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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between July 1 and July 31, 2024. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury sets on the 1^st in the west-northwest at 9:25 p.m., PDT, and the sun sets at 8:09 p.m., PDT, and is 78-percent illuminated and 5.7 arcseconds wide. On the 31^st, the sun sets at 7:54 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets in the west at 8:53 p.m., PDT. Mercury is 30-percent illuminated and 9.2 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west-northwest at 8:41 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st. On the 31^st, Venus sets in the west-northwest at 8:48 p.m., PDT. Venus then is 96-percent illuminated and ten arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Mars moves from Aries the Ram to Taurus the Bull on July 11. On the 1^st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 2:23 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 1:35 a.m., PDT. The planet is 89-percent illuminated and 5.6 arcseconds wide, and so a magnification of over 150x is needed to see such a small disk.

Jupiter is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, Jupiter rises in the east-northeast at 3:37 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Jupiter rises at 2:02 a.m., PDT. Jupiter is 34 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Aquarius the Water Bearer. On the 1^st, Saturn rises in the east at 11:48 p.m., PDT. On the 31^st, the planet rises at 9:48 p.m., PDT. Saturn is 18 arcseconds wide. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is the third planet now located in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, Uranus rises in the east-northeast at 2:51 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Uranus rises at 12:57 a.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 36^m 13^s and declination of +19° 4ʹ 17ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.4-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Neptune rises in the east at 12:16 a.m., PDT. On the 31^st, Neptune rises at 10:14 p.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0^h 1^m 39^s and declination of -1° 13ʹ 41ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

New moon is on the 5^th, first quarter on the 13^th, full moon on the 21^st, and last quarter on the 27^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The Southern delta Aquariid meteor shower occurs from July 18 to August 21. The meteors will peak from the night of the 29^th through to the morning of the 30^th. The waning crescent moon  will rise late and will not interfere with observations. The shower is best seen from the southern hemisphere. These meteors produce good rates for a week centered on the night of maximum. These are usually faint meteors that lack both persistent trains and fireballs. The parent object might be the comet 96P/Machholz. Moon rises at 12:37 a.m. on July 30. It will interfere somewhat with morning observations.

The alpha Capricornid meteor shower occurs from July 7 to August 15 with a “plateau-like” maximum centered on the 31^st. The peak will occur from the night of the 30^th through to the morning of the 31^st. Again, the moon will not interfere with observations. This shower is not very strong and rarely produces more than five shower members per hour. The shower is notable, however, for the number of bright fireballs produced during its activity period. The parent object is the comet 169P/NEAT. Moon rises at 2:07 a.m. on July 31.

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