Wednesday, April 29, 2015
The Sky This Week - Thursday April 30 to Thursday May 7
The Full Moon is Monday May 4. 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. The Moon visits Saturn on the 5th. Mercury is difficult to view in the twilight. Eta Aquariid meteor shower May 7-9.
The Full Moon is Monday May 4.
Evening sky on Saturday May 2 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at 18:15 (6:15 pm) ACST in South Australia. Venus is obvious in the
early evening sky between the stars that mark the horns of Taurus. Mercury is just on the horizon Similar views will be
seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see above the western horizon in the twilight. At nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, it is around two hand-spans above the horizon, and still visible at astronomical twilight.
During the week Venus heads away from the Hyades cluster and Aldebaran towards the stars Castor and Pollux, heading for a meeting with Jupiter later next month. On it's way, it passes between the bright stars that mark the horns of Taurus the Bull.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Evening sky on Saturday May 2 looking north-west as seen from
Adelaide
at 20:00 ACST showing Jupiter. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at this time. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the north-western horizon once Venus has set. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the northern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the north-western 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 many weeks to come. Jupiter is visible for most of the night, setting just after midnight, and is high enough for telescopic observation once twilight is over. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes. On April 2 around 22:00 Io comes out of eclipse.
Evening sky on Tuesday May 5 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACST. Saturn is now easily visible above the horizon. The Moon is close by. The
inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn is now easily visible around 9 pm 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.
While Saturn is readily visible from around 20:00, it is best for telescope observation from around 22:00 into the morning hours. It is visited by the Moon on the 5th.
Mercury is low in the western evening sky, but is difficult to see in the twilight.
Morning sky on Thursday May 8 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 4:00 am ACST. The radiant of the eta Aquariid meteor shower is
shown. Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at equivalent
local times. (click
to embiggen).
The eta Aquariids meteor shower, the debris from Halleys comet, will peak on May 6 UT . However, good rates will be seen from Australia on the mornings of the 7th and 8th.
Unfortunately, the waning but nearly full Moon will significantly interfere with viewing meteors this year. People in the suburbs should see a meteor around once every 9 minutes, and in the country about once every 6 minutes. The radiant of the shower is about five handspans up from the eastern horizon, and three handspans to the left of due east at 4 am (see spotter chart at 4 am above).
When looking, be sure to let your eyes adjust for at least 5 minutes so your eyes can be properly adapted to the dark. Don't look directly at the radiant site, because the meteors will often start their "burn" some distance from it, but around a hand-span up or to the side. Be patient, although you should see an average of a meteor every six minutes, a whole stretch of time can go by without a meteor, then a whole bunch turn up one after the other.For more details see my eta Aquariid page.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter, Venus and Saturn in the sky. 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 Monday May 4.
Venus is easy to see above the western horizon in the twilight. At nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, it is around two hand-spans above the horizon, and still visible at astronomical twilight.
During the week Venus heads away from the Hyades cluster and Aldebaran towards the stars Castor and Pollux, heading for a meeting with Jupiter later next month. On it's way, it passes between the bright stars that mark the horns of Taurus the Bull.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter is easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the northern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the north-western 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 many weeks to come. Jupiter is visible for most of the night, setting just after midnight, and is high enough for telescopic observation once twilight is over. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes. On April 2 around 22:00 Io comes out of eclipse.
Saturn is now easily visible around 9 pm 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.
While Saturn is readily visible from around 20:00, it is best for telescope observation from around 22:00 into the morning hours. It is visited by the Moon on the 5th.
Mercury is low in the western evening sky, but is difficult to see in the twilight.
Morning sky on Thursday May 8 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 4:00 am ACST. The radiant of the eta Aquariid meteor shower is
shown. Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at equivalent
local times. (click
to embiggen).The eta Aquariids meteor shower, the debris from Halleys comet, will peak on May 6 UT . However, good rates will be seen from Australia on the mornings of the 7th and 8th.
Unfortunately, the waning but nearly full Moon will significantly interfere with viewing meteors this year. People in the suburbs should see a meteor around once every 9 minutes, and in the country about once every 6 minutes. The radiant of the shower is about five handspans up from the eastern horizon, and three handspans to the left of due east at 4 am (see spotter chart at 4 am above).
