1. W N S E

2. General Information July 2016 This Month: In July, Earth reaches its farthest distance from the Sun. We’re past the solstice, so the daylight hours are gradually shrinking, en route to the fall equinox, when night and day are nearly equal. Jupiter, Mars and Saturn remain well placed for viewing, and the summer skies offer abundant deep- sky viewing options. Sunset Range: 8:44 p.m. (July 1st) to 8:28 p.m. (July 31 st ). End of Astronomical Twilight (Full Darkness* – Sun 18° below horizon): 10:37 p.m. (June 1st) to 10:10 p.m. (July 31 st ). * Usually dark enough for observing about a half hour before this.

3. Moon Phases July 2016 Mon., July 4 th – New Moon (Observing at Cahas on July 1 st and 2 nd ) Mon., July 11 th – First Quarter Moon Tues., July 19 th – Full Moon Tues., July 29 th – Last Quarter Moon (Observing at Cahas on July 29 th and 30 th ) Roughly speaking: First Quarter Moon is highest at sunset and sets at midnight Full Moon rises at sunset and is in the sky all night Last (or “Third”) Quarter Moon rises at midnight and is highest at dawn New Moon sets at sunset and is absent from the sky all night

4. Celestial Events July 2016 Mon., July 4 th – Earth at “aphelion”; farthest from Sun for the year (94,512,904 miles). Sat., July 9 th – Waxing crescent Moon 0.81° SSW of Jupiter in evening sky. Sat., July 23 rd – Moon 1° NNW of Neptune in predawn sky. Fri., July 29 th – Moon occults Aldebaran; disappearance 5:55 a.m. (approx.), reappearance after sunrise (6:25 a.m). Sat., July 30 th – Mercury 0.30° NNE of Regulus in evening sky (22° from Sun); closest approach of a planet to a 1 st magnitude star for the year.

5. N W Meridian Jupiter E S Directly Overhead (“zenith”) July 15 th, 10:00 p.m. (~30 min. before full darkness) Moon Saturn Mars Arcturus For June 20 th, 10:10 p.m. is about 30 min. before full darkness. June 20th Antares

6. Image Credit: NASA, 2012 Deneb The Great Rift CYGNUS SAGITTARIUS

7. Sun Image Credit: Robert Hurt, NASA, 2010 Sun CYGNUS AQUILA SAGITTARIUS ~30,000 ly

8. CYGNUS VULPECULA SERPENS (CAUDA) SCUTUM SAGITTARIUS DELPHINUS AQUILA LYRA SAGITTA OPHIUCHUS Deneb Vega Altair Summer Triangle 34° 24° 38° Vega Altair Deneb Teapot 61 Cygni Northern Coal Sack The Coathanger (Brocchi’s Cluster)

9. What’s Up programs are posted on the RVAS Website! Find them under “Tips and Topics” or at: http://www.rvasclub.org/page23.html Questions ???