The Sky This Week - Thursday July 5 to Thursday July 12

The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday July 11. Mars is in the western evening sky. Saturn is visible near the star Spica in the northern sky. In the morning skies Jupiter and Venus can be seen near each other, Venus comes close to the red star Aldebaran. Mercury is visible low in the evening twilight. Earth is at aphelion on the 5th.Morning sky on Sunday July 8 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 6:30 am local time in South Australia. Jupiter is near Venus in the Hyades, making a line with the red star Aldebaran.The the Pleiades cluster is close by. The inset shows the telescopic view of Venus. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen). Jupiter climbs higher in the morning sky. It is now easy to see. Jupiter moves towards the Hyades over the week. Jupiter is within a hand span of Venus for most of the week. Jupiter and Venus form a straight line with the red star Aldebaran.With the Pleiades cluster and the constellation of Orion close by, this is a beautiful morning sight. Bright white Venus climbs higher above the horizon this week. Venus is an obvious ...