July 2017 Sky Calendar
Dec 7, 2017 3:57:06 GMT
Post by Joe on Dec 7, 2017 3:57:06 GMT
CVAS Monthly Sky Calendar for July 2017
Mars – Mars is in conjunction with the Sun on July 27th, so this month and next month it is too close to the Sun to view.
Mercury – This month it can be found low in the western evening sky, but this is a poor apparition for the northern observers, even at the greatest extent, it only 13° high at sunset at around mid month. At the beginning of the month it is at a magnitude of -1.11, a size of 5.26 arc-seconds with a phase of 91%. As the month goes on, it magnitude drops to 0.43, it size increases to 7.71 arc-seconds, while it phase goes to 46%.
Jupiter – Jupiter is best viewed in the SW skies right after it gets dark enough to view it. It is now three months past opposition so as the Earth moves away from it is getting smaller and dimmer. During to the month, its magnitude will go from -2.10 to -1.93 and its diameter going from 37.3 to 34.4 arc-seconds for the month. To start the month it is up for close to 4 ½ hours after sunset, at month’s end it is up for less than 3 hours after sunset.
Saturn- Best viewed in the S skies starting around 11pm to begin being the month, then as the month goes on starting closer to 10pm at month’s end. Saturn was at opposition to Earth on June 15th, so it is still close to its largest and brightest as seen to Earth for this year. During to the month, its magnitude will go from 0.09 to 0.27 and its diameter going from 18.2 to 17.8 arc-seconds. Saturn rings will be tilted 27° to us. The rings them self will be about 41 arc-seconds in size this month.
Neptune – In Aquarius, Neptune is best viewed the SE/S mornings skies this month. It is highest up in the Southern skies right at sunrise to start the month, at month’s end it will be highest up near 4am. Its magnitude will around 7.85 with a diameter of around 2.28 arc-seconds during the month. Neptune will be at opposition on September 9th this year.
Uranus – In Pisces, it too is best viewed in morning. To start the month, it is best viewed maybe an hour or so before sunrise when it will be in the SE skies and will be 44° high at sunrise. By month’s end it will be well place to view a couple of hours before sunrise where it will be 59° high at sunrise. Its magnitude will be around 5.8 with a diameter around 3.5 arc-seconds during the month. Uranus will be at opposition on October 19th this year.
See is.gd/urnep/ for finder charts for Uranus and Neptune from Sky&Telescope.
Venus – Venus also can be found in the eastern morning sky before sunrise. It is now up for over to 2 ½ hours before sunrise, being 28° to 31° high at sunrise for the month. During the month it is at a gibbous phase, being between 63% phase with a size of 18.1 arc-seconds to a phase of 74% with a size of 14.7 arc-seconds. Its magnitude will go from -4.13 to -4.01 during the month.