As the twilight of the day gradually extends into the balmy nights of July, the summer sky opens up a celestial theater brimming with stories, splendor, and cosmic wonders.
July’s night sky, with its clear, warm evenings, is perfect for stargazing, offering observers a glimpse into the heart of our Milky Way galaxy and beyond.
Here’s a guide to some of the most captivating constellations that adorn the July sky, inviting you to explore the depths of the universe from your backyard.
What are the July Constellations?
The July Constellations are:
- Apus (The Bird of Paradise) – Represents the exotic bird, symbolizing the unexplored terrestrial realms.
- Ara (The Altar) – Depicts an altar in the sky, often associated with sacrifice and offerings.
- Circinus (The Compass) – Symbolizes the draftsman’s compass, reflecting navigation and creativity.
- Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown) – Resembles a celestial crown, linked to various myths and legends about royalty.
- Draco (The Dragon) – Winds around the northern celestial pole, embodying the mythological dragon.
- Hercules (The Hero) – Represents the Roman hero, known for his strength and numerous far-reaching adventures.
- Norma (The Level) – Symbolizes the carpenter’s square or level, associated with justice and precision.
- Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer) – Depicts a man holding a serpent, representing healing and medicine.
- Scorpius (The Scorpion) – Recognizable by its curved tail, signifying the scorpion that challenged the hunter Orion.
- Serpens (The Serpent) – The only constellation divided into two parts, Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda, symbolizing a serpent being tamed by Ophiuchus.
- Triangulum Australe (The Southern Triangle) – Represents a simple geometric figure, highlighting the celestial south.
- Triangulum (The Triangle) – A small constellation, symbolizing the geometric shape pointing to the northern skies.
1. Apus (The Bird of Paradise)
Apus, the bird of paradise, spreads its vibrant plumage across the southern night sky, captivating all who gaze upon it.
Named after the magnificent birds found in the lush rainforests of Papua New Guinea, this constellation represents grace, beauty, and the wonders of nature. Apus serves as a reminder of the diverse and extraordinary creatures that inhabit our planet.
Details
- Number of Stars: 16
- Main Aspect: Depicts a bird of paradise, known for its stunningly colorful feathers.
- Principal Stars: Alpha Apodis, Beta Apodis, Gamma Apodis
- Brightest Star: Alpha Apodis
- Hemisphere: Southern
- TL;DR: Apus, the constellation of the bird of paradise, showcases the magnificence of nature, celebrating the vibrant colors and beauty found in the animal kingdom.
2. Ara (The Altar)
Ara, the celestial altar, stands as a symbol of devotion and reverence in the night sky.
Represented by an altar used in religious ceremonies, this constellation embodies the spiritual and sacred. Ara encourages contemplation and connection with something greater, inviting stargazers to reflect upon the mysteries of the universe.
Details
- Number of Stars: 65
- Main Aspect: Depicts an altar, a place of worship and reverence.
- Principal Stars: Beta Arae, Gamma Arae, Delta Arae
- Brightest Star: Beta Arae
- Hemisphere: Southern
- TL;DR: Ara’s constellation symbolizes devotion and spirituality, encouraging awe and contemplation through its representation of a celestial altar.
3. Circinus (The Compasses)
Circinus, the compasses, guides astronomers and explorers in their quest to map the cosmos.
Shaped like a pair of compasses used for measuring distances on maps, this small and often overlooked constellation aids in celestial navigation and the pursuit of astronomical knowledge. Within Circinus lies a remarkable cosmic jewel known as the Circinus Galaxy.
Details
- Number of Stars: 47
- Main Aspect: Resembles a pair of compasses used in cartography and navigation.
- Principal Stars: Alpha Circini, Beta Circini, Gamma Circini
- Brightest Star: Alpha Circini
- Hemisphere: Southern
- TL;DR: Circinus, the constellation of the compasses, assists explorers and astronomers, offering guidance and aiding in the mapping of the night sky.
4. Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown)
Corona Borealis, the northern crown, adorns the night sky with its celestial elegance.
This distinctive semicircular constellation represents a crown worn by a mythical figure, bestowing a touch of regality upon the heavens. It contains several notable stars and the beautiful globular cluster known as M3, captivating observers with its stellar brilliance.
Details
- Number of Stars: 23
- Main Aspect: Depicts a crown worn by a mythical figure, symbolizing royalty.
- Principal Stars: Alphecca (Gemini), Nusakan, Alphekka Meridiana
- Brightest Star: Alphecca (Gemini)
- Hemisphere: Northern
- TL;DR: Corona Borealis’ constellation graces the night sky as a celestial crown, representing majesty and beauty, while hosting captivating stars and stellar clusters.
5. Draco (The Dragon)
Draco, the dragon, weaves its way through the celestial realm, adding an element of mythical allure to the night sky.
One of the largest constellations, Draco winds its serpentine form around the North Star, Polaris, serving as a guide for celestial navigation. Its stars hold a rich history of myth and legend, where heroes and monsters clashed in epic tales.
Details
- Number of Stars: 65
- Main Aspect: Depicts a dragon, an ancient creature of mythology.
- Principal Stars: Thuban, Etamin, Giausar
- Brightest Star: Eltanin
- Hemisphere: Northern
- TL;DR: Draco’s constellation asserts its mythical presence in the night sky, embodying the essence of dragons and serving as a navigational guide through its winding form.
6. Hércules (Hercules)
Hércules, the legendary hero of myth, immortalized in the night sky, stands as a symbol of strength and courage.