When looking, be sure to let your eyes adjust for at least 5 minutes so your eyes can be properly adapted to the dark. Don't look directly at the radiant site, because the meteors will often start their "burn" some distance from it, but around a hand-span up or to the side. Be patient, although you should see an average of a meteor every six minutes, a whole stretch of time can go by without a meteor, then a whole bunch turn up one after the other.For more details see my eta Aquariid page.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. Especially with Jupiter, Venus and Saturn in the sky. 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
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Geomagnetic Alert (22 April, 2015)
A geomagnetic alert has been issued by the Australian IPS for the 22nd (yes
tonight) to possibly the morning of the 23rd due to a high speed solar wind
stream from a coronal hole. Geomagnetic activity is rated at "Unsettled to
Active, isolated minor storm periods possible." Aurora, if they occur, are
likely to be seen only in Tasmania (possibly Victoria if the minor storm
eventuates)
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 consistently over the last few aurora and a large green "blob" has been seen.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful.
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>
SUBJ: IPS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 15/14
ISSUED AT 2339UT/21 APRIL 2015
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
Due to continued effect of a high speed solar wind stream from
a coronal hole, isolated periods of minor geomagnetic storm may
be observed on 22 April.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FOR 22 APRIL 2015
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
22 Apr: Unsettled to Active, isolated minor storm periods possible
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 consistently over the last few aurora and a large green "blob" has been seen.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful.
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>
SUBJ: IPS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 15/14
ISSUED AT 2339UT/21 APRIL 2015
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
Due to continued effect of a high speed solar wind stream from
a coronal hole, isolated periods of minor geomagnetic storm may
be observed on 22 April.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FOR 22 APRIL 2015
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
22 Apr: Unsettled to Active, isolated minor storm periods possible
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
The 2015 Australian Lyrid Meteor Shower, Morning 23 April
The Lyrids, the debris of comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) are a weak but reliable shower that occurs every year between April 16- April 25, with the peak this year around 24 hrs UT on April 22 .
That's around 10 am 23 April in east coast Australia, the radiant doesn't rise until 1 am on the 23rd, so the best time to view the Lyrids in Australia is from 4 am on the 23rd.
The predicted ZHR this year is 18 meteors per hour. This means that under ideal conditions, you will see a meteor on average about once every three minutes. This can be as interesting as watching paint dry. Also, while that meteor every three minutes is the average, meteors are like buses, you wait for ages and then a whole bunch turn up. In Australia, the rate is even less, around 4-5 meteors an hour in Northern Australia. For southern Australia, the rate is even lower.
The predicted ZHR this year is 18 meteors per hour. This means that under ideal conditions, you will see a meteor on average about once every three minutes. This can be as interesting as watching paint dry. Also, while that meteor every three minutes is the average, meteors are like buses, you wait for ages and then a whole bunch turn up.
The rate is actually less than the ZHR, ZHR means Zenithal Hourly Rate, the number of meteors you could expect to see if the radiant (the apparent position where the meteors originate) was at the highest point of the sky, under dark sky conditions.
Of course under real conditions the Lyrids radiant will not rise that high for most places, and most places won't have really dark skies. The lower the radiant is, the thicker atmosphere will obscure the fainter meteors, and some of the meteors will start to "burn" below the horizon, so over all you will see fewer.
This is particularly true in Australia, where the radiant is very low to the horizon. In Australia the radiant rises about 1 am local time, but it is not really high enough for there to be any real chance of seeing meteors until around 4 am, when the radiant is between three handspans to four handspans above the horizon (see diagram above). The Moon has long set, so Moonlight is not a factor this year..
From Australia, at 4 am, under dark sky conditions, we will see between 3 meteors per hour (southern states) to 4-5 meteors per hour (Northern Territory and QLD).
Choose 6 April Lyrids from the drop down meteor shower Menu, the date (make sure that you set the year to 2015, and your location, most people will have to put in their latitude and longitude (strangely, Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin and Perth are listed in the drop down menu, but Sydney, Melbourne and Hobart are not) under "other" in the location box.
This will give you a chart of the numbers of meteors per hour you can expect at various times (see image to the left).
The Lyrids are pretty poor in Australia, but if you are patient you may see the occasional meteor shooting up from below the horizon.
