Do not miss the "Blood Moon" and the closest approach to Mars in 15 years



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The stars of the July celestial show are Mars and the total lunar eclipse and the "moon of blood" combo at the end of the month.

June was packed with exciting astronomical events and July certainly keeps the ball. While last month, astronomers were treated to great views of the "Strawberry Moon", we are in an even greater surprise: a lunar eclipse complete with a "Blood Moon".

Meanwhile, five of the bright planets are still glittering in the sky, making for memorable sights at dusk and in the first hours after dark, with Mars flying thunder as it gets closer to Earth than this was in the 15s

Venus and Mercury

the brightest planet in our solar system, dominated the night sky throughout the month of June and will continue to shine in the west just after the sunset, sharing the sky with Mercury until dusk, Sky & Telescope . Sky observers who keep their eyes on Venus can follow their landmark to spot Mercury in its lower right, as the pair will be visible together until mid-July.

The best views of Mercury are to be expected around July 11 and 12, when the nearest planet the sun seems to gain a little distance, making it easier to see in the sky.

Jupiter and Saturn

Once the darkness has placed it, Venus and Mercury are no longer visible another planetary pair, Jupiter and Saturn. As reported by Inquisitr the gas giants did quite the celestial show last month, Saturn reaching the opposition on June 27 and lining up with the sun on opposite sides of our planet.

D & # 39; after Astronomy Magazine Saturn remains "almost all night among the bottom stars of northern Sagittarius." Contemplating the banded giant through a telescope will offer spectacular views of the Trifid Nebula to the west of Saturn.

To the south of the Trifid, astronomers can see the even brighter Lagoon Nebula – a gigantic stellar nursery so large that it can be spotted with the naked eye on dark, cloudless nights, Inquisitr previously reported. , Jupiter reigns in the twilight night sky and up to such as noted by Sky & Telescope

"Blood Moon" and total lunar eclipse [19659005] One of the biggest astronomical events of the month – and all the century, from elsewhere – is the total lunar eclipse from July 27 to 28. Although it will not be visible in North America, reports The Express the total lunar eclipse will offer an unforgettable spectacle to viewers in Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and Europe. parts of South America. As recently reported Inquisitr the July eclipse will be the longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century and is expected to last for nearly two hours – four, if we count them. partial lunar eclipses that will see the total eclipse on both sides.

The most memorable thing about the lunar eclipse of July 2018 is that it will present a spectacular phenomenon known as the "blood moon" when the natural satellite of the Earth passes through the shadow of our planet. bathed in a dark red hue, instead of only v anishing from sight

The opposition of Mars and the closest approach since 2003

The other main celestial event July is all about Mars. The red planet will be seen right next to the moon that eclipses July 27, while it reaches the opposition and slides in perfect alignment with the Earth and the sun – with our planet directly in the middle.

Less than a week later, on July 31, Mars will make its closest approach to Earth in 15 years, coming to 35.8 million miles (57.6 million kilometers) from our planet. ;origin. It's about a million miles more than in 2003, when Mars made its closest approach in nearly 60,000 years.

In the video below, Jane Houston Jones of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, offers some good advice. to see the best views of Mars in July.

"If you're new to stargazing, this month and next year will be a good time to visit Mars. With the help of a telescope, you should be in able to distinguish certain characteristics of light and dark, and sometimes polar ice. "

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