July's Heavenly Nights

Here we are entering the second half of the year and yet so far our view of the sky at night has been quite limited due to the vast cloud cover, but perhaps the skies will clear enough to allow a glimpse of the two meteor showers that come into our orbit later this month.
On the 28-29 the Delta Aquarids shower displays around 20 meteors per hour, travelling relatively slowly and will be best viewed in the east after midnight, although the full moon will affect viewing to a degree.
On 29-30 the Capricornid show will appear. These again are slow meteors, but are differentiated by their yellowy brightness and can often produce wonderful fireballs. Again view after midnight in the east.
Also on view this month are several planets, namely Mercury which can be seen now in the west after sunset. Venus is visible early in the morning (2.30 ish) and is at its greatest brightness on the 9th, low in the north east, whilst on the 15th the moon will pass in front of Jupiter in what is known as a 'grazing occulation' between 2.45 and 3.15am.
Here's to clear skies. Enjoy.