Tuesday, November 12, 2019
The Sky This Week - Thursday November 14 to Thursday November 21
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday November 20. Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight closing in on Jupiter. Jupiter is easily
visible low in the western evening skies above Venus. Saturn is above Jupiter, higher in the western evening skies. Asteroid Vesta visible in binoculars. Leonid meteor shower 18th.
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday November 20.
Sky at 21:01 ACDST on Saturday 16 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. Venus, Jupiter and Saturn form a line above the western
horizon.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification and the lower left is Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
The North-east horizon as seen in Adelaide at 21:37 pm ACDST (90 minutes after sunset) showing the location of
Vesta (click to embiggen) on Saturday 16 November. The inset is the binocular view of Vesta and the two prominent guide stars.
Vesta is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta is brightest on the 12th, but with the Full Moon nearby will be difficult to observe, even in binoculars. You may need to block the Moon out with a building to have a chance to see Vesta at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Morning sky at 5:34 ACDST facing east as seen from Adelaide on Saturday 16 November 30 minutes before sunrise.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica. You may need binoculars to see Mars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky facing north-east from Adelaide at 4:00 am ACDST on 18 November, the Leonid radiant is indicated with a star burst. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time.
For this years Leonids the Last Quarter Moon will result in poor viewing conditions. As for the recent past years this year there are low rates, you will be unlikely to see anything substantial (although there may be short bursts of higher rates). The best time to observe in Australia is the morning of the 18th between 3 and 4 am (daylight saving time). The Radiant (where the meteors appear to come from) is in the Sickle of Leo. Orion and the Hyades will be visible. So it will be a quite nice morning, even if there are only a few meteors.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen up to 90 minutes after sunset.Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter is still worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. It sets around 10:30 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening. Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 10:30 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday November 20.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification and the lower left is Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Vesta is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta is brightest on the 12th, but with the Full Moon nearby will be difficult to observe, even in binoculars. You may need to block the Moon out with a building to have a chance to see Vesta at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica. You may need binoculars to see Mars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
For this years Leonids the Last Quarter Moon will result in poor viewing conditions. As for the recent past years this year there are low rates, you will be unlikely to see anything substantial (although there may be short bursts of higher rates). The best time to observe in Australia is the morning of the 18th between 3 and 4 am (daylight saving time). The Radiant (where the meteors appear to come from) is in the Sickle of Leo. Orion and the Hyades will be visible. So it will be a quite nice morning, even if there are only a few meteors.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen up to 90 minutes after sunset.Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter is still worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. It sets around 10:30 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening. Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 10:30 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Monday, November 11, 2019
Live Streaming and Webcasts of the Transit of Mercury (12 November/11 November UT)
Transit of Mercury as seen from Australia in November 2006 at around
8:30am, click to enlarge. Mercury is the tiny dot roughly in the
centre-top.Sadly, Australia will not get to see it (we will get to see the next in 2032 though). However, there are any number of live web-casts you can follow.
While these are all at horrible times here in Australia, if you are a late stayer or an early riser, you can catch a rare event.
| Event | Universal Time | AEDST |
| Contact I | 12:35:27 | 23:35 (11th) |
| Contact II | 12:37:08 | 23:37 (11th) |
| Greatest Transit | 15:19:48 | 02:19 (12th) |
| Contact III | 18:02:33 | 05:04 (12th) |
| Contact IV | 18:04:14 | 05:04 (12th) |
Webcasts:
Time and date: https://www.timeanddate.com/live/
Space.com: https://www.space.com/mercury-transit-2019-viewing-guide.html
Vimeo: https://livestream.com/GriffithObservatoryTV/MercuryTransit2019
Royal Observatory: https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/when-is-the-next-transit-of-mercury
Labels: live-stream, Mercury, transit, webcast
Wednesday, November 06, 2019
Yet Another series of Bright ISS passes (6-11 November, 2019)
 |  |  |
| The ISS passes close to Venus, Antares and Jupiter as seen from Sydney on the evening of Friday 8 November at 20:33 AEDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes above Jupiter as seen from Adelaide on the evening of Wednesday 6 November at at 21:37 ACDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes close to Venus and Jupiter, as seen from Perth on the evening of Saturday 9 November at 19:51 AWST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot)click to embiggen. |
 |  |  |
| All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Friday 8 November for Sydney. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Wednesday 6 November for Adelaide. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Saturday 9 November for Perth. |
Over the next few days there are a series of bright ISS passes in the early evening or twilight where the ISS passes close to Venus, Jupiter or Saturn. Some are in twilight but the passes are very bright and will be well worth watching for.
