As July opens
As July 2024 opens, Jupiter and Mars are close to the waning crescent moon, and close to one another, within the east earlier than sunup. See the chart above. And – if you happen to watch within the coming weeks – you’ll get to see Mars sideswipe Jupiter in a conjunction that’ll culminate on August 14. Begin watching the 2 neighboring planets now (Mars is the 4th planet from the sun, and Jupiter the fifth). By mid-July, Mars will cross a constellation boundary into Taurus the Bull, the place Jupiter is at present hanging out. There are various splendid issues to see in Taurus. This conjunction might be enjoyable!
The 2 will not be removed from the misty Pleiades star cluster.
A bonus planetary conjunction will occur on July 15, when Mars might be about half a degree from Uranus. Uranus is theoretically seen to the attention, however solely in a dark sky and solely then in case your eyesight is ideal. So, round July, use binoculars to zero in on reddish Mars, then spot Uranus proper beside it. Mars is pink. And Uranus might be a lot fainter, and bluish-green in coloration.
Read: Why is Mars sometimes bright and sometimes faint?
After mid-July
Afterwards, Mars will draw back from Uranus. You’ll see it get a bit nearer to the Pleiades, because it makes a beeline towards Jupiter. Simply to make it much more attention-grabbing, the waning crescent moon enters the scene once more on July 30.
On that date, vivid Jupiter, pink Mars, the intense star Aldebaran, the gorgeous Pleiades and the V-shaped Hyades star cluster will create fairly a scene. They’ll all be within the jap sky two hours earlier than dawn.
Then, the subsequent morning, the moon – as a good thinner crescent – hangs a bit farther northeast of the celestial grouping.
The large occasion: Jupiter and Mars conjunction August 14
The closest pairing of this planetary duo will come on the morning of August 14. That’s when vivid gas giant Jupiter will get a go to from rocky pink Mars on our sky’s dome. Then, the little planet will seem lower than the width of a full moon from Jupiter. They’ll look shut on our sky’s dome. In actuality, the 2 will stay greater than 300 million miles (500 million km) aside, regardless that they’re next-door neighbors in our solar system.
Utilizing simply the unaided eye, the intense white gentle of Jupiter will distinction properly with the dimmer and distinctly redder shine of Mars. In binoculars, Jupiter’s moons will improve your enjoyment of the view. And this conjunction might be a terrific occasion for telescope homeowners and astrophotographers. You’ll be capable of seize each planets in a single view and totally look at these remarkably totally different worlds. Should you catch a terrific pic, please submit it to EarthSky’s community page!
For a exact view out of your location, go to Stellarium.
Charts from Man Ottewell
The next charts all come from U.Ok. astronomer Guy Ottewell. You’ll discover charts like these for 2024 in his Astronomical Calendar.
Heliocentric solar system view of the planets in July and August 2024
Right here’s a heliocentric view of the solar system from above for July and August when Mars and Jupiter will seem shut collectively within the morning sky.
Guy Ottewell explains heliocentric charts.
Backside line: Begin watching on July mornings for the upcoming Jupiter and Mars conjunction. The neighboring planets will get nearer and nearer – towards the backdrop of the constellation Taurus the Bull – culminating on August 14, 2024.
