This week we take a look at the night sky from July 13th to the 19th, highlighting a waning Moon, brilliant morning planets, and the first whispers of the Perseid meteor shower.

We’ll check in on Venus dancing near the Pleiades, Saturn’s steady climb toward opposition, and Jupiter’s quiet return to the predawn sky. You’ll also hear what deep-sky targets are best viewed under the darkening moonlight—like the Dumbbell Nebula, Ring Nebula, and the Milky Way’s glowing heart through Sagittarius.

Later, we flip the telescope around and ask: What does Earth look like from other worlds? From Venus’s twilight view of our blue planet, to Mars’s telescopic gaze, to Saturn’s distant snapshot in “The Day the Earth Smiled”, and the iconic “Pale Blue Dot” image, we reflect on how our planet appears in someone else’s sky—and what that perspective tells us about ourselves.

Mentioned in this episode:

• 2025 Titan Shadow Transits
• Earth from Mars and Other Postcards of Home

For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Also, connect with us on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.social, or YouTube @TheStarTrailsPodcast.

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