The planets are still not in a good condition to watch. Mercury and Venus, although moving away from the Sun, are still close to our nearest star. Mercury is best seen from 9.45 pm to 10 pm and is in the constellation Cancer. Venus is also close to the Sun and as well best seen at the same time but is in the constellation Cancer. Mars is still nice and bright low in the South and is best seen from 9.45 pm to nearly 1 am. The red planet is in the constellation Libra. Jupiter is best seen from 9.45 pm to 11.20 pm when the planet sets. The giant planet is in the constellation Leo. Saturn is best seen near Mars and is visible from 10.15 pm to about 2.20 am. The planet with the rings is in the constellation Ophiuchus.
Wednesday 13 July
ISS appears at 2.59 am in the South South East an 9° above the horizon. Culmination is at 3 am in the South East at an altitude of 10°. ISS disappears at 3.04 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 Iridium is a satellite and is visible in the night sky as a moving star. A flare appears at a certain time and location in the sky and can be predicted or calculated.
An orbit of the International Space Station (ISS) takes about 90 minutes. ISS appears as a moving dot or star in the night sky and can easily be seen with the naked eye. ISS appears again at 4.32 am in the South West. Culmination or highest point in the sky is at 4.36 am in the South South East at an altitude of 35°. ISS disappears at 4.41 am in the East.
At 4.38 am an Iridium flare appears in the East North East at an altitude 16° in the constellation Taurus.
Thursday 14 July
The waxing gibbous Moon forms a rectangle with two planets and a star tonight. Mars and Saturn mark opposite corners while the Moon and Antares mark the other two. Come back tomorrow to see how the view has changed. Aquila, the Eagle, along with Cygnus the Swan, is one of two summer birds that can easily be seen from our skies. Its brightest star, Altair, is a white star nearly twice the mass of the Sun that lies just under seventeen light years away. The 12th brightest star in the sky, astronomers have discovered that it rotates so quickly it is actually flattened at the poles. In Eastern legends, Altair represents a cow herder separated from his love, a princess or weaver girl (the star Vega) by a river represented by the Milky Way. According to some stories, the two stars on either side of Altair represent their children.
At 11.08 pm a very bright Iridium flare is visible in the North North East at altitude of 31° and in the constellation Cassiopeia.
The Moon is close to the bright star called Zuben Elakrab at 1.40 am. The limb separation is only 0.13° or less than half a lunar diameter. It is low at the horizon, so look later when the Moon is higher. The Moon phase is 77%. Look as well for the Golden Handle visible on the Moon. The Sun rises on the Jura mountains, while Sinus Iridium is still in shadow.
At 2.44 am a bright Iridium flare appears in the North West at altitude of 34° and in the constellation Bootes.
ISS appears at 3.41 am in the South South West at 12° above the horizon. Culmination is at 3.43 am in the South South East at an altitude of 25°. ISS disappears at 3.48 am in the East.
Another flare appears at 4.32 am in the East North East and at 16° altitude in the constellation Taurus.
Friday 15 July
The waxing gibbous Moon appeared close to Mars last night but now it’s moved ahead to Saturn. The Moon’s light will brighten the sky somewhat. Does it make the planet appear any fainter? At 1.20 am the Moon is at its closest to Saturn. The limb separation is less than 4° or about 7 lunar diameters. The 85% Moon is also close to the star called Phi Oph at 1.40 am. The separation is about 3 lunar diameters.
ISS appears at 2.50 am in the South South East at an altitude of 16°. This is also it’s culmination. ISS disappears at 2.55 am in the East. Now and then ISS has some orbit manoeuver burns and then timings might slightly different. A boost will be at 3.10 am. ISS appears again at 4.22 am in the West South West. Culmination at 4.26 am in the South South East at an altitude of 51°. ISS disappears at 4.32 am in the East.
At 4.35 am a bright Iridium flare appears in the East North East at an altitude 19° in the constellation Taurus.
Saturday 16 July
Mercury passes 30’ or one lunar diameter from Venus at midnight. This will not be visible as both planets are under the horizon.
At 2.11 pm the Moon is in maximum libration South. The South Pole is tipped into the Earth's view. Look once the Moon rises at 6.10 pm.
A bright Iridium flare is visible in the North East at 9.21 pm at an altitude of 67° in the constellation Draco.
