Sky Information

Last Update: 6 July 2008
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July 2008
Don't miss the planetary play of Saturn and Mars this month! From now though the end of the month Mars will overtake and pass Saturn as both planets "wander" slowly eastward through the constellation Leo.

Mark the evenings of July 9-11 to see Mars and Saturn exceptionally close together. So close, in fact, that both planets will be visible in the same field of view of a low-power telescope!

Jupiter rises in the Southeast about the same time the sun sets. You can't miss it! It is much brighter than Saturn and puts on quite a show. Jupiter is the planet which shows the most detail through amateur telescopes, so if you have a telescope, try it out on Jupiter! Even a small telescope will show the four large moons and cloud bands that encircle the planetary king of the solar system.

If you have a dusty old telescope, now is the time to clean it off and point it skyward. Even a small telescope will show the famous rings. And why not come out to a star party at the Seal Beach pier on July 12 to get a really good look!

For more detailed and updated sky information give the Griffith Observatory Sky Report a try at http://www.griffithobs.org/skyreport.html