July is set to offer stargazers a series of striking celestial displays, with the Milky Way and several prominent stars expected to dominate the night sky, according to the Jeddah Astronomical Society.
Among the month’s highlights are Vega, Altair and the orange-red star Arcturus, alongside the Summer Triangle, creating ideal viewing conditions for the Milky Way’s bright band across the sky.
Majed Abu Zahra, president of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, said the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius will be clearly visible in the southern sky, pointing toward the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Observers in areas with minimal light pollution will also have the opportunity to view interstellar clouds of dust and gas, including the Coal Sack Nebula, as well as the Messier 13 globular cluster in Hercules, which contains hundreds of thousands of stars and is located more than 25,000 light-years from Earth.
Another notable target will be Omega Centauri, a massive globular cluster believed to be the remaining core of a dwarf galaxy that merged with the Milky Way.
Abu Zahra said July 2026 will combine impressive planetary alignments with exceptional views of the Milky Way and its star clusters, making it one of the year’s most rewarding months for skywatching.
