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Planet Venus, visible low in the west during early evening, reaches
its greatest brilliancy this month. It is visible in the daytime (with
a clear blue sky) as well as early evening. If viewed through a
telescope (or even binoculars held steady), it shows a crescent phase.
The crescent will grow thinner (as we look more onto its night side),
and the planet will appear larger, as it comes closer and passes
between the Sun and the Earth on August 18.
By contrast, planet Jupiter – not quite as bright as Venus – is high
overhead. Unlike Venus, it is always seen almost fully illuminated, as
it lies so much further out from the Sun. A small telescope (or
binoculars) will show its disk and its four brightest moons. In
reality, Jupiter is a giant planet, more than ten times the diameter
of Venus or the Earth.
Jupiter is seen against the stars of Scorpius, which in turn are seen
against the backdrop of the Milky Way. This is a wonderful part of the
sky to explore with binoculars, in particular follow the Milky Way
southwards to the Southern Cross and beyond.
The Moon is in the evening sky after July 16.
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