Monday, February 29, 2016
Southern Skywatch March, 2016 edition is now out!
The March edition of Southern Skywatch is up.
This month is quite busy. A partial solar eclipse, a penumbral eclipse of the Moon, the opposition of Jupiter and still more nice planetary action.
Jupiter and Mars are now in the evening sky, and Saturn joins them mid month. At the begining of the month in the early morning Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter form a line in the morning sky and the crescent Moon joins them. Mercury leaves the line-up early in the month.
Jupiter is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, and has some nice jovian moon action.
Mars comes very close to the star Graffias and has close encounters with the waning Moon.
Saturn has close encounters with the crescent Moon.
Venus is prominent in the morning twilight and is close to the crescent Moon on the 7th.
Mercury , the crescent Moon and Venus from a triangle on the 8th.
Labels: southern skywatch
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Lots and Lots of Bright ISS passes (Morning and Evening, 25 February-1 March)
 |  |  |
| The ISS passes below Jupiter, as seen from Adelaide on the morning of Sunday 28 February at 5:56 ACDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes below Jupiter, as seen from Brisbane on the morning of Monday 29 February at 4:38 AEST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes above Jupiter, as seen from Perth on the morning of Sunday 28 February at 4:59 AWST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. |
 |  |  |
| All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Sunday 28 February for Adelaide. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Monday 29 February for Brisbane. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Sunday 28 February for Perth. |
This week there a series of bright passes of the International Space Station. Early in the week they are in the morning, late in the week they are in the evening, and there are a couple of dual morning/evening bright passes.
Thursday morning (25 Feb) sees the ISS pass over Mercury and Venus as seen from Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne.The morning of Friday the 26th sees the ISS pass near the head of the Scorpio and Mars as seen from Adelaide and Perth, and the Moon for Melbourne (Brisbane sees the ISS pass near the head of the Scorpio and Mars on the 25th).
Probably the most spectacular pass in on the morning of 27 Feb (Melbourne) 28 Feb (Adelaide and Perth) and 29 Feb (Brisbane) when the bright ISS pops out of the Earth's Shadow near Jupiter. See the images above for timings for Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth.
There's lots more, as a brief sampler, on the evening of 1 March the ISS passes over alpha Centauri as seen from Perth, through the middle of the Southern Cross as seen from Birsbane, between the pointers as seen from Melbourne and between th epointers and the Southern Cross as seen from Adelaide.
When and what you will see is VERY location dependent, so you need to use either Heavens Above or CalSky to get site specific predictions for your location (I'm using Sydney, Adelaide and Perth as examples, choosing some of the more distinctive events, but there are lots more that are perfectly nice.).
Start looking several minutes before the pass is going to start to get yourself oriented and your eyes dark adapted. Be patient, there may be slight differences in the time of the ISS appearing due to orbit changes not picked up by the predictions.
Labels: astrophotography, ISS, Jupiter, Mercury, unaided eye, Venus
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
ISS and Venus in the Morning (Wednesday 24 February) and many more.
This is the first of many bright passes the week, first in the morning and then in the evening, and I have to go to bed now as I am exhausted.
Every where in Australia will see different passes at different times. So check out either Heavens Above or CalSky to get site specific predictions for your location
Labels: ISS, unaided eye, Venus
The Sky This Week - Thursday February 25 to Thursday March 3
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday March 2. The Moon occults beta Virginis ont he morning of the 25th. Jupiter is visible in the
late
evening sky. All five bright
planets; Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Saturn and Mercury form a long line in
the
morning sky.
Venus and Mercury are close low above the horizon. Saturn is
close to the red star Antares. The Moon visits Mars on the 1st, and Saturn on the 2nd and 3rd.
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday March 2. The Moon is at Apogee, when it is furthest from the earth, on the 27th.
The evening sky facing east in Adelaide on February 25
at 4:45 am ACDST showing the waning Moon just about to cover Zavijava
(Beta Virginis). (similar views will be seen from other central and
eastern locations at a similar local time eg 5:27 AEDST Canberra). The
inset shows a telescopic view of the Moon at 4:45 am ACDST, with
Zavijava about to go behind the Moon.(click
to embiggen).
For more detail and timings see this page.
Jupiter enters the evening sky around 20:30 local daylight saving time, but is only really good for telescopic observation from around 22:00 on. Jupiter's Moons will be an excellent sight late in the evening.
The evening is also graced by the summer constellations of Taurus (with the V shaped cluster the Hyades forming the head of Taurus the Bull and the beautiful Pleiades cluster nearby), Orion the Hunter and Canis Major with bright Sirius, the dog star, above the northern horizon at the beginning of evening.
Early morning sky on Tuesday March 1 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 6:00 ACDST showing the Moon close to Mars, with Saturn and the red star Antares close by, and
Venus and Mercury. Similar views
will
be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is lowering in the north-western morning skies and is rising around 20:30 in the evening.
