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A predawn Moon-and-planets meetup, a returning comet, a great chance to see the Milky Way, and Saturn’s rings at a new angle.
Skywatching Highlights
July 7: Last Quarter Moon
July 11 + 12: Dawn alignment of the Moon, Mars, Saturn, and Uranus
July 14: New Moon; best dark-sky window for Comet 10P/Tempel 2 and the Milky Way
Later in July: Saturn’s unusually thin rings are a rewarding telescope target
July 21: First Quarter Moon
July 29: Full Moon
Transcript
An early morning hangout with the Moon and planets, a comet swings by, prime time for the Milky Way, and Saturn’s rings shine at a new angle. That’s What’s Up for July.
Before sunrise on July 11 and 12, look toward the eastern sky for a lineup of the Moon and planets. On these mornings, the waning crescent Moon helps point the way to Mars, with Saturn shining nearby in the morning sky.
Uranus is in the same general part of the sky, too, but it is much fainter, so you will need binoculars or a telescope to see it.
Mars will look like a small reddish point of light, Saturn is brighter and easier to spot, and the Moon makes the whole scene easy to locate.
Around the New Moon on July 14, Comet 10P/Tempel 2 swings by.
This is a short-period comet, meaning it returns to the inner solar system on a regular orbit. In this case, it comes back about every 5½ years. It is not a dramatic comet that you see just by looking up at the sky, though.
Through binoculars or a telescope, find the constellation Capricornus and look for a small fuzzy glow nearby, possibly with a brighter central knot and a short, broad, fan-shaped tail.
For the best chance to view the comet, head somewhere dark, away from city lights. Start looking once the sky is fully dark, ideally about 45 to 60 minutes after …