Title: July Skywatch Highlights
Location: Hawaiian Islands
Date / Time: July 2007
Comments: July opens with Saturn & Venus appearing close together in the western sky for about 2 hours after sunset (see "conjunction" notes). During the first week of the month, watch as the two planets drift apart. Venus moves toward Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion, & Saturn sinks toward the west. On July 16th, a crescent Moon lies between Venus & Saturn, & makes for a stunning view with Regulus. VENUS is at its brightest this month as it passes us on the inside track of its orbit around the Sun. This is the last chance to view SATURN, as it's glow is lost in twilight by month's end, until mid-September when it reappears in the morning sky. JUPITER dominates the southern sky, just northeast of Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Using Jupiter to locate Antares, look for the "J" or "fishhook" shape of the GIANT scorpion (aka: Ka Makau Nui o Maui: the giant fishhook of Maui). At the beginning of July, Jupiter & Antares are already halfway up in the eastern sky at sunset, & are visible most of the night. Notice how Jupiter, reflecting the light of our yellow-orange Sun, gleams a brilliant golden color, in contract to the ruddy glow of red Antares. MARS appears in the morning sky, rising by 2 A.M in early July and at 1 A.M. at month's end. Mars is beginning to brighten as Earth slowly catches up to the orbit of the Red Planet, which will reach opposition in December. Early risers will have one of the year's best morning views of MERCURY, as it reaches its greatest elongation west of the Sun on July 20th. On July 18th, look for the innermost planet rising with Betelgeus in the east, one half hour before sunrise. Take the time to appreciate our gorgeous summer skies, rich in star clusters, nebulae & other deep space objects. Lucky we live in Hawaii! For further details and a July sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org).

Maintained by Roz Reiner - Kauai, Hawaii

 

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