July, 2021: During the early evening sky, Hercules is nearly overhead as evening twilight ends. The constellation has a spectacular star cluster.
Sky Watching
2021, July 13: Planetary Buffet
July 13, 2021: During the nighttime hours, five bright planets are visible. Jupiter and Saturn are visible from late in the evening until sunrise. Mercury is visible before sunrise, while Venus, Mars, and Venus are in the evening sky.
2021, July 8: Crescent Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn
July 8, 2021: The best morning to see Mercury is with the thin crescent moon this morning. Starting with a binocular, look for them in the east-northeast about 45 minutes before sunrise. Jupiter and Saturn are easy to see in the southern sky about one hour before sunrise.
2021, July 7: Three Morning Planets, Crescent Moon
July 7, 2021: Bright Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury are in the morning sky before sunrise. The Jovian Giant and Ringed Wonder are in the southern sky about one hour before sunrise. Mercury is in the east-northeast to the lower left of the crescent moon.
2021, July 11: Evening Star Venus, Mars, Crescent Moon
July 11, 2021: One evening before the Venus – Mars conjunction, the crescent moon joins the scene. Look in the west-northwest for the Evening Star. The crescent moon is to the right of Venus. Use a binocular to locate Mars to the left of Venus.
2021, July 10: Venus – Mars Conjunction in 2 Nights
July 10, 2021: Evening Star Venus approaches Mars for their conjunction it two evenings. At 45 minutes after sunset, look for brilliant Venus low in the west-northwest. Mars is 1.5° to the upper left of Venus. Use a binocular to view Mars with Venus.
2021, July 9: Venus – Mars Conjunction in 3 Nights
July 9, 2021: Brilliant Evening Star Venus and Mars are in the west-northwest after sunset. Use a binocular to find the Red Planet, 2.0° to the upper left of easily-observed Venus.
2021, July 8: Venus – Mars Conjunction, 4 Evenings
July 8, 2021: Evening Star Venus is 2.6° to the lower right of Mars this evening, four evenings before their conjunction. The star Regulus is to the upper left of the planetary pair.
2021, July: Mercury’s Summer Morning Visibility
July 2021: Elusive Mercury appears in the morning sky in the east-northeast during morning twilight. The best mornings to see Mercury are July 7 and July 8, when the moon is nearby.
2021, July 7: Venus – Mars Countdown
July 7, 2021: In five evenings, Venus passes Mars for the first conjunction in a triple conjunction that carries into 2022. Look for them low in the west-northwest after sunset.