Astroblog

The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday, December 5. Saturn is highest in the northern evening sky around 7:30 p.m. local time. Jupiter is rising around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky. Venus is visible in the morning twilight and starts the week close to the bright star Spica. Mercury is visible low in the twilight.

The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday, December 5. Apogee, when the Moon is furthest from the Earth, is on December 5 as well.

Evening sky on Saturday, December 2 as seen from Adelaide at 21:20 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset), Mercury is low to the horizon, in the tail of Scorpius.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Saturday, December 2 as seen from Adelaide at 21:59 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset), Saturn is above the northwestern horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Saturday, December 2 as seen from Adelaide at 21:59 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is past opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, but is still bright. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Morning sky on Saturday, December 2 as seen from Adelaide at 04:50 ACDST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Venus is beginning to lower in the morning twilight and is close to the bright star Spica. The inset is the telescopic view of Venus at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Whole sky on Saturday, December 2 as seen from Adelaide at 21:59 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Saturn is high in the north-west, and Jupiter is rising in the north-east.

Scorpius is almost set and Sagittarius is still visible below the zenith heading towards the western horizon. Orion is rising in the east.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury climbs higher in the twilight.

Venus is high in the morning twilight, it will now sink towards the horizon but will remain easily visible for all of November. Venus is close to the bright star Spica.

Mars is lost in the twilight.

Jupiter rises around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky.

Saturn is past opposition but is still bright and a worthwhile telescopic object.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. 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 the 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

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 9:54 pm 0 comments

The Full Moon is Monday, November 27. Saturn is highest in the northern evening sky around 7:30 p.m. local time. Jupiter is rising around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky. Jupiter is close to the waxing Moon on the 25th. Venus is visible in the morning twilight coming closer to the bright star Spica. Mercury is visible low in the twilight.

The Full Moon is Monday, November 27.

Evening sky on Saturday, November 25 as seen from Adelaide at 21:12 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset), Mercury is low to the horizon, in the head of Scorpius.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Saturday, November 25 as seen from Adelaide at 21:50 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset), Saturn is above the northwestern horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Saturday, November 25 as seen from Adelaide at 21:50 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 3rd, but is still bright. Jupiter is close to the waxing Moon. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Morning sky on Saturday, November 25 as seen from Adelaide at 04:53 ACDST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Venus is beginning to lower in the morning twilight and is coming closer to the bright star Spica. The inset is the telescopic view of Venus at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Whole sky on Saturday, November 25 as seen from Adelaide at 21:50 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Saturn is high in the north-west, and Jupiter is rising in the north-east.

Scorpius is setting and Sagittarius is still visible below the zenith heading towards the western horizon. Orion is rising in the east.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury climbs higher in the twilight.

Venus is high in the morning twilight, it will now sink towards the horizon but will remain easily visible for all of November. Venus is coming closer to the bright star Spica.

Mars is lost in the twilight.

Jupiter rises around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky. Jupiter is close to the waxing Moon on the 25th.

Saturn is past opposition but is still bright and a worthwhile telescopic object.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. 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 the 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

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 7:30 pm 0 comments

The First Quarter Moon is Monday, November 20. Saturn is highest in the northern evening sky around 7:30 p.m. local time and is close to the first quarter Moon on the 20th. Jupiter is rising around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky. Venus is visible in the morning twilight coming closer to the bright star Spica. Mercury is visible low in the twilight.

The First Quarter Moon is Monday, November 20. The Moon is at Perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 22nd.

Evening sky on Saturday, November 18 as seen from Adelaide at 21:04 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset), Mercury is low to the horizon, in the head of Scorpius.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Monday, November 20 as seen from Adelaide at 21:31 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset), Saturn is above the northwestern horizon not far from the First Quarter Moon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

The bright satellite Titan is near to Saturn, making a nice view.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Saturday, November 18 as seen from Adelaide at 21:41 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 3rd, but is still bright. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Morning sky on Saturday, November 18 as seen from Adelaide at 04:58 ACDST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Venus is beginning to lower in the morning twilight and is coming closer to the bright star Spica. The inset is the telescopic view of Venus at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Whole sky on Saturday, November 18 as seen from Adelaide at 21:41 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Saturn is high in the north-west, and Jupiter is rising in the north-east.

Scorpius is setting and Sagittarius is readily visible below the zenith heading towards the western horizon.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury climbs higher in the twilight.

Venus is high in the morning twilight, it will now sink towards the horizon but will remain easily visible for all of November. Venus is coming closer to the bright star Spica.

Mars is lost in the twilight.

Jupiter rises around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky.

Saturn is past opposition but is still bright and a worthwhile telescopic object. Saturn is close to the first quarter Moon on the 20th.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. 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 the 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

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 10:58 pm 0 comments

The New Moon is Monday, November 13. Saturn is highest in the northern evening sky around 8 p.m. local time. Jupiter is rising around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky. Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 3rd, but is still bright.Venus is high in the morning twilight and is close to the crescent Moon on the 10th. Uranus at opposition. Mercury is visible low in the twilight by the end of the week.

The New Moon is Monday, November 13.

