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Several planets are becoming visible at different times of day in July, offering skywatchers a chance to observe Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and Mercury from Earth. The latest observing guide from EarthSky highlights how the positions of these worlds are shifting throughout the month, creating a changing view of the solar system above the horizon.
A Changing Planetary View Across The July Sky
The positions of the visible planets continue to shift throughout July, creating new opportunities for observers to track the movement of worlds across the sky. According to EarthSky, the locations and visibility of the brightest planets change throughout the month as they follow their individual paths around the Sun. The guide explains where skywatchers can find planets such as Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, and Mercury, along with other notable celestial events.
The visibility of planets depends on their positions relative to the Sun and Earth, which means some worlds appear after sunset while others become easier to spot before sunrise. Observers can use sky charts and tools such as Stellarium Online to determine the best viewing times based on their location.
The July sky does not feature all planets gathered into a single formation. Instead, each world follows its own path along the ecliptic, the apparent route traced by the Sun across the sky. These orbital movements create a constantly changing view for astronomy enthusiasts and casual stargazers looking to follow the planets throughout the month.
Venus Climbs Higher While Jupiter Fades Into Twilight
Among the most noticeable planets in July is Venus, which becomes increasingly prominent after sunset. The bright planet rises higher each evening as it approaches its greatest distance from the Sun in the sky, an event known as its greatest elongation, expected on August 14-15, 2026.
Venus remains one of the easiest planets to identify because of its intense brightness. As twilight fades, observers can locate it above the western horizon, where it appears as a steady point of light rather than a blinking star.
Jupiter, in contrast, is moving in the opposite direction from the evening observer’s perspective. The giant planet is sinking lower into the sunset glow during July and will pass behind the Sun from Earth’s viewpoint on July 29. After this period, Jupiter will return to the morning sky in September.
The changing positions of Venus and Jupiter demonstrate how quickly the visible sky can transform over only a few weeks. Even the brightest planets can disappear temporarily as their orbital positions place them close to the Sun from our perspective.
Mars And Saturn Become Morning Targets
The early morning sky offers a different planetary scene, with Mars and Saturn becoming important targets for observers willing to wake before sunrise. During the first half of July, Mars appears low in the eastern twilight, moving between the Pleiades star cluster and the bright star Aldebaran.
As July progresses, Mars rises higher before dawn and continues its movement across the background stars. Its reddish color helps distinguish it from nearby stars, giving observers a recognizable marker in the morning sky.
Saturn is also visible in the morning hours, appearing farther south in the sky. Although Saturn is much farther away than Mars, its size and reflective rings make it a bright object for telescope users and experienced observers.
The two planets provide a contrast between the smaller rocky world of Mars and the massive gas giant Saturn. Their positions along the ecliptic allow skywatchers to follow the movement of planets through the constellations over several mornings.
Mercury Makes A Short Appearance Before Sunrise
The final planet highlighted in the July guide is Mercury, which becomes visible low in the eastern sky during the last two mornings of the month. Because Mercury orbits close to the Sun, it is often difficult to observe and usually appears only during short windows near sunrise or sunset.
On these late July mornings, Mercury can be found below Mars, while the red planet appears higher above the horizon. Mercury will reach its greatest distance from the Sun on August 2, creating a better opportunity for observers searching for the small inner planet.
Finding Mercury requires a clear horizon and a location away from bright city lights. Its low position in the sky means that even experienced observers may need careful timing to spot it before daylight becomes too strong.
The appearance of Mercury adds another element to July’s planetary schedule, showing how different orbital speeds create constantly changing views from Earth.
The Moon And Meteor Activity Add More Targets For Stargazers
The planetary display is only part of July’s astronomical activity. According to EarthSky, the Moon will pass near several notable objects, including Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, and Antares, the red supergiant star located in Scorpius.
The first quarter Moon occurs on July 21, 2026, offering a strong opportunity for lunar observation because the half-illuminated surface creates visible shadows across craters and mountains.
Later in the month, observers can also watch the Delta Aquariid meteor shower. The meteor shower becomes active in late July, with the best viewing conditions expected during moon-free hours before dawn in the days leading up to the peak.
The combination of planets, the Moon, stars, and meteors gives July observers multiple reasons to look upward. No specialized equipment is required for many of these events, although binoculars or telescopes can reveal more details.
