Tuesday, March 31, 2015
The Sky This Week - Thursday April 2 to Thursday April 9
This is Global Astronomy Month. The Full Moon is Saturday April 4, there is a total lunar eclipse at this time. Venus is prominent in
the twilight evening sky. Mars is lost in the twilight. Jupiter is the brightest object in the evening sky once Venus has set. Saturn is in the
head of the Scorpion and now visible in the evening. Mercury is lost to view. Daylight savings ends on Sunday morning.
North-Eastern horizon as seen from Adelaide on 4 April at 10:24 pm ACDST. The total eclipse has just begun . Click to embiggen
The Full Moon is Saturday April 4, there is a total lunar eclipse at this time. The partial phase of the eclipse begins at 9:15 pm AEDST (8:45 pm ACDST and 6:15 pm AWST) with totality around one and a half to one and three quarter hours later. This is the last total eclipse seen from Australia until 2018. Full details for observing the eclipse are here, and hints on photographing the eclipse here.
Evening sky on Saturday April 4 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at
20:00 (8:00 pm) ACDST in South Australia. Venus is obvious in the twilight and is heading towards the Pleiades. Similar views will be seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. During the week Venus heads towards the beautiful Pleiades cluster, it will be at its closest next week..
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Evening sky on Saturday April 4 looking north as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACDST showing Jupiter. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at this time. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the northern horizon. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the northern sky as the night goes on. It is between the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion) and Pollux in Cancer. It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, and looks very good in binoculars.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Evening sky on Saturday April 4 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 23:00 ACDST . Saturn is now visible above the horizon. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible before midnight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is readily visible from around 23:00, but is still best after midnight.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
This is Global Astronomy Month. See the Astronomers Without Borders site for a rundown of what's on.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition and Saturn rising. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
North-Eastern horizon as seen from Adelaide on 4 April at 10:24 pm ACDST. The total eclipse has just begun . Click to embiggenThe Full Moon is Saturday April 4, there is a total lunar eclipse at this time. The partial phase of the eclipse begins at 9:15 pm AEDST (8:45 pm ACDST and 6:15 pm AWST) with totality around one and a half to one and three quarter hours later. This is the last total eclipse seen from Australia until 2018. Full details for observing the eclipse are here, and hints on photographing the eclipse here.
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. During the week Venus heads towards the beautiful Pleiades cluster, it will be at its closest next week..
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the northern sky as the night goes on. It is between the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion) and Pollux in Cancer. It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, and looks very good in binoculars.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible before midnight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is readily visible from around 23:00, but is still best after midnight.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
This is Global Astronomy Month. See the Astronomers Without Borders site for a rundown of what's on.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition and Saturn rising. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Labels: weekly sky
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Nova Sagittarii 2015 No. 2 Rebrightens (a bit)
.png) | -1.png) | -1.png) |
| Nova Sagittarii 2015 No. 2 in the lid of the teapot of Sagittarius. This is a stack of 10x15 second exposures, ASA 400, 3x Zoom with my Canon IXUS, taken on 21 March at 5:10 am, click to embiggen | 24 March, stack of 8 images, same conditions a the 21st. | 28 March, stack of 10 images, same conditions a the 21st. |
Following Nova Sagittarii 2015 No. 2 has been a bit frustration as there have only been a few days without cloud. Up the top is a series of 3 images from the 21st, 24th and 28.
On the 21st it was just visible to the uniaded eye with averted vision, and quite clear in binoculars, on the 24th it was no longer unaided eye visible, in binoculars it was obvious, but no longer outstanding. On the 28th it was again just visible to the unaided eye with averted vision, and again brighter in binoculars.
This nova is well worth extended follow up, and may bounce around in brightness like Nova Cent 2013 and Nova Delphinus 2013.
Labels: astrophotography, binoculars, nova, unaided eye
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Aurora Watch (28-30 March)
Still another Aurora Watch issued by the Australian IPS for the 28th (yes
tonight) to the 30th due to increased solar wind speed from a Coronal Hole. The
29th seems the most likely time (although that might be in the early morning of
the 29th). Geomagnetic activity is rate at only "unsettled to active" rather
than storm levels but sub storms may occur, and aurora, if they occur, are
likely to be seen only in Tasmania (possibly Victoria if there is a
substorm).
Aurora can occur at any time after nightfall (although around midnight or just after seems to be common). Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too.
