This month in the sky
The night sky in July 2027
In July 2027 the best-placed deep-sky targets around midnight are M11 Wild Duck Cluster, M29, M27 Dumbbell Nebula. The darkest nights fall around the new moon on 4 July. Planets in the night sky: Saturn (morning).
Moon and darkness
| New moon | 4 July |
|---|---|
| Full moon | 18 July |
| Full darkness at 52° N | none: the Sun never gets 18° below the horizon (bright summer nights) |
Plan faint galaxies in the week around new moon; bright nebulae and clusters also work near full moon.
Best placed around midnight
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M11 Wild Duck Cluster | open cluster | 14′ | City-friendly | 32° | 44° | Odyssey |
| M29 | open cluster | 7′ | City-friendly | 77° | 89° | Odyssey |
| M27 Dumbbell Nebula | planetary nebula | 8′ | City-friendly | 61° | 73° | Odyssey |
| M56 | globular cluster | 7′ | City-friendly | 68° | 80° | Odyssey |
| M71 | globular cluster | 7′ | City-friendly | 57° | 69° | Odyssey |
| M75 | globular cluster | 6′ | City-friendly | 16° | 28° | mosaic or too small |
| M57 Ring Nebula | planetary nebula | 1′ | City-friendly | 71° | 83° | mosaic or too small |
Already high in the evening
These targets culminate around 22:00 this month: ideal if you do not want to stay up late.
| Target | Type | Size | Sky needed | Highest at 52° N | Highest at 40° N | Frames it best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M24 Sagittarius Star Cloud | star group | 90′ | City-friendly | 20° | 32° | Seestar S30 Pro |
| M25 | open cluster | 32′ | City-friendly | 19° | 31° | DWARF mini |
| M22 Sagittarius Cluster | globular cluster | 24′ | City-friendly | 14° | 26° | Seestar S50 |
| M23 | open cluster | 27′ | City-friendly | 19° | 31° | Origin Mark II |
| M21 | open cluster | 13′ | City-friendly | 16° | 28° | Odyssey |
| M16 Eagle Nebula | star-forming nebula | 7′ | City-friendly | 24° | 36° | Odyssey |
| M92 | globular cluster | 11′ | City-friendly | 81° | 87° | Odyssey |
| M10 | globular cluster | 15′ | City-friendly | 34° | 46° | Odyssey |
Planets
Calculated for the 15th at 52° N: planets at least 10° high while it is dark.
- Saturn: morning, up to 22° high
Questions and answers
- What is the best smart telescope target in July?
- M11 Wild Duck Cluster is among the best-placed targets around midnight, and the Odyssey frames it best.
- When are the darkest nights in July?
- Around the new moon on 4 July, when moonlight does not brighten the sky.