Planet Alignment July 4th weekend

In addition to fireworks (in the US), the planets will be throwing a show this weekend. Friday night, Mars and Saturn will be very near each other and the star Regulus. On Saturday night, the Moon joins the fun. For more info, read this NASA article and/or spaceweather.com.

Also, this July 4th the Earth reaches its maximum distance from the Sun, called the "aphelion" - further proof that the seasons are caused by the Earth's tilt and not distance from the Sun, because it is expected to be a hot July 4th (at least around New York City). More proof is that while it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere it is winter in the Southern, but that is another show.

Hope you have a fun (and safe) 4th of July!