July Night Sky

Here's a night sky opportunity that doesn't require staying up late or dragging yourself out of bed in the wee morning hours.

Look to the west after the sun sets and you will spot a crescent moon along with the planet Venus.  If you have a pair of binoculars, use them.

If you have a decent camera, mount it on a tripod because the combination of the very bright Evening Star - Venus -  along with the glowing earthshine on the dark side of the moon can make a cool bit of night photography.  Use a focal length of between 50mm and 100mm to capture both objects in the same frame.  If you can frame them with a silhouette of a tree or dark building, better yet. 

If you're using an iPhone or similar handheld device, both a stabilization and timed exposure setting is preferred.

Regardless of your equipment choice a filter app such as Snapseed is useful for adjusting exposures, aperture and additional settings.

Good Luck!  And fingers-crossed for clear skies and fewer skeets.