The waxing Moon will interfere a bit in the early evening, but late evening/morning should be okay.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful),
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 2233 UT ON 27 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A high speed solar wind stream is expected to impact the Earth
sometime within the next 24-48 hours and should remain effective for
several days after arrival. The high speed stream is caused by a solar
feature that has persisted on the Sun for several months and on
previous rotations has produced geomagnetic activity sufficient to
produce Aurora potentially viewable from Tasmania. An alert will be
issued should favourable conditions for producing Aurora be observed.
2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
Date Ap Conditions
28 Mar 12 Unsettled
29 Mar 20 Active
30 Mar 15 Unsettled to Active
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Aurora can occur at any time after nightfall (although around midnight or just after seems to be common). Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too.
The waxing Moon will interfere a bit in the early evening, but late evening/morning should be okay.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful),
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 2233 UT ON 27 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A high speed solar wind stream is expected to impact the Earth
sometime within the next 24-48 hours and should remain effective for
several days after arrival. The high speed stream is caused by a solar
feature that has persisted on the Sun for several months and on
previous rotations has produced geomagnetic activity sufficient to
produce Aurora potentially viewable from Tasmania. An alert will be
issued should favourable conditions for producing Aurora be observed.
2B. MAGNETIC FORECAST
Date Ap Conditions
28 Mar 12 Unsettled
29 Mar 20 Active
30 Mar 15 Unsettled to Active
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Total Lunar Eclipse, April 4, 2015
 |  |  |
| Eastern horizon as seen from Sydney on 4 April at 9:15 pm AEDST. The eclipse is just about to begin. Click to embiggen | Eastern horizon as seen from Adelaide on 4 April at 8:45 pm ACDST . The eclipse is just starting. Click to embiggen | Eastern horizon as seen from Perth on 4 April at 6:15 pm AWST. The eclipse is about to start. Click to embiggen |
 |  |  |
| Above the North-Eastern horizon as seen from Sydney on 4 April at 10:54 pm AEDST. The total eclipse has just begun . Click to embiggen | North-Eastern horizon as seen from Adelaide on 4 April at 10:24 pm ACDST. The total eclipse has just begun . Click to embiggen | Eastern horizon as seen from Perth on 4 April at 8:00 pm AWST. The total eclipse is just about midway. Click to embiggen |
On the evening of 4 April there there be a total eclipse of the Moon, the only Lunar eclipse seen from Australia, and the last we will see until 2018. The 4 April eclipse starts after twilight has ended in the eastern and central states. In Western Australia the partial phase occurs shortly after sunset, and totality starts when the sky is fully dark. Totality is short, only 12 minutes long for this eclipse. See timings table below.
You don't need special filters or fancy equipment to watch the lunar eclipse, you just need your eyes and somewhere comfortable to sit and watch. Binoculars or a telescope are a plus, but not necessary.
A guide to taking photos of the eclipse is here.
On the East coast, the eclipse starts after when the sky is quite dark at 8:15 pm AEST (9:15 pm AEDST) and Totality is at 9:54 pm AEST (10:54 pm AEDST), so the Moon will appear to be a burnished copper disk in a dark sky full of stars. As totality fades you will see the stars extinguish.
In the central states the eclipse starts just after Astronomical twilight at 7:45 pm ACST (8:45 pm ACDST) and Totality begins at 9:24 pm ACST (10:24 pm ACDST). Central states will also see the eclipsed Moon in all its coppery glory and the stars fade as the Moon returns.
In WA, the eclipse starts in the just after sunset, but totality will occur when the sky is fully dark. The eclipse starts at 6:15 pm AWST and Totality begins at 7:54 pm AWST.
The eclipse occurs reasonably high in the sky and is good viewing from almost anywhere. It finishes a bit late for the kids though.
New Zealand sees the eclipse late in the evening and the early morning of the following day.
