Derekscope

Moon & Saturn

• If you’re observing from the UK, look toward the southeastern sky after midnight and before sunrise.
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• Binoculars will easily show both objects in the same field of view.
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Earth at aphelion

• Despite being farthest from the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere experiences summer at this time because the seasons are caused by Earth’s axial tilt, not by its distance from the Sun.
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• In fact, Earth receives only about 7% less solar energy at aphelion than at perihelion, and this difference has a much smaller effect on climate than the tilt of Earth’s axis.
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Conjunction of Mars and Uranus

• Mars and Uranus will appear in a close conjunction, with both lying below the Pleiades (M45) in the pre-dawn sky.
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Your guide to the night sky this month,
and a guide for binoculars, and telescope deaf owners,
compiled by Derek Rowley

2026 July

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Noctilucent clouds

• The best time to see noctilucent clouds is during this month ~ July, although they can sometimes be seen from late May to early August.
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• They are easiest to spot on clear evenings or early mornings in the northern sky after sunset or before sunrise.
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• They are made of tiny ice crystals and glow with a beautiful blue-white colour because they are still lit by the Sun after it has set.
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• You can sometimes see them on summer nights, low in the northern sky.
  Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds on Earth.
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• They look like shiny, wavy ribbons and are one of nature’s most amazing sights!
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(See my astrophotography – Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs)

• The Teapot is a well-known asterism (an easily recognized pattern of stars) within the constellation Sagittarius.
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• Although it isn’t an official constellation itself, it’s one of the easiest star patterns to spot in the summer sky.
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• Antares is famous because it is one of the biggest and brightest stars you can see in the night sky.
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• The Moon helps you easily find the Scorpius constellation.
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• It’s a nice event for stargazing with the naked eye.
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• Spica is one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
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• It is actually not just one star, but two stars that orbit each other.
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• These two stars are very hot and shine with a strong blue-white light.
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• Even though it looks like a single star to our eyes, it is about 250 light-years away from Earth.
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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: Monday 22nd June 2026
  –…Start formation: not visible
  –…Peak visibility: not visible
  –…Fade disappearing: not visible
  –…Visible: not visible (below the horizon)
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• The next one will be on Tuesday 21st July 2026.
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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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• First Quarter Moon tonight!
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• Half-lit and shining bright in the evening sky.
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• A perfect time for sky-watching, as craters and lunar details along the shadow line become especially sharp and beautiful through binoculars or a telescope.
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