Perseids, A Full ‘Buck Moon' And A Small Sun: The Sky In July 2025
Each month, I pick out North America's celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The perfect month to get out and look up in the Northern Hemisphere, July 2025 has a lot to offer. From spectacular views of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn to a full 'buck moon' and from a rare and wonderful moon-Pleiades conjunction to no fewer than three meteor showers, here's everything else you need to know about stargazing and the night sky in July 2025:
Use eclipse glasses to safely look at the "aphelion sun." (Photo by MARCO DE SWART/ANP/AFP via Getty ... More Images)
1. Earth At Aphelion
When: Anytime on Thursday, July 3, 2025.
Where: the sun (you must use solar eclipse glasses).
Earth is today at aphelion — it's farthest from the sun in the year. It happens because Earth orbits the sun in a slightly elliptical orbit. At aphelion, Earth is 94.5 million miles (152 million kilometers) away from the sun, while in six months' time, it will be at perihelion, 91.4 million miles (147 million kilometers) from the sun. That's only about a three percent difference, but the sun today will look slightly smaller in the sky. If you have any leftover solar eclipse glasses, take a look.
2. Mars And Mercury
When: After sunset on Friday, July 4, 2025.
Where: west.
Look west 45 minutes after sunset, and you'll see Mars and Regulus above the western horizon. Mentally draw a line between them and carry on to the horizon, and you may see tiny Mercury — the "Swift Planet" — making a rare appearance.
Saturday, July 5: Venus And The Pleiades
3. Venus And The Pleiades
When: before sunrise on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
Where: northeast.
If you can rise before the sun, look to the northeast for the sumptuous sight of bright Venus beneath the Pleiades, an open star cluster that looks beautiful to the naked eye and through binoculars.
4. Venus Highest
When: before sunrise on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
Where: east-northeast.
Venus reaches its highest point in the morning sky today during its current apparition as the bright 'Morning Star." Look to the east-northeast about 30 minutes before sunrise, and there'll be no mistaking the bright planet about 25 degrees above the horizon.
5. Full 'Buck Moon' Rises
When: moonrise where you are on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
Where: eastern horizon.
The first full moon of summer, July's buck moon, rises on the evening of July 10. Though it technically reaches full phase at 4:38 p.m. EDT, catch it at moonrise for the best views as a huge, orange orb climbs the eastern sky. This full moon will stay low due to its proximity to the summer solstice.
6. Perseid Meteor Shower Begins
When: after midnight from July 17, 2025.
Where: northeast.
While the famed Perseids peak in August, their first streaks appear around July 17. That night also features a last-quarter moon, meaning darker skies to catch a few early Perseid fireballs .
Tuesday, July 15: The Moon Meets Saturn
7. Moon Meets Saturn
When: around midnight on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Where: east.
Late tonight, a 70%-illuminated waning gibbous moon will rise in the east alongside Saturn. By midnight, look about halfway up the southeastern sky to see them paired just two degrees apart. Saturn will glow a steady yellowish light above the moon.
8. Moon Meets The Pleiades
When: 45 minutes before sunrise on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
Where: east-northeast.
A delicate 24%-lit crescent moon will glide alongside the dazzling Pleiades open cluster (also known as the Seven Sisters). Earthshine — sunlight reflected off Earth's oceans, ice caps and clouds — will give the moon's darkened portion a ghostly glow.
Sunday, July 20: Moon And The Pleiades
9. Crescent Moon And Mars
When: 45 minutes after sunset on Sunday, July 27, 2025.
Where: west.
With the crescent moon now 11% lit, it will be higher in the western sky after sunset than it was last night. Just to its upper left will shine Mars, past its best but still unmistakable. The mostly unlit face of the moon will be faintly illuminated by Earthshine, the ghostly glow on the moon's night side.
10. Meteor Showers Peak
When: early hours of Tuesday, July 29. 2025.
Where: all-sky.
Two overlapping meteor showers — the Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids — both reach their peak tonight. The Delta Aquariids may produce up to 20 meteors per hour, while the Alpha Capricornids can add another 5 to 10.
For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
US states with the highest dementia rates revealed — did yours make the list?
