Southern Skywatch July 2018 edition is now out!

Evening sky on Friday June 27 looking east  as seen from Adelaide at 18:59 ACST (90 minutes after sunset).  Mars is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth. This is the best opposition since 2003. Saturn and Mars are clearly visible and the Moon is near Mars.

The inset to the left is a simulated telescopic view of Mars.

Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

The July edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.

This month still sees all five of the bright planets in the evening sky. Speedy Mercury is prominent in the evening sky early in the month, Venus and Jupiter are prominent in the evening sky and Mars and Saturn rise higher in the evening sky. Mars at Opposition and a total lunar eclipse with an apogee "mini moon".


Mercury close to the Beehive cluster on the 4th.

Venus is close to the bright star Regulus on the 10th. 

Jupiter is close to alpha Librae (Zubenelgenubi) at the beginning of the month and the Moon on the 21st.

 Mars is at opposition on the 27th, this is the best opposition since 2003. More details at my Mars opposition site.

Saturn is within a binocular field of the globular cluster M22 and the Trifid Nebula this month.

Vesta is  visible in binoculars.

July 15, crescent Moon near Mercury; July16, crescent Moon near Venus.

July 21; Moon close to Jupiter. June 1-3, July 28-30; Mars, Saturn  and Moon close

July 13, Moon at Perigee; July 27, Moon at Apogee. 

July 28, total lunar eclipse in the morning.