Labels: Meteors
Venus, Moon and Aldebaran, April 21 2015
-1.png) | -1.png) |
| Venus, the Moon and the Hyades on 21 April 2015. Orion is visible above them. Stack of 10x10 second exposures 400 ISO with my Canon IXUS. Click to embiggen to see both the Moon and Venus reflected in the sea.. | Venus, the Moon, Aldebaran (the brightest star) and the Hyades on 21 April 2015. Stack of 10x8 second exposures 400 ISO and 3 x Zoom with my Canon IXUS. Click to embiggen. |
After days of terrible weather and inconvenient cloud, the sky was perfectly clear and I could see Venus and the crescent Moon clearly on the train on the way home. Got the camera set up at home and then watched the Moon and stars brighten as the twilight deepened and the Moon and Venus headed to the sea.
-1.png)
Venus and the Moon (and Aldebaran if you click to embiggen) above the roof at around 6:00 pm.
Tomorrow (22 April) the crescent Moon will be on the other side of Venus and Aldebaran. Lets hope its is clear as well. You should be able to see Venus in daylight by looking down from the Moon.
Labels: astrophotography, Conjunction, Moon, Venus
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
The Sky This Week - Thursday April 23 to Thursday April 30
This is Global Astronomy Month. The First Quarter Moon is Sunday April 26. 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. The Moon visits Jupiter on the 26th. Saturn is in the
head of the Scorpion and now visible in the evening. Mercury is lost to
view. Lyrid Meteor shower morning 23rd.
The First Quarter Moon is Sunday April 26. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from Earth, on the 29th.
Evening sky on Saturday April 21 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at 18:30 (6:30 pm) ACST in South Australia. Venus is obvious in the
early evening sky in line with the bright star Aldebaran. Similar views will be
seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see above the western horizon in the twilight. At nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, it is around two hand-spans above the horizon, and still visible at astronomical twilight.
During the week Venus heads away from the Hyades cluster and Aldebaran towards the stars Castor and Pollux, heading for a meeting with Jupiter later next month..
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Evening sky on Sunday April 26 looking north-west as seen from
Adelaide
at 20:00 ACST showing Jupiter and the Moon. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at this time. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the north-western horizon once Venus has set. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the northern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the north-western 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 many weeks to come. Jupiter is visible for most of the night, setting just after midnight, and is high enough for telescopic observation once twilight is over. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Evening sky on Saturday April 25 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACST. Saturn is now easily visible above the horizon. The
inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn is now easily visible around 9 pm 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.
While Saturn is readily visible from around 21:00, it is best for telescope observation from around 22:00 into the morning hours.
Mercury is low in the western evening sky, but is difficult to see in the twilight.
The morning sky looking north as seen from Brisbane at 5:00 am AEST on
April 23. The Lyrid radiant is marked with a yellow cross. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere at an equivalent local time the radiant will be
higher in northern Australia, and lower in southern Australia (click to
embiggen).
The Lyrids, the debris of comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) are a weak but reliable shower that occurs every year between April 16- April 25, with the peak this year around 24 hrs UT on April 22 .
That's around 10 am 23 April in east coast Australia, but as the radiant doesn't rise until 1 am, the best time to view the Lyrids in Australia is from 4 am on the 23rd.
The predicted ZHR this year is 18 meteors per hour. This means that under ideal conditions, you will see a meteor on average about once every three minutes. This can be as interesting as watching paint dry. Also, while that meteor every three minutes is the average, meteors are like buses, you wait for ages and then a whole bunch turn up. In Australia, the rate is even less, around 6 meteors an hour in Northern Australia. For southern Australia, the rate is even lower.
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.
The First Quarter Moon is Sunday April 26. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from Earth, on the 29th.
Venus is easy to see above the western horizon in the twilight. At nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, it is around two hand-spans above the horizon, and still visible at astronomical twilight.
During the week Venus heads away from the Hyades cluster and Aldebaran towards the stars Castor and Pollux, heading for a meeting with Jupiter later next month..
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter is easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the northern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the north-western 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 many weeks to come. Jupiter is visible for most of the night, setting just after midnight, and is high enough for telescopic observation once twilight is over. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Saturn is now easily visible around 9 pm 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.
While Saturn is readily visible from around 21:00, it is best for telescope observation from around 22:00 into the morning hours.
Mercury is low in the western evening sky, but is difficult to see in the twilight.
The Lyrids, the debris of comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) are a weak but reliable shower that occurs every year between April 16- April 25, with the peak this year around 24 hrs UT on April 22 .
That's around 10 am 23 April in east coast Australia, but as the radiant doesn't rise until 1 am, the best time to view the Lyrids in Australia is from 4 am on the 23rd.
