Mercury is still too close to the Sun and not visible. Venus is getting away from the Sun. Only slightly though, and is best seen between 9.30 pm and 10 pm only. The planet is the constellation Gemini. The distance to the Sun is 9°. Mars is best seen from 9.50 pm to 1.20 am and is in the constellation Libra. Jupiter is best seen from 9.50 pm to 11.40 pm and in the constellation Leo. Saturn is best seen from 10.25 pm to 2.40 am in the constellation Ophiuchus.
If you have a good and steady binocular, look for the Summer Beehive. A lovely open cluster whose brightest stars spell out the letters “H" and "I”. This magnification will resolve around a dozen stars.
Wednesday 6 July
An Iridium flare appears at 9.43 pm in the North North East and at an altitude of 73° in the constellation Draco.
The lunar crescent is visible at 10 pm and 58 hours after New Moon. The Moon is 7 % illuminated. The Moon sets at 10.33 pm, 59 minutes after the Sun.
The Moon is in maximum libration East at 1.32 am. Mare Crisium limb is tipped into our view.
At 3.15 am an Iridium flare appears in the West North West at an altitude of 47° in the constellation Draco.
Mercury is in superior conjunction with the Sun at 4.25 am and is only 1.4° separated from the Sun. The distance to the Earth is 1.329 AU.
Thursday 7 July
After turning New, the Moon slips into the early evening twilight and appears close to Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Tonight also presents a good opportunity to see the Earthshine on the waxing crescent Moon before it moves closer to Jupiter tomorrow night.
At 11 pm the minor planet Pluto is in opposition. The distance to the Earth is 32.115 AU. You will need a large telescope to observe Pluto.
A very bright Iridium flare is visible in the West at an altitude 75° at 4.55 am in the constellation Cygnus.
Friday 8 July
The waxing crescent Moon comes around to Jupiter again and appears close by tonight. Can you still see Earthshine on the unlit side of the Moon? Meanwhile, Regulus may be glimpsed above the Western horizon.
The Moon is close to the star Rho Leo at 10.40 pm. The distance is 10 lunar diameters. The altitude is only 6°, so look for a clear and open horizon. The Moon phase is 21 %.
At 3.06 am a rather bright Iridium flare is visible in the West North West at an altitude of 44° in the constellation Draco.
Saturday 9 July
At 9.40 pm the Moon is close to the giant planet Jupiter. They are about 10 lunar diameters separated. The altitude is 17° and the Moon phase is 30 %. The Moon occults the planet Jupiter for the Southern Indian Ocean.
An Iridium flare is visible in the North East at 9.54 pm at an altitude of 58° in the constellation Draco.
The Great Red Spot is in transit on the Jupiter disc at 10.15 pm.
Look out for the Earthshine on the Moon at 10.20 pm. The Moon is also close to the star called Zavijah at 11.20 pm. They are about 5 lunar diameters separated.
An Iridium flare appears at 11.28 pm in the North North East at an altitude of 23° in the constellation Perseus. Another flare is at 3.05 am in the West North West at 41° in the constellation Bootes.
Sunday 10 July
A very bright Iridium flare appears at 9.48 pm in the North East at an altitude of 58° in the constellation Draco.
Look out for the Earthshine on the Moon at about 10.20 pm. About 2 lunar diameters away, a star called Zaniah is close to the Moon at 10.55 pm. The altitude is 11° and the Moon phase is 39 %.
Although too close to the Sun, with only 5°, at 11.25 pm the planet Mercury is close to the star P78 Geminorum. They are only 5° separated.
At 11.40 pm the Moon is close to the star Porrima with only 7 lunar diameters away. The Moon is also close to the star g29 Virginis and they are 7 lunar diameters separated.
At 2.50 am Venus is in perihelion. The distance to the Sun is 0.7185 AU.
An Iridium flare is visible at 2.59 am in the North West at an altitude of 41° in the constellation Bootes.
The International Space Station (ISS) is visible as a moving dot or star and can be seen with the naked eye. ISS appears at 3.58 am in the South. Culmination or highest point is at 4.01 am in the South East at an altitude of 9°. Look for a clear and open horizon. ISS disappears at 4.05 am in the East.
Monday 11 July
It was 25 year ago that we had the so called “Great Eclipse”. This total solar eclipse was one of the longest durations in totality and was visible in Mexico and Hawaii on 11 July 1991. I watched this 6m23s total solar eclipse from the main land in Mexico, in San Blas.
Look for the Earthshine on the Moon at 10.20 pm. It is First Quarter Moon at 1.51 am. This is the 2nd smallest First Quarter Moon of the year. The former smaller First Quarter Moon was on 24 June 2015. The next smaller First Quarter Moon will be on 10 August 2016.
ISS appears at 4.39 am in the South West. Culmination is at 4.44 am in the South South East at an altitude of 22°. ISS disappears at 4.49 am in the East.
Tuesday 12 July
ISS appears at 3.48 am in the South. Culmination is at 3.51 am in the South East at an altitude of 15°. ISS disappears at 3.56 am in the East.
Some Iridium flares will be visible this morning. The first one appears in the East North East at 4.17 am at an altitude of 10° in the constellation Taurus. A brighter flare is at 4.26 am in the East North East at an altitude of 12° in the constellation Taurus. A very bright flare is at 4.33 am in the West at an altitude of 69° in the constellation Cygnus.
The Moon is in apogee at 6.21 am. The distance of the Moon to the Earth is 404308 km.
Wednesday 13 July
ISS appears at 2.57 am in the South South East an 9° above the horizon. Culmination is at 2.58 am in the South East at an altitude of 10°. ISS disappears at 3.02 am in the East.
A rather bright Iridium flare appears at 4.29 am in the East North East at an altitude of 14° in the constellation Taurus.
An orbit of ISS around the Earth takes about 90 minutes. ISS appears at 4.30 am in the South West. Culmination is at 4.34 am in the South South East at an altitude of 35°. ISS disappears at 4.39 am in the Eastern horizon.
At 4.38 am an Iridium flare appears in the East North East at an altitude 16° in the constellation Taurus.
Get in touch with me via www.patrickpoitevin.weebly.com if you need more information.