This Week in the Stars: July 7-11

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC)— News10NBC’s First Alert Weather team is taking a look at what you can take look up at in the night sky.

Wednesday July 7: Sunrise – 5:38 a.m. Sunset – 8:52 p.m. / Moonrise – 3:29am Moonset- 7:13 p.m.

Tonight, the constellation Scorpius will be visible in the nighttime sky after twilight. Look in the highest part of the southern sky, and you will see three double stars to the top right of Antares. This is where the head of Scorpius will lay. Also with little moonlight tonight as we head towards a new moon, the constellation “Bootes the Herdsman’ will be visible overhead after sunset.

Thursday July 8: Sunrise – 5:39 a.m. Sunset – 8:51 p.m. / Moonrise – 4:09 a.m. Moonset- 8:10 p.m.

On Thursday morning, we will not be able to see the moon early as we continue to move closer towards a New Moon. This will provide a great opportunity to see even the faintest of stars with the lack of light coming from the moon. As we head towards sunrise Thursday morning, the moon will appear as a thin crescent with mercury just to the right of it. We will not be able to see the combination until an hour and a half before sunrise Thursday morning. Mercury just before sunrise will actually be easier to spot than the thin crescent of the moon tomorrow morning. To try and find the pair around sunrise, look towards the eastern sky. For Thursday night, Jupiter’s “Great Red Spot” will be visible around 3 a.m. With a telescope or binoculars, you should be able to view Jupiter. With a telescope, you will also be able to the moons “Io” and “Europa” of Jupiter on the west side of the planet. Jupiter should be located low in the southeast sky.

Friday July 9: Sunrise – 5:39 a.m. Sunset – 8:51 p.m. / Moonrise – 4:57 a.m. Moonset- 9:02 p.m.

The New Moon occurs Friday morning around 9 am. This will provide another night with perfect viewing conditions for the faintest of sky, depending on the weather, but no light pollution will be coming from the moon Friday night. With the limited light pollution, we will be able to see the constellation Corona Borealis, also known as the Northern Crown. Corona Borealis will lay between the stars Arcturus and Vega which will be close to the zenith Friday night.

Saturday July 10: Sunrise – 5:40am Sunset – 8:50 p.m. / Moonrise – 5:52 a.m. Moonset- 9:46 p.m.

With the moon very faint producing little to no light pollution, we will be able to see Milky Way in the eastern sky. This will also depend on your light pollution locally, the best place to see will be at a location with the least amount of light pollution.

Sunday July 11: Sunrise – 5:41 a.m. Sunset – 8:50 p.m. / Moonrise – 6:55 a.m. Moonset- 10:24 p.m.

The moon will be visible as a crescent once again. The moon will be visible low in the northwest sky after sunset Sunday, and just to the left after sunset Venus and Mars will be visible before they set shortly after 10 pm.