The predicted ZHR this year is 18 meteors per hour. This means that under ideal conditions, you will see a meteor on average about once every three minutes. This can be as interesting as watching paint dry. Also, while that meteor every three minutes is the average, meteors are like buses, you wait for ages and then a whole bunch turn up. In Australia, the rate is even less, around 6 meteors an hour in Northern Australia. For southern Australia, the rate is even lower.
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
Friday, April 17, 2015
Aurora Watch (17-18 April)
An Aurora Watch and a geomagnetic alert has been issued by the Australian IPS
for the 17th (yes tonight) to the 18th due to a high speed solar wind stream
from a coronal hole. Given long lasting effects for the unexpected aurora on the
15th (which lasted into the morning of the 16th) and the bursts of geomagnetic
activity that occurred during daylight hours today this could translate into
aurora at any time. Geomagnetic activity is rated at "unsettled to active with
isolated Minor Storm levels." Aurora, if they occur, are likely to be seen only
in Tasmania (possibly Victoria if the minor storm eventuates), but in the last
unexpected storm they were seen in WA as well.
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 consistently over the last few aurora and a large green "blob" has been seen.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful.
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
17 Apr: Mostly unsettled to active with minor storm periods possible at high
latitudes
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0713 UT ON 17 Apr 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A coronal hole solar wind stream has resulted in more significant and
sustained geomagnetic activity than anticipated during the past 24-48
hours with auroras observed in far southern Australian regions, eg
Tasmania. Should this activity continue further auroras may be
observed over these and other mid-high latitude regions tonight.
Aurora alerts will follow should favourable space weather activity
eventuate.
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 consistently over the last few aurora and a large green "blob" has been seen.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful.
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
17 Apr: Mostly unsettled to active with minor storm periods possible at high
latitudes
SUBJ: IPS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0713 UT ON 17 Apr 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A coronal hole solar wind stream has resulted in more significant and
sustained geomagnetic activity than anticipated during the past 24-48
hours with auroras observed in far southern Australian regions, eg
Tasmania. Should this activity continue further auroras may be
observed over these and other mid-high latitude regions tonight.
Aurora alerts will follow should favourable space weather activity
eventuate.
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
My First Image of C/2015 G2 (MASTER) 15 April 2015
Nice long thin tail.
Labels: C/2015 G2, comet, iTelescope
Venus and the Hyades
-1.png) | -1.png) |
| Venus and the Hyades on 12 April 2015. The Pleiades are hidden by cloud. Stack of 10x15 second exposures 400 ISO with my Canon IXUS. Click to embiggen. | Venus and the Hyades on 15 April 2015. The Pleiades are still hidden by cloud. Stack of 10x15 second exposures 400 ISO with my Canon IXUS. Click to embiggen. |
Venus and the Pleiades had a close encounter over the weekend, I of course, had cloud. I did get some clear patches, enough that I got some shots though. None with the Pleiades in them though.
Labels: Venus
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Aurora Happening NOW! (11:28 PM 15 April)
Unaided eye aurora are being reported from Tasmania NOW, despite cloud. Kindex is 4,
Bz North but impressive glows and beams are being reported. Go out and look
NOW!
EDIT: Current reports Park Beach, Old Beach, Howden (now clouded out), Murdunna and Esperance WA!
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.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful, beams are being picked up on it at the moment,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
EDIT: Current reports Park Beach, Old Beach, Howden (now clouded out), Murdunna and Esperance WA!
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.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful, beams are being picked up on it at the moment,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
The Sky This Week - Thursday April 16 to Thursday April 23
This is Global Astronomy Month. The New Moon is Sunday April 19. Venus is prominent in
the twilight evening sky. The crescent Moon, Venus and the red star Aldebaran form a triangle in the 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.
The New Moon is Sunday April 19.
Evening sky on Tuesday April 21 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at 18:30 (6:30 pm) ACST in South Australia. Venus is obvious in the
early evening sky and forms a triangle with the crescent Moon and the bright star Aldebaran. Similar views will be
seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see above the western horizon in the twilight. At nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, it is around two hand-spans above the horizon, and still visible at astronomical twilight.
