鈥淓yes to the Skies鈥� is a recurring feature and publishes on the first of every month. You can find it on聽WTOP鈥檚 The Space Place.听Email Greg聽your space questions and he might answer them in the next edition.
Each month WTOP鈥檚 鈥淓yes to the Skies鈥� feature previews the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the moon, planets and stars. Space-related events that might interest you taking place in the D.C. region will be included as well.
Let鈥檚 get to the skies for July 2026!
Must-see sky sights for July
Venus dominates the west after sunset all month.
The are visible after dark spanning the sky from the northeast to the southeast getting higher until morning twilight.
Star of the month
In July be on the lookout for two stars that are the eyes of Draco, the . They are just to the upper left of our May star, Vega. All three are easy to spot in the northeast sky after it gets dark.
Highlights of the month
July 1: As July starts turn your attention to the west at dusk. Brilliant Venus dominates the sky scene. To the lower right of Venus, Jupiter is fast approaching the glare of the sun which Mercury has already done. Watch each night as they change their positions in the sky. The planets orbit the sun which causes their motion in the sky. It is fascinating to watch. Take astropics with your smartphone and/or digital camera to record these changing sky positions.
July 1: Remember our star of the month in October, Algol? It is worth looking at it going to minimum brightness for two hours centered at 10:57 p.m. and then getting brighter. See the other dates this month below. Try taking a smartphone/camera pic or maybe even a video.
July 4: In the eastern sky before the dawn look for reddish Mars. The planet Uranus and Mars will be very close to one another. Use binoculars to zero in on Mars and then look for Uranus as a 鈥済reenish-colored star that doesn鈥檛 twinkle鈥� just above Mars. You might be able to image the planetary pair with zoom mode on your smartphone or camera. Definitely worth a try. A telescope will give a fine view of the pair.
July 6: Earth is farthest from the sun, or aphelion, for 2026, 152,087,774 km, at 1 p.m.
July 17: The crescent waxing moon, the star Regulus and Venus will share the western sky as it gets dark. Worthy of taking an astropic with your smartphone using zoom and/or digital camera
July 18: Algol again at 3:51 a.m.
July 24: A bright waxing gibbous moon and the star Antares are close together in the south after dark.
July 29: The full buck moon occurs at 10:35 a.m. Get the particulars for your location by using this .
July 30-31: The will be severely hampered by the bright moon.
The moon
July 7: Last quarter
July 14: New moon
July 21: First quarter
July 29: Full buck moon
Planets
Mercury is in the glare of the sun
Venus is very bright in the west.
Mars is in the east before dawn.
Jupiter is in the glare of the sun
Saturn rises in the east around midnight.
is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to best observe the planet although it is visible in binoculars.
is in the western sky after dark. You need a telescope to observe the plan-et.
is way out there in the solar system and requires taking images through a tele-scope spaced days apart to hunt it down.
D.C.-area events
- Join me at for my presentations. for other sky events. Rangers also host night sky programs so check it out when you visit the park.
- , George Mason University, July 14, 4 p.m. Check the calendar for astronomy events.
- has resumed observatory operations. Check the link regarding Friday night public viewing sessions at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia. Check their calendar for other astronomy activities in July.
- in D.C and Chantilly has loads of astronomy stuff in July.
- Check out the new attraction at the Smithsonian Air & Space in D.C.: . Read more about it in this WTOP story.
- You can check and for astronomy clubs that are outside the DMV.
Bonus section!
Use this useful tool to create a for your location to help you find your way around the stars. While you are at it, check out the very useful .
And if you want to plan ahead for 2026 sky events, here鈥檚 a nifty to help.
You can also send in any space related questions to my Suggestions about this feature are also welcome.
Follow Greg Redfern on his to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.
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