Learn what is happening in July 2009 and what has happened in July in the past. Discover highlights of the night sky and learn what to look for in July 2009.
July Highlight - Eclipses and Planets
Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC
The 7's penumbral eclipse; although the Moon will be above the horizon from most of Canada, the eclipse is so minor as to be completely invisible to the naked eye. A major total eclipse of the Sun occurs on the 21st. Extending across India, China, some Japanese islands and the South Pacific Ocean. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow.
As spring changes to summer, Saturn bows out, dropping much lower in the sky. Jupiter again takes center stage. Check it out with your scope on the 23rd and possibly catch a glimpse of Io and Europa. You'll also want to watch for Neptune nearby. Meanwhile Venus and Mars are still stars of the morning sky.
July Skymap
Nick Greene
Check out this map for the month of July, or create your own customized map with our Free Sky Maps tool.
Note: This map is for a median time and location and July have slight differences from your location and viewing time. Planets and moons shown on this map will have the highest probability of appearing in different locations.
Use this handy Sky Map Symbols Key to figure out what you should be looking for.
Events in July
Check out our Astronomical Events Calendar to learn about other happenings in space and on Earth. Here is a sampling of highlights.
- 4 - Earth At Aphelion (1.017 AU From Sun)
- 7 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
- 11 - Ares I-X Test Flight
- 11 - 30th Anniversary (1979), Skylab Re-Enters Into Earth's Atmosphere
- 13 - Mercury in Superior Conjunction
- 20 - 10th Anniversary (1999), Retrieval Of Liberty Bell 7 Capsule From Ocean Floor
- 20 - 40th Anniversary (1969), 1st Man On The Moon (Apollo 11)
- 21 - 95th Anniversary (1914), Seth Nicholson's Discovery of Jupiter Moon Sinope
- 22 - Total Solar Eclipse
- 22 - Friedrich Bessel's 225th Birthday (1784)
- 24 - Cassini, Titan Flyby
- 26 - Cassini, Distant Tethys Flyby
- 29 - South Delta-Aquarids Meteor Shower Peak
Featured Constellation - Aries
Public Domain
Featured Biography - Dale A. Gardner
NASA
Born November 8, 1948 in Fairmont, MN, former NASA astronaut Dale A. Gardner grew up in Sherburn, MN and Savanna, IL. Selected as an Astronaut Candidate by NASA in January 1978, Gardner flew as a mission specialist on STS-8 (August 30 to September 5, 1983) and STS-51A (November 8-16, 1984).
This Month in History
R. Evans, J. Trauger, H. Hammel and the HST Comet Science Team and NASA
Check every day to learn what happened "This Day in History."
- 1: 1994 - Hubble Space Telescope - USA & Europe Telescope photographed the collision of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 with Jupiter.
- 6: 1997 - Mars Pathfinder's rover, a six-wheel rover named Sojourner, rolled onto the Martian surface at about 05:40 UT
- 16: 1969 - Apollo 11 launched.
- 20: 1969 - Apollo 11 (Crew: Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., Michael Collins) landed. Apollo 11 was the first manned lunar landing.
