July Stargazing: Top Celestial Highlights

July welcomes the heart of summer, a time of balmy evenings, festival skies, and late-night adventures under the stars. With the return of the Milky Way, a dazzling meteor shower, and bright planets on show, it’s the perfect month to reconnect with the cosmos. Whether you’re in a quiet back garden or out at camp, July offers some unforgettable stargazing sights overhead.

The Buck Moon

The full moon in July—called the Buck Moon—will rise on July 21. The name comes from Native American traditions, marking the time of year when male deer begin to regrow their antlers.

Expect a stunning silver globe rising in the southeast just after sunset. Try photographing it with natural or urban foregrounds like trees, ruins, or buildings to create dramatic compositions. For extra clarity and contrast, catch it during moonrise or moonset when it's low on the horizon.

Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower

The Delta Aquarid meteor shower kicks off in late July, peaking around July 29–30. While it’s not as intense as August’s Perseids, it still offers 10–20 meteors per hour and is best viewed after midnight under dark skies.

How to See It:

• Face southeast in the early morning hours.

• The radiant point is near the constellation Aquarius, but meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.

• Avoid areas with strong light pollution and give your eyes time to adjust for the best experience.

Bonus tip: The last quarter moon on July 28 means skies will be fairly dark during the peak nights!

Planets on Display

July continues to showcase several early-morning planets:

• Saturn is now well positioned in the southeastern sky before dawn, bright and unmistakable in Aquarius.

• Jupiter rises in the east in the small hours and shines steadily near Taurus by the end of the month.

• Mars remains visible in the morning sky, but lower and dimmer than earlier in the year.

• Venus begins to reappear just before sunrise in the final days of July, glowing low on the horizon in the east.

The Summer Triangle & Milky Way

The iconic Summer Triangle formed by the stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair now dominates the night sky from late evening onwards. Inside this triangle flows the radiant band of the Milky Way, a breathtaking river of stars and dust clouds.

For the best views:

• Head out after 11pm and look southeast to south.

• The darker your location, the more dramatic the Milky Way appears.

• Try using binoculars to scan along the band - you’ll discover clusters, nebulae, and countless stars.

July Stargazing Challenge: Spot the Lagoon Nebula (M8)!

One of summer’s finest deep-sky treasures, the Lagoon Nebula is a glowing star nursery in Sagittarius, best seen in the early hours of the morning.

How to Find It:

• Look low in the southern sky after midnight.

• Find the “Teapot” asterism in Sagittarius.

• M8 is just above the “spout”, a hazy patch even visible to the naked eye in dark skies.

Top Tips:

• Use binoculars or a telescope for a closer look at its glowing cloud of gas and young stars.

• Dark skies are essential for this one! Urban light will easily wash it out.

Bonus Challenge: Try Astro-Sketching!

This month, bring a notebook and pencil outside and sketch what you see! Whether it’s the moon, a planet, or a favourite constellation, sketching helps train your eye and deepen your connection to the night sky.

Final Thought

July is all about slow evenings, warm breezes, and looking up. With a little patience and a bit of planning, you’ll discover that the universe is putting on a show - no ticket required.

So grab a blanket, turn off the lights, and let the night unfold.