Dark Sky News

The Milky Way is finally making its appearance in the night sky…of course, with the short nights (finally getting longer!) you still have to wait until about 9 or 10 PM to see it in its full glory!

Don’t forget to look for the summer triangle: Deneb in Cygnus, Vega in Lyra and Altair in Aquila!

The planet Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation of 25.9 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.

Nice bright (mag. -3.9) direct overhead pass of the ISS, literally above your head!

@10:13PM traveling from SW to ENE , beginning around Spica, and going right through the shoulder of Hercules

This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Buck Moon because the male buck deer would begin to grow their new antlers at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Thunder Moon and the Hay Moon.

The New Moon will occur on July 24 at 19:13 UTC. Finally nights are starting to get longer!!! What can I say, I’m a DSO lover 🙂

Well this was *supposed* to be a rare opportunity to see a bright overhead Chinese Space Station Tiangong pass immediately followed by a bright overhead pass of the ISS… unfortunately, orbit characteristics of *both* spacecraft have changed to this:

Tiangong: mag -1.6 @10:11 – 10:14PM W to SSW

ISS: mag -3.8 @ 9:23-9:28PM NW to SE

The Delta Aquarids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The shower peaks this year on the night of July 28 and morning of July 29. The crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius, but can appear anywhere in the sky.