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This week is perfect for letting the moon take you on a tour of some of the night sky’s most prominent bright stars. On July 20, it will shine near Spica in the constellation Virgo – a famous summer star in the northern hemisphere – before dimming the following day. Later this week, the moon will pass close to Antares in the constellation Scorpius, a massive red supergiant star about 550 light-years from Earth. For astrologers in North America and mid-northern latitudes, here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week, July 20-26, 2026.
Look south an hour after sunset on Friday, July 24, to see an 82% illuminated moon rising just a few degrees from Antares.
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Timeline
At dusk, look southwest to see the 46% illuminated crescent moon hanging below blue-white Spica, Virgo’s brightest star. It’s actually a binary star system – two stars orbiting each other – but it appears as a single point.
The moon reaches first quarter today. From here until the full Buck Moon on July 29, it begins to whiten the night sky. However, if you have a telescope in the backyard, tonight is perfect — scan along the line between light and shadow on the moon and you’ll see some dramatic craters and mountains.
The now 74% illuminated waxing moon moves into Scorpio. Look south after dusk for its brightest star, the red supergiant Antares, the “heart of Scorpius.” From mid-northern latitudes, Scorpio will be low in the south.
Look south about an hour after sunset tonight to see the 82% illuminated, bulging moon hanging just a few degrees above Antares.
The moon will appear to pass near Spica on July 20, 2026.
Stellarium
Constellation of the week: Scorpio
Many of the constellations in the night sky do not obviously look like the figures, animals, or objects they are supposed to be. The exception is Scorpio, whose curved body and hooked tail really look like a scorpion. Unfortunately, from mid-northern latitudes, it doesn’t reach far above the southern horizon, making it rare to see the entire constellation. However, you should be able to easily find Antares, with its three bright stars on the scorpion’s stinger – Shaula, Acrab and Dschubba – also obvious.
The moon will appear to pass close to Antares on July 24, 2026.
Stellarium
What’s next in the night sky
Over the next four weeks, the moon continues to wax, culminating in the rise – at dusk – of the full Buck Moon on July 29. The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks July 31-Aug. 1, though during the bright moonlight, followed by the Perseid meteor shower building toward its peak on the night of August 12-13, producing about 50 “shooting stars” an hour. As it happens, a total solar eclipse will have occurred hours before, ensuring a new moon – hence the darkest night sky.
Scorpius, Scorpius, with the bright yellow star Antares, and the blue stars Graffias and Dschubba marking the head of Scorpius. (Photo: Alan Dyer/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
The upcoming total solar eclipse
On August 12, the moon will pass directly between the Earth and the sun, casting a narrow but dark shadow over eastern Greenland, western Iceland and northern Spain – a total solar eclipse. For those within the path, a brief totality – up to 2 minutes 18 seconds – will turn daylight into deep twilight and, if the sky is clear, reveal the sun’s corona. Eclipse chasers are targeting Greenland’s Scoresby Sund, Iceland’s volcanic landscapes and flat horizons in Spain, where the eclipse will take place just before sunset. North America has a partial eclipse, best in eastern Canada and the northeastern US, with about 53% of the sun covered in St. John’s, 31% in Halifax, 16% in Boston and 10% in New York. Solar eclipse glasses will be necessary throughout.
The times and dates given are for mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location information, consult online planetariums such as Stellarium.
