July 2026 Skywatch: Visible Planets, Southern Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower and Full Buck Moon
Astronomers note that July 2026 will feature all-month visibility of Mars, Saturn and Venus, the start of the Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower on July 18, and a full Buck Moon on July 29.
Stargazers can look forward to several notable celestial events in July 2026. Throughout the month, Mars and Saturn will be observable in the southeast sky after sunrise, while Venus will appear in the western evening sky, rising higher each night.
A new moon occurs on July 14, creating a moonless night that enhances visibility of stars and constellations.
The Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower begins on July 18 and runs through August 21, with a possible peak around July 30. The shower’s radiant is located in the constellation Aquarius near the star Delta Aquarii. NASA attributes the meteors to debris from comet 96P/Macholz, which orbits the Sun every five years. Observers are advised to find dark locations away from city lights and allow about 30 minutes for eye adaptation to spot 15-20 meteors per hour on clear nights.
The month concludes with the full Buck Moon on July 29, reaching its maximum illumination at 10:35 a.m. EST. The name, used in North America, references the period when white-tailed deer regrow their antlers, and it has historical ties to an 18th-century explorer’s account of Indigenous naming traditions.