THIS WEEK'S SKY AT A GLANCE ( JULY 27 - AUGUST 4 )
FCUHOMESCHOOLING ASTRONOMY CLASS
All week, watch Mars move in on Saturn and Spica at dusk.
Friday, July 27
Mars has crept to within 11° of Saturn and Spica, on its way to passing between them in mid-August.
Look left of the Moon this evening (by a fist-width at arm's length or
more) for the orange-red supergiant star Antares. Closer left of the
Moon are the three fainter stars that mark the head of Scorpius, lined
up about vertically.
Before or during dawn
Saturday morning, telescope users near North America's West Coast can
see Jupiter's satellites Io and Europa both casting their tiny black
shadows onto Jupiter's face from 4:45 to 5:33 a.m. Pacific Daylight
Time.
Saturday, July 28
Fiery Antares shines lower right of the waxing gibbous Moon tonight.
Sunday, July 29
Before and during dawn
Monday morning, Jupiter is closest to Aldebaran. They're 4.7° apart,
with Aldebaran to Jupiter's lower right.
Monday, July 30
The waxing gibbous Moon this evening hangs over the handle of the Sagittarius Teapot.
Tuesday, July 31
During early dawn
Wednesday and Thursday mornings, look low in the east to spot brilliant
Venus, magnitude –4.6. Look 2° upper left of it (roughly a finger's
width at arm's length) for Zeta Tauri, magnitude 3.0. That's a
brightness difference of just over 1,000 times! Binoculars will be
necessary as dawn brightens Wednesday, August 1
Full Moon tonight (exact at 11:27 p.m. EDT). The Moon is in dim Capricornus. Shining high above it is Altair
Thursday, August 2
Arcturus is the
brightest star in the west after dark at this time of year. It and Vega,
almost overhead, are the two leading stars of summer. Look off to the
right of Arcturus, in the northwest, to spot the Big Dipper dipping
down.
Friday, August 3
As summer enters its
second half, the Summer Triangle approaches its greatest height in the
evening. Face east and look almost straight up after nightfall. The
brightest star there is Vega. Toward the northeast from Vega (by two or
three fist-widths at arm's length) is Deneb. Toward the southeast from
Vega by a greater distance is Altair
Saturday, August 4
The waning gibbous Moon
rises in the east as twilight fades into night. Look left or upper left
of it for the Great Square of Pegasus, balancing on one corner.
