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Night sky in July
THE DIAGRAM shows the evening sky as seen from latitudes 0 to 40 degrees North. The inner circle represents the horizon as seen from latitude 22.5 degrees North. The star chart has been extended on the northern and southern sides for use all over India. It should be held overhead and turned in such a way that the North, South, East and West marked on it point to the correct directions. With the help of a few known star groups in the sky, the remaining stars can be easily identified using the above chart. From a particular place, these stars will be seen at about 21.30 hrs., 20.30 hrs and 19.30 hrs of local mean time on the July 1, 16 and 30.
The Moon: Full moon occurs on July 14 at 00.51 a.m. and new moon on July 29 at 12.23 p.m. IST. The first quarter of the Moon occurs on July 7 at 08.02 a.m. and the last quarter occurs on July 21 at 12.31 IST. The Moon passes four-and-a-half-degrees north of the Jupiter on July 3, about five degrees south of Neptune on July 15, four- and-a-half-degrees south of Uranus in the late evening on July 16, about half-a-degree north of Mars on July 17, four degrees north of Saturn on July 27, again about four- and-a-half degrees north of Jupiter on the evening of July 30 and about five degrees north of Mercury on July 3.
The Moon is at perigee i.e. nearest to the Earth on July 11 and at apogee i.e. farthest from it on July 23. The lunar crescent becomes first visible after the new-moon day on the evening of July 1 and again on July 30.
The Earth: The Earth is at the aphelion i.e. farthest from the Sun on July 4.
The Planets:
Mercury (Budha): It is too near the Sun to be visible during the first half of the month, being in superior conjunction with the Sun on July 5. Thereafter, the planet reappears in the evening in the western sky and sets about one hour after sunset till the end of the month. It passes half-a-degree north of Jupiter on July 26 and about one degree north of the star Regulas (Magha) on July 30. The planet moves from Gemini (Mithuna) to Cancer (Karkata) on July 10 and then to Leo (Simha) on July 26. Its visual magnitude varies from --1.1 to - 0.1.
Venus (Sukra): It is visible from the early hours, till early morning in the eastern sky, rises about one hour to half-an-hour before sunrise almost up to the end of the month. The planet passes about one degree north of Saturn on July 8. At the fag end of the month, it is too near the Sun to be visible. It moves from Gemini (Mithuna) to Cancer (Karkata) on July 24. Its visual magnitude is about - 3.9.
Mars (Mangala): It is visible towards the eastern sky from late night till early morning, rises about three-and-a-half hours to three hours after sunset during the first half of the month and about three hours to two hours after it during the second half. It is in retrograde motion on July 29. The planet remains in Aquarius (Kumbha) throughout the month. Its visual magnitude varies from -1.4 to - 2.3.
Jupiter (Brihaspati): It is visible in the evening in the western sky, about two-and-a- half hours to one-and-a-half hour after sunset during the first half of the month and about one-and-a-half hour to one hour after it during the second half. The planet moves from Cancer (Karkata) to Leo (Simha) on July 30. Its visual magnitude is about - 1.8.
Saturn (Sani): It is too near the Sun to be visible almost up to the second quarter of the month. Thereafter, it reappears in the eastern sky, visible from the early hours, till early morning, rises about one hour to two hours before sunrise till the end of the month. It is at perihelion i.e. nearest to the Sun on July 26. It remains in Gemini (Mithuna) throughout the month. Its visual magnitude is about + 0.1.
Uranus: It is visible in the eastern sky from late evening till early morning, rises about three hours to two hours after sunset during the first half of the month and about two-and-a-half hours to one-and-a-half hour after it during the second half. The planet remains in the Aquarius (Kumbha) throughout the month. Its visual range is about sixth magnitude.
Neptune: It is visible in the eastern sky from the evening till early morning, rises about two hours to one hour after sunset during the first half of the month and about one hour to within half-an-hour after it during the second half. The planet remains in Capricornus (Makara) throughout the month. Its visual range is about eighth magnitude.
Source: Director, Positional Astronomy Centre,
India Meteorological Department,
New Alipore, Kolkata - 700 053.
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