TheSky (c) Astronomy Software 1984-1998

Sydney Observatory night sky map

July 2015

A map for each month of the year, to help you learn about the night sky

www.sydneyobservatory.com

URSA MINOR

The star chart shows the stars and constellations visible in the night sky for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart,
Adelaide and Perth for July 2015 at about 7:30 pm (local standard time). For Darwin and similar locations the chart will still
apply, but some stars will be lost off the southern edge while extra stars will be visible to the north. Stars down to a brightness or
magnitude limit of 4.5 are shown on theDRACO
star chart. To use this star chart, rotate the chart so that the direction you are facing
(north, south, east or west) is shown at the bottom. The centre of the chart represents the point directly above your head, called
the zenith, and the outer circular edge represents the horizon.
URSA MAJOR

North

Star brightness

Vega

Full Moon: 02nd

Last quarter: 09th
New Moon: 16th
First quarter: 24th
Full Moon: 31st

CANES VENATICI

NW

Zero or brighter
1st magnitude
2nd
3rd
LYRA
4th

Moon phase

LEO MINOR

BOOTES
CORONA BOREALIS
CORONA
BOOTES
BOREALIS

NE

HERCULES

Arcturus

SAGITTA

COMA BERENICES

Arcturus

LEO

SERPENS

Regulus

VIRGO

OPHIUCHUS

AQUILA

SCUTUM

Spica
Zubenelgenubi
LIBRA Zubenelgenubi
CORVUS
First quarter
Moon on 24th
Saturn

SERPENS

East

Antares

Regulus

Venus on
21st

CRATER

SEXTANS

Antares

West

Altair

Centre of the Galaxy

SCORPIUS
SCORPIUS

HYDRA

LUPUS

SAGITTARIUS

CENTAURUS
CENTAURUS
Omega Centauri

NORMA
TEA POT

CORONA AUSTRALIS

CAPRICORNUS
TELESCOPIUM

NORMA
Alpha
Centauri

POINTERS
ARA CIRCINUS Hadar

Alpha Centauri

CRUX

Mimosa
CRUX

TRIANGULUM
TRIANGULUM
AUSTRALE

ANTLIA
SOUTHERN CROSS

PYXIS

AUSTRALE

Proxima Centauri
APUS

MICROSCOPIUM
PAVO

VELA

MUSCA

APUS
CHAMAELEON

INDUS

CARINA

OCTANS South Celestial Pole

OCTANS

PUPPIS

VOLANS

PISCIS AUSTRINUS

SE

Chart key

MENSA
GRUS

Bright star
Faint star
Ecliptic
Milky Way
P Planet
LMC or Large Magellanic Cloud PHOENIX
SMC or Small Magellanic Cloud

SMC
TUCANA

Adhara

LMC

HYDRUS

Canopus

DORADO

RETICULUM

CANIS MAJOR

SW

PICTOR
COLUMBA

Achernar

South
HOROLOGIUM
CAELUM

The best time to observe the Moon with a small telescope or binoculars is a few days either side of the first quarter Moon. This
SCULPTOR
month, the constellations of
Scorpius (the Scorpion) and Crux (the Southern Cross) are high in the sky. The Southern Cross is
easily located using the two nearby pointer stars, which themselves are a part of Centaurus (the Centaur). The brighter of the
pointers, Alpha Centauri, is the closest star system to our own. Near the end of the Scorpions tail is Sagittarius (the Archer).
The brightest stars in Sagittarius form the shape of a teapot.
Sydney Observatory, with a magnificent view overlooking Sydney Harbour, is open 10am to
5pm daily except closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and open 10am to
noon on New Years Eve. Open
Monday to Saturday for night sessions (times vary depending
FORNAX
on the season) for sky viewing through one of our telescopes (cosy planetarium session if
cloudy), and 3D movies about the Universe. Bookings are essential for night programs.
For more information, check the website at www.sydneyobservatory.com.au or call (02) 9921
3485. Sydney Observatory is at 1003 Upper Fort Street, Observatory Hill, in the historic Rocks
area of Sydney.

Sydney Observatory is part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. The Sydney Observatory night sky map is prepared by Dr M Anderson using the
software TheSky. This months map was compiled by Brenan Dew 2015 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney.