Look to the Sky: Manhattanhenge, a Meteor Shower and Supermoon Coming to Skies Near You this July
During the summer, everything's a little slower. People take a little more time on their walks, and look up at
Ellie Mason
During the summer, everything's a little slower. People take a little more time on their walks, and look up at the sky a little more often.
This summer, July is putting on a breathtaking celestial show that includes the beloved Manhattanhenge, a meteor shower and a breathtaking supermoon. Here's what you need to know to make the most of these events.
Supermoon – Super Cool
Supermoons aren't terribly rare, but they're rare enough that people still clamor to see them – on average 3 to 4 a year.
July's supermoon marks 3 of 4 in a row – an occurrence that happens every few years.
The best night to watch it will be July 13, looking to the Southeast just after sunset.
Manhattanhenge is a Favorite Pastime of New Yorkers and Travelers Alike
Four times a year, Manhattan's streets align with the setting sun and create a phenomenon the modern era has dubbed "Manhattanhenge."
A play on words in honor to Stonehenge which aligns with celestial events, Manhattanhenge brings photographers, skywatchers and travelers out into the streets to look down streets that run West to East.
Travel + Leisure explains, "The best viewing locations include 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th streets, per EarthSky. The further east along these streets the better. Expect the best sunset display at 8:20 p.m. ET on July 11 and 8:21 p.m. ET on July 12. Manhattanhenge will return January 11 and 12 with "Reverse Manhattanhenge," when the sunrise creates a similar effect in the early morning."
Meteor Shower, a Celestial Rainstorm
And July is bringing several chances for meteor chases to watch the show, but you'll want a clear dark sky away from city lights.
Every year, the Delta Aquariid runs in July and August, and this year is expected to peak July 28-29 with around 20 meteors per hour.
And the Alpha Capricornid runs from early July to mid-August, but will peak July 30 with around 5 meteors per hour.
James Webb – Long-Awaited Images Finally Dropping This Month
And if you have any interest in astronomy or science, you probably already know that the long-awaited first images from the James Webb Telescope will be falling to Earth (metaphorically) this month.
Starting July 12 at 10:30AM, space lovers will get their first full-color peeks at what the extraordinary state-of-the-art and futuristic telescope can see as it peers into the deep dark unknown of skies only the Hubble has dared to watch for years.
It is expected to revolutionize human knowledge of deep space and provide never-before-seen glimpses into the unknown.