See the Northern Lights and ‘Shooting Stars’ as the Moon Meets Mars: This Week’s Night Sky

Northern Lights and Milky Way over Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park, Montana

Getty Images

Every Monday, I select the celestial highlights for North America for the week ahead (which also apply to the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.

The Night Sky This Week: July 29 – August 4, 2024

This week will be one of the best stargazing days of the summer. With a new moon coming up at the end of the week, the night sky is dark and moonless. This is perfect for trying to see the summer stars and, if you’re away from light pollution, the Milky Way. It’s one of the most captivating astronomical spectacles of the summer, but there are others this week too.

UPDATE: It is also possible that a northern lights show will be visible in the United States on Tuesday and/or Wednesday following a rare “cannibalistic CME” that could trigger a G3 geomagnetic storm.

ForbesWatch two meteor showers peak as Perseid ‘shooting stars’ multiplyBy Jamie Carter

If you can get up early, you can catch some beautiful celestial vistas in the eastern sky as the crescent moon wanes and passes Jupiter and Mars. Also, don’t forget the peak of the Delta Aquarids meteor shower midweek, which could add a touch of “shooting stars” to your stargazing session.

Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:

Monday July 29: Moon, Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars

Stellarium

Monday July 29: Moon, Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars

Rise between 3:00 and 5:00 a.m. and look east to observe the fascinating conjunction of a 37% illuminated waning crescent moon near the Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars. Nearby will be Aldebaran, the “eye of the bull,” and the brightest star in the constellation Taurus, “the bull.”

Tuesday July 30: Crescent Moon, Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars

Stellarium

Tuesday July 30: Crescent Moon, Pleiades, Jupiter and Mars

Another early start will give you a similar view to yesterday morning, but with a waning crescent Moon now 26% illuminated in closer conjunction with the Moon, the Pleiades, Jupiter, Mars and Aldebaran.

A promising northern lights forecast means the aurora borealis could be visible in the United States this Tuesday and Wednesday, July 30 and 31, after solar storms directed toward Earth created what scientists are calling a “cannibalistic CME.”

ForbesNorthern Lights Forecast: Expect ‘Cannibalistic’ Aurora Borealis This Week, Scientists WarnBy Jamie Carter

Tuesday, July 30 – Wednesday, July 31: Delta Aquarids meteor shower

The Delta Aquarids meteor shower peaks around midnight, with about 10 to 20 “shooting stars” per hour. It’s one of the longest meteor showers, and its meteors are also among the slowest. While this peak night is significant, you can expect to see a handful of Delta Aquarids each night between July 12 and August 23.

Wednesday July 31: Crescent Moon, Jupiter, Mars and the Pleiades

Stellarium

Wednesday July 31: Crescent Moon, Jupiter, Mars and the Pleiades

If you spent the night looking for “shooting stars,” let this session blend into planetary observation. Look east before sunrise to see the fascinating conjunction of a 17% illuminated waning crescent moon near Jupiter, Mars, the Pleiades, and Aldebaran.

Friday August 2: Crescent Moon and “The Twins”

Stellarium

Friday August 2: Crescent Moon and “The Twins”

Another early start will allow you to observe a delicate 4%-lit waning crescent moon. It will shine near Castor and Pollux, the brightest stars in the constellation Gemini, “the twins.” Come back tomorrow for a 1%-lit moon about to dip into the brilliance of sunrise, although this view will be very low on the west-northwest horizon, which will be a challenge.

Sunday August 4: New “Sturgeon Moon”

Today is the new moon, the phase when the moon is between the Earth and the Sun. It is therefore hidden by the glare of the sun and impossible to see, making tonight the best day of the month for stargazing.

The Milky Way is reflected in the unusually calm waters of Middle Waterton Lake from Driftwood Beach, … [+] in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by: Alan Dyer/VW Pics/UIG via Getty Images)

Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Object of the week: The Milky Way

With the night sky darkened by the new moon, this week the brighter core of the Milky Way will appear to those in the northern hemisphere a few hours after sunset. It will be easiest to see shortly after sunset in the southeastern sky. A dark-sky destination will be crucial: this is not something you’ll see from an urban backyard.

The times and dates listed are for mid-latitudes in the northern hemisphere. For the most accurate information about a specific location, check out online planetariums like SkySafari Pro, Stellarium And The sky live. Check rising/setting of a planet, SunriseAnd moonrise/moonset moments to see where you are.

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Pick up my books Stargazing in 2024, A Stargazing Program for BeginnersAnd When will the next eclipse occur?

I wish you clear skies and wide eyes.