{"id":33856,"date":"2022-07-07T08:20:20","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T08:20:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=110161"},"modified":"2022-07-07T08:52:12","modified_gmt":"2022-07-07T08:52:12","slug":"see-the-moon-meet-the-planets-of-the-solar-system-this-month","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/see-the-moon-meet-the-planets-of-the-solar-system-this-month\/","title":{"rendered":"See the Moon meet the planets of the Solar System this month"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 07 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Observing the Moon with the naked eye or a pair of binoculars is in itself a wonderful way to enjoy a clear, dark night sky, but the experience can be even better if the Moon happens to be located near one of the brighter planets of the Solar System.<\/p>\n

Not only do we get to witness a wonderful conjunction<\/a>, but we get to experience the mechanics of the Solar System in action. It\u2019s a reminder of our place among the many worlds orbiting our Sun.<\/p>\n

For more advice, read our guide on how to observe the Moon<\/a> or sign up to the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter<\/a> for regular stargazing info delivered directly to your email inbox.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Moon and Venus \u2013 19th August 2017 by Dilip Sharan, Milton Keynes, UK. Equipment: Canon EOS 1200D, tripod<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The Moon circumnavigates the night sky once every 27.321 days, never straying far from the ecliptic<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The main planets of the Solar System<\/a> also tend to remain close to the ecliptic and consequently, the Moon makes a pass of each one every month.<\/p>\n

In July 2022 there are a series of encounters between the Moon and the planets in the morning sky, with Saturn up first.<\/p>\n

Approaching opposition<\/a> on 14 August<\/strong>, Saturn<\/a> is currently in eastern Capricornus. It encounters a 92%-lit waning gibbous Moon<\/a> on 15\/16 July<\/strong>, the Moon passing 5\u02da south of the planet.<\/p>\n

On the night of 17\/18 July<\/strong> it\u2019s Neptune<\/a>\u2019s turn, although this dim mag. +7.9 planet will be tricky to see against the light from a 76%-lit waning gibbous Moon, which lies 4.2\u02da to its south.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no problem spotting Jupiter<\/a> near the Moon on the morning of 19 July<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Shining at mag. \u20132.4, the gas giant appears 2.8\u02da north of the Moon\u2019s centre at 03:30 BST (02:30 UT) on 19 July<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If the day ahead is clear, try and stick with the pair after sunrise. They are due south at 06:00 BST (05:00 UT) with an altitude of 35\u02da.<\/p>\n

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Catch the 35%-lit crescent Moon near Mars and Uranus with binoculars in the early morning on 22 July. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Mars<\/a> is next and its encounter gives a tantalising taste for what\u2019s to come later in the year.<\/p>\n

On the morning of 21 July<\/strong> Mars lies in the Moon\u2019s direct path, 6.2\u02da to the west.<\/p>\n

As the day progresses, the gap reduces so that by the time they are approaching their setting point, they will be just 2\u02da apart.<\/p>\n

Shining at mag. +0.3, Mars will be a tricky daylight target. If there were no horizon, we\u2019d see the Red Planet miss the Moon\u2019s southern edge by just 3 arcminutes from the UK\u2019s centre, even closer from the extreme north of the country.<\/p>\n

There will be a series of close lunar passes with Mars over the coming months, and the Red Planet will be occulted<\/a> by a full Moon on 8 December<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The 35%-lit Moon remains close to Mars <\/span>on the morning of 22 July<\/strong> and even closer to Uranus on this date, 1.9\u02da from the dimmer planet at 03:15 BST (02:15 UT).<\/p>\n

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On 26 July, a crescent Moon lies 5.8\u02da northwest of Venus. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Uranus<\/a> appears 22 arcminutes north of the Moon\u2019s centre at 07:20 BST (06:20 UT), <\/span>but at mag. +5.8 under daylight conditions is out of reach.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019ll be interesting to try and record it using an infrared sensitive camera at this time, to see whether this is possible. <\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, on 26 July the 6%-lit waning crescent Moon lies 5.8\u02da northwest of Venus<\/a>, while on the morning of 27 July<\/strong> the now 2%-lit waning crescent lies 6.8\u02da to the northeast of Venus.<\/p>\n

The pair rise above the northeast horizon approximately 80 minutes before sunrise.<\/p>\n

This guide originally appeared in the July 2022 issue of <\/strong><\/em>BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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