When it completes its first orbit around the Sun since its discovery nearly 165 years ago, Neptune will be visible to stargazers in the Philippines this Tuesday. Stargazers will need binoculars or a telescope to see Neptune at about 1 a.m. of July 12.
“At 1:00 a.m. (of July 12), Neptune and Uranus will be glowing at magnitude +7.8 and +5.8. They will be located 53 and 31 degrees above the east-southeast horizon, and will lie among the stars of the constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer and Pisces, the Fish, respectively,".
At 2:00 a.m., Jupiter will be easily located at the eastern horizon, shining brilliantly at magnitude -2.3 and will be found among the background stars of the constellation Aries, the Ram. Also, Jupiter’s four bright moons can be seen as they constantly change their positions as they circle the planet at different rates.
Meanwhile, Venus will appear low in the east northeastern horizon before sunrise in the early part of July. It will then disappear from the sky view on the second week of the month until late September.
Mars will be observable throughout the month on the east northeastern horizon before sunrise. It will be glowing at magnitude +1.6 and will be located among the background stars of the constellation Taurus, the Bull.
In the evening sky, Saturn and Mercury will be observable in the western horizon before sunset throughout the month.They will be shining at magnitude +0.9 and +0.3 and will lie among the background stars of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin and Cancer, the Crab, respectively.
Neptune picture above courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech.
