What’s up, July 2016 Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere has passed, it’s now downhill to the darker parts of the year and observing will become easier as July progresses and the evenings draw in…..

The Planets Image JPL/NASA

Seen low in the western sky after sunset, chasing Venus and Mercury towards sunset. Jupiter is shining at magnitude -1.9 at the start of the month and has an angular diameter of 34.3 arc seconds. By month's end, these have reduced slightly to -1.7 magnitudes and 32.1 arc seconds. One hour after sunset it will be about 30 degrees above the horizon. JUPITER

Saturn Having been in opposition on June 3rd, lies some 6 degrees north of Antares (in Scorpius) in southern Ophiuchus and not to far from Mars. Though only at an elevation of 20 degrees when due south at around 11 pm as July begins (and 9pm at month's end) the beautiful ring system, now at an inclination of 26 degrees is still worth observing as is Saturn's brightest Moon, Titan.

Mars Mars (close to Saturn) can be seen in the south-southwest after sunset above and to the right of Antares and the fan of Scorpius. Mars changed it westerly direction at the end of June and has now resumed it’s normal eastward motion heading back to it rival the red star Antares. Mars is due south - and so highest in the sky - at ~9:30 BST on th first of July, and even though its elevation is only then about 19 degrees, a medium sized telescope may still be able to see (or image) details on the surface such as the polar caps and Syrtis Major.

Globular cluster in Hercules and the "Double-double" in Lyra There are two very nice objects to spot with binoculars high in the south- western sky well after dark this month. Two thirds of the way up the right hand side of the 4 stars that make up the "keystone" in the constellation Hercules is M13, the best globular cluster visible in the northern sky. Just to the left of the bright star Vega in Lyra is the multiple star system Epsilon Lyre often called the double- double. With binoculars a binary star is seen but, when observed with a telescope, each of these two stars is revealed to be a double star - hence the name!

July 8th, 1 hour after sunset: A Waning Crescent Moon near Jupiter Around one hour after sunset on July 8th, given a clear sky and low western horizon, you should be able to spot Jupiter, above and to the left of a thin crescent Moon.

July 16th after sunset: Venus and Mercury half a degree apart After sunset on the 16th, given clear skies and a low horizon in the west-northwest you may be able to spot Venus just half a degree below Mercury in the twilight sky. Binoculars may well help, but please do not use them until the Sun has set.

July 29th before dawn: A thin waning crescent Moon close to Aldebaran and the Hyades Cluster. About one hour before sunrise looking above the eastern horizon you should, if clear, be able to spot a thin waning crescent Moon very close to the Hyades Cluster in Taurus - in which direction is also seen the orange giant star, Aldebaran.

Meteors Delta Aquariids The peak of the Delta Aquariids on the night of the 28th/29th July is the major shower that peaks during July. Best seen after midnight, the Delta Aquariids are relatively slow moving meteors, at a mean of around 41km / 25 miles per second. This means they are not as energetic and bright as some other showers.

The Moon The Moon becomes Full in Sagittarius on the 19th of the month, giving observers in the northern hemisphere an opportunity to see atmospheric refraction in action, which causes the Moon to appear larger in the sky, the closer to the horizon it is.

 1 st Thursday of the month  7.15pm tea/coffee for 7.30pm talk  Copeland Centre, Bretton Peterborough  Web  New members and visitors welcome  Observing nights (between Sept. & Mar)  Social nights (Star Parties)  Come and join us! Next month : Keith Townsend (PAS) “Here comes the Sun”