The small planet Mercury is in conjunction with Venus at 10.59 pm when both planets are under the horizon.
With a small telescope or a good and steady binocular, you can see the 4 Moons near Jupiter and some details on the surface. Look out for the Great Red Spot which will be in transit on the Jupiter disc at 11.05 pm. Jupiter is low, so look earlier when the giant planet is higher in the sky.
ISS appears at 1.59 am in the South East at an altitude of 11°. It disappears already at 2.02 am in the East. After an orbit around the Earth ISS appears again at 3.31 am in the South West at an altitude of 14°. Culmination is at 3.34 am in the South South East and 39° above the horizon. ISS disappears at 3.39 am in the East.
Sunday 17 July
The Moon is in maximum libration at 4.22 pm.
ISS appears at 2.40 am in the South at 24° altitude. Culmination is at 2.41 am in the South South East at 28° above the horizon. ISS disappears at 2.46 am in the East. Another appearance is at 4.13 am in the West South West. Culmination at 4.17 am at an altitude of 64° in the South. ISS disappears at 4.22 am in the East.
At 4.31 am a very bright Iridium flare appears in the East at an altitude 22° and in the constellation Taurus.
The Moon is in declination South at 4.39 am.
Monday 18 July
A flare is visible at 9.42 pm in the North North East at an altitude of 75° in the constellation Draco.
ISS appears at 1.49 am in the South East and 19° above the horizon. ISS disappears short after at 1.53 am in the East.
At 2.28 am a bright Iridium flare appears in the North West at altitude of 27° in the constellation Ursa Major.
ISS appears once more at 3.22 am in the West South West and 13° above the horizon. Culmination is at 3.24 am in the South South East at an altitude of 54°. ISS disappears at 3.30 am in the East.
Another, but very bright Iridium flare appears at 4.06 am in the West North West at an altitude of 60° in the constellation Cygnus. And one other flare at 4.29 am in the North North East at 10° above the horizon in the constellation Lynx.
Once more pass of ISS at 4.55 am in the West. Culmination at 5.01 am in the South at 66° above the horizon and disappears at 5.06 am in the Eastern horizon.
Tuesday 19 July
The Moon is in maximum libration West at 9.47 pm. The Crater Grimaldi is tipped into our view.
At 10.47 pm an Iridium flare appears in the North East at altitude of 39° and in the constellation Cassiopeia.
It is Full Moon at 11.56 pm. This is the 2nd Southernmost Full Moon of the year. The former more Southern Full Moon was on 20 June 2016. The next more Southern Full Moon is on 9 June 2017.
ISS appears at 0.58 am in the East South East and 8° above the horizon. ISS quickly disappears at 1 am in the Eastern horizon. After an orbit of 90 minutes ISS appears again at 2.30 am in the South South West at an altitude of 29°. Culmination is at 2.32 am in the South South East at an altitude of 42°. ISS disappears at 2.37 am in the East.
The Moon is close to the star called Dabih at 3.50 am. They are about 10 lunar diameters separated. The Moon phase 99.9%, so it will be hard to see.
ISS appears once more at 4.03 am in the West. Culmination is at 4.08 am in the South at an altitude of 70°. ISS disappears at 4.13 am in the East.
There will be two Iridium flares visible. One at 4.15 am in the North North East at a low altitude of 7° and in the constellation Lynx. The second is at 4.28 am in the East at an altitude of 25° in the constellation Taurus.
Wednesday 20 July
The International Space Station (ISS) appears after midnight at 1.39 am in the South East at an altitude of 30°. Soon ISS disappears at 1.44 am in the Eastern horizon. ISS is visible with the naked eye and moves as a bright star in the night sky. Worth a watch.
Satellites are easy to spot in the sky. They move slowly, as a dot or star. Iridium flares lit up sudden and at certain times and places. At 2.25 am an Iridium flare appears in the North West at an altitude of 24° in the constellation Canes Venatici.
An orbit of ISS around the Earth takes about 90 minutes. The next pass of ISS is at 3.12 am in the West South West at an altitude of 11°. Culmination is at 3.15 am in the South and at 66° above the horizon. ISS disappears at 3.20 am in the East. One more orbit and ISS appears at 4.46 am in the West. Culmination is at 4.51 am in the South South West at an altitude of 54°. ISS disappears at 4.57 am in the East South East horizon.
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