July 2026 Astronomical Highlights: Waning Moon, Earth’s Aphelion and Meteor Shower

On Tuesday, July 7 2026 the Moon will be in its waning (third) quarter. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will see the left half illuminated, while the opposite view will appear in the Southern Hemisphere.

July 2026 also brings several notable sky events. Earth reaches aphelion on July 6, placing it about 152 million km from the Sun, as noted by astronomer Ronny Tapia. July 20 marks the 57th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing, a milestone in space exploration. The Delta Aquariids meteor shower reaches its peak on the night of July 30, with ideal conditions allowing observers to see up to 25 meteors per hour.