Look east-northeast skyward before sunrise on Tuesday (July 26) to catch the thin crescent moon gliding across the sky above Venus.
Venus will shine at a bright magnitude of -3.9, just a few finger widths (or 4 degrees celestial south) to the lower right of the old moon, according to astronomer Chris Vaughan of Astrogeo.ca (opens in a new tab)who prepares the Space.com monthly Night Sky Calendar in collaboration with Simulation Curriculum. (On the magnitude scale used by astronomers, lower numbers mean brighter objects.) The duo will appear close enough to share the view with a pair of binoculars.
Eagle-eyed skywatchers catching the pair shortly after rising around 4 a.m. local time will also be able to see some of the stars in the Gemini Constellation (Alhena, Pollux, Castor and Tejat Posterior) shine around them.
Related: The Brightest Planets in the July Night Sky: How to See Them (and When)
The exact time of the event varies depending on your specific location, so you’ll want to check a sky-watching app like SkySafari or software like Starry Night to check the times that are specific to you. Our picks for the best stargazing apps can help you with your planning.
On Thursday, July 28, the moon will reach its new moon phase at 1:55 p.m. EDT (5:55 p.m. GMT). It will then conclude its monthly “planetary encounter” by approaching Mercury on Friday July 29 shortly after sunset.
Another skywatching event to watch for this week is asteroid Juno which appears to reverse direction on Thursday. “Eastward prograde motion of designated main-belt asteroid (3) Juno across the background stars Western Pisces will slow to a halt,” Vaughan wrote. Juno will then begin a westward retrograde loop that will last through late October.
If you’re looking for a telescope or binoculars to observe the moon, our guides to the best binoculars deals and the best telescope deals can help. Our best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography can also help you prepare to capture the next view of the sky yourself.
Want to take a more in-depth moonlight tour of our rocky companion? Our ultimate guide to observing the moon will help you plan your next skywatching adventure, whether it’s exploring the lunar seas, mountainous terrain or the many craters that cover the landscape. You can also see where astronauts, rovers and landers have ventured with our Guide to observing Apollo landing sites.
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