The planets will be splendid this July.

Mercury will be visible at dawn.

Venus and Mars, in the evening twilight, will form a spectacular conjunction with the Moon on the 12th. The giants Jupiter and Saturn will be a visible couple every night of the month.

Summer with planets

Summer nights are short, but very pleasant in our latitudes to look up at the sky.

We can thus follow the course of the planets through the celestial vault as our ancestors have done, since ancient times, in all civilizations.

It is enough to separate yourself from the lights of the city to enjoy the magic of the night and the secrets of the sky.

We propose three very special moments in the month to observe the planets with the naked eye.

July 6-8: Mercury in Taurus

Mercury, the younger brother of the planetary family, is always difficult to observe due to its proximity to the Sun. However, we will have good opportunities to see it until the 20th, just before sunrise.

On the 6th, 7th and 8th of the month it will form beautiful pictures in Taurus, near the bright and reddish Aldebaran.

It is convenient to look towards the east-northeast at around 6 a.m. (Peninsular time) from a site with the horizon well clear of obstacles, since Mercury never rises much above the horizontal.

The sky will already be tinted with the colors of dawn and the waning Moon will appear as a very fine edge, since the new moon will take place on the 10th.

July 12: conjunction of Venus, Mars and the Moon

We have been watching for several weeks how, at sunset, Venus and Mars are gradually approaching each other.

The approach between both planets will be maximum on the 12th, when the edge of the crescent Moon will be in their vicinity.

The scene will take place in the constellation Leo, near the bright Regulus.

Conjunction of Venus, Mars and the Moon, July 12Stellarium / RB

Venus shines brightly and there is no problem locating it an hour after sunset.

Mars, however, is about 200 times dimmer, and it will take a sharp eye to distinguish it from its dazzling companion.

It will be preferable to use good binoculars to separate the images of both planets.

We can also take the opportunity to observe the beautiful ashen light on the less illuminated part of the lunar globe.

July 24-25: Jupiter and Saturn with the full moon

The full moon will take place on the 24th, with our satellite close to the giant Saturn.

The next night the Moon will be much closer to Jupiter.

In this way, very beautiful compositions will be formed between the constellations of Capricorn and Aquarius.

The two giant planets, the fifth and sixth in the solar system, continue to form a pair that remains visible throughout the night.

The Moon between Jupiter and Saturn, July 25Stellarium / RB

I propose that you look at the sky, to the southeast, towards midnight, with the newly risen Moon that always impresses us by its apparently increased size.

_____________________________________________________________________

Rafael Bachiller is director of

the National Astronomical Observatory

(National Geographic Institute) and academic of the

Royal Academy of Doctors of Spain

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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