AN July 2026

Also in this issue, we revisit one of astronomy’s most famous mysteries: the Wow! signal. Nearly half a century after the 72-second burst became a SETI legend, Elizabeth Howell explores why it still matters, how SETI@home narrowed billions of oddities to 100 promising signals, and what new searches might reveal.

Colin Stuart investigates the rise of AI astronomy, from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s nightly torrent of alerts to machine-learning tools that can sharpen images, classify galaxies and help sift exoplanet data. In The Big Question, he also tackles antimatter, asking why the Universe is made almost entirely of matter when physics suggests matter and antimatter should have appeared in equal amounts.

Closer to home, we tell the inspiring story of how Thorington Street in Dedham Vale became England’s first International Dark Sky Community, and Stuart Atkinson guides readers through the return of noctilucent clouds, the delicate high-altitude clouds that can glow in the summer twilight.

This month’s Night Sky guide includes Venus shining after sunset, Saturn improving in the morning sky, a close Mars–Uranus conjunction, the Moon near the Pleiades, Mercury’s challenging return before dawn and deep-sky targets in Ophiuchus. We also review the RVO Horizon 15×70 binoculars, explore new astronomy gear in Astrogear, visit Cranbourne Chase Astronomy Club, and bring you Imaging Masterclass, Ask an Astronomer, Books, Gallery, Astrolistings and more.

Order your copy of the July 2026 issue of Astronomy Now today.