The following tables are from data provided from Heavens Above.
Passes from Adelaide (ACDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -2.7 | 21:35:56 | 10° | WSW | 21:39:04 | 35° | NW | 21:39:14 | 35° | NW | visible |
| 07 Nov | -3.6 | 20:47:06 | 10° | SW | 20:50:29 | 72° | NW | 20:52:45 | 19° | NE | visible |
| 08 Nov | -1.0 | 21:37:09 | 10° | WNW | 21:38:09 | 11° | NW | 21:39:09 | 10° | NW | visible |
| 09 Nov | -1.6 | 20:47:03 | 10° | WSW | 20:49:40 | 21° | NW | 20:52:16 | 10° | N | visible |
Passes from Brisbane (AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -2.6 | 19:33:09 | 10° | SSW | 19:36:11 | 29° | SE | 19:36:20 | 29° | SE | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.7 | 18:45:09 | 10° | S | 18:47:25 | 17° | SE | 18:49:41 | 10° | E | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.4 | 20:21:08 | 10° | WSW | 20:22:45 | 22° | W | 20:22:45 | 22° | W | visible |
| 08 Nov | -3.6 | 19:32:13 | 10° | SW | 19:35:36 | 69° | NW | 19:36:20 | 48° | NNE | visible |
| 09 Nov | -3.4 | 18:43:37 | 10° | SSW | 18:46:56 | 53° | SE | 18:49:59 | 12° | ENE | visible |
| 10 Nov | -1.3 | 19:32:27 | 10° | W | 19:34:44 | 17° | NW | 19:36:37 | 12° | NNW | visible |
| 11 Nov | -2.3 | 18:43:03 | 10° | WSW | 18:46:10 | 35° | NW | 18:49:15 | 10° | NNE | visible |
Passes from Hobart (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -3.2 | 20:29:12 | 10° | WSW | 20:32:32 | 52° | NW | 20:35:50 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.0 | 21:18:53 | 10° | WNW | 21:20:09 | 12° | NW | 21:21:25 | 10° | NNW | visible |
Passes from Melbourne (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -3.4 | 20:29:37 | 10° | SW | 20:32:59 | 56° | SE | 20:36:19 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 06 Nov | -1.2 | 22:07:35 | 10° | W | 22:09:14 | 14° | NW | 22:09:14 | 14° | NW | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.9 | 21:18:03 | 10° | WSW | 21:20:53 | 24° | NW | 21:22:45 | 16° | N | visible |
| 08 Nov | -2.9 | 20:29:03 | 10° | WSW | 20:32:20 | 45° | NW | 20:35:34 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 10 Nov | -1.1 | 20:29:23 | 10° | W | 20:31:25 | 15° | NW | 20:33:26 | 10° | NNW | visible |
Passes from Perth (AWST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -2.7 | 20:39:21 | 10° | WSW | 20:42:08 | 42° | WNW | 20:42:08 | 42° | WNW | visible |
| 07 Nov | -3.8 | 19:50:37 | 10° | SW | 19:54:01 | 84° | SE | 19:55:39 | 28° | NE | visible |
| 08 Nov | -1.1 | 20:40:05 | 10° | W | 20:41:44 | 13° | NW | 20:42:09 | 13° | NW | visible |
| 09 Nov | -1.9 | 19:50:23 | 10° | WSW | 19:53:14 | 25° | NW | 19:55:48 | 11° | N | visible |
Passes from Sydney (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -3.5 | 20:31:21 | 10° | SW | 20:34:43 | 58° | SE | 20:36:20 | 27° | ENE | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.7 | 21:20:02 | 10° | W | 21:22:33 | 20° | NW | 21:22:45 | 20° | NW | visible |
| 08 Nov | -2.6 | 20:30:51 | 10° | WSW | 20:34:02 | 38° | NW | 20:36:20 | 16° | NNE | visible |
| 10 Nov | -0.9 | 20:31:52 | 10° | WNW | 20:33:05 | 12° | NW | 20:34:18 | 10° | NNW | visible |
When and what you will see is VERY location dependent, so you need to use either Heavens Above or CalSky to get site specific predictions for your location, a small difference in location can mean the difference between the ISS passing over a star or planets or missing it completely. As always, start looking several minutes before the pass is going to start to get yourself oriented and your eyes dark adapted. Be patient, there may be slight differences in the time of the ISS appearing due to orbit changes not picked up by the predictions. Use the most recent prediction for your site.
