8 night sky events to see in July, from twin meteor showers to the Milky Way's glittering core

Stargazers might have their sights set on August’s total solar eclipse in Europe and the annual Perseid meteor shower—but don’t sleep on July’s nightscapes. This month offers a host of cosmic marvels, including planet-moon couplings and two simultaneous meteor showers.

Under dark skies, July is also an excellent month to watch the Milky Way’s shimmery core—a heaping bulge of some 100 billion stars in the center of our galaxy. It’s visible in the southern sky throughout the night this month, with a nearby comet that’s increasingly visible in small telescopes.

Here’s what to admire in July’s night sky, including tips on where to look and when.

July 7-8—Saturn-Moon Meetup

After midnight on July 7 and 8, the third-quarter moon and Saturn will appear tight above the east horizon—within about nine degrees, or one fist width. The pair will travel in tandem until dawn, with nearby Mars and the Pleiades star cluster joining the spectacle just before sunrise.

July 11—Pleiades, moon, and Mars

On the morning of July 11, the thin crescent moon will form a triangle with vivid Pleiades and orange-tinged Mars. Look for the trio roughly two hours before sunrise. They’ll appear above the eastern horizon, within just over five degrees, or three finger widths, from each other.

(Here are 12 spectacular night sky events to see in 2026.)

Bring binoculars to enhance your view. Even average-power optical aids will reveal just how many stars lie within the pale-blue Pleiades cluster. We can see about seven with the naked eye, but dozens more with binoculars—and even more with a telescope. The crescent phase is also a good time to look at the moon’s craters and valleys; remember to stash your gear before sunrise for optical safety.

July 14—New moon

If you only have one night to gaze at the Milky Way, or spot deep-space objects like the Great Hercules Cluster or the Ring Nebula, bookmark the July new moon on the 14th. At this time, the moon emits virtually no lunar light. Pair that with a dark-sky viewpoint, such as a national park or stargazing hotel, and the heavens will come to life.

New moon nights are especially ideal for spotting the galactic core of our home galaxy. It’s visible without optical aids once your eyes have adjusted to the dark, which takes about 30 minutes. If you need help locating our galaxy’s interior, look for the Sagittarius constellation’s recognizable teapot asterism, which appears to intersect it.

July 17: Crescent moon and Venus

Venus shines for a few short hours in this month’s evening sky. It will turn extra spectacular on July 17, when the wisp of a crescent moon appears within around five degrees, or three finger widths. Look for the luminous duo above the west horizon. They’ll dazzle right after the sun sinks, and remain visible for roughly two hours.

July 28-29: Full ”buck“ moon

July’s full lunar orb, known as the ”buck“ moon, will hit its peak illumination around 10:30 a.m. ET on July 29. For the best view, watch it rise on the evenings of July 28 and 29, or set the morning of July 29. Thanks to an optical effect known as the moon illusion, our neighboring space rock appear larger than normal near the horizon. Why the buck moon? It’s named for the season when male deer’s antlers quickly grow. 

July 30-31—Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks

While the buzzed-about summer meteor shower, the Perseids, doesn’t hit until next month, July has its own interstellar fireworks to keep watch for, starting with the Southern Delta Aquariids. This annual summer meteor shower runs from July 12 to August 23, reaching its crescendo of activity in the predawn hours of July 30 and 31.

This shower is best viewed in the Southern Hemisphere, although you can still see some soaring meteors and fireballs in the northern hemisphere—the further south, the better. But temper your expectations. This shower is a mild one. It only generates up to 20 meteors per hour at peak, and under dark, moonless conditions.

(The best night-sky apps, according to park rangers and aurora chasers.)

Unfortunately, this year’s display coincides with a bright waning gibbous moon, which will wash out all but the most luminous sky streaks. It’s best to look around 30 to 40 degrees away from the radiant, or apparent point of origin, the Aquarius constellation.

July 30-31: Alpha Capricornids meteor shower

In case one meteor shower wasn’t enough, here’s a second. The Alpha Capricornids runs from July 3 to August 15, with prime activity hitting July 30-31, too. The shower is visible in both the northern and southern hemisphere, but like the Delta Aquariids, the night’s brilliant moon will make viewing tricky. While this event produces minimal meteors—roughly five per hour—it is known for bright fireballs, which can get vivid enough to pierce through moonlight. Watch for it in the southern sky, slightly away from its radiant, the Capricornus constellation.

(Glamping with the stars: These 7 retreats are perfect for night-sky watching)

All month—Comet 10P

Throughout July, Comet 10P, which orbits the sun roughly every five years, will be making its way back into view. You need a small telescope to see it for the first half of the month. It will be visible in the northern and southern hemispheres, near the Capricornus constellation. You’ll have the easiest time spotting it later in the month, when it gets luminous enough to admire in binoculars. Comet 10P reaches peak illumination in early August.