Buck Moon, ‘Swift Planet' and more: How to enjoy July's night sky events
July will offer a meteor shower, a glimpse of the Buck Moon and a view of the Scorpius constellation, among other sights.
On July 4, there will be an uncommonly good opportunity to get a glimpse of Mercury, the smallest, speediest planet in our solar system.
Named after the Roman god known for his winged feet and swift travel, Mercury is the planet located nearest to the sun, which it flies around every 88 days, according to NASA.
At 12 a.m. CDT on July 4, Mercury will reach its greatest elongation, or the farthest distance from the sun, making it the best time to see it.
To get a glimpse of the 'Swift Planet,' EarthSky suggests waiting for the sun to set before looking west for the planet during twilight time.
Nearly a week after Fourth of July fireworks illuminate the sky, the so-called Buck Moon will rise on July 10.
The name dates back to the Maine Farmers' Almanac, which assigned 'Indian' names to full moons, starting in the 1930s, according to NASA. The names stuck and are still used today.
The Almanac reportedly claimed that members of the northeastern U.S. Algonquin tribes called the July full moon the Buck Moon for the male deer whose antlers start to emerge, encased in velvety fur. The tribes also called it the Thunder Moon because of the regular early summer storms in the region.
For the astrology geeks out there, one of the twelve zodiacal constellations is a familiar sight in the summer night sky – Scorpius, located in the galactic center of the Milky Way.
Depending on the amount of light pollution you're dealing with, Scorpius has a number of highlights to check off, such as Antares, or the 'heart of the scorpion.'
The supergiant star has a reddish hue and can be observed with the naked eye.
Starting July 18, the Southern Delta Aquariid meteors will become active and will potentially be visible until late August.
The Southern Delta Aquariids will reach their peak between July 29 and July 30, according to NASA.
The meteors are faint, so they won't be visible if the moon is out.
Observers in the Southern Hemisphere and southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere will have the best odds of a good show.
Here's what you can do to increase your odds of seeing them, according to NASA:
If the weather doesn't cooperate where you live, there will be plenty to enjoy in August when we get a glimpse of Venus and Jupiter side-by-side, the Sturgeon Moon and the Perseid meteor shower.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Some Colorado space jobs and research funding in jeopardy with federal budget cuts under consideration
From Space Force to space research, Colorado is known for its work in the aerospace industry. Now some of that work is in jeopardy after cuts to NASA funding were included in proposed federal budget cuts. NASA's Maven spacecraft NASA Some space researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder said they are concerned about how the proposed cuts could affect them. That includes Shannon Curry, an Associate Professor in Astrophysics and Planetary Sciences. Curry is one of the CU scientists who has been receiving information from NASA's Maven spacecraft, which entered the orbit of Mars in 2014. "The first time you get data down and no one has ever seen it before, it's so exhilarating," Curry said. The Maven mission could be on the chopping block if the federal budget legislation is approved, which Curry says could drastically slow down any progress for a human mission to Mars. The proposed 25% cut to NASA's overall budget comes as President Trump aims to shrink federal spending. "When we found out that Maven might be canceled, we were devastated on a personal and professional level," Curry said. "This has been my life's work." Curry says the impact of the cuts would be felt on American space missions well beyond the ones CU is involved in. "NASA and the U.S. could very well cede leadership to other countries, in particular countries that have made no secret of trying to have more presence there, including China and Russia," Curry said. The proposed funding cuts at CU could also mean job cuts for researchers which leaves Curry and her team to have no clear picture of their own future or their missions. "We've never decommissioned a spacecraft at Mars. So this would be a first, and this is not something anyone wants to do, or frankly, feels prepared to do, on this kind of a timeline," she said. That timeline could mean changes coming as soon as next school year, and it could impact how much money comes into the university and Colorado. "We work hard and are responsible for good paying American jobs. These are the kinds of things that if these missions are canceled, I don't know what a lot of people are going to be doing in the future," Curry said.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
NASA to Launch New Livestream Service on Netflix Starting This Summer
NASA to Launch New Livestream Service on Netflix Starting This Summer originally appeared on L.A. Mag. NASA+ will offer live programming of rocket launches, astronaut spacewalks, mission coverage, and live views of Earth from the International Space Station through its new streaming platform on Netflix. 'The National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 calls on us to share our story of space exploration with the broadest possible audience,' Rebecca Sirmons, general manager of NASA+ at the agency's headquarters in Washington said. 'Together, we're committed to a Golden Age of Innovation and Exploration – inspiring new generations – right from the comfort of their couch or in the palm of their hand from their phone.'NASA+ first launched in 2023 to make space content more accessible to the public. The service will continue to be available for free and ad-free through the NASA app and website. NASA wrote that they hope to bring even more awareness to their work through Netflix's global audience of more than 700 million people. 'Through this partnership, NASA's work in science and exploration will become even more accessible, allowing the agency to increase engagement with and inspire a global audience in a modern media landscape,' Cheryl Warner, NASA news chief, wrote in a press schedules will drop closer to launch day, so Netflix advises viewers to check for more details in the coming weeks. This story was originally reported by L.A. Mag on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Space calendar 2025: Rocket launches, skywatching events, missions & more!
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. 2025 is a busy year for spaceflight and exploration with countless launches, mission milestones, industry conventions and skywatching events to look forward to. With so much going on, it's hard to keep track of everything. Never fear — keep up with the latest events in our 2025 space calendar. You can also Find out what's up in the night sky this month with our visible planets guide and skywatching forecast. Please note: Launch dates are subject to change and will be updated throughout the year as firmer dates arise. Please DO NOT schedule travel based on a date you see here. Launch dates are collected from NASA events, ESA news, Roscosmos space launch schedule, Spaceflight Now launch schedule, Everyday Astronaut, Supercluster and others. Related: Wondering what happened today in space history? Check out our "On This Day in Space" video! Is there a rocket launch today?