Labels: ISS, Satellite, unaided eye
Monday, November 04, 2019
The Sky This Week - Thursday November 7 to Thursday November 14
The Full Moon is Tuesday November 12. Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight and Mercury is lost in the twilight. Jupiter is easily
visible low in the western evening skies. Saturn is above Jupiter, higher in the western evening skies. Asteroid Vesta visible in binoculars but hard to see in the Moonlight.
The Full Moon is Tuesday November 12.
Sky at 20:53 ACDST on Sunday 10 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. Venus, Jupiter and Saturn form a line above the western
horizon.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at 20:53 on 9 November. The lower right is that of Saturn on the 10th at the same magnification.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
The North-east horizon as seen in Adelaide at 10 pm local daylight
saving time (9:00 pm non-daylight saving time) showing the location of
Vesta (click to embiggen) on Tuesday 12 November when it is at opposition. The inset is the binocular view of Vesta and the two prominent guide stars.
Vesta is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta is brightest on the 12th, but with the Full Moon nearby will be difficult to observe, even in binoculars. You may need to block the Moon out with a building to have a chance to see Vesta at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Morning sky at 5:39 ACDST facing east as seen from Adelaide on Saturday 9 November 30 minutes before sunrise.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica. You may need binoculars to see Mars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen over 60 minutes after sunset.Venus passes close to the bright Star Antares on the 10th.
Mercury is lost in the twilight. Mercury transits the Sun's disk on the 12th, but this will not be seen from Australia (but will from North Island New Zealand).
Jupiter is still well worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. It sets around 11:00 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 11 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
The Full Moon is Tuesday November 12.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at 20:53 on 9 November. The lower right is that of Saturn on the 10th at the same magnification.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Vesta is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta is brightest on the 12th, but with the Full Moon nearby will be difficult to observe, even in binoculars. You may need to block the Moon out with a building to have a chance to see Vesta at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica. You may need binoculars to see Mars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen over 60 minutes after sunset.Venus passes close to the bright Star Antares on the 10th.
Mercury is lost in the twilight. Mercury transits the Sun's disk on the 12th, but this will not be seen from Australia (but will from North Island New Zealand).
Jupiter is still well worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. It sets around 11:00 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 11 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Southern Skywatch November 2019 edition is now out!
The crescent Moon is very close to Saturn. (similar views will be seen similar views will be seen Australia wide 60 minutes minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).
The November edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.
Mercury leaves the evening sky this month and returns to the morning sky late in the month.
Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight and meets Jupiter on 23-24 November.
Mars climbs higher in the morning sky but is only really visible in the end of the month.
Jupiter is low in the western evening sky.
Saturn is above the western horizon
November 2; crescent Moon close to Saturn. 4 November; Venus is between Delta and Beta Scorpii. Venus comes close to the globular cluster M80 on the 7th. November 12; Asteroid Vesta at opposition. November 23; Moon at perigee. November 23-24, Venus and Jupiter close. November 25, Mars, the thin crescent Moon and Mercury form a triangle in the twilight. November 28, Moon and Jupiter close with Venus above. November 30; Moon and Saturn close.
November 7; Moon at Apogee, November 23; Moon at perigee.
Labels: southern skywatch
Monday, October 28, 2019
The Sky This Week - Thursday October 31 to Thursday November 7
The First Quarter Moon is Monday November 4. Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight and Mercury begins to sink towards the horizon. Jupiter is easily
visible in the western evening skies Saturn is near Jupiter, is high in the western evening skies and is very close to the Moon on the 2nd. Asteroid Vesta visible in binoculars.
The First Quarter Moon is Monday November 4. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 7th.
Sky at 20:40 ACDST on Saturday 2 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. Jupiter is above the western
horizon. Mercury is above the western horizon and is below Venus.
