Saturn immerses itself among the aquatic creatures during the moon phase of July 2025
July is a great month for stargazers, with several notable planets and constellations gracing the night sky. Here's a roundup of what you can expect to see in New York City and Melbourne, Australia during the nights of July 24 and 25.
New York City
Since it's a new moon, planets are more visible. Venus will rise at about 2:49 a.m., and Jupiter will rise at 3:58 a.m. Saturn will be visible in the morning sky as well.
Melbourne, Australia
Given the Southern Hemisphere's winter and early sunset, planets are best viewed in the evening. Mars will be visible in the northwest, about 32 degrees high as the sky darkens around 6:30 p.m. and sets at 9:31 p.m.
In both locations, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are notable in the morning sky around July 24 and 25 in New York, while Mars is visible in the evening in Melbourne.
Highlights in New York
- Venus is about 74 degrees above the horizon in the eastern sky by about 10 p.m. for Northern Hemisphere sky watchers.
- Jupiter forms a triangle with Jupiter, Venus, and Aldebaran if one has an unobstructed horizon.
- Saturn rises after Mars sets, at 10:56 p.m. on July 24.
Highlights in Melbourne
- Mars is in the northwest about 32 degrees high at 6:30 p.m. on July 25.
- Venus rises at 4:46 a.m. on July 26 and will get quite high in the northeast before it fades from view in the dawn light as sunrise isn't until 7:25 a.m.
Constellations to Spot
- Vega is the brightest star in Lyra the Lyre, while Antares is the bright red star at the heart of Scorpius.
- Crux, the Southern Cross, is high above the southern horizon at 7 p.m., and Sagittarius is almost vertical in mid-southern latitudes.
- Vela, the Ship's Sail, is a large circle of stars visible in the southwest.
- Corona Boreallis, the Northern Crown, is a circlet of stars anchored by a brighter one in the middle of the arc.
- Cygnus, the Swan, contains an asterism called the Northern Cross, and Cepheus, the king, and Cassiopeia, the Queen, are to the left of the Big Dipper.
Other Notable Facts
- The new moon marks the start of the month in many lunar calendar systems.
- The moon's timing varies by time zone; for example, it is at 8:11 p.m. in London, 9:11 p.m. in Paris, and 5:11 a.m. July 25 in Beijing.
- The Milky Way can be seen inside the Summer Triangle from a dark sky site.
- Unless there is a solar eclipse, the moon itself isn't visible during the new moon phase.
- The next partial solar eclipse is due in September.
- Canopus is about 11 degrees above the southwestern horizon and marks the ship's keel, Carina.
- Deneb is the more northerly of the two stars in the Summer Triangle and higher in the sky.
- Alpha Centauri, the nearest stellar neighbor, is to the left of Hadar.
- Jupiter is in Gemini in Melbourne, though it rises so close to sunrise that the constellation itself will be harder to see.
- Arcturus is the brightest star in Boötes, the herdsman.
- Betelgeuse is the top point above and to the right of Venus in Melbourne at 4:30 a.m. on July 25.
Enjoy your stargazing adventures!
- In the realm of technology, one can use various stargazing applications to aid in identifying constellations and planets during the nights of July 24 and 25.
- Advancements in technology have allowed for the creation of telescopes that can provide a closer view of celestial bodies like Venus, Jupiter, and Mars, enhancing the stargazing experience.
- Science plays a significant role in stargazing, as understanding the movement of planets and the existence of constellations contributes to our knowledge about the universe and the solar system, including environmental-science aspects related to the planets' atmospheres and space-and-astronomy phenomena.
