Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W30

Week begins: Monday, July 21, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Jul 21, 2025♋ 31
M62 — Telescope 7 — Southern Summer
M19 — Telescope 7 — Southern Summer
Tue, Jul 22, 2025♌ 1
♌ Sun enters Leo — 13:29:27 UTC
Wed, Jul 23, 2025♌ 2
Sabik (η Oph) — Naked eye 2 — Tropical Summer
Thu, Jul 24, 2025♌ 3
🌑 New Moon — 19:11:12 UTC
C69 / NGC 6302 · Bug Nebula — Telescope 13 — Southern Summer
Rasalgethi (α1 Her) — Naked eye 3 — Tropical Summer
α2 Her — Binoculars 5 — Tropical Summer
Fri, Jul 25, 2025♌ 4
M92 — Telescope 6 — Northern Summer
M9 — Telescope 8 — Tropical Summer
Sat, Jul 26, 2025♌ 5
Sun, Jul 27, 2025♌ 6
β Ara — Naked eye 3 — Southern Summer
C81 / NGC 6352 — Telescope 8 — Southern Summer

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins July 21, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♋︎ 28°30′
β +0°00′		♊︎ 8°11′
β +5°01′		♌︎ 15°15′
β −3°49′		♊︎ 18°20′
β −2°02′		♍︎ 19°36′
β +0°45′		♋︎ 9°19′
β −0°06′		♈︎ 1°53′
β −2°20′
ObservingNightNaked eye -8.3☉︎Naked eye -4.0Naked eye 1.6☉︎Naked eye 0.9
Rise04:2700:1506:0801:3408:5702:5322:11
Set19:3316:2419:5916:4121:4418:2210:05

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♈︎ 15°27′
β −12°11′		♊︎ 0°33′
β −0°13′		♈︎ 2°06′
β −1°20′		♒︎ 2°41′
β −3°45′
ObservingTelescope 8.8Binoculars 5.8Telescope 7.7TelescopeTelescope 14.4
Rise23:3100:2222:0619:59
Set10:5515:2010:0904:43

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-23 12:53:22 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W30 runs from July 21 through July 27. Saturn and Neptune are separated by about 0.2° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus is about 4.2° in ecliptic longitude from Elnath in Taurus.

Naked eye: 🌑 New Moon — 19:11:12 UTC. The dark Moon favors faint targets and extended star fields. Use Sabik, Rasalgethi, β Ara as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Sabik: The Bright Star of Ophiuchus — Illuminating insights into one of the constellation's most prominent stars.

Rasalgethi: The Bright Heart of Hercules — A luminous giant star guiding astronomers and stargazers alike across centuries.

Beta Ara: A Bright Beacon in the Southern Sky — An overview of the characteristics and significance of the star Beta Ara in the constellation Ara.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -8.3; direct motion; 18.3% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jul 24 19:11 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Jul 25 14:58 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Jul 21 18:23 UTC. Conjunction with Jupiter in ecliptic longitude Jul 23 04:56 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude 2.1; retrograde motion; 12.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jul 25 14:58 UTC. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.0; direct motion; 71.4% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jul 21 18:23 UTC. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude 1.6; direct motion; 93.7% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 8.8; direct motion; 97.1% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: In solar glare; magnitude -1.9; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jul 23 04:56 UTC. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.9; retrograde motion; 99.8% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.4; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Jul 25 06:32 UTC.

Binoculars: Trace Hercules’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Alpha2 Her at its charted position.

Alpha2 Her: A Stellar Beacon in Hercules — Discover the characteristics and significance of this intriguing star in the Hercules constellation.

Small telescope: M62: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M19: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Bug Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M92: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M9: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 6352: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

M62: A Mysterious Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus — An enduring jewel of the night sky, M62 captivates with its dense stellar population and rich celestial history.

M19: The Bright Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus — An enduring stellar ensemble offering a glimpse into the ancient components of our galaxy.

The Bug Nebula in Scorpius: A Stellar Witness to Cosmic Evolution — Discover the intriguing planetary nebula known as the Bug Nebula, an enduring object in the constellation Scorpius that offers insights into stellar death and rebirth.

M92: A shimmering globular cluster in Hercules — An enduring marvel of the night sky, M92 stands as a luminous beacon in Hercules' realm, inviting astronomers to explore its dense stellar population.

M9: A Pristine Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus — Discover the dense stellar congregation of M9, a captivating globular cluster nestled in the heart of the constellation Ophiuchus.

The Globular Cluster in Ara: A Stellar Beacon — An enduring marvel of the night sky, this globular cluster offers astronomers a glimpse into the ancient past of our galaxy.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:08; sets 19:59 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 2.1. The disk is 12.0% illuminated (crescent). It is 17.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.227° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Acubens, 1.8° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jul 25 14:58 UTC. Mercury: 1.8° from Acubens in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 24.1° below the horizon. Rises 01:34; sets 16:41 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.0. The disk is 71.4% illuminated (gibbous). It is 40.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.139° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Elnath, 8.7° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jul 21 18:23 UTC. Venus: 8.7° from Elnath in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 17.9° below the horizon. Rises 00:15; sets 16:24 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -8.3. The disk is 18.3% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 50.5° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 14.400° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 10.7° away. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jul 24 19:11 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Jul 25 14:58 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Jul 21 18:23 UTC. Conjunction with Jupiter in ecliptic longitude Jul 23 04:56 UTC. Moon: 10.7° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 7.1° above the horizon. Rises 08:57; sets 21:44 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.6. The disk is 93.7% illuminated (gibbous). It is 51.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.603° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 7.9° away. Mars: 7.9° from Zavijava in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 02:53; sets 18:22 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.9. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 19.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.221° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alhena, 6.6° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jul 23 04:56 UTC. Jupiter: 6.6° from Alhena in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 13.1° below the horizon. Rises 22:11; sets 10:05 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.9. The disk is 99.8% illuminated (nearly full). It is 116.6° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.013° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 17.2° away. Neptune is 1.0° away at the snapshot. Saturn: 17.2° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 23.2° below the horizon. Rises 00:22; sets 15:20 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 58.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.037° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 10.9° away. Uranus: 10.9° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 12.2° below the horizon. Rises 22:06; sets 10:09 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 116.4° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.009° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 16.7° away. Saturn is 1.0° away at the snapshot. Neptune: 16.7° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 26.9° below the horizon. Rises 23:31; sets 10:55 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 8.8. The disk is 97.1% illuminated (gibbous). It is 102.8° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.119° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alrescha, 14.4° away. Ceres: 14.4° from Alrescha in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 7.8° above the horizon. Rises 19:59; sets 04:43 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.4. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 174.4° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.023° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.5° away. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Jul 25 06:32 UTC. Pluto: 8.5° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.