Derekscope

Jupiter at Solar Conjunction

• Solar conjunction marks the point when Jupiter transitions from being hidden by the Sun to beginning a new season of morning observations.
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• After a few weeks, you can spot it again in the morning sky before sunrise.
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Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower

• The Full Moon on Wednesday 29th will make many of the fainter meteors difficult to see because its bright light washes out the night sky.
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• You may still catch the brighter meteors, but conditions won’t be ideal.
  
• The Southern Delta Aquariids is active every year from mid-July to mid-August, with its peak expected around Tuesday 28th – Wednesday 29th July 2026;
  
  – Beginning to ending date: 12th July to 19th August
  – Peak Date: Tuesday 28th July (best time ~ after midnight until dawn)
  – Rating: Strong
  – Zenith Hourly Rate (ZHR): around 20 per hour
  – Radiant Position: RA: 22h 36m / DEC: -16°
  – Degrees: 342º (Face:- North)
  – Note: Meteors tend to be faint / Favourable.
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Moon at apogee

• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
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• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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Moon below Antares

• Near the Moon, look for a reddish-orange star ~ that star is Antares.
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• Antares is huge ~ if placed in our Solar System, it could stretch out past the orbit of Mars (and possibly Jupiter depending on estimates)
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• It is a supergiant, meaning it is near the end of its life.
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• It is hundreds of times brighter than the Sun, but it is very far away, so it looks like just a bright star to us.
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Solar Eclipse in the UK!

• BSL Explanation by Derek Rowley

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• 90% Solar Eclipse
  – Here’s an example of my photography from the 90% solar eclipse, captured in the Faroe Islands on Thursday, 20 March 2015.
  – This is what you’ll see during the 90% solar eclipse on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, at around 7:00 pm BST.
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UK’s Solar Eclipse
Wednesday 12th August 2026

Around 88–95% of the Sun will be covered,
depending on where you are in the UK.
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Select your location, or change it to another location to view
the approximate eclipse coverage and timings for your area,
visit the link below:
www.timeanddate.com
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SAFE FOR DIRECT SOLAR VIEWING
Remember to use certified solar eclipse glasses (EN ISO 12312-2)
or another safe viewing method.
Never look directly at the Sun without proper eye protection.
(Order from Amazon.co.uk)

Moon at First Quarter

• This is one of the best times to observe it ~ around 8 – 11 pm, it will be high in the southern sky in the constellation Virgo.
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Lunar X and Lunar V
Sunlight catches rims at lunar first quarter to create the bright V and X shapes.

• Best viewing time in the UK
  The phenomenon occurs in the late evening for British Summer Time (BST).
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  –…Today: Tuesday 21st July 2026
  –…Start formation: 21:05 / 9.05pm (become visible.)
  –…Peak visibility: 23:05 / 11:05pm (fully formed as best contrast.)
  –…Fade disappearing: 01:05 / 1.05am (Wednesday 22nd July 2026)
  –…Visible: Fair (difficult to spot at first ~ visible at or shortly after sunset.)
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• The Moon repeats its cycle every 29½ days, so these effects happen every month, just on slightly different dates – see the complete full timetable for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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• Equipment
  While sometimes visible with high-power binoculars, a telescope is recommended to see the fine detail of the crater rims forming the Lunar X and V.
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Conjunction of the Moon and Venus

• The Moon and Venus have a close conjunction, one of the brightest and easiest sky pairings of the month.
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• Binoculars will show both together in a single field of view.
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Mercury at inferior solar conjunction

• Inferior conjunction occurs when Mercury passes between the Earth and the Sun.
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• At this point Mercury is essentially lost in the Sun’s glare and cannot be observed safely.
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Moon at Perigee

• The Moon reaches perigee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
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• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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