July Birth Stars
July is the season of the Summer Triangle overhead. All 31 days have their own star; the standouts are Altair, Nunki, Peacock, and Albireo. Altair, the Cowherd Star of the Tanabata legend, is the birth star for July 16.
Our birth stars are an independently compiled system: from the stars named by the International Astronomical Union, our editors chose the one that culminates around midnight on each date. Other sources may assign different stars, but this page follows our own mapping throughout.
Find your date's star — a perfect story for the Tanabata season and summer gifts.
What is the birth star of July?
July's birth stars include Altair, Nunki, Peacock, and Albireo. In our calendar, each of the 31 days of July has its own star.
July birth stars (31 days)
All 31 days of July, with birth stars, star words, constellations, and magnitudes. Star words are examples. Culmination times and more detail are on each day's page.
| Date | Birth star | Star words (example) | Constellation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/1 |  Nunki | precision, aim | Sagittariusσ Sgr |
| 7/2 |  Sheliak | lyre, eclipsing melody | Lyraβ Lyr |
| 7/3 | Nunki | precision, aim | Sagittariusσ Sgr |
| 7/4 | Sulafat | melody, mellowing | Lyraγ Lyr |
| 7/5 |  Okab | swoop, eagle eye | Aquilaζ Aql |
| 7/6 |  Meridiana | southern crown, garland | Corona Australisα CrA |
| 7/7 | Aladfar | gripping talon, caught melody | Lyraη Lyr |
| 7/8 | Arkab Prior | fore-tendon, bracing | Sagittariusβ1 Sgr |
| 7/9 | Arkab Posterior | rear support, anchoring leg | Sagittariusβ2 Sgr |
| 7/10 | Rukbat | archer's knee, stance | Sagittariusα Sgr |
| 7/11 |  Albireo | gold and azure, contrast | Cygnusβ Cyg |
| 7/12 |  Sham | arrow, directness | Sagittaα Sge |
| 7/13 | Fawaris | cavalcade, horsemanship | Cygnusδ Cyg |
| 7/14 | Sham | arrow, directness | Sagittaα Sge |
| 7/15 | Tarazed | equipoise, harmony | Aquilaγ Aql |
| 7/16 | Altair | soaring, yearning | Aquilaα Aql |
| 7/17 | Alshain | falcon's wing, gale | Aquilaβ Aql |
| 7/18 | Altair | soaring, yearning | Aquilaα Aql |
| 7/19 | Alshain | falcon's wing, gale | Aquilaβ Aql |
| 7/20 |  Algedi | twin kids, side by side | Capricornusα2 Cap |
| 7/21 | Dabih | invitation, bounty | Capricornusβ1 Cap |
| 7/22 | Algedi | twin kids, side by side | Capricornusα2 Cap |
| 7/23 | Dabih | invitation, bounty | Capricornusβ1 Cap |
| 7/24 |  Peacock | elegance, flourish | Pavoα Pav |
| 7/25 |  Aldulfin | dolphin's tail, spray | Delphinusε Del |
| 7/26 | Rotanev | dolphin's rescue, gratitude | Delphinusβ Del |
| 7/27 | Aldulfin | dolphin's tail, spray | Delphinusε Del |
| 7/28 | Sualocin | anagram, clever twist | Delphinusα Del |
| 7/29 | Aljanah | wing, flight | Cygnusε Cyg |
| 7/30 |  Albali | receptivity, drinking deep | Aquariusε Aqr |
| 7/31 | Aljanah | wing, flight | Cygnusε Cyg |
The July night sky
Altair (the 16th and 18th), magnitude 0.76 in Aquila, is the Cowherd of the Tanabata tale. With Vega it anchors the Summer Triangle, culminating almost directly overhead. Tarazed (the 15th) and Alshain (the 17th and 19th) flank it like attendants.
Albireo (the 11th) marks the Swan's beak — a double star whose gold-and-blue pairing has earned it the nickname "the gem of the night sky." Nunki (the 1st) is a star of Sagittarius whose name traces back to a sacred city of ancient Mesopotamia.
How to enjoy July birth stars
- Choose by star words: pair them with the Cowherd and Weaver tale for someone born around Tanabata.
- Find it at culmination: Altair sits near the zenith at midnight — best enjoyed lying back on the grass.
- Pair it with the birthday color: summer colors and star words for a crisp birthday card.
- For gifts and cards: Albireo's "gold and blue double star" story is perfect for paired gifts.
FAQ
- What is the birth star for July?
- July's birth stars include Altair, Nunki, Peacock, and Albireo. Every day of July has its own star in our calendar.
- Is Altair the birth star for July?
- Altair is one of July's signature stars — it's the birth star for July 16 and 18. But birth stars change day by day, so the star depends on the exact date.
- What is the birth star for July 7?
- The birth star for July 7 is Aladfar in Lyra. You can check the star for Tanabata day in the date list above.
- Why does the birth star change every day?
- As Earth orbits the Sun, the star that crosses the meridian at midnight shifts a little westward each night.
- How do you choose the birth stars?
- Our editors independently select, from the IAU-named stars, the one culminating around midnight on each date. It is not an official standard.
Our birth stars are an original editorial system compiled from IAU-named stars (rule: the star that culminates around local midnight on each date). Star words are examples; there is no official standard. Star name data: IAU Working Group on Star Names (CC BY 4.0).Editorial policy