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Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
8 night sky events to see in July, from a ‘buck moon‘ to a rare view of Pluto
Stargazers, get ready to take in some awe-inspiring sights. This month offers a parade of star clusters, meteors, and various planet sightings, including the difficult-to-spot dwarf planet Pluto. Here's what to look for in the July night sky. The globular cluster Messier 22 (M22) reaches its highest point in the sky around midnight local time, specifically for observers south of 46° N latitude, since M22's position favors the Southern Hemisphere. Located about 10,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius, M22 is one of the brightest globular clusters visible from Earth. Under dark skies, M22 appears as a faint smudge with the naked eye. But binoculars or a small telescope reveal its stunning structure—a densely packed sphere of hundreds of thousands of stars. Mercury is notoriously difficult to see from Earth, thanks to its proximity to the Sun. But on July 4, Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation, meaning the planet will be at its farthest apparent distance from the Sun in the evening sky. This event marks one of the best chances to see the elusive planet this year. Look west-northwest just after sunset, keeping your gaze close to the horizon. Mercury should be visible during the evening twilight hours. If it's cloudy, don't worry—you'll still be able to see Mercury for a few more weeks. Nicknamed the 'buck moon,' July's full moon occurs on the 10th. The moniker, drawn from Indigenous and colonial traditions in North America and popularized by the Farmer's Almanac, refers to the time of year when male deer, or bucks, begin to regrow their antlers. (Yes, they shed them annually.) (Learn the origins of the many names given to each full moon.) If you have a pair of binoculars, take a close look at the lunar surface. The bright rays radiating from Tycho crater and the dark basalt plains known as maria, the Latin word for 'seas,' are especially striking during a full moon. In the predawn hours of July 16, skywatchers can catch a triple encounter: the waning gibbous moon will sweep past Saturn and Neptune in the constellation Pisces. Saturn, the brighter of the two, is visible to the naked eye. Neptune, far dimmer, requires a telescope. Just three days prior, Saturn will have entered retrograde motion, appearing to move west across the sky rather than east. Before sunrise on July 20, the crescent moon will pass within a degree of the Pleiades, a bright open cluster also known as the Seven Sisters or Messier 45 (M45). Though home to more than 1,000 young, hot stars, most people can spot just six with the naked eye. (These are the best stargazing sites in North America.) The Pleiades shine brightest from November to March, but determined stargazers can spot them in late July, too. Their pairing with the moon on July 20 creates a picturesque scene, especially when viewed through binoculars, which frame the glittering stars and glowing crescent in the same field of view. On July 25, Pluto will lie directly opposite the Sun from Earth's perspective. Simultaneously, it will also reach perigee, its closest distance to Earth in its orbit. Although still nearly three billion miles away, it will shine slightly brighter than usual—making this the best chance to view the dwarf planet this year. (Did Pluto ever actually stop being a planet? Experts debate.) That said, Pluto remains a faint speck, even at its best. You'll need a reasonably powerful telescope and a detailed star chart to locate it in the constellation Sagittarius around midnight local time. On the evening of July 29, the moon will pass close to Mars in the constellation Taurus. Visibility may be limited in some locations, as the pair will appear low on the horizon and could be washed out by sunlight. If skies are clear, look for the waxing crescent moon and Mars's distinctive reddish glow. The Southern delta Aquariids meteor shower, active from July 18 to August 12, is expected to peak overnight from July 29 to 30. This year, the waning crescent moon will set early during the peak, leaving skies dark for optimal meteor viewing. (Here are nine must-see night sky events to look forward to in 2025.) Southern delta Aquariids meteors tend to be faint, and you might not see more than a dozen or two shooting stars per hour at most. For a more dramatic display, wait for August, when the delta Aquariids overlap with the brighter Perseids.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Yahoo
MCDOT to host public forum regarding proposed Ride On, Metrobus changes
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. () — The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is set to host a forum next month where people can provide feedback on potential changes to several Ride On and Metrobus routes. The in-person forum will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at the Mid-County Regional Services Center in Wheaton at 6 p.m. It will be held in the second-floor conference room. If supported by the public, Ride On and Metrobus routes 10, 34, 40, 42, L8 and T2 will see the following changes take effect on June 29: Ride On Route (Twinbrook Station-Hillandale): Discontinue and replace with new Metrobus Routes M42, M44 and M60. Ride On Route (Aspen Hill-Friendship Heights): Realign to Connecticut Avenue between University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road, to serve portions of Connecticut Avenue that Metrobus Route M22 will not serve. Discontinue service to Wheaton and Friendship Heights Metro Stations and continue service to Bethesda Metro Station. Ride On Route 40 (new): This new bus route will replace portions of Metrobus Routes Q2, Q4 and Q6 between Wheaton Metro Station and Montgomery College-Rockville. Ride On Route (North Bethesda/White Flint-Montgomery Mall): Move northern terminus to Twinbrook Metro Station. Discontinue low-ridership service to Boiling Brook Parkway and the William F. Bolger Center/U.S. Postal Service training facility. Metrobus Route (Aspen Hill-Friendship Heights): WMATA will replace Route L8 with Metrobus Route M22 and provide service on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Ride On will no longer provide weekend service on this route. Metrobus Route (Rockville-Friendship Heights): WMATA will replace Route T2 with Metrobus Route M82 and provide service on weekdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Ride On will no longer provide weekend service on this route. Person taken to hospital after apartment fire in Montgomery County The modifications are related to the first-year implementation of recommendations and WMATA's . Riders can click for more information on the proposed changes and maps. Anyone who would like to speak at the forum should submit testimony by mail or email on or before Sunday, Feb. 16, according to MCDOT. Testimony should include the participant's full name, home address, telephone number, e-mail address and organization (if applicable), addressed to the MCDOT Division of Transit Services, Ride On Public Forum at Those planning to submit written testimony can mail, fax or email their comments to the Division of Transit Services by 5 p.m. on Feb. 28. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
