JunoCam, the visible light imager aboard NASA’s Juno spacecraft, captured this view of Jupiter’s northern high latitudes during the spacecraft’s 69th flyby of the giant planet on January 28. Jupiter is one of five naked eye planets to be seen from Muskegon County this month. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS; Image processing: Jackie Branc (CC BY).
Milky Way, Planets, Meteor Shower Observable This Month
BY JONATHAN TRUAX, ASTRONOMER, MUSKEGON COMMUNITY COLLEGE'S CARR-FLES PLANETARIUM
This month, clear skies are frequent and contain many interesting sights for sky watchers including some of the best views of the Milky Way if you observe away from the city lights.
Sky watchers have opportunities this month to see all five naked eye planets. The planets Mars and Mercury are in the western sky right after sunset. Observing about 30 minutes after sunset, first locate brilliant Mercury as a bright white “star” low in the west. Locate Mars to the east or upper left of Mercury and to the east of the star Regulus of Leo. The waxing crescent moon is very near Mars on the evenings of July 26 and 27. To find Mars look for an orange “star.” Currently, Mars is far away from the Earth and not very brilliant or red.
The planet Saturn is the westernmost in planet in a predawn planetary grouping. Locate Saturn as a fairly bright yellow “star” in the south among the stars of Pisces about an hour before sunrise.
Looking now to the east northeast, locate the brilliant planet Venus as a bright white “star” among the stars of Taurus the Bull. The waning crescent moon is very near Venus in the mornings of July 21 and 22.
Jupiter is seen low on the eastern horizon below Venus as a very bright white “star” shining among the stars of Gemini the Twins. The waning crescent moon will be very near Jupiter the mornings of July 22 and 23.
As darkness falls after sunset this month, high in the northwest, locate the “Big Dipper” formed by the stars of Ursa Major. High in the western sky nearly overhead, find Arcturus of Bootes, the brightest star of summer. Low in the southwest, just west of the bright star Spica, look for a trapezoid-shaped pattern of stars forming Corvus the Crow. Low in the southeast, locate the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion, marked by the bright star Antares. The waxing gibbous moon is very close to Antares on the nights of July 6 and 7.
Rising high in the Eastern sky locate three bright stars all blue or white in color, forming the “Summer Triangle.” Low and to the northeast is Deneb, of Cygnus the Swan. Higher in the east is Vega, of Lyra the Harp. The furthest south of the trio is Altair, of Aquila the Eagle. By dawn the “Summer Triangle” can be found just west of overhead.
This month after sunset, the summer Milky Way stretches from low in the south, through the eastern sky, down to the northeast horizon. For the best views of the Milky Way, observe away from city lights and on the nights after the 15th when the moon is not very bright.
At the end of the month, the Delta Aquarid meteor shower reaches peak activity on the morning of July 30. Meteors will seem to radiate from the constellation Aquarius at a rate of about 25 meteors per hour.
Visit the MCC Carr-Fles Planetarium website for upcoming events and call (231) 777-0289 for sky show information. Carr-Fles Planetarium is located on the Muskegon Community College campus in Room 135. Thanks to the generosity of the Reach for the Stars campaign donors, you can now experience Carr-Fles Planetarium with state-of-the-art digital projection, sound and lighting systems; all-new library of shows; and modern theater seating and domed ceiling.
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