Visible planets and night sky guide for July

EarthSky's visible planets and night sky guide. Tomorrow morning, look for the crescent moon close to the Pleiades and red Mars. Ruddy Aldebaran is nearby.

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.

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.

Latest sunsets follow the summer solstice

Why don't the latest sunsets come on the longest day (the solstice)? It's all to do with a discrepancy between sun time and clock time.

June solstice 2026: All you need to know

The June solstice happens today, June 21, 2026. It's the longest day for the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day for the Southern Hemisphere.

Does the North Star ever move in the sky?

The North Star is a symbol for constancy. But a video or star trails image reveals that it makes its own little circle around the sky's north pole every day.

Astro quiz: Test your night sky know-how here!

How well do you know the night sky? Test your know-how of stars, constellations and more with this fun astro quiz. Enjoy!

Meteor showers are here! 10 easy tips for watching

Meteor showers are unpredictable but nothing beats them for a fun and relaxing time under the stars. Here are our 10 tips to optimize your meteor viewing time.

Meteor shower guide 2026: Up next … Delta Aquariids

Up next is the Delta Aquariid meteor shower, they'll compete with a waning gibbous moon. Watch for meteors in dark skies before dawn the week before July 30.

Venus-Jupiter conjunction 2026. Wow! Best photos here

The Venus-Jupiter conjunction for 2026 is here! Enjoy these stunning photos from around the world as the sky’s brightest planets have been drawing closer.

2026 Donation Campaign

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