See here for a map and contact timings in UT for sites outside Australia.
| City | Moonrise | Eclipse Start | Totality Start | Maximum Eclipse | Totality End | Eclipse End |
| Adelaide (ACDST) | 7:00 pm | 8:45 pm | 10:24 pm | 10:30 pm | 10:36 pm | 00:15 am |
| Alice Springs (ACST) | 6:25 pm | 7:45 pm | 9:24 pm | 9:33 pm | 9:36 pm | 10:15 pm |
| Auckland (NZT) | 6:00 pm | 10:15 pm | 11:53 pm | 12:00 am | 12:06 am | 01:44 am |
| Brisbane (AEST) | 5:34 pm | 8:15 pm | 9:54 pm | 10:00 pm | 10:06 pm | 11:45 pm |
| Cairns (AEST) | 6:06 pm | 8:15 pm | 9:54 pm | 10:00 pm | 10:06 pm | 11:45 pm |
| Canberra (AEDST) | 7:47 pm | 9:15 pm | 10:54 pm | 11:00 pm | 11:06 pm | 00:45 am |
| Christchurch (NZT) | 6:06 pm | 10:15 pm | 11:53 pm | 12:00 am | 12:06 am | 01:44 am |
| Darwin (ACST) | 6:42 pm | 7:45 pm | 9:24 pm | 9:33 pm | 9:36 pm | 10:15 pm |
| Hobart (AEDST) | 6:51 pm | 9:15 pm | 10:54 pm | 11:00 pm | 11:06 pm | 00:45 am |
| Melbourne (AEDST) | 7:02 pm | 9:15 pm | 10:54 pm | 11:00 pm | 11:06 pm | 00:45 am |
| Perth (AWST) | 6:05 pm | 6:15 pm | 7:54 pm | 8:00 pm | 8:06 pm | 9:45 pm |
| Rockhampton (AEST) | 5:46 pm | 8:15 pm | 9:54 pm | 10:00 pm | 10:06 pm | 11:45 pm |
| Sydney (AEDST) | 6:39 pm | 9:15 pm | 10:54 pm | 11:00 pm | 11:06 pm | 00:45 am |
| Townsville (AEST) | 6:03 pm | 8:15 pm | 9:54 pm | 10:00 pm | 10:06 pm | 11:45 pm |
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
The Sky This Week - Thursday March 26 to Thursday April 2
The First Quarter Moon is Friday March 27. Venus is prominent in
the
twilight evening
sky. Mars is lost in
the twilight. Jupiter is the
brightest object in the evening sky once Venus has set. Jupiter is visited by the Moon on the 30th. Saturn is in the
head of the Scorpion and now visible in the evening. Mercury is lost to view.
The New Moon is Friday March 20. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on April 1st.
Evening sky on Saturday March 28 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at
20:00 (8:00 pm) ACDST in South Australia. Mars is low in the twilight, with
Venus above it heading towards the Pleiades. Similar views will be seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. On the 22nd the thin crescent Moon is below Venus, and then on the 23rd it is above Venus.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Evening sky on Monday March 30 looking north as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACDST showing Jupiter. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at this time. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the northern horizon. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the northern sky as the night goes on. It is between the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion) and Pollux in Cancer. It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, and looks very good in binoculars.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
On the 30th, The Moon is close to Jupiter. On April 1st from around 10:00 pm, Io's shadow traverses Jupiter's disk.
Evening sky on Saturday March 28 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 23:00 ACDST . Saturn is now visible above the horizon. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible before midnight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is readily visible from around 23:00, but is still best after midnight.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition and Saturn rising. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
The New Moon is Friday March 20. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on April 1st.
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. On the 22nd the thin crescent Moon is below Venus, and then on the 23rd it is above Venus.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the northern sky as the night goes on. It is between the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion) and Pollux in Cancer. It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, and looks very good in binoculars.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
On the 30th, The Moon is close to Jupiter. On April 1st from around 10:00 pm, Io's shadow traverses Jupiter's disk.
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible before midnight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is readily visible from around 23:00, but is still best after midnight.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition and Saturn rising. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Labels: weekly sky
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Nova Sagittarii 2015 No. 2 Still Bright
.png) |  |
| Nova Sagittarii 2015 No. 2 in the lid of the teapot of Sagittarius. This is a stack of 10x15 second exposures, ASA 400, 3x Zoom with my Canon IXUS, taken on 21 March at 5:10 am, click to embiggen | Chart of the same area showing the reference stars. click to embiggen and compare with the actual image. |
PNV J18365700-2855420, is now Nova Sagittarii 2015 No. 2 (because there was an earlier nova in Sagittarius). It is a classic nova based on its spectrum.
Light curve of Nova Sagittarii 2015 No. 2.
