About a dozen spectacular astronomical events are scheduled for July 2026, according to various sky watchers. However, only some will be visible from India if skies are clear beyond the monsoon clouds.
Mars and Uranus Conjunction on July 4
One of the most awaited celestial events, Mars and Uranus will experience an exceptionally rare and extremely close alignment, appearing just 0.1 degrees apart. This is their closest conjunction until 2053. The planets rise in the eastern sky after 2:30 AM and are easiest to spot before dawn. Mars is visible to the naked eye as a bright reddish object, while Uranus appears as a faint bluish-green dot next to Mars, requiring optical aids.
Earth at Aphelion on July 6
Earth reaches its farthest point from the Sun for the year, roughly 152 million kilometers away. This results in a slight decrease in sunlight intensity compared to when Earth is closest to the Sun.
Moon and Saturn Conjunction on July 7
The third-quarter Moon appears close to Saturn during the night and early morning. The pair climbs above the eastern horizon just after midnight and travels together across the sky. Saturn resembles a bright, steady golden star that does not twinkle.
Crescent Moon and Mars on July 10-11
A stunning naked-eye pairing can be seen an hour and a half before sunrise in the eastern sky, along with the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters.
Mars and Aldebaran on July 13
Mars shines brightly near the red supergiant star Aldebaran, visible to the naked eye in the eastern sky 1-2 hours before sunrise. Aldebaran is an orange-red giant star about 65 light-years from Earth, the 14th brightest star in the night sky, and known as the 'Eye of the Bull' due to its reddish glow at the head of the Taurus constellation.
Full Buck Moon and Guru Purnima on July 29
The July full moon peaks at 8 PM and coincides with the Hindu festival of Guru Purnima. Though widely termed a Supermoon because it falls during a period of larger full moons, some astronomers note it is not a true Supermoon as it will be 399,617 kilometers from Earth, higher than the average.
Meteor Showers on July 30-31
A double meteor shower peaks toward month's end. The Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids may emit up to 30 combined meteors per hour under dark skies. These two distinct annual showers occur simultaneously every summer. The Aquariids offer a high frequency of steady meteors, while the Capricornids are known for intense, dazzling fireballs.
