Seven Planets in One Night

On the evening of July 12, the Sun will set just after 8:00 pm. If you have a very clear western horizon, with no trees or clouds, you might be able to catch of glimpse of the elusive planet Mercury. Because it is the closest planet to the Sun, Mercury never appears very far away from the Sun's blinding light as seen from Earth. On this particular evening, Mercury will be just 8 degrees above the western horizon at 8:15 pm. A very slim crescent Moon will be hanging just below and to the left of Mercury. You may need binoculars to see either or both of these objects, but their delicate beauty in the twilight sky is worth the effort.

Mercury will be visible in this area of the sky through the end of July, but the Moon will only help you find it on the 12th. On the evening of July 27, Mercury will appear next to Regulus, the star that marks the heart of Leo the lion. Mercury will be the brighter of the two.

Vibrant Venus continues to dominate the evening sky, now through September. This bright planet may be visible very soon after sunset, but the best time to see it will be at least 45 minutes later. A pretty crescent Moon will sit below and to the left of Venus on the evening of July 14.

At the start of the month, Saturn is quite high in the southwestern sky as the sky darkens and sets shortly after midnight. This modest, pale yellow dot will appear lower in the sky every night until it slips into the glare of the Sun by late August. By the end of July, Saturn will set around 10:30 pm.

Venus and Saturn are fairly easy to spot. Mars is not! Mars starts the month as a dim, orange dot halfway between Venus and Saturn. On July 15, the Moon will pass below and left of Mars, but Mars will still be just an unimpressive dot.

July provides a fabulous opportunity to observe celestial mechanics in action. All the planets are orbiting the Sun at different speeds and different distances, so their positions in the sky are constantly changing. On July 1, Venus, Mars, and Saturn form a long line stretching from just above the western horizon high up into the southwestern sky. By July 15, these three "wandering stars" appear much closer together as a shortened line after sunset.

The real action occurs during the last two weeks of July. Mars and Venus are racing to catch Saturn. On July 31, Mars lies next to Saturn with Venus just below and left. Together they form a long, narrow triangle, which points almost directly at Mercury. That makes four planets visible in the 30 minutes after sunset.

As Saturn sets in the west later in the night, Jupiter peeks above the eastern horizon. To see this fifth planet, it's best to wait 45 minutes to an hour for Jupiter to rise above the trees and most of the murky atmosphere. This month, that means staying up a little past midnight or getting out before sunrise. Watch for brilliant Jupiter high in the east among the dim stars of Pisces the fish.

With binoculars, you may just be able to spot a sixth planet in the sky - because Uranus lies very near Jupiter. At mid-month, Uranus is about 2 degrees away from Jupiter. In most binoculars, you'll be able to see both planets at the same time. Don't expect much - Uranus is smaller than Jupiter and much further away, so it won't be more than a faint dot. You won't see its blue color without a large telescope. But you will be able to tell people you've seen a planet few others have.

To see seven planets in one night, just look down to see Earth!

Spectacular Summer Stars

The brilliant stars of summer make it easy to find constellations. In the east, Vega, Deneb, and Altair indicate the three corners of the Summer Triangle. Deneb marks the tail feathers of Cygnus the swan. This is one constellation that actually looks like what it's named after. Some people refer to this star pattern as the Northern Cross.

Vega is the brightest of the three stars, but its constellation of Lyra the harp barely resembles a stringed musical instrument. Altair may be familiar to science fiction fans, but Aquila the eagle looks more like a stingray in the sky.

Low above the southern horizon scoots Scorpius the scorpion. Nearby trees might hide his tail depending on your location. The heart of the scorpion is marked by the red giant star Antares. Because of its brightness and red color, "Anti-Ares" is often confused with Mars.

Don't forget to look for the Big Dipper, hanging by its handle high in the northwestern sky.

Super Summer Star Parties

The next FREE public star party is set for Saturday, July 17 from 8:30 to 10:30 pm at the Visitor Information Center at Longhunter State Park. Members of the Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society will set up telescopes to provide views of Saturn, the Moon, and more.

On Saturday, August 14, telescopes will be set up for FREE observing at the Special Events Field at Edwin Warner Park, also from 8:30 to 10:30 pm. Early that night, the Moon and Saturn will be seen with Jupiter rising shortly before the end of the program.

If the weather is cloudy, the star party will be cancelled. If the weather is questionable, call AstroLine at (615) 401-5092 or check our web site before traveling. On our web site, you'll also find driving directions and a list of useful star party tips.