Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The Sky This Week - Thursday April 12 to Thursday April 19
The Last Quarter Moon is Friday April 13. Venus is easily visible in the western evening sky close to the Hyades cluster. Jupiter is very close to the horizon and difficult to see. Mars is in the eastern evening sky, close to the bright Star Regulus. Saturn is at opposition on the 16th. It is in the late evening eastern sky near the star Spica. Mercury returns to the morning sky, and on the 19th it is close to the thin crescent Moon. Comet Garradd in the northern sky.
Evening sky looking east as seen from Adelaide at 8:00 pm local time on Monday April 16 showing Mars, Regulus, Saturn and Spica. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. The inset shows the telescopic appearance of Mars, Saturn and it's Moons at this time. Click to embiggen.
The Last Quarter Moon is Friday April 13.
Mars is in the constellation of Leo. It is the brightest object in the north eastern sky, and its distinctive red colour makes it easy to spot. Mars is rising before sunset and is at its highest in the northern sky around midnight.
Mars moves closer to the bright star Regulus in Leo with the pair being closest on the 16th.
Mars was at opposition on March 4, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth. Sadly, this is a poor opposition and Mars will be fairly small in modest telescopes. Even so, you should be still able to see the polar caps, so still have a go if you have a telescope.
Saturn is above the north-eastern horizon, not far from the bright star Spica. Saturn is high enough in the north-eastern sky for telescopic observation in the late evening, rising before 6 pm local time. Saturn is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 16, and now is a great time for telescopic views of this world.
Morning sky on Thursday April 19 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 6:00 am local time in South Australia showing Mercury close to the crescent Moon. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen)
Mercury is now visible above the eastern horizon by 5:00 am in the morning. Now is the best time to see this speedy world in the morning.
As the week progresses it will climb higher in the morning sky. On the 19th, it reaches the highest it will get above the horizon, and is visited by the thin crescent Moon.
Evening sky on Saturday April 7 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 6:30 pm local time in South Australia showing Venus coming close to the Hyades cluster. Jupiter is close to the horizon and difficult to see. The inset shows the appearance of Venus seen telescopically at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen)
Bright white Venus is readily visible in the evening western twilight sky from around half an hour after sunset for around an hour and a half.
Venus continues to pass through Taurus this week and is draws further away from Jupiter.
Observation of Jupiter is now very difficult. Jupiter is very low to the horizon, and is quickly lost in the twilight.
With Mars past opposition and Saturn rising and coming closer to opposition, there are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Comet C/2009 P1 Garrad as seen from Adelaide at 7:00 pm local time.
Comet Garrad has entered the northern sky. At magnitude 7, it is observable in biocuars, but it's location low to the horizon and the effects of light poluution means that the best views are in strong binoculars or telescopes under dark sky condition. As the week progresses it will rise further above the horizon, inporving its visibility.
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 (this will be up dated to February a little later).
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Evening sky looking east as seen from Adelaide at 8:00 pm local time on Monday April 16 showing Mars, Regulus, Saturn and Spica. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. The inset shows the telescopic appearance of Mars, Saturn and it's Moons at this time. Click to embiggen.The Last Quarter Moon is Friday April 13.
Mars is in the constellation of Leo. It is the brightest object in the north eastern sky, and its distinctive red colour makes it easy to spot. Mars is rising before sunset and is at its highest in the northern sky around midnight.
Mars moves closer to the bright star Regulus in Leo with the pair being closest on the 16th.
Mars was at opposition on March 4, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth. Sadly, this is a poor opposition and Mars will be fairly small in modest telescopes. Even so, you should be still able to see the polar caps, so still have a go if you have a telescope.
Saturn is above the north-eastern horizon, not far from the bright star Spica. Saturn is high enough in the north-eastern sky for telescopic observation in the late evening, rising before 6 pm local time. Saturn is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 16, and now is a great time for telescopic views of this world.
Morning sky on Thursday April 19 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 6:00 am local time in South Australia showing Mercury close to the crescent Moon. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen)Mercury is now visible above the eastern horizon by 5:00 am in the morning. Now is the best time to see this speedy world in the morning.
As the week progresses it will climb higher in the morning sky. On the 19th, it reaches the highest it will get above the horizon, and is visited by the thin crescent Moon.
Evening sky on Saturday April 7 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 6:30 pm local time in South Australia showing Venus coming close to the Hyades cluster. Jupiter is close to the horizon and difficult to see. The inset shows the appearance of Venus seen telescopically at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen)Bright white Venus is readily visible in the evening western twilight sky from around half an hour after sunset for around an hour and a half.
Venus continues to pass through Taurus this week and is draws further away from Jupiter.
Observation of Jupiter is now very difficult. Jupiter is very low to the horizon, and is quickly lost in the twilight.
With Mars past opposition and Saturn rising and coming closer to opposition, there are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Comet C/2009 P1 Garrad as seen from Adelaide at 7:00 pm local time. Comet Garrad has entered the northern sky. At magnitude 7, it is observable in biocuars, but it's location low to the horizon and the effects of light poluution means that the best views are in strong binoculars or telescopes under dark sky condition. As the week progresses it will rise further above the horizon, inporving its visibility.
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 (this will be up dated to February a little later).
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Labels: weekly sky
# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 6:30 pm 
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