Skies of July: NYC’s Milky Way, Planets, and the Return of Manhattanhenge

July in New York City is prime for urban stargazing: Venus and Jupiter appear after sunset, the Milky Way becomes visible around the new moon, and the Summer Triangle anchors the eastern sky, with free telescope viewings across the five boroughs. Manhattanhenge returns on July 11, with sunsets framed by the city grid—best viewed from cross streets like 14th and 42nd, Tudor City, and Hunter’s Point South Park, and the AMNH hosting a block party nearby. There are also solar viewing events (July 5), a NASA/JWST-related talk on July 7, and overlapping meteor showers (Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids) peaking late July, though the full moon on July 29 dims the show; the Perseids begin in mid-August for a stronger display.