There were reports of it being magnitude 4.4, which makes it one of the brightest nova since nova Centauri 2013. It looks like it is fading now, but still above the unaided eye threshold. It is possible it may flare up again like nova Centauri 2013 and nova Delphinus 2013.
Cloud and timing have been my foe for this nova, I caught it once on the 21st at 5:00am, when it was just visible to the averted eye. Lack of decent reference stars at the time suggested it was around magnitude 5. Then on the 22nd I was able to see it only in twilight with binoculars, but it was very distinctive, altering the shape of the teapot asterism.
While it is still bright it is worth getting up in the morning for a look. Observing charts are here.
Labels: astrophotography, binocular, nova, unaided eye
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Aurora Watch and Geomagnetic Alert (22-23 March)
After 2 nights of aurora (with some activity seen by die-hard observers on the
19th) we have yet another Aurora Watch issued by the Australian IPS for the
22nd (yes tonight) and the 23rd due to increased solar wind speed from a Coronal
Hole. Geomagnetic activity is rate at only "unsettled to active" rather than
storm levels, and aurora, if they occur, are likely to be seen only in
Tasmania.
Aurora can occur at any time after nightfall (although around midnight or just after seems to be common). Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too. In the last display proton arcs were seen to the west of the main display.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful),
http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 2305 UT ON 21 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
Geomagnetic activity could result in auroras visible from Tasmania
during local nighttime hours 22-23 Mar. Aurora alerts will follow
should favourable space weather activity eventuate.
Due to elevated solar wind speed and increased IMF magnitude,
there is the possibility of minor storm periods 22-23 Mar if
IMF Bz turns southward.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 22-23 MARCH 2015
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
22 Mar: Unsettled to Active
23 Mar: Unsettled to Active
http://www.ips.gov.au
Aurora can occur at any time after nightfall (although around midnight or just after seems to be common). Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too. In the last display proton arcs were seen to the west of the main display.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful),
http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 2305 UT ON 21 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
Geomagnetic activity could result in auroras visible from Tasmania
during local nighttime hours 22-23 Mar. Aurora alerts will follow
should favourable space weather activity eventuate.
Due to elevated solar wind speed and increased IMF magnitude,
there is the possibility of minor storm periods 22-23 Mar if
IMF Bz turns southward.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 22-23 MARCH 2015
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
22 Mar: Unsettled to Active
23 Mar: Unsettled to Active
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
Friday, March 20, 2015
Viewing Today's Solar Eclipse (20 March 2015)
The total Solar Eclipse of 20 March in the Northern Hemisphere is a long one, due to the perigee full Moon. Unfortunately the track of totality largely misses land. It is effectively only visible in the Fareo Islands and Svalbard Islands. A lot of the Northern Hemisphere sees a decent partial eclipse though.
While we in the Southen Hemisphere don't see any of this, there are a couple of live webcasts of the eclipse to help us enjoy it vicariously.
SLOOH observatory webcast (starts 8:30 UT, 19:30 AEDST, 19:00 ACDST, 18:30 AEST and 16:30 AWST) http://live.slooh.com/stadium/live/the-total-solar-eclipse-of-2015
Space.com webcast (starts same time as SLOOH) http://www.space.com/19195-night-sky-planets-asteroids-webcasts.html
Virtual telescope webcast (starts 8:00 UT) http://www.virtualtelescope.eu/
While we in the Southen Hemisphere don't see any of this, there are a couple of live webcasts of the eclipse to help us enjoy it vicariously.
SLOOH observatory webcast (starts 8:30 UT, 19:30 AEDST, 19:00 ACDST, 18:30 AEST and 16:30 AWST) http://live.slooh.com/stadium/live/the-total-solar-eclipse-of-2015
Space.com webcast (starts same time as SLOOH) http://www.space.com/19195-night-sky-planets-asteroids-webcasts.html
Virtual telescope webcast (starts 8:00 UT) http://www.virtualtelescope.eu/
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Aurora Happening NOW (9:14 pm 18 March)
Last night was the most spectacular auroral display we have seen for probably 10
years, despite most of Southern Australia being clouded out, aurora were seen in
Vic, SA, WA, NSW and even (faintly) Southern QLD.
Tonight is unlikely to repeat this experience, but there is an aurora watch from the IPS and reports of aurora are trickling in.
