Look up: July brings meteors, planets, Buck Moon
Julia GomezFireworks won't be the only reason why July’s night sky will be aglow: two meteor showers, a bright full Buck Moon and several planet pairings will unfold over the next few weeks, offering one of summer’s best stargazing stretches.
The Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquarids will build toward a shared peak at month’s end, while Earth reaches its farthest point from the sun and the moon briefly threatens to wash out the show. Here’s when to watch and how to catch the best views before bright moonlight interferes.
Earth reaches aphelion in early July
Early in the month, Earth will hit aphelion, its farthest point from the sun, on July 6 at 10:30 a.m. ET, according to Time and Date.
At that point, Earth sits about 94.5 million miles from the sun, slightly farther than its average distance of 93 million miles. The event comes about two weeks after the summer solstice.
Three meteor showers span most of July
Three annual meteor showers will be active throughout the month:
Alpha Capricornids meteor shower
The Alpha Capricornids begin Friday, July 3, and run through Saturday, Aug. 15, according to the American Meteor Society.
While the shower rarely produces more than about five meteors per hour, it’s known for bright fireballs that can stand out in the night sky.
Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower
The Southern Delta Aquarids begin Sunday, July 12, and continue through Sunday, Aug. 23.
The meteors are faint and can be difficult to spot, especially with moonlight. For the best chance of seeing them, move away from city lights, lie flat on your back and look toward the southern sky near the Aquarius constellation, NASA says.
Perseid meteor shower
The Perseid meteor shower, or the Perseids, begins Friday, July 17, and continues through Monday, Aug. 24. The shower will peak next month, on Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The shower is "considered the best meteor shower of the year," according to NASA. It can produce between 50 and 100 meteors per hour and is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere before dawn, though the timing may vary.
Meteor showers peak the same night
Both the Southern Delta Aquarids and Alpha Capricornids showers are expected to peak on July 30, when activity is at its highest.
However, the timing could limit visibility: The peak comes just one day after July’s full moon, meaning bright moonlight may wash out many of the meteors.
When is July’s Buck Moon?
July’s full moon, known as the Buck Moon, reaches peak illumination July 29 at 10:36 a.m. ET, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.
The moon will still appear full for several nights before and after its peak, offering a bright show but also making it harder to see faint meteors later in the month.
Planetary conjunctions to watch
Several planetary pairings will also be visible in July:
- July 4: Mars and Uranus (best viewed before sunrise; binoculars needed for Uranus)
- July 7: Moon and Saturn
- July 11: Moon and Mars
- July 17: Moon and Venus
These events are known as conjunctions, when objects appear close together in the sky from Earth’s perspective, even though they are actually far apart.
Stargazing tips
To get the best view:
- Move away from city lights and other forms of light pollution
- Give your eyes around 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness, and avoid looking at your phone or other sources of light
- Find a dark spot away from city lights
- Bring a blanket or a reclining chair
- Check the weather and cloud cover ahead of time
- Use apps like SkyView or Night Sky to help identify planets and constellations
(This story has been updated to include new information.)
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at [email protected]