ON THE MOVE

The Red Planet will make the closest approach to this planet since 2003

Mars will make its closest approach to Earth since 2003

The major celestial event of the summer is the closest approach of Mars since 2003. The Red Planet is currently drawing closer to Earth at a whopping 338,00 km each day. At opposition (opposite the sun as seen from Earth) on July 27, Mars will rise at sunset and set at sunrise, remaining visible all night.

Its closest approach to Earth, when it will be at its largest as seen through a telescope, occurs at around 4:50 a.m. on July 31.

As July opens, Mars (in the constellation of Capricornus — the Sea Goat) rises about two hours after sunset (one hour by midmonth) in the SE. Currently at about mag. -2.2, Mars will double in brightness to a dazzling -2.8 by opposition.

There is currently a global dust storm circulating the planet, which may or may not impact views of the planet’s surface features and southern ice cap, should it persevere right up to its closest approach to Earth at the end of the month.

For more information regarding Mars this month, go to www. astronomy.com or www.skyandtelescope.com or google Mars July 2018.

As bright as Mars will get this month, it cannot match the brilliance (mag. -4.2) of Venus. Visible in the western sky at dusk about 45 minutes after sunset, Venus will follow the sun down below the horizon shortly before midnight. Look for the 3 ½-dayold, waxing, crescent moon to the right of Venus on July 15.

If you are quick, you might catch a glimpse of Mercury this month. In the constellation of Cancer — the Crab, and shining at mag. 0.0 in early July, Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation (angular distance from the sun as seen from Earth) on July 11. Then on July 14, a slender, crescent moon sits just above Mercury along the western horizon about 45 minutes after sunset. By July 17, a dimmer (mag. +1.0) Mercury sits about 15 degrees to the lower right of Venus.

Jupiter sits due south soon after sunset as July opens, shifting to the SW by the end of the month. Currently moving westward in the constellation of Libra — the Scales, Jupiter starts the month at mag. -2.3 before dimming slightly to -2.1 as July ends. A decent telescope will show the planet’s numerous cloud bands, the Great Red Spot and its four largest moons — Io, Europa, Callisto and Ganymede.

Saturn and its magnificent ring system, having reached opposition on June 27 is still visible through the hours of darkness this month. At mag. +0.0 (brightening slightly to +0.2 by end of month), Saturn currently sits in the constellation of Sagittarius — the Archer. Its best visibility (weather permitting) comes when the planet sits at its highest point in the night sky around midnight, when it crosses the sky’s meridian (due south).

The Delta Aquarid (radiant in Aquarius — the Water Bearer) meteor shower peaks in the predawn hours of July 28. Though the full moon will wash out the fainter meteors, you still should be able to see many of the 20+/ hour meteors as they cross the summer night sky.

Until next month, clear skies.