Aurora have been reported in Invercargil NZ, Tasmania (Howden, Mobray, visible to the unaided eye), Victor Harbour (SA, ?camera only) and possibly Swan Hill (Vic). The Kp index is currently 3 Australia wide and 4 in Tasmania, so aurora may be decent tonight but unlikely to repeat last nights spectacle (Bz isn't negative at the moment, so unlikely to reach QLD this time or NSW).
Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing aurora, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted. As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows. The aurora may come and go as the night goes on, so keep looking.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy is still playing up http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0100 UT ON 18 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A recent Coronal Mass Ejection impact resulted in significant space
weather activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours on
17-Mar. Further aurora sightings during local nighttime hours on
18-Mar are possible.
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Tonight is unlikely to repeat this experience, but there is an aurora watch from the IPS and reports of aurora are trickling in.
Aurora have been reported in Invercargil NZ, Tasmania (Howden, Mobray, visible to the unaided eye), Victor Harbour (SA, ?camera only) and possibly Swan Hill (Vic). The Kp index is currently 3 Australia wide and 4 in Tasmania, so aurora may be decent tonight but unlikely to repeat last nights spectacle (Bz isn't negative at the moment, so unlikely to reach QLD this time or NSW).
Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing aurora, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted. As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows. The aurora may come and go as the night goes on, so keep looking.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy is still playing up http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0100 UT ON 18 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A recent Coronal Mass Ejection impact resulted in significant space
weather activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours on
17-Mar. Further aurora sightings during local nighttime hours on
18-Mar are possible.
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora, unaided eye
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
My First Image of Nova Sagittarius
The image didn't have good comparison stars, all I can say is that it is brighter than magnitude 6.3. It will be interesting to watch it develop over the next few days.
Labels: binocular, nova, unaided eye
The Sky This Week - Thursday March 19 to Thursday March 26
The New Moon is Friday March 20. Venus is prominent in
the
twilight evening
sky and is visited by the Moon on the 22nd and 23rd. Mars is lost in the twilight. Jupiter is the
brightest object in the late evening sky. Saturn is in the
head of the Scorpion. Mercury is getting lower in the morning sky and is visited by the Moon on the 19th. Unaided-eye nova in morning sky. Globe at Night light pollution survey concludes.
The New Moon is Friday March 20. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth on the 20th. Earth is at equinox on the 21st, when day and night are roughly equal in length.
Evening sky on Monday March 23 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at
20:00 (8:00 pm) ACDST in South Australia. Mars is low in the twilight, with
Venus above it and the crescent Moon above Venus. Similar views will be seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. On the 22nd the thin crescent Moon is below Venus, and then on the 23rd it is above Venus.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Evening sky on Saturday March 21 looking north as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACDST showing Jupiter. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at 01:00 on the 24th. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the north-eastern to northern horizon. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the northern sky as the night goes on. It is between the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion) and Pollux in Cancer. It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, and looks very good in binoculars.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
On the 24th from around midnight, Callisto comes out of eclipse, Io traverses Jupiter's disk as does Ganymede's shadow.
Morning sky on Thursday March 19 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 6:30 am ACDST . Mercury is reasonably high above the horizon and close to the crescent Moon. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible well before twilight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is now rising before midnight, but is still best after midnight.
Mercury is lowering in the morning twilight and and this week is the last where it is reasonably easy to see at around a hand-span above the horizon an hour before sunrise. On the 19th it is visited by the crescent Moon.
A new bright nova has been detected in Sagittarius. Visible only in the early morning, it is just on the threshold of unaided eye visibility, and may get brighter, but is easy to see in binoculars. Detailed instructions and charts for viewing are here.
The Globe at Night light pollution survey for March will finish on the 20th.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
The New Moon is Friday March 20. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth on the 20th. Earth is at equinox on the 21st, when day and night are roughly equal in length.
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. On the 22nd the thin crescent Moon is below Venus, and then on the 23rd it is above Venus.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the northern sky as the night goes on. It is between the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion) and Pollux in Cancer. It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, and looks very good in binoculars.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
On the 24th from around midnight, Callisto comes out of eclipse, Io traverses Jupiter's disk as does Ganymede's shadow.
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible well before twilight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is now rising before midnight, but is still best after midnight.
Mercury is lowering in the morning twilight and and this week is the last where it is reasonably easy to see at around a hand-span above the horizon an hour before sunrise. On the 19th it is visited by the crescent Moon.
