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Messier 22 Climbs High as Saturn and Neptune Form an Early July Sky Duo

Observers can spot a high-rising globular cluster over Sagittarius, observe Saturn and Neptune in close proximity in the pre-dawn sky as Mercury approaches its July 4 greatest elongation.

The planet Mercury is visible as a bright point of light in the evening sky above the famous Danube River in this 2011 shot. Credit: H. Raab (Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
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Overview

  • On July 1, Messier 22 ascends above the Sagittarius horizon, offering a bright globular cluster view.
  • Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun on July 4, appearing 26° away and 11° high an hour after sunset.
  • Saturn enters retrograde around July 16 and aligns with the Moon and Neptune for a rare triple-planet alignment in the pre-dawn sky.
  • Venus shines at magnitude –4.1 before daybreak in Taurus and passes just north of Epsilon Tauri around July 14.
  • Late-month highlights include Pluto’s peak telescope visibility on July 25 and the Southern Delta Aquariids meteor shower peaking July 29–30 under moonless skies.