Mars is higher in the morning skies and is readily visible in the pre twilight dark. Mars slowly heads towards the head of the Scorpion. The waning Moon visits Mars on the 1st.
Venus is easy to see in the morning twilight. It is a distinct "gibbous Moon" shape and is nice in a small telescope. Venus is now within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next week.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. The crescent Moon visits Saturn on the 2nd, making a nice patern with Mars and Antares, and is still close on the 3rd.
Mercury is low in the morning twilight. Mercury and Venus are within less than a hand-span of each other, and the pair remain close for the next week.
This week all five of the bright planets are visible in the morning sky. Saturn and the red star Antares are close. During the week Venus moves through Capricornius. Mercury is close to Venus.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday March 2. The Moon is at Apogee, when it is furthest from the earth, on the 27th.
For more detail and timings see this page.
Jupiter enters the evening sky around 20:30 local daylight saving time, but is only really good for telescopic observation from around 22:00 on. Jupiter's Moons will be an excellent sight late in the evening.
The evening is also graced by the summer constellations of Taurus (with the V shaped cluster the Hyades forming the head of Taurus the Bull and the beautiful Pleiades cluster nearby), Orion the Hunter and Canis Major with bright Sirius, the dog star, above the northern horizon at the beginning of evening.
Jupiter is lowering in the north-western morning skies and is rising around 20:30 in the evening.
Mars is higher in the morning skies and is readily visible in the pre twilight dark. Mars slowly heads towards the head of the Scorpion. The waning Moon visits Mars on the 1st.
Venus is easy to see in the morning twilight. It is a distinct "gibbous Moon" shape and is nice in a small telescope. Venus is now within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next week.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. The crescent Moon visits Saturn on the 2nd, making a nice patern with Mars and Antares, and is still close on the 3rd.
Mercury is low in the morning twilight. Mercury and Venus are within less than a hand-span of each other, and the pair remain close for the next week.
This week all five of the bright planets are visible in the morning sky. Saturn and the red star Antares are close. During the week Venus moves through Capricornius. Mercury is close to Venus.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Occultation of Zavijava (Beta Virginis) by the Moon, February 25, 2016
The evening sky facing east in Adelaide on February 25 at 4:45 am ACDST showing the waning Moon just about to cover Zavijava (Beta Virginis). (similar views will be seen from other central and eastern locations at a similar local time eg 5:27 AEDST Canberra). The inset shows a telescopic view of the Moon at 4:45 am ACDST, with Zavijava about to go behind the Moon.The waning Moon passes in front of the moderately bright Zavijava (Beta Virginis) in the constellation of Virgo on the morning of February 25. Zavijava is a brightish white star visible to the unaided eye (magnitude 3.6). The occultation will be seen from Eastern Australia and Central Australia. For Eastern Australia the occultation begins around Astronomical twilight, and ends near civil twilight or sunrise (Brisbane))
With the Moon at just past full, this event is really best seen with binoculars or a small telescope (especially for the reappearance of the star in the twilight). If you have a tripod or other stand for your binoculars, it will be much easier to observe. Set up about half an hour before the occultation to watch the star disappear (so you are not mucking around with equipment at the last moment).
| City | Disappears behind bright limb | Reappears from dark limb |
| Australia | ||
| Adelaide (ACDST) | 04:50 | 05:37 |
| Brisbane (AEST) | 04:22 | 05:38 |
| Canberra (AEDST) | 05:27 | 06:25 |
| Darwin (ACST) | 02:52 | 04:27 |
| Alice Springs (ACST) | 03:15 | 04:42 |
| Hobart (AEDST) | -- | 05:52 (grazing) |
| Melbourne (AEDST) | 05:31 | 06:11 |
| Perth (AWST) | -- | -- |
| Sydney (AEDST) | 05:26 | 06:30 |
Labels: binocular, Moon, Occultation, unaided eye
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
The Sky This Week - Thursday February 18 to Thursday February 25
The Full Moon is Tuesday February 23. Jupiter is visible in the
late
evening sky. The Moon is close to Jupiter on the 24th. All five bright
planets; Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Saturn and Mercury form a long line in
the
morning sky.
Venus and Mercury are close low above the horizon. Saturn is
close to the red star Antares.
The Full Moon is Tuesday February 23.
Evening sky on Wednesday February 24 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 23:00 ACDST. The Moon is near Jupiter. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter enters the evening sky around 21:00 daylight saving time, but is only really good for telescopic observation from around 23:00 on. Jupiter's Moons will be an excellent sight late in the evening. There will be some good line-ups this week, especially the 18th, 22nd and 24th.
The evening is also graced by the summer constellations of Taurus (with the V shaped cluster the Hyades forming the head of Taurus the Bull and the beautiful Pleiades cluster nearby) Orion the Hunter and Canis Major with bright Sirius, the dog star, above the northern horizon at the beginning of evening.