The Globe at Night light pollution survey for March will finish on the 20th.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Labels: weekly sky
Aurora Happening NOW (8:22 pm 17 March)
Significant unaided eye aurora have been reported in New Zealand and Goulburn
NSW (!!!!!). A large part of Southern Australia is currently under cloud,
however, the Kp index is currently 6 (very good for aurora), if this lasts, SA and WA have a chance of
seeing aurora. Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing aurora, and always
allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted. As always look to
the south for shifting red/green glows. The aurora may come and go as the night
goes on, so keep looking. The all sky aurora camera in Tasmania at Cressy is playing up, the green is not aurora,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2> http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora, unaided eye
Monday, March 16, 2015
Aurora watch for March 17-18
The last aurora watch was accompanied by faint aurora visible after midnight,
this alert may be associated with better auroral conditions
A geomagnetic alert and an aurora watch has been issued by the Australian IPS, the activity is due to a potential impact of a Coronal Mass Ejection from recent solar flares. The activity is likely to start on the 17th, peaking late in the evening of the 18th to the early morning of the 19 March, possibly lasting to the night of the March 19. If aurora occur, this may be visible in Tasmania, New Zealand, and possibly Southern Vic, WA and Southern South Australia. However, like geomagnetic storms CME's are fickle, and the storm may arrive in daylight or may miss earth entirely entirely .. or might just be spectacular.
Fortunately the thin waning Moon will produce little interference.
Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be of help in monitoring for aurora,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
16 Mar: Unsettled
17 Mar: Active
18 Mar: Active to Minor Storm
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 2347 UT ON 15 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A Coronal Mass Ejection is expected to impact the Earth within the
next 24 - 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant space weather
activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours. Aurora
alerts will follow should favourable space weather activity
eventuate.
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
A geomagnetic alert and an aurora watch has been issued by the Australian IPS, the activity is due to a potential impact of a Coronal Mass Ejection from recent solar flares. The activity is likely to start on the 17th, peaking late in the evening of the 18th to the early morning of the 19 March, possibly lasting to the night of the March 19. If aurora occur, this may be visible in Tasmania, New Zealand, and possibly Southern Vic, WA and Southern South Australia. However, like geomagnetic storms CME's are fickle, and the storm may arrive in daylight or may miss earth entirely entirely .. or might just be spectacular.
Fortunately the thin waning Moon will produce little interference.
Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be of help in monitoring for aurora,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
16 Mar: Unsettled
17 Mar: Active
18 Mar: Active to Minor Storm
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 2347 UT ON 15 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A Coronal Mass Ejection is expected to impact the Earth within the
next 24 - 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant space weather
activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours. Aurora
alerts will follow should favourable space weather activity
eventuate.
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
Bright Potential Nova in Sagittarius!
A bright, and I mean REALLY bright, possible nova, last reported magnitude 5.3, has been reported in Sagittarius.
Potential nova PNV J18365700-2855420's location is R.A. 18 36 57.00 Decl. -28 55 42.0 (J2000.0). The CBAT report page is here
http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/unconf/followups/J18365700-2855420.html
It should be reasonably easy to see as a dim star in the middle of the "lid" of the teapot asterism in Sagittarius (but brighter than anything close by). The brightest star flare ups (it may not be a nova but something else) since 2013, unfortunately it is only visible early in the morning from around 3 am daylight saving time on until twilight.
Labels: binocular, nova, unaided eye
Friday, March 13, 2015
Waiting for JAXA
I'm at the classic fighter museum with the SA air cadets waiting to talk to JAXA flight directors
Aurora watch for March 13-14
An aurora watch has been issued by the Australian IPS, the activity is due to a
possible glancing impact of a Coronal Mass Ejection from recent solar flares.
The activity is likely to peak late in the evening of the 13th to the early
morning of the 14 March, possibly lasting to the night of the March 14. If
aurora occur, this may be visible in Tasmania, New Zealand, and possibly
Southern Vic, WA and Southern South Australia. However, like geomagnetic storms
CME's are fickle, and the storm may arrive in daylight or may miss earth
entirely entirely .. or might just be spectacular.
Fortunately the waning Moon will produce little interference.
Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be of help in monitoring for aurora,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0008 UT ON 12 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A Coronal Mass Ejection is expected to impact the Earth within the
next 24 - 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant space weather
activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours. Aurora
alerts will follow should favourable space weather activity
eventuate.
