4 – Milky Way (AFTER SUNSET)
This morning is the new moon. It’s not something you can see, but it’s an important monthly event for stargazers. With a night sky without bleaching moonlight, week a new month it is ideal for finding constellations and star fields. It’s the perfect night to see the Milky Way. Look south from as dark a place as possible.
Want to try capturing some of these events on camera? Check out our guide on astrophotography for beginners. If you don’t have everything you need, be sure to check out our guide on the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
Written by Jamie Carter Stargazing in 2024 and Stargazing program for beginners.
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