The crescent Moon is very close to Saturn.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at 20:54, Ganymede is above to exit the disk of Jupiter and Io about to cross it. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Sky at 20:40 ACDST on Monday 4 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. Jupiter is above the western
Mercury is low above the western horizon and is well below Venus.
Venus is between beta and delta Scorpii
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
The North-east horizon as seen in Adelaide at 11 pm local daylight
saving time (10:00 pm non-daylight saving time) showing the location of
Vesta (click to embiggen) on Saturday 2 November. The inset is the binocular view of Vesta and the two prominent guide stars.
while not the largest asteroid, Vest occasionally becomes bright enough to see with the unaided eye, but is now easily visible in binoculars. Vest is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen over 60 minutes after sunset.Venus passes between the bright stars beta and delta Scorpii on the 4th
Mercury is low above the western horizon in the late evening twilight and is sinking rapidly towards the horizon.
Jupiter is now well past opposition. However, it is still well worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and not far from the bright red star Antares. It sets around 11:00 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until the early morning.On the 2nd the crescent Moon is close to Saturn and the may may be seen together in wide field telescope lenses.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
The First Quarter Moon is Monday November 4. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 7th.
The crescent Moon is very close to Saturn.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at 20:54, Ganymede is above to exit the disk of Jupiter and Io about to cross it. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Mercury is low above the western horizon and is well below Venus.
Venus is between beta and delta Scorpii
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
while not the largest asteroid, Vest occasionally becomes bright enough to see with the unaided eye, but is now easily visible in binoculars. Vest is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen over 60 minutes after sunset.Venus passes between the bright stars beta and delta Scorpii on the 4th
Mercury is low above the western horizon in the late evening twilight and is sinking rapidly towards the horizon.
Jupiter is now well past opposition. However, it is still well worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and not far from the bright red star Antares. It sets around 11:00 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until the early morning.On the 2nd the crescent Moon is close to Saturn and the may may be seen together in wide field telescope lenses.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Seeing Vesta at Opposition (November 2019)
 |  |
| The north-east horizon as seen in Adelaide at 11 pm local daylight saving time (10:00 pm non-daylight saving time) showing the location of Vesta on 26 October. The inset is the binocular view of Vesta and the two prominent guide stars. (click to embiggen, similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time). | The north-east horizon as seen in Adelaide at 10 pm local daylight saving time (9:00 pm non-daylight saving time) showing the location of Vesta on 12 November at opposition. The inset is the binocular view of Vesta and the two prominent guide stars. (click to embiggen, similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time). |
The Asteroid 4 Vesta is one of the iconic minor planets, and one of two orbited by the Dawn spacecraft. At favourable oppositions Vesta is bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye under dark sky conditions. Sadly this year it doesn't get that bright, but it will be easily visible in binoculars (getting up to magnitude 6.5, just below unaided eye visibility at dark sky sites).
Alternatively, here is downloadable Black and white PDF binocular chart suitable for printing. The large circle represents the field of view of 10x50 binoculars. Use the horizon chart above for orientation first.
This year is a reasonable opposition of Vesta, when it will reach a magnitude of 6.5 at its brightest. Vesta is at opposition on November 12. the ext bright opposition is 22 August in 2022 (magnitude 5.8) but there will be fewer good guide stars.
Vesta is however easily visible in binoculars, but you may
need to watch it over several nights to see it move and confirm its
identity.
This year Vesta has some excellent
signposts to it, just before and just after opposition Vest is withig binocular distance of the easily recognisable pair of omicron Tauri and xi Tauri (o and x on the printable charts) which form the foreleg of Taurus the Bull. The distinctive arrow shape of the head of Taurus , with bright red Alderbaran as its eye is easily seen above the north-eastern horizon, the ttip of the arrow points to the the next bright star (Lambda ƛ tau in the printable chart), from there sweep up and to the north (left) and the pair of omicron Tauri and xi Tauri are obvious. from there finding Vesta with the charts should be easy.
Sadly around opposition itself, the waxing Moon / full Moon will interfere significantly (although you should still be able to just see it in binoculars. However, there are several days before and after opposition where Vesta is bright and easily seen. 3-5 November may be best.
Sadly around opposition itself, the waxing Moon / full Moon will interfere significantly (although you should still be able to just see it in binoculars. However, there are several days before and after opposition where Vesta is bright and easily seen. 3-5 November may be best.
Labels: 4 Vesta, binocular, telescope
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