Topline
With the brilliant glare of the complete Strawberry Moon now fading into the early morning hours, this week brings some stunning views of each the planets and the galaxy past. With Earth at its farthest from the solar on July 6, Venus strikes near brilliant star Regulus after darkish on July 9, and the waning crescent moon joins Mars earlier than dawn on July 11. For stargazers in North America and throughout mid-northern latitudes, right here’s every thing you must learn about stargazing and astronomy this week, July 6-12, 2026.
This week is good for locating the Milky Manner with the bare eye. For stargazers in North America and throughout mid-northern latitudes, right here’s every thing you must learn about stargazing and astronomy this week, July 6-12, 2026. (Photograph by: Alan Dyer/VW Pics/UIG through Getty Photos)
Common Photos Group through Getty Photos
Timeline
Earth reaches aphelion, its farthest level from the solar in its annual orbit, at about 94.5 million miles (152.1 million kilometers), in contrast with 91.3 million miles (147.1 million kilometers) at perihelion. The distinction is about 3.4%.
The last-quarter moon rises round midnight, leaving darkish skies within the night hours and beginning the clock on July’s 12-night stargazing window. Need to camp below a star-filled sky? Go quickly!
Look to the west after sundown to see brilliant Venus shining only one diploma from Regulus, the brightest star within the spring constellation Leo. Venus is a close-by cloud-covered planet, whereas Regulus is a sizzling, fast-spinning star round 79 light-years away.
Round 4:00 a.m. native time, look low towards the east-northeast for a 13%-lit waning crescent moon near Mars and Aldebaran within the constellation Taurus, with the gorgeous Pleiades open cluster of stars glowing close by.
Manhattanhenge happens at sundown in New York Metropolis, with the solar aligning with the road grid. Saturday sees the complete solar alignment at 8:20 p.m. EDT, with the half solar alignment on Sunday at 8:21 p.m. EDT.
Round 4:00 a.m. native time on Saturday, July 11, look low towards the east-northeast for a 13%-lit waning crescent moon near Mars and Aldebaran within the constellation Taurus, with the gorgeous Pleiades open cluster of stars glowing close by.
Stellarium
MID-SUMMER’S MILKY WAY WINDOW
True darkness continues to be restricted in July, however this week presents a uncommon alignment of situations: the moon is out of the way in which, and the sky reaches its darkest level at a usable hour. In the event you’re someplace that appears darkish on a light pollution map — otherwise you’re visiting a Dark Sky Place — be outdoors about two hours after sundown and look towards the southeast. Enable your eyes 15-20 minutes to adapt. Slowly, a pale arc of sunshine begins to emerge — the Milky Manner, the mixed mild of billions of distant stars.
Constellation Of The Week: Aquila
It’s one of many best constellations to search out within the night time sky at the moment of yr — excessive within the east proper after darkish — however Aquila, the Eagle, is little recognized. It’s anchored by Altair, the southernmost star of the three stars within the huge Summer season Triangle. In contrast to Vega and Deneb, Altair is flanked by two fainter stars, creating a particular straight-line sample. Altair is comparatively shut — simply 17 light-years away — and rotates extraordinarily quickly, finishing a full rotation in about 10 hours. This causes it to bulge on the equator. So if you take a look at Altair, you’re seeing a star behaving very otherwise from the solar. It’s a reminder that stars will not be all just like the solar — removed from it!
What’s Subsequent In The Night time Sky
On July 14, the brand new moon brings the darkest skies of the month, simply in time for the start of the annual Perseid meteor bathe on July 17. On that date, a crescent moon seems close to Venus after sundown, whereas on July 29, the complete Buck Moon rises at sundown.
The occasions and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For essentially the most correct location-specific data, seek the advice of on-line planetariums like Stellarium.
