Astronomy Events Calendar
This guide shows you what to look out for in the night sky including meteor showers and conjunctions. Each event show the moon phase so you can see what the observing conditions will be like.
What to see in July 2008
Jupiter At Opposition
Wednesday 9th July 2008
Moon Phase
Jupiter is in prime position for observation and imaging as it reaches opposition. During opposition it is visible almost all night, rising around sunset, culminating around midnight and setting around sunrise. Its orbit also brings it closest to the Earth, making it appear bigger and brighter.
Deep Space Objects in July
Full list of Messier Objects and Caldwell Catalogue.C59 - "Ghost of Jupiter" Planetary Nebula in Hydra
Right Ascension: 10h 24.8m Declination: -18° 38m Magnitude: 7
C66 - Globular Cluster in Hydra
Right Ascension: 14h 39.6m Declination: -26° 32m Magnitude: 10
C69 - "Bug Nebula" Planetary Nebula in Scorpius
Right Ascension: 17h 13.7m Declination: -37° 06m Magnitude: 9
C75 - Open Cluster in Scorpius
Right Ascension: 16h 25.6m Declination: -40° 40m Magnitude: 5
C76 - Open Cluster in Scorpius
Right Ascension: 16h 54.0m Declination: -41° 48m Magnitude: 2
M3 - Globular Cluster in Cains Venactici
This cluster is one of the brightest objects in the sky. It resembles a small, bright snowball which is easy to see. Small telescopes will be able to resolve M3 into individual stars.
Right Ascension: 13h 42.2m Declination: 28° 23m Magnitude: 7M4 - Globular Cluster in Scorpius
A big bright globular in Scorpius, easily located near Antares. This is an easy binocular object appearing as a round snowball. Partially resolvable in a telescope, the trade mark of this globular is a line of bright stars crossing the center.
Right Ascension: 16h 23.6m Declination: -26° 32m Magnitude: 8M5 - Globular Cluster in Serpens
This object is a large bright globular cluster in Serpens. It resembles M3 and is easy to locate near the star 5 Serpens.
Right Ascension: 15h 18.6m Declination: 02° 05m Magnitude: 7M53 - Globular Cluster in Coma Berenices
While not quite as big or bright as M3 it is still an obvious binocular object. It is resolvable in small telescopes, it as easy object to find sharing the same low power telescope field as fifth magnitude Alpha Coma Berenices.
Right Ascension: 13h 12.9m Declination: 18° 10m Magnitude: 8M68 - Globular Cluster in Hydra
An eighth magnitude globular cluster in Hydra, M68 is a difficult binocular object for Northern observers. It appears as a faint fuzz spot in binoculars, you may need to use averted vision or large binoculars to find this one. Appearing as a round fuzzy patch in a 8" telescope, you will need a much larger aperture to really resolve it.
Right Ascension: 12h 39.5m Declination: -26° 45m Magnitude: 8M80 - Globular Cluster in Scorpius
This is the smallest and faintest globular cluster this month. Located in Scopius, M80 is a very tough binocular object appearing as a faint star with slight fuzziness around the edges. This is confirmed with a telescope, M80 has a bright central condensation in the middle of faint fuzz.
Right Ascension: 16h 17.0m Declination: -22° 59m Magnitude: 8M83 - Galaxy in Hydra
A face on spiral in Hydra. M83 is fairly easy in binoculars as a faint, fuzzy patch of light. In a telescope look for a large patch of light with a bright center.
Right Ascension: 13h 37.0m Declination: -29° 52m Magnitude: 8
