Tonight's Sky
Saturday, July 18, 2026
The Moon Tonight
Deep-sky observation conditions: Good
Moderate moonlight. Deep-sky objects are visible, but faint ones may be washed out. Best to observe after moonset.
Constellations at Their Best
Best viewed in July
Hercules
Brightest: Kornephoros
HerNorthern
Draco
Brightest: Eltanin
DraNorthern
Ophiuchus
Brightest: Rasalhague
OphBoth
Serpens
Brightest: Unukalhai
SerBoth
Scorpius
Brightest: Antares
ScoSouthern
Ara
Brightest: Beta Arae
AraSouthern
Apus
Brightest: Alpha Apodis
ApsSouthern
Corona Borealis
Brightest: Alphecca
CrBNorthern
Norma
Brightest: Gamma2 Normae
NorSouthern
Triangulum Australe
Brightest: Atria
TrASouthern
Also Visible
Still well-placed from recent or upcoming months
Brightest Stars
Always prominent in the night sky
Observation Tips
- 1.Let your eyes adapt to the dark for at least 20 minutes before observing.
- 2.Use a red flashlight to preserve your night vision when checking charts.
- 3.Get away from city lights — even a short drive to a darker site makes a huge difference.
- 4.Start with bright, easy-to-find objects and work your way to fainter targets.
- 5.Even binoculars reveal far more than the naked eye — try 7x50 or 10x50 for wide-field views.