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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report through July 12, 2017. Here’s what’s happening in the skies of southern California.

The moon is bright and it lights the nighttime sky through the 12th. It is waxing gibbous before it turns full on the 8th, and afterward it is waning gibbous. The moon rises later each day, appearing after sunset starting on the 9th, and at 10:33 p.m. on the 12th.

The planet Mercury can be found at 8:30 p.m. at about 10 degrees, or roughly the angular equivalent of how tall your clenched fist looks from arm’s length, above the west-northwest horizon. The innermost planet looks like a bright star against the glow of twilight.

The planet Jupiter is the brightest object located above the southwest horizon after sunset. Its banded patterns of clouds are interesting to examine through a telescope. Jupiter’s large oval storm, the Great Red Spot, faces observers in Los Angeles at 9:00 p.m. on July 6th, 9th, and 11th.

The planet Saturn, in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent-Bearer, is not as bright as Jupiter, but it is the brightest object above the southeast horizon as darkness falls. The planet’s rings are tilted by nearly 27 degrees to our line of sight, which is their maximum amount.

The moon, Jupiter and Saturn are currently featured through Griffith Observatory’s public telescopes.

Free views of the Sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night are available to the public in clear weather through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes from Tuesday through Sunday, before 9:30 p.m. Check our website for the schedule. The next free public star party on the grounds of Griffith Observatory, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, will take place on Saturday, July 29th.

Follow the Sky Report on Twitter for updates of astronomy and space-related events.

From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook, and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.