This month offers amazing encounters with celestial bodies, a bright full moon, and perfect opportunities to explore the Milky Way under the dark summer sky.
While everyone usually looks forward to the Perseid meteor shower in August, July's cosmic landscapes shouldn't be overlooked. This month offers a multitude of wonders, including planetary conjunctions with the Moon and two simultaneous meteor showers.
July is perfect for observing the shimmering core of our galaxy — a massive bulge containing over 100 billion stars. This month, it is perfectly visible in the southern sky throughout the night. Here are the main cosmic events to marvel at in the July night sky.
🪐 July 7-8: Saturn and Moon Conjunction
After midnight on July 7 and 8, a third-quarter Moon and Saturn will appear very close together above the eastern horizon — about a fist's width apart at arm's length. The pair will travel in tandem until dawn, and just before sunrise, they will be joined by neighboring Mars and the Pleiades star cluster.
✨ July 11: The Pleiades, Moon, and Mars
On the morning of July 11, a thin crescent Moon will form a picturesque triangle with the bright Pleiades and orange Mars. Look for this trio above the eastern horizon about two hours before sunrise. Grab a pair of binoculars for a better view — even basic optics will reveal dozens of stars in the pale blue Pleiades cluster (with the naked eye, we only see about seven).
The shimmering core of the Milky Way is best seen away from city lights. Photo: Marc Sendra Martorell on Unsplash
🌑 July 14: New Moon Phase
If you only have one free night to marvel at the Milky Way or deep-space objects (like the Great Hercules Cluster), plan it for July 14. At this time, the Moon emits virtually no light. Find a location far from urban areas, and the heavens will come alive.
New Moon nights are ideal for observing the galactic core. To find the inner part of our galaxy, look for the famous "Teapot" asterism in the constellation Sagittarius — the Milky Way appears to rise directly from its spout, just like steam.
🌙 July 17: Crescent Moon and Venus
Venus shines in the evening sky for only a few hours this month, but on July 17, it will be particularly spectacular. It will appear next to a thin crescent Moon above the western horizon. They will dazzle with their brightness right after sunset and remain visible for about two hours.
The Moon and Venus in the evening sky. Photo: 
A large July full moon near the horizon. Photo: 🦌 July 28-29: The Buck Moon
The July full moon, traditionally known as the "Buck Moon," will reach peak illumination on the night of July 28-29. For the best view, watch it rise in the evening or set in the morning. Thanks to an optical effect (the Moon illusion), our satellite will appear massive right near the horizon. The name of the full moon comes from Native American traditions — this is the time of year when male deer grow their new antlers the fastest.
A meteor shower leaves bright trails in the night sky. Photo: ☄️ July 30-31: Peak of the Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower
While the main summer meteor shower (the Perseids) takes place in August, late July offers its own interstellar fireworks. This annual shower peaks in the pre-dawn hours of July 30 and 31. In our Northern Hemisphere, the meteors will streak low across the southern horizon. The shower generates up to 20 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, a bright waning Moon will slightly interfere with observations, so look for the brightest fiery trails away from the moonlight, facing the constellation of Aquarius.
🌠 July 30-31: Alpha Capricornids Meteor Shower
If one meteor shower isn't enough, here's a second one! It peaks on the exact same dates — July 30-31. Although this event produces a minimal number of meteors (about five per hour), it is famous for its bright fireballs. They are so bright that they can pierce through even strong moonlight. The radiant (the point of origin) is located in the constellation of Capricornus in the southern sky.
🔭 All Month: Comet 10P/Tempel
Throughout July, Comet 10P (which orbits the Sun every five and a half years) will reappear in our field of view. In the first half of the month, you'll need a small telescope to spot it near the constellation of Capricornus. But towards the end of July and into early August, the comet will become bright enough to be admired even with a good pair of binoculars.
Source: The astronomical events overview is adapted from materials by National Geographic.
