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  The spectacular summertime constellation, SCORPIUS, is on your meridian at 10 PM in July.

  There are a few great deep sky objects in reach of small telescopes and two planets: SATURN and MARS!

  The giant red giant, ANTARES, is the “heart” of the scorpion. Antares is 6,300 times luminous compared to our sun.

  It’s 400 light years away. Antares (Greek) means “rival of Mars” in color and brightness in the sky.

  You will have the opportunity to compare Mars and Antares in July and August!

M-4 globular cluster is 1 degree west of Antares and easily found on a dark sky.

Beta Scorpii is a favorite binary star system at medium magnification. Colors: Dark blue and light blue.

  M-7 is a beautiful open cluster just east of the scorpion’s “stinger”. Easy to see if you view with binoculars.

  M-6, above the “stinger”, is a smaller open cluster with a shape of a butterfly! Can you see a bright red star on one of the “wings”?

     Of course check out SATURN! It’s rings are fully tilted (27 degrees) toward Earth. Can you see the Cassini division?

     The photo was taken at last year’s Paramount Ranch Star Party in Agoura Hills.

 I placed Saturn and Mars on the image in the correct positions in July/August. Can you find them?

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This event is Saturday July 30th. Plan on it!

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Clear Summer Skies!

--Hal Jandorf