As summer deepens in the Northern Hemisphere, Scorpius the Scorpion becomes visible each evening, rising with the galactic core of the Milky Way. This constellation offers several notable objects to observe during the warmer months.
Notable Objects in July:
1. Antares: A supergiant star with a reddish hue, easily visible to the naked eye. It is also a double star, split with a medium-sized telescope.
2. Messier 4 (M4): A globular cluster at 5,500 light years from Earth, easy to spot with small or medium-sized telescopes in average skies.
3. Caldwell 76: An open star cluster, slightly brighter than M4, visible with binoculars and the naked eye under good sky conditions.
Astrophotography Opportunities:
* Capture the Cat’s Paw Nebula near the stinger of Scorpius.
* Photograph the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex in nearby constellation Ophiuchus, featuring brilliant Antares at its center.
Cultural Significance:
In Polynesian cultures, the same stars are associated with Māui’s fishhook, Manaiakalani. According to legend, Māui used his hook to pull new islands from the ocean and create a celestial representation of a fish in the Milky Way.
Measuring Your Sky Darkness:
Scorpius is an excellent constellation for measuring your sky darkness. Try tracing the curve of its tail or spotting the scorpion’s heart with your naked eye. Use our free printable Dark Sky Wheel to record your measurements during cooler months, available in the Big Astronomy Toolkit.
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/night-sky-network/july2025-night-sky-notes