Northern Lights and Milky Way over Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, Montana
Every Monday I pick the upcoming week’s North American sky highlights (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the northern hemisphere). Check out my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses, and more.
The Night Sky This Week: July 29 – August 4, 2024
This week will be one of the best of the summer for stargazing. With a new moon coming at the end of the week, the evening night sky is dark and moonless. This is perfect for trying to see summer stars and, if you’re away from light pollution, the Milky Way. It’s one of the most fascinating astronomical sights of the summer, but there are others this week.
UPDATE: It is also possible depicting the northern lights will be observed in the US on Tuesday and/or Wednesday as a result of a rare “cannibal CME” that could trigger a G3 geomagnetic storm.
If you manage to get up early, you can see some wonderful celestial panoramas in the eastern sky as the crescent moon wanes and moves past Jupiter and Mars. Also, don’t forget the mid-week peak of the Delta Aquariids meteor shower, which can add some “shooting stars” to your stargazing session.
Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:
Monday, July 29: Moon, Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars
Monday, July 29: Moon, Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars
Get up between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. and look east for the fascinating conjunction of a 37% illuminated waning crescent moon near the Pleiades, Jupiter, and Mars. Nearby will be Aldebaran, the “bull’s eye,” and the brightest star in the constellation Taurus, “the bull.”
Tuesday, July 30: Crescent Moon, Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars
Tuesday, July 30: Crescent Moon, Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars
Another early start will give you a similar view to yesterday morning, but with a waning crescent now 26% illuminated in closer conjunction with the Moon, the Pleiades, Jupiter, Mars and Aldebaran.
A promising aurora forecast means the aurora could be visible in the US this Tuesday and Wednesday – July 30 and 31 – after Earth-bound solar storms created what scientists are calling a “cannibal CME”.
Tuesday, July 30 – Wednesday, July 31: Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower
The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks around midnight, promising about 10-20 “shooting stars” per hour. One of the longest-lasting meteor showers, its meteors are also some of the slowest moving. While this peak night is important, you can expect to see a handful of Delta Aquariids every night between July 12 and August 23.
Wednesday, July 31: Crescent, Jupiter, Mars and the Pleiades
Wednesday, July 31: Crescent, Jupiter, Mars and the Pleiades
If you spent the night looking for “shooting stars”, let this session merge with the discovery of planets. Look east before sunrise for the fascinating conjunction of a 17% illuminated waning crescent near Jupiter, Mars, the Pleiades and Aldebaran.
Friday, August 2: Crescent and Gemini
Friday, August 2: Crescent and Gemini
Another early start will gather views of a delicate 4% illuminated waning crescent. It will shine near Castor and Pollux, the brightest stars in the constellation Gemini, “the twins.” Come back tomorrow for a 1% illuminated moon that will be bathed in the glow of sunrise, although this view will be very low on the west-northwest horizon, so challenging.
Sunday, August 4: New “Sturgeon Moon”
Today is new moon, the phase of the moon when it is between the Earth and the sun. Therefore, it is hidden in the sun’s glare and cannot be seen, making this night the best for stargazing all month.
The Milky Way reflected in the unusually calm waters of Middle Waterton Lake from Driftwood Beach, … [+]
Object of the week: The Milky Way
With the night sky dark thanks to the new moon, this week the brighter core of the Milky Way will appear to those in the northern hemisphere a few hours after sunset. Best seen shortly after sunset in the southeastern sky, the dark sky destination will be crucial – it’s not something you’ll see from a city backyard.
The times and dates given refer to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums such as SkySafari Pro, Stellarium and The sky live. Check it out sunrise/sunset of a planet, Sunrise Sunsetand moonrise/moonset times to see where you are.
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Wishing you clear skies and wide-open eyes.