During the week Venus heads towards the Hyades cluster and Aldebaran. Venus and Aldebaran are closest on the 19th. On the 21st and the 22nd the pair are joined by the crescent Moon, making an attractive triangle on these nights. The 21st is not quite the "Night of the Smiley Fritz" but will still look rather anthropomorphic.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Evening sky on Saturday April 18 looking north-west as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACST showing Jupiter. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at this time. Ganymede is about to come out from behind Jupiter at this time. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the north-western horizon once Venus has set. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the northern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the north-western 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 many weeks to come. Jupiter is visible for most of the night, setting around 1 am, and is high enough for telescopic observation once twilight is over. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Evening sky on Saturday April 18 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACST. Saturn is now easily visible above the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn is now easily visible around 10pm 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.
While Saturn is readily visible from around 22:00, it is best for telescope observation from around 23:00 into the morning hours.
Mercury re-enters the western evening sky, but 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.
The New Moon is Sunday April 19.
Venus is easy to see above the western horizon in the twilight. At nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, it is around two hand-spans above the horizon, and still visible at astronomical twilight.
During the week Venus heads towards the Hyades cluster and Aldebaran. Venus and Aldebaran are closest on the 19th. On the 21st and the 22nd the pair are joined by the crescent Moon, making an attractive triangle on these nights. The 21st is not quite the "Night of the Smiley Fritz" but will still look rather anthropomorphic.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter is easily seen in the evening sky. It is the brightest object above the northern horizon when twilight ends, and continues into the north-western 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 many weeks to come. Jupiter is visible for most of the night, setting around 1 am, and is high enough for telescopic observation once twilight is over. Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Saturn is now easily visible around 10pm 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.
While Saturn is readily visible from around 22:00, it is best for telescope observation from around 23:00 into the morning hours.
Mercury re-enters the western evening sky, but 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
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Aurora Alert NOW (11 April)
An aurora alert has been issued by the Australian IPS for high latitudes, some
reports of green glows from Tasmania, and a report of aurora from Dunedin
NZ
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 waning Moon will interfere quite a bit after it rises around 10:00 pm.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful, but has been on the blink lately,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>
SUBJ: IPS AURORA ALERT HIGH LATITUDES
ISSUED AT 0920 UT ON 11 Apr 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
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 waning Moon will interfere quite a bit after it rises around 10:00 pm.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful, but has been on the blink lately,
<http://www.ips.gov.au/Geophysical/4/2>
SUBJ: IPS AURORA ALERT HIGH LATITUDES
ISSUED AT 0920 UT ON 11 Apr 2015 BY IPS RADIO AND SPACE SERVICES
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
Two Bright Planets, Two Clusters (11 April, 2015)
 |  |
| Evening sky on Saturday April 11 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 19:00 (7:00 pm) ACST in South Australia. Venus is obvious in the early evening sky and is close to the Pleiades. Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen). | Evening sky on Saturday April 11 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide at 22:00 ACST showing Jupiter. The right inset shows Jupiter's Moons at this time.The Left inset shows the Beehive cluster. Jupiter is the brightest object above the north-western horizon once Venus has set. (click to embiggen). |
This weekend, ifwe are not clouded out, there will be a rather nice conjunction of bright plantes and star clusters.
On Saturday 11 April, Venus is at its closest to the beautiful Pleiades cluster. Venus has been edging closer to this iconic open cluster for some days now, and will be close for a few more after Saturday, but Saturday is when it is at its best. Even under suburban skies the cluster is easily visible to the unaided eye, and will look neat with Venus nearby in binoculars.
Venus is visible from around Sunset, but the Pleiades and Venus will be best around an hour after Sunset. This is a balance between the darkness of the sky and the height above the horizon (the Pleaides will be around a hand-span above the western-horizon at this time.
Over to the north-west is Jupiter, the brightest object in the sky after Venus, it is close to another iconic open cluster, the Beehive. The Beehive is fainter and less obvious than the Pleiades, and may be difficut to see with the unaided eye in suburban settings, but Jupiter and the Beehive will look good in binocuars together.
Unlike Venus and the Pleiades, Jupiter stays within binocular range of the Beehive for a couple of weeks.
So this weekend is a great time to see a rather unusual and beautiful sights, tow bright planets near two iconic (mostly) unaided eye visible open clusters.
Labels: binocular, cluster, Jupiter, Pleiades, unaided eye, Venus
Friday, April 10, 2015
Geomagnetic storm happening NOW (10 April)
The coronal mass ejection hit in daylight, but a class 2 geomagnetic is still
going on. At the moment the Kp is 4 Australia wide and 5 in Hobart. However the
Bz is North, so this may not produce significant aurora.Camera only colour has been reported in Tasmania.