This constellation represents the mighty Hercules, known for his epic labors, as he ascends to the heavens.
It features notable stars and the remarkable Hercules Cluster (Messier 13), a globular star cluster containing hundreds of thousands of stars.
Details
- Number of Stars: 137
- Main Aspect: Depicts the mythological hero Hercules, known for his incredible strength.
- Principal Stars: Rasalgethi, Kornephoros, Zeta Herculis
- Brightest Star: Kornephoros
- Hemisphere: Northern
- TL;DR: Hércules’ constellation immortalizes the legendary hero of myth, showcasing strength and bravery, while housing splendid stars and the stunning Hercules Cluster.
7. Norma (The Carpenter’s Square)
Norma, the carpenter’s square, quietly adorns the night sky, reminding us of the precision and craftsmanship found in the universe.
Named after a tool used by carpenters to create straight and precise lines, this inconspicuous constellation invites observers to appreciate the harmony and order in the cosmos.
Norma is also home to the Norma Cluster, a group of galaxies located millions of light-years away.
Details
- Number of Stars: 37
- Main Aspect: Resembles a carpenter’s square, representing precision and craftsmanship.
- Principal Stars: Gamma^2 Normae, Epsilon Normae, Delta^1 Normae
- Brightest Star: Gamma^2 Normae
- Hemisphere: Southern
- TL;DR: Norma’s constellation embodies precision and craftsmanship, inviting contemplation of the intricate order and beauty found in the universe.
8. Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer)
Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer, graces the night sky with his celestial presence, representing healing and wisdom.
Depicted as a figure holding a serpent, this constellation is associated with Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine and healing. Ophiuchus is nestled between the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius and holds numerous fascinating celestial objects, such as the Ophiuchus Cluster.
Details
- Number of Stars: 117
- Main Aspect: Depicts a figure holding a serpent, symbolizing healing and wisdom.
- Principal Stars: Rasalhague, Rasalgethi (Alpha Herculis), Cebalrai
- Brightest Star: Rasalhague
- Hemisphere: Southern and Northern
- TL;DR: Ophiuchus’ constellation embodies healing and wisdom, featuring stars and celestial objects that inspire awe and fascination.
9. Scorpius (The Scorpion)
Scorpius, the scorpion, crawls across the celestial canvas, leaving a lasting impression on all who observe its striking form.
This impressive constellation dominates the southern summer sky, with its bright stars forming a distinct shape resembling a scorpion’s tail. Scorpius holds great significance in mythology and features several noteworthy celestial objects, including the red supergiant star Antares.
Details
- Number of Stars: 161
- Main Aspect: Depicts a scorpion’s shape and tail, captivating as a prominent summer constellation.
- Principal Stars: Antares, Graffias, Jabbah, Dschubba
- Brightest Star: Antares
- Hemisphere: Southern
- TL;DR: Scorpius, the constellation of the scorpion, showcases its distinct shape and holds a prominent place in summer skies, featuring notable stars and celestial wonders.
10. Serpens (The Serpent)
Serpens, the serpent, slithers gracefully through the night sky, evoking a sense of mystery and transformation.
This unique constellation is divided into two parts: Serpens Caput (the serpent’s head) and Serpens Cauda (the serpent’s tail). Serpens subtly intertwines with the constellation Ophiuchus, adding an element of intrigue and symbolism to the cosmic narrative.
Details
- Number of Stars: 64
- Main Aspect: Depicts a serpent, representing transformation and mystery.
- Principal Stars: Unukalhai, Alya, Alyaraph, Sinistra
- Brightest Star: Unukalhai
- Hemisphere: Northern and Southern
- TL;DR: Serpens’ constellation weaves a tale of mystery and transformation as it gracefully curves through the night sky, intertwining with Ophiuchus and captivating observers with its celestial allure.
11. Triangulum Australe (The Southern Triangle)
Triangulum Australe, the southern triangle, adds a touch of geometry to the southern celestial sphere, guiding sky gazers with its simple form.
This small constellation represents a triangular shape and serves as a helpful reference for locating other stars and constellations in the southern sky. Triangulum Australe may seem modest, but its presence aids in navigation and exploration of the cosmos.
Details
- Number of Stars: 14
- Main Aspect: Takes the shape of a triangle, symbolizing simplicity and direction.
- Principal Stars: Atria, Betria, Gatria
- Brightest Star: Atria
- Hemisphere: Southern
- TL;DR: Triangulum Australe’s constellation offers a simple triangular shape to assist in navigation and discovery, providing guidance to travelers exploring the southern night sky.
12. Triangulum (The Triangle)
Triangulum, the triangle, illuminates the northern night sky, capturing the imagination with its geometric elegance.
This compact constellation forms a perfect triangle, representing one of the simplest and most fundamental shapes found in the universe. Within Triangulum lies the Triangulum Galaxy (Messier 33), a spectacular spiral galaxy that showcases the intricate beauty of celestial objects.
Details
- Number of Stars: 47
- Main Aspect: Takes the form of a triangle, symbolizing simplicity and basic structure.
- Principal Stars: Mothallah, Minkar, Rasalhague (Alpha Ophiuchus)
- Brightest Star: Mothallah
- Hemisphere: Northern
- TL;DR: Triangulum’s constellation displays a perfect triangle, epitomizing simplicity and basic structure, while hosting captivating stars and the awe-inspiring Triangulum Galaxy.
And there you have it! The first 12 constellations on the list, each with its unique characteristics, stories, and celestial marvels.