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Fortunately the waning Moon will produce little interference.
Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.
As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, beams have been reported too.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be of help in monitoring for aurora,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0008 UT ON 12 Mar 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A Coronal Mass Ejection is expected to impact the Earth within the
next 24 - 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant space weather
activity and visible auroras during local nighttime hours. Aurora
alerts will follow should favourable space weather activity
eventuate.
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
A Chance to Choose Targets for the Mars Express VMC camera
Mars Express has The Visual Monitoring Camera (VMC, which is basically a webcam).
Originally the VMC was to monitor the separation of the Beagle Lander from the Orbiter, but it is able to give unique, wide field views of Mars. For several years, amateurs have had free reign of the VMC camera images to make images and animations of the Martian surface (more VMC images here).
Now, in a game changer, the VMC on board Mars Express will be soon available for public imaging
requests. They are inviting schools, science clubs and youth groups to
submit proposals for one of eight opportunities to image Mars. If you are interested in submitting a proposal follow the link below.
Labels: Mars, Mars Express VMC, public outreach, webcam
Globe at Night Light Pollution Survey for March 11-20, 2015
The southern evening sky around 9:00 pm daylight saving time in March in Australia.Globe at Night, the international light pollution survey, is running once again. Its third survey this year is on from from March 11-20 (it's US HQ'd, that means we Australians/New Zealanders have until the 21st).
There is now a survey every month of the year. Visit their website for easy to follow instructions and charts to estimate how dark your sky is.
Basically, an hour or so after sunset (8-10 pm) head out, look to the north to find Orion (if you are in the northern hemisphere) or south to find Crux (for us southern hemisphere types) then check how many stars are visible, and report your observations. It's a great excuse to get outdoors and look at the sky. You might even see the International Space Station or an Iridium flare.
You can submit your results on the web, or via a smart phone or tablet. To do this, you can use the web application at www.globeatnight.org/webapp/. Globe at Night is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Labels: globe at night
The Sky This Week - Thursday March 12 to Thursday March 19
The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday March 14. Venus is prominent in
the
twilight evening
sky. Mars is lost in the twilight. Jupiter is the
brightest object in the late evening sky. Saturn is in the
head of the Scorpion and is visited by the waning Moon on March 13. Mercury is
prominent in the morning sky and is visited by the Moon on the 19th. Globe at Night light pollution survey starts.
The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday March 14.
Evening sky on Saturday March 14 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at
20:15 (8:15 pm) ACDST in South Australia. Mars is low in the twilight, with
Venus above it. Similar views will be seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. Venus is also above Mars.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Evening sky on Saturday March 14 looking north-east as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACDST showing Jupiter. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at 22:00 on the 14th. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the north-eastern horizon. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends. It is not far from the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion). It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, and looks very good in binoculars.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Morning sky on Thursday March 19 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 6:30 am ACDST . Mercury is reasonably high above the horizon and close to the crescent Moon. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible well before twilight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is now rising a little before midnight, but it will be later in the month before we get a good look at it in the evening. Saturn is visited by the waning Moon on the 13th.
Mercury is high in the morning twilight and should be reasonably easy to see over a hand-span above the horizon an hour before sunrise. On the 19th it is visited by the crescent Moon.
The Globe at Night light pollution survey for March has started.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday March 14.
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. Venus is also above Mars.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends. It is not far from the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion). It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, and looks very good in binoculars.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible well before twilight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is now rising a little before midnight, but it will be later in the month before we get a good look at it in the evening. Saturn is visited by the waning Moon on the 13th.
Mercury is high in the morning twilight and should be reasonably easy to see over a hand-span above the horizon an hour before sunrise. On the 19th it is visited by the crescent Moon.
The Globe at Night light pollution survey for March has started.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Labels: weekly sky
Tuesday, March 03, 2015
The Sky This Week - Thursday March 5 to Thursday March 12
The Full Moon is Friday March 6. Venus is prominent in
the
twilight evening
sky. Mars is lost in the twilight. Jupiter is the
brightest object in the late evening sky. Saturn is in the
head of the Scorpion and is visited by the waning Moon on March 12. Mercury is
prominent in the morning sky .
The Full Moon is Friday March 6. The Moon is at apogee (furthest from the Earth) on March 5.
