Astronomical Diary
Calendar of Astronomical Events JULY 2026
Date Event Time
08 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn 12:32 a.m.
08 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn 05:50 a.m.
09 Venus at highest altitude in evening sky ---
11 Close Approach of the Waning Crescent Moon and Mars 09:24 p.m.
11 Conjunction of the Waning Crescent Moon and Mars 10:39 p.m.
13 Moon at Perigee (Distance = 359,211.601 km) 03:57 p.m.
17 Close approach of the Moon and Venus 10:47 p.m.
18 Conjunction of the Moon and Venus 12:31 a.m.
26 Moon at Apogee (Distance = 405,495.006 km) 12:45 a.m.
27 Saturn enters retrograde motion 03:29 a.m.
28 Piscis Austrinid meteor shower (ZHR = 5) ---
30 Southern δ-Aquariid meteor shower (ZHR = 25) ---
Moon Phases
Last Quarter
Jul 08 03:29 AM
New Moon
Jul 14 05:44 PM
First Quarter
Jul 21 07:06 PM
Full Moon
Jul 29 10:36 PM
Rise and Set Times of Planets
Date Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn
Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set Rise Set
July 01 06:48 am 07:31 pm 08:32 am 09:13 pm 02:54 am 03:42 pm 07:05 am 07:53 pm 12:11 am 12:21 pm
July 11 05:52 am 06:30 pm 08:41 am 09:11 pm 02:42 am 03:34 pm 06:35 am 07:22 pm 11:29 pm 11:43 am*
Jul 21 04:50 am 05:31 pm 08:47 am 09:07 pm 02:31 am 03:25 pm 06:05 am 06:51 pm 10:51 pm 11:05 am*
Jul 31 04:18 am 05:05 pm 08:51 am 09:01 pm 02:20 am 03:16 pm 05:36 am 06:20 pm 10:11 pm 10:25 am*

* = following day

Stars and Constellation

As the nights of July unfold, the sky presents a magnificent display of constellations for stargazers to explore. Prominent in the northern sky are Draco, Hercules, Corona Borealis, and Serpens, while Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Norma, Ara, and Triangulum Australe adorn the south. These stellar patterns, steeped in mythology and astronomical significance, make July one of the most rewarding months for observing the night sky. These constellations will be positioned directly overhead at 09:00 p.m. on 15 July 2026, as depicted in Figure 1. [1]
fig1
Figure 1: The view of the night sky featuring the prominent July constellations at 09:00 p.m. on 15 July 2026 using the Stellarium software.

Hercules, named after the legendary Greek hero, is the fifth-largest of the 88 modern constellations and spans a vast area of the night sky. Despite its impressive size, it does not contain any first-magnitude stars. Its brightest star, Kornephoros (Beta Herculis), is a yellow giant with an apparent magnitude of 2.78. One of Hercules’ most recognizable features is the Keystone asterism, a distinctive quadrilateral formed by the stars Pi, Eta, Zeta, and Epsilon Herculis. Representing the torso of Hercules, this asterism serves as a helpful guide for astronomers and skywatchers in locating the constellation. Hercules contains several fascinating deep-sky objects, the most notable being M13, also known as the Hercules Globular Cluster. One of the brightest globular clusters in the Northern Hemisphere, it is visible under dark skies and lies approximately 25,000 light-years from Earth, containing hundreds of thousands of densely packed stars. Other notable objects in Hercules include the Turtle Nebula (NGC 6210) [Figure 2a], a colorful planetary nebula with a distinctive shape, and the interacting galaxy pair NGC 6052A/B [Figure 2b]. [2,3]
fig2
Figure 2: The Northern Constellations

Corona Borealis, or “The Northern Crown,” is a small but distinctive constellation in the Northern Hemisphere. It is easily recognized by its crown-shaped arc of seven stars, led by its brightest member, Alphecca (also known as Gemma), a binary star with an apparent magnitude of 2.23. It contains two notable variable stars: T Coronae Borealis (the Blaze Star), a rare recurrent nova, and R Coronae Borealis (the Fade-Out Star), a yellow supergiant that periodically dims when the dust it ejects blocks its light before slowly returning to normal brightness. Although sparse in bright stars, Corona Borealis hosts several deep-sky objects. It is associated with the Corona Borealis Supercluster, a large concentration of galaxy clusters, some of which may be gravitationally bound and could eventually merge into a single massive structure. Notable galaxies include the elliptical NGC 6086 and the spiral galaxies NGC 6085 and NGC 5958 [Figure 2c]. [2,4]