However, the best thing is to keep on looking, while there is camera only colour, something stronger may occur, and if the polarity switches south then serious aurora should happen, possibly as far north as Victoria. Cloud is hampering reports from Tasmania, but it is well worthwhile popping out a regular intervals to check.
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 waning Moon will interfere quite a bit after it rises around 9:30 pm.
The all sky aurora camera in Southern Tasmania at Cressy may be helpful, but has been on the blink lately,
<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
Thursday, April 09, 2015
Aurora Watch (9-10 April)
An Aurora Watch and a geomagnetic alert has been issued by the Australian IPS
for the 9th (yes tonight) to the 10th due to an anticipated Coronal Mass
Ejection impact combined with a high speed solar wind stream from a coronal
hole. Late on the 9th seems the most likely time (although that might be in the
early morning of the 10th). Geomagnetic activity is rated at "unsettled to active
with isolated Minor Storm levels." Aurora, if they occur, are likely to be seen
only in Tasmania (possibly Victoria if the minor storm
eventuates).
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 waning Moon will interfere quite a bit after it rises around 9 pm.
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 2357 UT ON 08 Apr 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 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.
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
09 Apr: Quiet to Active with a chance of isolated Minor Storm levels.
10 Apr: Quiet 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 waning Moon will interfere quite a bit after it rises around 9 pm.
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 2357 UT ON 08 Apr 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 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.
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
09 Apr: Quiet to Active with a chance of isolated Minor Storm levels.
10 Apr: Quiet to Active.
Further monitoring at
http://www.ips.gov.au
Labels: aurora
Wednesday, April 08, 2015
The Sky This Week - Thursday April 9 to Thursday April 16
This is Global Astronomy Month. The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday April 12. Venus is prominent in
the twilight evening sky and comes close to the Pleiades cluster. 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.
The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday April 12, the Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 17th.
Evening sky on Saturday April 11 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at 19:00 (7:00 pm) ACST in South Australia. Venus is obvious in the early evening sky and is close to the Pleiades. Similar views will be seen
elsewhere
at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Venus is easy to see above the western horizon in the twilight. At nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, it is around two hand-spans above the horizon, and still visible at astronomical twilight.
During the week Venus heads towards the beautiful Pleiades cluster, it will be at its closest on the 11th.
Mars is low in the western twilight sky and is effectively lost to view.
Evening sky on Saturday April 11 looking north-west as seen from
Adelaide
at 22:00 ACST showing Jupiter. The inset shows
Jupiter's Moons at this time. Jupiter is the brightest object
above the north-western horizon once Venus has set. (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 many weeks to come. Jupiter is visible for most of the night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation once twilight is over . 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 22:00 ACST. Saturn is now easily visible above the horizon. (click
to embiggen).
Saturn is now easily visible around 10pm 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.
While Saturn is readily visible from around 22:00, it is best for telescope observation from midnight into the morning hours.
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.
The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday April 12, the Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 17th.
Venus is easy to see above the western horizon in the twilight. At nautical twilight, an hour after sunset, it is around two hand-spans above the horizon, and still visible at astronomical twilight.
During the week Venus heads towards the beautiful Pleiades cluster, it will be at its closest on the 11th.
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 many weeks to come. Jupiter is visible for most of the night and is high enough for decent telescopic observation once twilight is over . Jupiter's Moons will be putting on a good display in both binoculars and small telescopes.
Saturn is now easily visible around 10pm 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.
While Saturn is readily visible from around 22:00, it is best for telescope observation from midnight into the morning hours.
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
Saturday, April 04, 2015
Peeking at a Short Lunar Eclipse Through the Cloud.
 |  |
| Moon at 20:35 ACDST, as seen from Largs North, Adelaide. A faint penumbral darkening can be seen at the left. | 20:41 ACDST, the clouds are moving in. |
 |  |
| 21:46 A break in the clouds reveals a substantially eclipsed Moon | 21:47, a different exposure to reveal clouds and earthglow. |
 |  |
| 21:59 The shadow advances | 22:23 A faint post eclipse Moon seen through the clouds. |
All afternoon the sky was a brilliant blue, the warm sunshine moderated by a chilly breeze. Shortly after sunset a pack of clouds moved over, but the moved on and I set up my 4" Newtonian ready for the night.
I got a test shot of the the penumbral part of the eclipse before the main partial phase started under clear skies.
And then the cloud rolled in.