Evening sky on Saturday March 7 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at
20:30 (8:30 pm) ACDST in South Australia. Mars is low in the twilight, with
Venus above it. Similar views will be seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. Venus is also just above Mars. As the week goes on the pair separate.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Evening sky on Saturday March 7 looking north-east as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACDST showing Jupiter. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at 22:00 on the 21st. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the north-eastern horizon. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends. It is not far from the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion). It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, but you will have to wait until the end of the week when the Moon is out of the way to see them at their best.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm, although its visibility will improve in the coming weeks. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
On the 9th Io and it's shadow cross the face of Jupiter around 10:00 pm ACDST.
Morning sky on Thursday March 12 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 1:00 am ACDST . Saturn is reasonably high above the horizon and close to the waning Moon. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible well before twilight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is now rising a little before midnight, but it will be later in the month before we get a good look at it in the evening.
Mercury is at its highest in the morning twilight and should be reasonably easy to see over a hand-span above the horizon an hour before sunrise. It is currently in the constellation of Capricornius.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
The Full Moon is Friday March 6. The Moon is at apogee (furthest from the Earth) on March 5.
Venus is easy to see low above the western horizon in the twilight. At civil twilight, half an hour after sunset, it is around one and a half hand-spans above the horizon. Venus is also just above Mars. As the week goes on the pair separate.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Jupiter is now easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the north-eastern horizon when twilight ends. It is not far from the bright star Regulus in the sickle of Leo (this forms the head of the constellation of the Lion). It is also not far from the rather nice Beehive cluster in Cancer, but you will have to wait until the end of the week when the Moon is out of the way to see them at their best.
Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest in our sky, on 7 February, but it will be an excellent object for may weeks to come. Jupiter is visible all night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation from around 10 pm, although its visibility will improve in the coming weeks. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
On the 9th Io and it's shadow cross the face of Jupiter around 10:00 pm ACDST.
Saturn climbs still higher in the morning sky. It is now easily visible well before twilight near the head of the constellation of the Scorpion not far from the bright red star Antares. The sight of the distinctive constellation of the Scorpion curled above the horizon, with bright Saturn in its head, is very nice indeed.
Saturn is now rising a little before midnight, but it will be later in the month before we get a good look at it in the evening.
Mercury is at its highest in the morning twilight and should be reasonably easy to see over a hand-span above the horizon an hour before sunrise. It is currently in the constellation of Capricornius.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter just past opposition. 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.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Labels: weekly sky
Monday, March 02, 2015
Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy Occasional Views January to February
 |  |
| Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy imaged on 17 January 2015. MEDIAN stack of 3x180 second luminance images BIN2, taken with iTelescope T14. North is left, East is bottom. Image inverted for easier tail viewing. Click to embiggen. | Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy imaged on 18 January 2015. MEDIAN stack of 5x180 second luminance images BIN2, taken with iTelescope T14. |
 |  |
| Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy imaged on 23 January 2015. MEDIAN stack of 5x180 second luminance images BIN2, taken with iTelescope T14. | Comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy imaged on 12 February 2015. MEDIAN stack of 3x180 second luminance images BIN2, taken with iTelescope T14. |
I have been a bit distracted over the past month or so with EldestOne going off to Melbourne for University, getting the new years Southern Skywatch set-up, getting ready for semester start and organising a satellite neuroscience meeting for later this year. So I haven't been posting my comet Lovejoy images.
Not that I have many, I have been having terrible bad luck with the weather. Anyway this is my compilation of images I have taken since mid-January with iTelescope T14. While the comet is fading, the tail is still magnificent, showing enormous variation.
You can see my previous C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy images here.
Labels: C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy, comet, iTelescope
Sunday, March 01, 2015
Southern Skywatch March, 2015 edition is now out!
The March edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.
This month a bit of planetary action and Jupiter is still prominent.
Jupiter rises higher in the early evening sky and although opposition has massed, it is still an excellent object this month.
Mars is becoming harder to see in the western evening twilight. Mars is close to the crescent Moon on the 22nd.
Venus is readily visible in the evening sky. Venus is close to the crescent Moon on the 23rd.
Saturn is now high in the morning sky. It is in the head of the constellation of Scorpius, the Scorpion. It is close to the waning Moon on the 12th and 13th.
Mercury is hight the morning sky. It is close to the crescent Moon on the 19th.
Labels: southern skywatch
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