Home is where the heart is — but it also might be where your memory slips away. A sweeping new study found that dementia rates vary drastically across the US in ways that can't be explained by traditional risk factors. The research suggests that where you live could play a significant role in whether you develop the memory-robbing disease later in life, opening new doors for targeted prevention efforts. 3 One in 10 Americans ages 65 and older is living with dementia. Getty Images/iStockphoto Dementia is a growing public health concern that affects more than 6 million Americans and causes over 100,000 deaths each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. Looking ahead, researchers predict new dementia cases in the US will double over the next 40 years — increasing from roughly 514,000 in 2020 to nearly 1 million by 2060. That means Americans over 55 face a 42% lifetime risk of being diagnosed. But could your zip code hold the key to lowering those odds? Dementia hot spots Researchers at UC San Francisco (UCSF) analyzed health data from more than 1.2 million veterans aged 65 and older, courtesy of the Veterans Health Administration. Over an average of 12 years, the team tracked who developed the disease — then compared the numbers by location. The Mid-Atlantic had the lowest dementia rate, with just 11.2 cases per 1,000 people annually. But other parts of the country saw significantly higher risks: The Southeast — Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi — had a 25% higher dementia diagnosis rate compared to the Mid-Atlantic. The Northwest and Rocky Mountains were 23% higher. The South saw an 18% increase. The Southwest trailed with a 13% higher rate. The South Atlantic and Midwest regions were about 12% higher. The Northeast and Great Lakes had a 7% increase. Notably, the regional differences couldn't be explained when researchers factored in common risk factors like age, race, heart disease or rural versus urban living. 3 The biggest risk factor for dementia is aging, but where you live also might play a role. Monkey Business – The study does have some limitations. The authors only looked at veterans, who are mostly male and may not reflect the general population. This group also faces unique risks, like traumatic brain injury and PTSD, which could impact their odds. Still, the results were clear: where you live matters. 'The study underscores the need to understand regional differences in dementia and the importance of region-specific prevention and intervention efforts,' Dr. Kristine Yaffe, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Population Brain Health at UCSF, said in a statement. Next, the researchers aim to uncover what's driving these geographic gaps. 'Quality of education, early life conditions and environmental exposures may be key factors,' said Dr. Christina Dintica, first author of the study and a UCSF postdoctoral scholar. Fight back against forgetting While UCSF digs into why some places have higher dementia rates, you don't have to wait to protect your brain. 3 Lifestyle changes like more physical activity could help prevent dementia. Kay Abrahams/ – Studies suggest that nearly 45% of dementia cases can be prevented or delayed — with experts outlining five simple steps you can take right now to lower your risk. First, get moving. Regular physical activity doesn't just keep your body in shape — it sharpens your mind too. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week, plus muscle-strengthening sessions twice weekly. Beyond exercise, managing your health is crucial. Preventing or controlling diabetes is key because too much sugar in your blood can damage vital organs — including your brain. Along those lines, keeping your blood pressure under control is equally important. High blood pressure harms blood vessels and cuts blood flow to the brain, increasing your risk of stroke and memory loss. Your hearing also plays a role. Taking steps to prevent hearing loss — or getting treatment if you already have it — matters because hearing loss can make your brain work harder, draining resources needed for memory and thinking. Finally, try to limit or avoid drinking and smoking. Excessive alcohol can cause high blood pressure and brain injury, while smoking increases the risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.
Medscape
2 hours ago
- Medscape
Fast Five Quiz: The Presentation and Diagnosis of GPA
Formerly known as Wegener granulomatosis, the granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) subtype of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis can impact a variety of organ systems, often presenting with a diverse range of clinical features that complicate timely diagnosis. Knowing how to identify the symptoms and diagnose this rare disease is paramount for adequate treatment. What do you know about the presentation and diagnosis of GPA? Check your knowledge with this quick quiz. Upper and lower respiratory tract involvement, along with the skin, eyes, and nervous system (with or without kidney manifestations) are the classic presentations of ANCA vasculitis, with most common presentations of GPA being respiratory, renal, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) symptoms. ENT manifestations are distinctive and include nasal tissue crusting, mucosal damage causing epistaxis, cartilage deterioration leading to saddle nose deformity, erosive sinus disease, and subglottic stenosis. Isolated liver involvement in GPA is considered rare. Gastrointestinal involvement can occur in patients with GPA, but it is also not common. Though neurological symptoms can be seen in patients with GPA, isolated involvement is not as common as upper and lower respiratory tract involvement. Learn more about the presentation of GPA. MRI is suggested for detecting pachymeningitis and retro-orbital lesions in patients with GPA, with researchers who have