Night Sky Tonight
StarWalk.com Astronomical News: July 17, 2026
On July 17, the Moon will appear close to Venus and Regulus in the evening sky. The waxing crescent will form a beautiful triangle with these two bright dots. All three objects are easy to see with the naked eye, low above the horizon after sunset. And if you have a telescope, try pointing it at Venus — you’ll see its disk about 62% illuminated.
Regulus in Leo Constellation
Regulus is the brightest star in the Leo constellation and serves as its heart. Located roughly 79 light-years away, it sits exactly on the ecliptic. It marks the dot at the bottom of the “Sickle” asterism, a prominent backward question mark shape that forms the lion’s head.
Key Facts About Regulus – Wikipedia
- What it is: Regulus is actually a quadruple star system consisting of four stars.
- Royal Heritage: The name means “Little King” in Latin. Ancient Persian astronomers regarded it as one of the “Four Royal Stars”.
- Fast Spin: The primary star spins on its axis once every 16 hours (by comparison, our Sun takes 27 days). This incredibly fast rotation causes the star to bulge outward, making its equator 1.33 times wider than its poles.
Lunar Occultation of Regulus – StarWalk
Also on July 17, the Moon will pass in front of Regulus, briefly hiding the bright star from view. This event is called a lunar occultation. Unfortunately, it will only be visible from a small area over the Pacific Ocean.
SPACEWEATHER.COM NEWS: 07/17/2026
VENUS AND THE MOON AT SUNSET: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. Venus and the crescent Moon (18%) are shining side-by-side in the twilight sky. Try to catch them before the sky fades to black. Venus and the Moon are extra-beautiful when they are surrounded by twilight blue: sky map.
A COMET WITH A RAZOR-THIN TRAIL: Earth is approaching the orbital plane of an ancient comet with an unusual appearance: 10P/Tempel. The comet is bisected by a razor-thin layer of dust, making it look a bit like Saturn with edge-on rings. Chris Schur photographed 10P this week from Happy Jack, Arizona:
Comet 10P Tempel 2 bright Dust trail, Taken by Chris Schur on July 10, 2026 @ Happy Jack, Az
“This comet is exhibiting the most obvious dust trail I have ever seen in 50 years of imaging,” says Schur.
Note the distinction: trail vs. tail. The structure in Schur’s photo is a trail–a pancake of gravel-sized debris that has settled into the comet’s orbit over hundreds to thousands of years. This differs from a tail, which is a young spray of fresh gas and dust in many directions.
Comet 10P’s pancake trail was discovered by NASA’s Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) in 1983–one of the first ever found. Catching it with a backyard telescope is a rare feat.
This weekend is prime time to try. Between July 18th and 22nd, Earth crosses 10P’s orbital plane. As the crossing occurs, the trail will sharpen to maximum thinness and surface brightness. Later, the trail will pivot and fan back open. Long exposures taken days apart may show notable changes.
The comet is currently a magnitude 8.4 object in Capricornus, brightening to ~7.7 by month’s end. It will be closest to Earth on August 3rd, but now is the time to look while the gravel trail is edge on. A small telescope will show the green coma with ease, while deep-sky exposures will be needed to catch the gravel. Take a look! And submit your photos here.
Realtime Space Weather Photo Gallery
The Sun Today
Daily Sun: 17 Jul 26
Two Earth-facing sunspots are stable and quiet. Credit: NASA/SDO
Coronal Holes: 17 Jul 26
There are no significant equatorial coronal holes on the Earthside of the sun. .Credit: NASA/SDO | more data
Mayan Calendar Time and Synchronicity
7 Wisdom/CIB represents the top of a “pyramid climb” of Faith to the place where we can see “all that is” and “all that is not” the Truth. Leo the lion-hearted is being over-shadowed by the Moon in the lunar occultation of Regulus. The Moon reflects our emotions. 7 Wisdom/CIB reveals “all that is not” the Truth when we are ruled by our emotions.
The Earth is moving into its “stand up” position at 23-degrees of the Lion’s Gate that always occurs on August 8 (08/08). We can keep our eyes focused on Venus, the symbol of the Scion, the Compassionate Heart of the Savior. Apply the Truth that matters to know the Truth. The Answer to everything is the Truth that the Creator is the King of the Universe.
We are called to Humble our Self to remember, we don’t know everything God can do. Emotions come and go with the tides. This lunar cycle is leading to the Full Thunder Moon, the month with the highest incidents of Lightning and Thunder. It’s an important Time to remember that when there are thunderclouds on the horizon, run for shelter in a Sanctuary within.
Comet 10P Tempel leaves a Trail to see where it’s going and where it’s been. The totem Owl can clearly see what’s behind and is the symbol of the “mystic ferryman” that carries away the dead. The Owl feeds on a source of dis-ease in the world without harm to itself. Due to its silent flight, rodents don’t see or hear it coming until it strikes.