I didn't give up but waited patiently for the clouds to clear. It didn't. There were gaps in the cloud, which seemed to conscientiously avoid the Moon, and I got a couple of shots off. I had a fleeting glimpse of totality (too quick to image) and then the gaps disappeared. Around 22:30 I gave up.
One thing I can say is that Fred Espenak's prediction of 5 minutes totality looked to be correct, from the brief flashes I saw.
As I write NOW there are larger gaps, and I can see the shadow slipping off the Moon, but I have stowed the telescope and camera away, I'm about to hit bed so I can be up early for the Kids Easter egg hunt.
Well, that's the last total eclipse from Australia until January 2018. Even though plagued by clouds, I'm glad I got to see it.
Labels: astrophotography, eclipse, Moon, telescope
Nova Sagittarii 2015 (No. 2) is Bright Again!
-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 4 April at 6:20 am, click to embiggen | 24 March, stack of 8 images, same conditions a the 4th ecept taken at at 5:10 am, click to embiggen. |
Nova Sagittarii 2015 No. still teases me with only occasional chances of images. This morning however, even with twilight advancing, the nova was very obvious with averted vision.
-1.png)
This nova is well worth watching still, although Moonlight will now make visual observing harder.
Previous images here. Spotters charts here and here.
Labels: astrophotography, binocular, nova, unaided eye
Live Webcasts of Tonights Lunar Eclipse (4 April, 2015)
Click to embiggen. If you are clouded out of tonights lunar eclipse, there are some live webcasts for you to watch.
Slooh will be doing a live webcast .
So will the Virtual Telescope.
As well as NASA.
All these start around 10 UT, which is 9 pm AEDST (8 pm AEST), 8:30 pm ACDST (7:30 ACST) and 6:00 pm AWST.
Don't forget to pop out even if it is clouds to catch breaks in the cloud, or the Moon under thing cloud will look good too.
Full details (Viewing charts, local times of eclipse start, totality start and end, Moonrise and twilight etc.) for observing the eclipse are here, and hints on photographing the eclipse here.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Labels: eclipse, Moon, public outreach, webcam
Southern Skywatch April, 2015 edition is now out!
North-Eastern horizon as seen from Adelaide on 4 April at 10:24 pm ACDST. The total eclipse has just begun . Click to embiggenThe April edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.
This month has lots planetary action with Venus, Jupiter and Saturn prominent.
Total Lunar Eclipse on the 4th.
Jupiter is high in the early evening sky and although opposition has passed, it is still an excellent object this month.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Venus is readily visible in the evening sky. Venus is close to the Pleiades cluster on the 11th. Venus is close to the crescent Moon on the 21st, forming a triangle with Aldebaran.
Saturn is now visible in the evening sky. It is in the head of the constellation of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Saturn is close to the waning Moon on the 8th.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Labels: southern skywatch
Thursday, April 02, 2015
I'm on the Radio 7:10 am this Saturday April 4, 2015
North-Eastern horizon as seen from Adelaide on 4 April at 10:24 pm ACDST. The total eclipse has just begun . Click to embiggenOn the morning of Saturday April 4 January I'll be on ABC local radio (Adelaide 891 AM) with Ashley Walsh, going live around 7:10 am ACDST (7:40 AEDST, 6:40 AEST).
I'll be talking (briefly) about the Total Lunar Eclipse that night and how to see it. So listen if you can (they doing streaming, so even if you are not in Adelaide you can catch this on your computer).
I also did a radio interview for 2SER on homeopathy (with a cast of thousands) You can hear me mumbling at this weblink http://www.2ser.com/component/k2/item/14358-belief-in-homeopathy-challenged-by-nhmrc-review
Labels: eclipse, Moon, public outreach, Radio
Don't Forget - Easter Total Lunar Eclipse April 4, 2015
There is a total lunar eclipse during the Full Moon on Easter Saturday, April 4. 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 three quarter hours later.
Full details (Viewing charts, local times of eclipse start, totality start and end, Moonrise and twilight etc.) for observing the eclipse are here, and hints on photographing the eclipse here.
This is one of the shortest total eclipses for a century, with totality being either 12 minutes in duration or 5 minutes, depending on the shape model for the Earth's shadow and accounting for differences in how the edge of the shadow is defined. It is also the last total eclipse seen from Australia until 2018.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Even it is cloudy, you may still see the eclipse through thin cloud or a gap in the cloud. So go have a look! It will be your last chance until January 2018.
Labels: astrophotography, eclipse, Moon, unaided eye
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