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The Night Sky - July 2022

The Night Sky As the Sun reluctantly begins to move southwards on the ecliptic again, nights begin to lengthen during July and by the month's end proper dark skies are available around 1am (BST). July's midnight sky plays host to the Milky Way (dark location away from street lights required!) which can be seen streaming upwards from Sagittarius to the prominent bulge of the Scutum Star Cloud and on through Aquila towards Cygnus high overhead.

Highlights of the Month

1st (before dawn): Planetary (Venus, Mars, Saturn & Jupiter) line-up low on Eastern horizon
13th (Evening): A 'SuperMoon' - A full Moon at its closest to the Earth during 2022
19th (late evening): Jupiter and the Moon
25th (before dawn): A very thin cresent Moon above Venus
30th (after sunset): Mercury and a very thin crescent Moon

Noctilucent clouds

Noctilucent clouds are extremely rare very high clouds seen in the night sky, usually on clear, summer nights. They become visible about the same time as the brightest stars and are usually bluish or silvery.

Noctilucent clouds are extremely rare collections of ice crystals, occasionally appearing in late clear summer evenings after sunset, but before it gets completely dark. They become visible about the same time as the brightest stars appear and often stay visible after dark because they are still reflecting sunlight due to their great height.

Information collated from Jodrell Bank and Astronomy Now magazine