evaluated patient cases of GPA stating that the 'exploration of pachymeningitis relies on MRI.' Further, MRI is usually more effective than CT when detecting pachymeningitis. F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose PET with CT is usually used to detect occult inflammation and exclude malignancy and infection in this population; however, data have shown this method has high sensitivity for detecting cardiovascular, lung, nasal/sinus, and kidney involvements. Standard radiograph is not usually used in this setting. Learn more about imaging for GPA. The distinctive renal pathology in GPA is characterized by pauci-immune focal and segmental necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis. This histological pattern features inflammatory destruction of small blood vessels with scant or undetectable immune complex deposits in vessel walls. Microscopic examination of kidney tissue typically reveals areas of fibrinoid necrosis within glomeruli and proliferative changes outside capillaries forming crescents; inflammation of small vessels with neutrophil infiltration and endothelial alterations might be observed as well. When examined with immunofluorescence techniques, the tissue shows minimal or absent staining for immunoglobulins and complement factors, confirming the pauci-immune nature of the condition. Though membranous nephropathy, minimal change disease, and lupus nephritis are types of glomerulonephritis, they are not characteristic of GPA. Learn more about renal histology in GPA. PR3-ANCA shows the strongest association with GPA. Various sources have shown that PR3-ANCA is present in approximately 80% of patients with GPA but can be positive in 2%-27% of patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA). Though ANCA testing offers valuable diagnostic insights, clinicians should evaluate results alongside clinical presentations and tissue examinations, since these antibodies occasionally appear in other inflammatory disorders or as medication side effects. MPO-ANCA is associated with GPA but it is not as common as PR3-ANCA. Anti-neutrophil elastase and ANTI-LAMP2 can be seen with ANCA-associated vasculitis but are not specific for GPA. Learn more about ANCA detection in GPA. The presence of lung nodules serves as a key distinguishing feature of GPA when compared with MPA. Although both conditions might present with pulmonary bleeding from capillaritis, nodular formations or cavitary nodules strongly suggest GPA rather than MPA. Conversely, pulmonary fibrosis typically appears in patients with MPA and rarely develops in those with GPA. Interstitial lung disease in an interstitial pneumonia pattern is associated with MPA. Learn more about pulmonary histology in GPA.
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
‘Jurassic World Rebirth' Reviews: Rotten Tomatoes Critics Split On Movie
Scarlett Johansson in "Jurassic World Rebirth." Jurassic World Rebirth, Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey and Mahershala Ali's reboot of the Jurassic World franchise, has Rotten Tomatoes critics divided. Jurassic World Rebirth opens in theaters nationwide on Wednesday. The official summary for the film reads, 'Five years after the events of Jurassic World Dominion, the planet's ecology has proven largely inhospitable to dinosaurs. Those remaining exist in isolated equatorial environments with climates resembling the one in which they once thrived. 'The three most colossal creatures across land, sea and air within that tropical biosphere hold, in their DNA, the key to a drug that will bring miraculous life-saving benefits to humankind.' Directed by Gareth Edwards, Jurassic World Rebirth also stars Rupert Friend, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Luna Blaise, David Iacono, Audrina Miranda, Philippine Velge, Bechir Sylvain and Ed Skrein. As of Tuesday, Jurassic World Rebirth has earned a 53% 'rotten' rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 113 reviews. RT's Critics Consensus and Popcornmeter rating are still pending. What Are Individual Critics Saying About 'Jurassic World Rebirth'? Among the top critics on RT who give Jurassic World Rebirth a 'rotten' rating is Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post, who writes, 'The once-great franchise is hardly reborn from the amber this time. It's slammed by an asteroid yet again.' Alissa Wilkinson of The New York Times also gives Jurassic World Rebirth a 'rotten' rating on RT, 'In the story, the ubiquity of the dinosaurs has left humanity feeling bored and annoyed, cutting the feet out from under those moments. And it's starting to feel like the movies are getting bored, too.' Nick Schager of the Daily Beast rates Jurassic World Rebirth 'rotten' as well, writing in his RT review summary, 'he underwhelming result is similar to its signature beasts: a handsome clone that serves no purpose except to line its creators' pockets.' Mark Kennedy of The Associated Press is among the top critics on RT who give Jurassic World a 'fresh' rating, writing, 'In many ways, the folks behind Jurassic World Rebirth are trying to do the same thing as their mercenaries: Going back to the source code to recapture the magic of Steven Spielberg's 1993 blockbuster original. They've thrillingly succeeded.' Bill Bria of The Wrap also gives Jurassic World Rebirth a fresh rating on RT, writing, 'Just because cheeseburgers are now available anywhere doesn't mean that they can't be damn tasty. Jurassic Park Rebirth is just a well-made cheeseburger, and whether that's filling and interesting enough is up to your own appetite.' Also giving the film a 'fresh' review is Stephanie Zacharek of TIME Magazine, who writes, 'Jurassic World Rebirth features likable humans as well as some pleasantly cartoonish distasteful ones, and lots of dinosaurs just doing their thing.' Jurassic World Rebirth opens in theaters nationwide on Friday.