Evening sky on Thursday, November 16 as seen from Adelaide at 21:02 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset), Mercury is low to the horizon, in the head of Scorpius.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Saturday, November 11 as seen from Adelaide at 21:31 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset), Saturn is above the northern horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

The bright satellite Titan is close to Saturn, making a nice view.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Saturday, November 11 as seen from Adelaide at 21:31 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 3rd, but is still bright. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Io has just emerged from Jupiter's shadow at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Tuesday, November 14 as seen from Adelaide at 21:35 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Uranus is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth. Uranus is just visible to the unaided eye under dark sky conditions. The inset is the binocular view of Uranus at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Morning sky on Friday, November 10 as seen from Adelaide at 05:05 ACDST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Venus is beginning to lower in the morning twilight and is close to the crescent Moon. The inset is the telescopic view of Venus at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Whole sky on Saturday, November 11 as seen from Adelaide at 21:31 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Saturn is high in the north, and Jupiter is rising in the north-east.

Scorpius is setting and Sagittarius is readily visible below the zenith heading towards the western horizon.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury returns to the twilight by the end of the week.

Venus is high in the morning twilight, it will now sink towards the horizon but will remain easily visible for all of November. Venus is is close to the crescent Moon on the 10th.

Mars is lost in the twilight.

Jupiter rises around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky.

Saturn is past opposition but is still bright and a worthwhile telescopic object.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. 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 the 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

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 11:05 pm 0 comments

The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday, November 5. Saturn is highest in the northern evening sky around 9 p.m. local time. Jupiter is rising around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky. Jupiter is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 3rd.Venus is high in the morning twilight but is beginning to head towards the horizon.

The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday, November 5.The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 7th.

Evening sky on Saturday, November 4 as seen from Adelaide at 21:13 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset), Saturn is above the northern horizon. The inset is the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.

The bright satellite Titan is close to Saturn, making a nice view.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Evening sky on Friday, November 3 as seen from Adelaide at 21:20 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth. The inset is the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.

Io and its shadow are passing over Jupiter at this time and Io will exit Jupiter's disk in around 40 minutes.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Morning sky on Thursday, November 9 as seen from Adelaide at 05:06 ACDST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Venus is beginning to lower in the morning twilight. The inset is the telescopic view of Venus at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Whole sky on Saturday, November 4 as seen from Adelaide at 21:22 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Saturn is high in the north, and Jupiter is rising in the east.

Scorpius is setting and Sagittarius is readily visible below the zenith heading towards the western horizon.

Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are another wealth of binocular objects to discover.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury is lost in the morning twilight.

Venus is high in the morning twilight, it will now sink towards the horizon but will remain easily visible for all of November.

Mars is lost in the twilight.

Jupiter rises around astronomical twilight and is now well visible in the late evening sky. It is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 3rd.

Saturn is past opposition but is still bright and a worthwhile telescopic object.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. 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 the 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

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 11:12 pm 0 comments

Morning sky on Sunday, October 29 as seen from Perth at 05:04 AWST, (shortly before Moon-set click to embiggen).

The moon is just beginning to enter the Earth's inner shadow. The inset is the binocular view of the moon at this time.

3:35 am AWST Partial eclipse (Umbral) begins

4:14 am AWST Maximum Eclipse (only a chip covered)

5:23 am AWST Moon set

From the rest of Australia, the Moon will have set before any significant amount of eclipse happens. A tiny sliver of the eclipse is seen from Adelaide just before the Moon sets.

Labels: eclipse, lunar eclipse, Moon

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 2:14 pm 0 comments


Morning sky on Tuesday, October 31 as seen from Adelaide at 00:40 ACDST, (click to embiggen). The moon is just about to cover the star Merope in the Pleiades. The inset is the binocular view of the moon at this time (click to embiggen).	Morning sky on Tuesday, October 31 as seen from Melbourne at 01:00 AEDST, (click to embiggen). The moon is just about to cover the star Merope in the Pleiades. The inset is the binocular view of the moon at this time (click to embiggen).	Evening sky on Monday, October 30 as seen from Perth at 23:00 AWST, (click to embiggen). The moon is just about to cover the star Atlas in the Pleiades. The inset is the binocular view of the moon at this time (click to embiggen).

On the late evening 30th/early morning 31st the just past Full Moon will pass over (occult) some bright stars in the iconic Pleiades cluster. From eastern states and SA the most stars will be covered. WA sees only one bright star covered and Darwin sees the Moon brush the edge of the cluster.

While potentially visible to the unaided eye, this is best seen with binoculars or a telescope. The bright Moon will wash out all but the brightest members of the Pleiades. Fortunately, for most of Australia at least one of the bright stars in the cluster, Merope (Mag 4.2) Alcyone (Mag 2.8) and Atlas (Mag. 3.6) are covered. Most of the east coast and SA gets all 3 covered.

Timings for the covering of Merope and Alcyone are give below (except for WA where Atlas is given), Atlas is covered not long after Alcyone for the east coast and SA.

	Merope DB	Merope RD	Alcyone DB	Alcyone RD
Adelaide ACDST	00:43	1:15	1:33	1:57
Brisbane AEST	00:30	1:27	1:24	2:11
Canberra AEDST	1:13	2:19	2:03	3:04
Darwin ACST	-	-	-	-
Hobart AEDST	1:05	2:15	1:52	2:59
Melbourne AEDST	1:07	2:09	1:55	2:53
Perth AWST (30th)	23:10*	23:44*	-	-
Sydney AEDST	1:17	2:24	2:07	3:09

DB - disappear bright limb, RD - reappear dark limb.

* In Perth the Moon misses Merope and Alcyone, but passes over the bight star Atlas instead on the late evening of the 30th.

It’s best to set up around 30 minutes before the occultation so you can get oriented in the sky and don’t miss the beginning while fussing with equipment.

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: binoculars, Moon, Occultation, Pleiades, telescope

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 11:20 pm 0 comments