JULY 2021 OBSERVING Celestial Calendar by Bob King 19h 54m 19h 53m 19h 52m 19h 51m 19h 50m 19h 49m 19h 48m June 1 5 9 13 17 21 25 SAGITTARI 29 July 3 7 Path 11 15 Star magnitudes 19 23 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 of P luto 27 31 Aug 4 8 12 SAO 188612 28 SAO 188667 Visiting Pluto Trek into eastern Sagittarius to locate this remote dwarf planet. 48 J U LY 2 0 2 1 * S K Y & T E L E S C O P E L ast year Jupiter proved an able guide to finding Pluto, but the gas giant has since moved on, leaving the dwarf planet by itself in the wilds of eastern Sagittarius. However, a distinctive asterism and several bright telescopic stars point the way this season. As long as your scope can dig down to Pluto's magnitude of 14.3, with a careful approach you should be able to find this Holy Grail of astronomical challenges. Under a dark sky, an 8-inch telescope should be up to the task. An excellent place to start is the small asterism called the Terebellum - four stars brighter than 5th magnitude in the shape of a kite with Omega (ω) Sagittarii at its peak. Use the charts above and a wide-field eyepiece to locate Pluto on the specific date you're looking. Once you're in the vicinity, boost the magnification to identify your prize. When dealing with this faint starlike speck, I use nearby field stars to complete a triangle or box that includes Pluto. This helps me know exactly where