See The Sun Shrink As Planets Dazzle: The Sky This Week
Augusta , GEORGIA - APRIL 08: Fans use solar eclipse glasses to look at the sun prior to Masters ... More Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on April 8, 2024 in Augusta , Georgia. (Photo by Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
Each Monday, 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 Night Sky This Week: June 30-July 6, 2025
If I told you that on two specific dates each year, Earth is closest to, and farthest from, the sun, when would you guess those dates were? Conventional wisdom would have it that Earth is closer during summer and farthest during winter — but the opposite is true. On Thursday this week, Earth reaches aphelion, at its farthest from the sun in 2025. So why is it so hot? Seasons come from the tilt of Earth's axis, not its distance to the sun.
During Earth's annual journey around the sun, our view of the other planets — each on their journey — changes, and this week we get to see unique views of Mars, Venus and Mercury. Here's everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:
Monday, June 30: Moon, Mars And Regulus
Monday, June 30: Moon, Mars And Regulus
Look west just after dark and see the 33%-lit waxing crescent moon, with Mars below-right and bright star Regulus beyond, closer to the horizon. Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, 'The Lion,' is 70 light-years distant.
Wednesday, July 2: First Quarter Moon And Spica
Wednesday, July 2: First Quarter Moon And Spica
At 2:31 p.m. EDT today, the moon reaches its first quarter phase, appearing half-lit in the southwestern sky during dusk. Look to the moon's left to find Spica (pronounced 'speaker'), the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, 'The Maiden,' is 261 light-years distant. Mars and Regulus will be lower in the west.
Thursday, July 3: Explaining Earth's Aphelion and Perihelion.
Thursday, July 3: Earth At Aphelion
Today, Earth reaches aphelion, the point in its orbit when it's farthest from the sun at about 94.5 million miles (as opposed to 91.5 million miles on January 3). If you have solar eclipse glasses —perhaps leftover from the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, across North America — today's a good day to use to view the year's smallest sun. You may also spot sunspots, active regions of magnetic tumult on the surface of the sun.
Friday, July 4: Mars And Mercury
Friday, July 4: Mars And Mercury
Look west 54 minutes after sunset at Mars and Regulus above west. Mentally draw a line between them and carry on to the horizon, and you may see tiny Mercury making a rare appearance.
Saturday, July 5: Venus And The Pleiades
Saturday, July 5: Venus And The Pleiades
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. The Pleiades is about 440 light-years distant.
Sunday, July 6: Moon And Scorpius
Sunday, July 6: Moon And Scorpius
Now 86%-lit, the waxing gibbous moon tonight reaches the constellation Scorpius, 'The Scorpion,' making a pitstop in the insect's claws. See below for the lowdown on another of summer's most iconic constellations.
Constellation Of The Week: Sagittarius
Constellation Of The Week: Sagittarius
Look south late at night this week for Sagittarius, 'The Archer,' which lies across the middle of the Milky Way — Galactic Central Point. If you have binoculars, sweep them across its center, known as the 'Teapot' because of the shape its bright stars make, for seemingly endless nebulae, star clusters and dark dust lanes.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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