This month, NASA is back with its top skywatching tips, offering up two thrilling treats to look out for. The first one is that this July offers a great chance of getting a decent view of the Earth's nearest planetary neighbor when it comes to the closest approach, Venus.
Also called the Morning Star and the Evening Star, as described in Space.com, depending on when it is visible, a Digital Trends report specified, Venus goes with the latter-mentioned name this month.
It can be spotted shining brightly low in the west roughly about an hour after sunset, with the bonus of the red planet that will appear faintly nearby.
According to NASA, people can, in fact, watch each night as Venus and Mars get closer, "culminating on June 12 with a close conjunction". When they will be only one finger's width apart.
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Panorama of night sky
Skywalking Tip No.1
Part of the skywatching tips is, when gazing at Venus, NASA said, ponder awhile that the planet is the focus of two recently announced missions of the space agency, occurring toward the end of the decade.
This is when VERITAS or Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography and Spectroscopy, and DAVINCI+ or Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Nobel gases, Chemistry, and Imaging spacecraft will analyze the surface and atmosphere of the planet in a bid to understand further the reason Venus turned out to be so unwelcomingly hot.
Skywalking Tip No.2
According to NASA, this month offers an excellent opportunity as well, to enjoy what it calls "the magical sight," also known as the Milky Way.
This, NASA explains, is its view of its spiral galaxy, seen edge-on, from within. The space agency emphasizes that while a ration of the Milky Way is viewable in the night sky all year, one can see its bright, complex core during specific months.
Earlier in the season, NASA explained, one has to wait until the wee hours of the morning for the core to rise in the sky. However, in June and July, the core has already risen by the time it is completely dark, and can fairly be seen well until 2am when it begins to set.
For the best view of the Milky Way, one needs to go to a site with dark skies and minimal light pollution. Particularly, NASA recommends disregarding days when a full moon is occurring, and the days close to the occurrence as its brightness will suppress that of the Milky Way.
In addition, the space agency advises the three or four nights around the new moon are best, although the week prior and after is also fine. One just needs to note though, when the moon will be rising or setting.
Additional Tip
For those who want to know the full rundown on everything to look out for in the sky this July, detailed information can be accessed on the NASA website.
And, for those interested in trying to take photos of what they see, here is a handy guide, also from Digital Trends, that offers tips on how to capture the best sites.
Related information is shown on NASA JPL's YouTube video below:
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