ST. GEORGE — July ushers in a spectacular showing in the heavens above Southern Utah, where clear skies and a waning moon serve as the backdrop to close encounters between planets, astronomical beelines toward the gas giant and the debut of one of the richest meteor showers of the year.

July opened with Jupiter and Mars together in the east just before sunrise, and in the coming weeks the two planets will continue to move ever closer culminating in a conjunction — where Mars will sideswipe Jupiter on Aug. 14.

The celestial events are explained in the video provided courtesy of NASA that can be viewed at the top of this report.

As an added bonus, on Monday, July 15, Uranus will appear as though it is nestled right beside Mars in the night sky during a planetary conjunction that places Mars about half a degree from the bluish-green planet that is much farther away, according to EarthSky.

Using just the unaided eye, the bright white light of Jupiter will stand out in front of the dimmer and distinctly redder shine of Mars. After July 15, Mars will start to pull away from Uranus in the direction of the Pleiades as it makes a planetary beeline toward the gas giant Jupiter.

Two weeks later, an extra bright Jupiter, Mars and an orange star dubbed Aldebaran – the 14th brightest star in the sky — will join Pleiades as a waning moon reenters the celestial stage to create a spectacular show on July 30.

One of the most vibrant meteoric spectacles of the year, the Perseid meteor shower, will make its debut Wednesday, July 17, for its month-long show that will continue well into August.

As the shower becomes increasingly active until its peak between Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, it sends a steady stream of meteors that are rich in color and particularly fast — making this particular celestial show one of the most beloved for watchers in the Northern Hemisphere.

If traced backward, all of the meteors come from the constellation Perseus near the infamous “Double Cluster,” an area where two open star clusters are huddled together near the sky’s dome. It is said the Perseids originate from the large “Swift-Tuttle” comet.

The Perseids’ radiant point rises late in the evening, around 11 p.m., to the northeast, which is why this particular shower is best viewed from midnight to dawn. The moon will set around midnight, so there will be dark skies until sunrise — perfect for meteor hunting, Space.com says.

Even better, the greatest number of meteors visible at the height of the radius will take place just before dawn.

Following are Perseid meteor shower viewing tips:

• An open sky is essential as these meteors streak across the sky in many different directions and in front of a number of constellations.
• Try to face away from the moon when looking for meteors.
• Getting as far away from city lights will provide the best view and the best time to watch the showers is between midnight and dawn.
• Provide at least an hour to sky watch, as it can take the eyes up to 20 minutes to adapt to the darkness of night.
• Put away the telescope or binoculars, as using either one reduces the amount of sky you can see at one time and decreases the odds you’ll see a meteor.
• Let your eyes relax and don’t look in any one specific spot. Relaxed eyes will quickly catch any movement in the sky and you’ll be able to spot more meteors.
• Be sure to dress appropriately – wear clothing appropriate for cold overnight temperatures.
• Bring something comfortable on which to sit or lie. A reclining chair or pad will make it far more comfortable to keep your gaze on the night sky.
• Avoid looking at your cell phone or any other light, as both destroy night vision.
• To find out when the moon sets each of those mornings, visit Sunrise Sunset Calendars.

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