We are held under the Wing of the Almighty One. We don’t have to know HOW things will work out. The Word promises that “everything will be okay.” The Maya believe that comets, fireballs, and meteors are Signs of Spirit moving in the up-above. Our Faith can be increased from the New Moon to the Full Moon with the rising tides, if we stand on the firm foundation of God’s Word. Be willing to be wrong to be humbled by the Truth.
Through the Season of Lent 2026, we were guided to focus on the Litany of Humility, one of the most powerful and challenging prayers for meditation. If it looks “impossible” remember it’s God’s Will. We can stand up to it by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom/CIB reminds us we are surrounded by a “Great Cloud of Witnesses” as the Wisdom of the “Old Ones”. When we die to the world, we are reborn in Spirit. Humility is the strength of the Lion of Judah and CIB reminds us that Forgiveness is the Key to the Kingdom. Forgive yourself when you’re wrong. Humans are wrong most of the time. We can never “know it all”.
We’re called to think for our Self. What do you think it means? That’s the question. The Lord reveals the Truth when it’s Time to Know. Wisdom/CIB is the Time to think about it. When God give a sign, we know. Divination is the sin of turning to someone else to know. Trust in the Lord to reveal the Truth.
LITANY OF HUMILITY
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being praised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated (slandered), Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged, Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected, Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
–Cardinal Merry del Val (Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X, 1903-1914)
THE TRECENA OF DOG/OC: A CREATION OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
MAYAN CALENDAR DAYKEEPER’S JOURNAL
7 Wisdom/CIB (keeb), Cherokee, Owl/U’GUKU’ O’JJ), Kin 176, Position 16
July 17, 2026, 07/17/2026; Times Before: 10/30/2025, 02/12/2025, 09/11/2023
Mark 13:33 KJV
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
THE TRECENA OF DOG/OC: THE CREATION OF LOVE
Visit the 13-Day Trecena Guide Page for the “Tzolk’in Field Guide: A Daily Practice for Personal Discernment.” My gift for the Tzolk’in round offers an overview for each 13-day trecena and the aspects of each day of the Tzolk’in round. The page also offers a link to resources for your own practice of counting the days to conceive your own discernment of the Meaning of Time.
The Dog/OC trecena is found in the 3rd Season of the Tzolk’in Guide:
VOLUME 2: Tzolk’in Seasons 3 and 4 (PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 20, 2020)
NOTE: If you haven’t kept a Journal of your Count of Days, you can look for the Synchronicity of Time in the major experiences of your life.
7 Wisdom/CIB (Cherokee, Owl U’GUKU’) – Day 7 of 13 of the 1 Dog/OC trecena
Descriptions by Ian Xel Lungold (12 Sun/AHAU), wisdom and Free Tzolk’in calculator preserved on MayanMajix.com
Galactic Tone 7: Reflective; 7 stands as the mirror to divide light and dark and reflects all that is and is not. 7 is associated with the source of creation and the flow of divine will. 7 establishes the purpose to current and future goals.
Wisdom/CIB: The old ones. Wisdom of the ancients. Wisdom persons are aligned with the ancient memories that wait in the stone of temples and sacred sites all over the world. Wisdom people grow luck like a crop using a balance of prudence and tenacity. The tremendous inner strength of this sign, enables silent introspection to discover areas of oneself that contain wisdom more valuable than any trove of archaeological treasure. Wisdom persons are valiant defenders of family and community. They may become hardened to life and sentiment turned cold. In these cases, they need much forgiveness for their uncaring errors. Periodically connecting with nature and or visiting sacred sites will bring great stability to wisdom persons.
A GOOD DAY TO: Sit on a rock.
Cherokee, Owl U’GUKU’ O’JJ: Symbol is the Owl is Arcturus, the brightest Star in the Constellation Bootes. The Cherokee Bear constellation (Ursa Major) includes the Big Dipper plus four stars in Bootes. Owl is a hunter, who stands for the wisdom and ability of all great hunters, the cunning of a fox, the tenacity of a bulldog and strength of a bear. Energy for deep thinkers, strong-willed, rigid convictions, bold and authoritative. Owl is the Mystic Ferryman who guides Earthlings on the return path to the stars holding the torch aloft.
The Owl is the great hunter who can clearly see “what’s behind” and through every Illusion of Darkness.
[Text in italics was the primary source of inspiration for my journal. These are the sources that started my journey and they are the reference for interpretation each day. By providing the original text, I hope to offer a way to see what inspired my thoughts and by including all the aspects – allow for something more to inspire you. Mayan descriptions are those written by Ian Lungold. Cherokee descriptions came from multiple sources. Links to sources and other resources of study are offered on the Daykeeper Resources Page. ~Debra]