Scorpius, or the Scorpion, is a prominent zodiac constellation covering about 497 square degrees. In Greek mythology, it represents the scorpion that killed the hunter Orion; as a result, the two constellations are positioned on opposite sides of the sky, symbolizing their eternal chase. Its bright stars form a distinctive “J” or fish-hook shape, resembling a scorpion, which makes it easy to spot in the night sky. The brightest star, Antares, also called Cor Scorpii, is a red supergiant with an apparent magnitude of 1.09, marking the heart of the scorpion. Other notable stars include Shaula and Lesath, the Stinger Stars at the tip of the tail, and Dschubba, which marks its forehead. Located near the Milky Way’s plane, Scorpius is a treasure trove of deep-sky attractions. Significant objects include the Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302) [Figure 3a], the Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334), and the Lobster Nebula (NGC 6357) [Figure 3b], as well as the globular clusters Messier 4 and Messier 80, making it a rewarding constellation to explore through a telescope. [2,5,6]
fig3
Figure 3: The Southern Constellations

Triangulum Australe, meaning the southern triangle in Latin, is a small constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere, covering 110 square degrees and ranking 83rd in size among the 88 constellations. It is easily recognized by its near-equilateral triangular shape, formed by its three brightest stars: the orange giant Atria, also known as Alpha Trianguli Australis, with an apparent magnitude of 1.91, and the white main-sequence stars Beta, with a magnitude of 2.85, and Gamma Trianguli Australis, with a magnitude of 2.87, making it a distinct feature of the southern sky. The constellation contains several interesting deep-sky objects, including the colliding galaxy pair ESO 69-6, the planetary nebula NGC 5979 [Figure 3c], and the open cluster NGC 6025, which has an apparent magnitude of 7.1 and is visible with binoculars under good viewing conditions. [2,7]

Planetary Location

This July, Saturn and Mars stand out in the pre-dawn sky, making them excellent targets for early-morning observation. Mercury becomes visible during the last week of the month, appearing low on the eastern horizon shortly before sunrise, though its proximity to the Sun makes it a challenging object to spot. Venus dominates the evening sky, shining brightly as dusk fades into darkness. It will reach its highest altitude on 09 July, shining at a magnitude of -4.3. Meanwhile, Jupiter can be found low on the western horizon after sunset during the first week, but its close distance to the Sun makes it increasingly difficult to observe as the month progresses. [1,8,9]

On 08 July at 12:32 a.m., the Moon and Saturn will make a close approach, separated by 5°58’. The two bodies will subsequently reach conjunction at 05:50 a.m., sharing the same right ascension and appearing 6°39’ apart. Both will be visible in the constellation Pisces, with the Moon shining at magnitude -11.9 and Saturn at magnitude 0.5. The exact moment of their conjunction will be difficult to observe due to increasing dawn brightness—nevertheless, their close approach at 12:32 a.m. [Figure 4] will be visible in the eastern sky until the increasing twilight renders it unobservable. [8,10]
fig4
Figure 4: The view of the eastern sky showing the exact moment of the close approach of the Moon and Saturn on 08 July at 12:32 a.m. using Stellarium.

On 11 July at 09:24 p.m., the Waning Crescent Moon will draw near Mars, passing within 5°16’ of the planet, marking their appulse. The two will reach conjunction an hour later, at 10:39 p.m., with the Moon lying 5°19’ north of Mars. Both will be visible in the constellation Taurus, with the Moon shining at magnitude -10.4 and Mars at magnitude 1.3. As these events occur while the objects are below the horizon, the pair will be visible together in the eastern sky from 03:45 a.m. the following day [Figure 5], remaining in view until the brightening sky and solar glare make further observation impossible. [8,11]
fig5
Figure 5: The view of the east northeastern sky showing the pairing of the Waning Crescent Moon and Mars on 12 July at 03:45 a.m. using Stellarium.

On 17 July at 10:47 p.m., the 3-day-old Moon and Venus will make a close approach, passing within 1°47’ of each other. The following day, at 12:31 a.m., the pair will reach conjunction, with the Moon passing 2°1’ south of Venus in the constellation Leo. The Moon and Venus will shine at magnitudes -10.6 and -4.1, respectively. Although the two objects will be below the horizon when these events occur, their close pairing will be visible from 07:00 p.m. [Figure 6] and will remain in view until they set below the western horizon. [8,12,13] On 27 July at 03:29 a.m., Saturn will enter retrograde motion, marking the beginning of its apparent westward movement relative to the background stars. Like all outer planets, Saturn undergoes this periodic reversal a few months before reaching opposition. [14]
fig6
Figure 6: The view of the western sky showing the close pairing of the Moon and Venus on 17 July at 07:00 p.m. using Stellarium.

All the conjunctions and near approaches mentioned between the planet and the moon, or planet to planet, will be visible enough to fit within the field of view of a telescope and can also be viewed with the naked eye or using a pair of binoculars.

