The Night Sky in July 2026 — the Summer Triangle and the Milky Way

Overhead — the Summer Triangle

After 9 p.m. in July, three bright stars high in the eastern sky form a large triangle. This is the "Summer Triangle," traced by Vega in Lyra, Altair in Aquila, and Deneb in Cygnus. Even in the city these three stars stand out clearly, making them the perfect starting point for finding the summer constellations.

The Milky Way runs right between Vega and Altair. In East Asia this band of light is the "Silver River" that separates the Herdsman and the Weaver Girl, and the tale of the two lovers meeting on a bridge of magpies each year on the seventh night of the seventh lunar month springs from these very stars.

Low in the South — Scorpius and Sagittarius

Close to the southern horizon lies Scorpius, sprawled in a great S-curve with the red heart of Antares at its center. Just to its left (east), toward the "Teapot" of Sagittarius, sits the center of our galaxy — and away from the city, under a dark sky, the Milky Way here glows at its densest and most spectacular.

Because Scorpius and Sagittarius pass low across the southern sky, the more open your southern horizon, the better your view.

To the North — the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia

In the northern sky, the Big Dipper of Ursa Major tips westward with its handle raised, while on the opposite side the W of Cassiopeia rises. Both are circumpolar, never setting the whole year round, and together they let you find Polaris, the North Star, at any time.

This Month's Observing Highlights

1. Use the Summer Triangle to get your bearings, then 2. follow the Milky Way flowing between its stars, and finally 3. sweep down to Scorpius and Sagittarius low in the south — that is the best way to enjoy the July night sky. And with the Perseid meteor shower peaking in mid-August, you may even catch a few early meteors falling now and then from late July.