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Planet-observing tips: Here’s how to tour the solar system
Get our top tips for planet-observing, from the innermost and elusive Mercury out to faint blue Neptune and everything in between. Top tips here!
July 31, 2026
Visible planets and night sky guide for July and August
EarthSky's visible planets and night sky guide. Watch now for morning planets Mercury, Mars and Saturn. Mercury appears farthest from the sun tomorrow morning.
July 31, 2026
Look for Mercury farthest from the morning sun on August 2
Mercury will reach its greatest elongation - greatest distance from the sunrise - on August 2, 2026. Look east at dawn. It'll be close to Jupiter on August 15.
July 31, 2026
What are star trails, and how do I photograph them?
Star trails are long-exposure photographs of stars taken as Earth turns, resulting in streaks of light across the sky. Here's how to photograph star trails.
July 30, 2026
What is the Milky Way? It’s our home galaxy
When someone says "Milky Way," do you think of the starry pathway across our sky, or of the great pinwheel-shaped galaxy in space? Both are correct!
July 26, 2026
Delta Aquariid meteor shower: All you need to know in 2026
The peak of the Delta Aquariid meteor shower is late July. But the shower rambles along steadily for weeks and intermingles with the famous Perseids.
July 24, 2026
M6 and M7: Open star clusters in the Scorpion’s Tail
M6 and M7 are star clusters near Scorpius’ stinger. Under a dark sky, these loose groups of stars can be a stunning sight.
July 23, 2026
The total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026
On August 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse will be visible from the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. And western Europe will see a partial eclipse.
July 11, 2026
Earth farthest from sun – at aphelion – July 6, 2026
Earth farthest from sun - aka aphelion - occurs on July 6. That's despite the fact that it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
July 1, 2026
Epsilon Lyrae is the famous Double Double star
To the unaided eye, Epsilon Lyrae appears as 1 star. But it’s actually a system with at least 5 stars. Learn how to find them here.
July 1, 2026