Meteor Shower

The Piscis Austrinid meteor shower is a minor and relatively obscure meteor shower active each year from 15 July to 10 August, with peak activity around 28 July. During its maximum, observers may see up to about five (5) meteors per hour under ideal dark-sky conditions. The shower is named after the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the “Southern Fish,” which serves as the radiant point from which the meteors appear to originate. The Piscis Austrinids become observable once the radiant rises above the eastern horizon at approximately 08:46 p.m. each night and remain visible until around 05:13 a.m. the following day. The radiant reaches its highest altitude in the sky near 02:00 a.m. (see Figure 9), offering the most favorable viewing window when atmospheric conditions and sky position are optimal. Observing conditions during the peak are significantly affected by lunar brightness, as the Moon, located in Capricornus and near full phase at the time of peak activity, produces strong illumination throughout the night. [15,16]
fig7
Figure 7: The view of the southern sky during the peak of the Piscis Austrinid meteor shower on 28 July 2026 at 02:00 a.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

The Southern δ-Aquariids is a moderately active annual meteor shower active from 12 July to 23 August, reaching its peak around 30 July with rates of up to approximately twenty-five (25) meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The shower is best observed during the pre-dawn hours when its radiant, located in the constellation Aquarius, attains its highest point in the sky. The radiant rises above the eastern horizon at around 08:21 p.m. and remains visible until dawn at approximately 05:13 a.m. The most favorable viewing period generally occurs near 02:00 a.m., when the radiant reaches its maximum altitude, and meteor visibility is optimized. The Moon, located in Capricornus and approximately two days past full, will produce significant brightness throughout the night, resulting in substantial interference with meteor observations. [17]
fig8
Figure 8: The view of the southern sky during the peak of Southern δ-Aquariids on 30 July 2026 at 02:00 a.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

Meteor showers are observable through the naked eye, and no special equipment such as telescopes or binoculars is needed. Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from the city lights under clear and moonless sky conditions.

Watch: Astronomical Events for July 2026

Southeast Asia Planetarium, Education, and Outreach Conference (SEA-PEO 2026)

The inaugural Southeast Asia Planetarium, Education and Outreach Conference (SEA-PEO), held on 25–28 November 2024 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, underscored the need for a regional platform for collaboration among planetarium professionals, educators, and astronomy outreach practitioners. Building on its success, the Philippines has been selected to host the 2nd SEA-PEO Conference on 23–25 November 2026 in Mactan, Cebu. Hosted by DOST-PAGASA and its partners, the conference will strengthen regional cooperation by facilitating the exchange of best practices, innovative technologies, and educational strategies while promoting inclusivity, accessibility, digital transformation, and collaborative initiatives in astronomy education and public outreach.

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
We invite educators, researchers, science communicators, planetarium professionals, students, and astronomy enthusiasts to submit abstracts for:
📌Contributed Talks
📌Poster Presentations
📌Workshop Proposals

Conference Highlights:
✨Engaging the Public via Planetarium
✨Interdisciplinary Astronomy
✨Astronomy Education
✨Communicating Astronomy with the Public
✨Dark and Quiet Sky
✨Accessibility, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Astronomy Communication

Important Dates:
• Registration and abstract submission opens: 15 May 2026
• Abstract submission ends: 15 July 2026
• Conference dates: 23–25 November 2026


There is NO REGISTRATION FEE for this conference!

Join us as we bring together educators, communicators, and sky advocates to make astronomy more accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for everyone.

For more details, visit: https://indico.narit.or.th/e/SEAPEO2026
Email: seapeoconference@gmail.com | astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph

callforabs

Notes and References

Notes:
*following day
• All times displayed are in Philippine Standard Time (PhST)

References:
[1] PAGASA Special Publication No. 840; The Philippine Star Atlas 2019/Stellarium Software
[2] C. Guide, “Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky.” https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/julyconstellations/, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[3] Go Astronomy, “HERCULES CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Hercules, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[4] Go Astronomy, “CORONA BOREALIS CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Corona%20Borealis, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[5] Go Astronomy, “SCORPIUS CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Scorpius, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[6] The Constellation Directory, “Scorpius” http://www.constellationdirectory.org/constellations/scorpius.html, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[7] Go Astronomy, “TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Triangulum%20Australe, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[8] Multi-Interactive Computer Almanac (MICA), Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[9] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Venus at highest altitude in evening sky” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260814 11 101, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[10] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Saturn” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260707 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[11] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Mars” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260711 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[12] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Venus” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260717 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[13] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Venus” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260717 20 100, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[14] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Saturn enters retrograde motion” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260726 12 100, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[15] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Piscis Austrinid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260729 10 100, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[16] IMO - International Meteor Organization, “List of Meteor Showers for Observation Session” https://www.imo.net/members/imo showers/working shower list, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.
[17] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Southern δ-Aquariid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260730 10 100, Last accessed on 2026-06-15, 2026.

For more information, call or email:

Ms. Ma. Rosario C. Ramos
Chief, SSAS - RDTD
PAGASA - DOST
Diliman, Quezon City
Trunkline: 8284-0800 loc 3015, 3016, 3017
Email address: astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph