From Monday, July 20 until Friday, July 24, conditions might line up for stargazers.

There is a new moon, and skies may be clear of clouds in patches leading up to the weekend.

The constellation Ophiuchus was first observed by Ptolemy in the second century, and was the source of controversy last week after some news outlets claimed NASA had "discovered" a new zodiac sign.

The source of the rumour is an old NASA blog post that identifies Ophiuchus as a zodiac constellation the Babylonians chose to reach out. It humorously recalculated what the new zodiac dates would be if Ophiuchus was included.

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To be clear, NASA did not discover Ophiucus, nor does NASA control zodiac signs - they're not exactly scientific.

But if you want to spot this trouble-making constellation, head outside one night this week.

Look for the bright red star, Antares that forms part of Scorpio's body, then look north to find Ophiucus.

He's meant to look like a man wrestling with a serpent - but if you're more of a Star Wars fan his outline does look a little like a giant AT-AT walker trudging across the sky.

Other sights in the sky this week include the beginning of the Perseids meteor shower. Although it's not yet at its peak, if you time your trip carefully (very early in the morning is best) and are patient you are almost guaranteed a shooting star.

Jupiter and Saturn are close to each other - they will almost overlap on December 21. At the moment, they can almost be mistaken for the Crux, or the two stars that point to the Southern Cross. Jupiter and Saturn are brighter, however, and aren't pointing to anything.

Once you've found them, you've also found the constellation Saggitarius, where they will both remain until December 22.

If you have a star gazing trip planned, dress warmly - a blanket and a warm thermos may seem like overkill, but you'll be grateful of them after sitting still in the cold.

If you don't have a telescope, binoculars are an excellent alternative. If you don't have binoculars, all the sights above can be spotted with the naked eye.

Last, but not least, pick a good spot, as far from lights as possible. Anywhere with open sky will offer a beautiful view.

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