2026, July 22-25: Waxing Moon Passes Antares and Scorpius Before the Full Buck Moon

July 22-25, 2026: Follow the waxing gibbous moon as it passes Antares, Al Niyat, and the stars of Scorpius during the evenings leading to the Full Buck Moon.

2019, January 31: The waning crescent moon is 2 degrees from Venus this morning with Jupiter 8.5 degrees to the upper right of Venus.
Photo Caption – 2019, January 31: The waning crescent moon is 2 degrees from Venus this morning with Jupiter 8.5 degrees to the upper right of Venus.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Venus as an Evening Star

Waxing Moon Passes Scorpius, Antares

November 27, 2020: The gibbous moon.
November 27, 2020: The gibbous moon.

The waxing gibbous moon approaches and passes Scorpius and its brightest stars.

Scorpius

As summer’s midpoint approaches, Scorpius dominates the southern sky during the early evening hours. The constellation resembles a fishhook or the letter “J.”

Antares is Scorpius’ brightest star. The yellow-orange star is the 11th brightest star for sky watchers at the mid-northern latitudes. At mid-twilight, an hour after sunset, the star is over 20° above the southern horizon. In celestial artwork, Antares is the Scorpion’s heart. The star to Antares’ lower left is Al Niyat – the artery. Antares is easy to identify because of its distinctive yellow-orange color and position near the center of the constellation.

Scorpius in the southern sky
Chart Caption – Look south during summer evenings to see the Celestial Scorpion.

In this moonlight, use a binocular to find Graffias, Dschubba, and Pi Scorpii (π Sco). The three stars form a nearly vertical line spanning 6.5° to Antares’ upper right. They fit into the same binocular field.

Return to Antares and follow the stars to the lower left past Al Niyat. Continue along three stars toward the horizon where the constellation begins to curve leftward and then upward to Shaula and Lesath. Shaula and Lesath are often called the Cat’s Eyes because of their close proximity. Sargas is the final star in the constellation to rise high enough above the horizon. The full appearance of Scorpius can take several weeks from the time Graffias, Dschubba, and Pi Scorpii first appear after sunset until Sargas is visible.

Highlights

Moon, Scorpius, July 22-25, 2026
Chart Caption – July 22-25: The waxing gibbous moon passes Scorpius’ brightest stars.

During these evenings, the gibbous moon brightens and passes the constellation. Here’s what to see:

• July 22: The gibbous moon, 66% illuminated, is over 20° above the south-southwest horizon and over 20° to the right of Antares.

• July 23: The waxing moon, 74% illuminated, is 21° above the southern horizon, 2.7° to the lower right of Pi Scorpii and nearly 10° to Antares’ lower right.

• July 24: The bright gibbous moon, 82% illuminated, is 20° above the southern horizon, 2.8° to Antares’ lower left and 0.8° to the upper left of Al Niyat. This is the closest moon–Antares pairing during the four-evening sequence.

• July 25: The waxing gibbous moon, 89% illuminated, is 18° above the south-southeast horizon, nearly 15° to Antares’ lower left and over 8° above Shaula and Lesath.

The Full (Buck) moon occurs on the 29th at 9:36 a.m. Central Time after moonset in the Americas.

Watch the moon wax toward the Full phase as it passes the Scorpion in the southern sky during the early evening hours.

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