Early morning sky on Saturday February 21 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 5:30 ACDST showing Mars, Saturn with the red star Antares close by,
Venus and Mercury. Similar views
will
be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is lowering in the north-eastern morning skies and is rising around 21:00.
Mars is higher in the morning skies and is readily visible in the pre twilight dark. Mars slowly heads towards the head of the Scorpion..
Venus is easy to see in the morning twilight. It is a distinct "gibbous Moon" shape and is nice in a small telescope. Venus is now within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky.
Mercury is low in the morning twilight. Mercury and Venus are within less than a hand-span of each other, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks.
This week all five of the bright planets are visible in the morning sky. Saturn and the red star Antares are close. During the week Venus moves through Capricornius. Mercury is close to Venus.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
The Full Moon is Tuesday February 23.
Jupiter enters the evening sky around 21:00 daylight saving time, but is only really good for telescopic observation from around 23:00 on. Jupiter's Moons will be an excellent sight late in the evening. There will be some good line-ups this week, especially the 18th, 22nd and 24th.
The evening is also graced by the summer constellations of Taurus (with the V shaped cluster the Hyades forming the head of Taurus the Bull and the beautiful Pleiades cluster nearby) Orion the Hunter and Canis Major with bright Sirius, the dog star, above the northern horizon at the beginning of evening.
Jupiter is lowering in the north-eastern morning skies and is rising around 21:00.
Mars is higher in the morning skies and is readily visible in the pre twilight dark. Mars slowly heads towards the head of the Scorpion..
Venus is easy to see in the morning twilight. It is a distinct "gibbous Moon" shape and is nice in a small telescope. Venus is now within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky.
Mercury is low in the morning twilight. Mercury and Venus are within less than a hand-span of each other, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks.
This week all five of the bright planets are visible in the morning sky. Saturn and the red star Antares are close. During the week Venus moves through Capricornius. Mercury is close to Venus.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Supernova SN 2016adj in Centaurus A
I will have to take shorter exposures and stack them if I want to do photometery.
Labels: iTelescope, supernova
Tuesday, February 09, 2016
The Sky This Week - Thursday February 11 to Thursday February 18
The First Quarter Moon is Monday February 15. Jupiter is visible in the
late
evening sky. The Moon is close to the red star Aldebaran on the 16th. All five bright
planets; Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Saturn and Mercury form a long line in
the
morning sky.
Venus and Mercury are close low above the horizon. Saturn is
close to the red star Antares.
The First Quarter Moon is Monday February 15. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on Thursday 11 February.
Evening sky on Tuesday February 16 looking North as seen from
Adelaide
at 21:30 ACDST. The Moon is just a finger-width from the red star Aldebaran. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter enters the evening sky before midnight daylight saving time, it slowly climbs higher above the horizon for most of the week.
The evening is also graced by the summer constellations of Taurus (with the V shaped cluster the Hyades forming the head of Taurus the Bull and the beautiful Pleiades cluster nearby) Orion the Hunter and Canis Major with bright Sirius, the dog star, climbing above the north-eastern horizon.
On the 16th the Moon is close to the bright red star Aldebaran. It is less than a finger-width away in the twilight, but full away as the night wears on.
Early morning sky on Saturday February 13 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 5:30 ACDST showing Mars, Saturn with the red star Antares close by,
Venus and Mercury. Similar views
will
be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is lowering in the north-eastern morning skies and is rising before midnight.
Mars is higher in the morning skies and is readily visible in the pre twilight dark. Mars slowly heads towards the head of the Scorpion..
Venus is easy to see in the morning twilight. It is a distinct "gibbous Moon" shape and is nice in a small telescope. Venus is now within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky.
Mercury is low in the morning twilight. Mercury and Venus are within less than a hand-span of each other, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks.
This week all five of the bright planets are visible in the morning sky. Saturn and the red star Antares are close. During the week Venus moves from Sagittarius to Capricornius. Mercury is close to Venus. Between the 13th -the 17th the pair are within binocular range of the dim globular clouster M75, but this will be difficult to see in the twilight.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
The First Quarter Moon is Monday February 15. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on Thursday 11 February.
Jupiter enters the evening sky before midnight daylight saving time, it slowly climbs higher above the horizon for most of the week.
The evening is also graced by the summer constellations of Taurus (with the V shaped cluster the Hyades forming the head of Taurus the Bull and the beautiful Pleiades cluster nearby) Orion the Hunter and Canis Major with bright Sirius, the dog star, climbing above the north-eastern horizon.
On the 16th the Moon is close to the bright red star Aldebaran. It is less than a finger-width away in the twilight, but full away as the night wears on.
Jupiter is lowering in the north-eastern morning skies and is rising before midnight.
Mars is higher in the morning skies and is readily visible in the pre twilight dark. Mars slowly heads towards the head of the Scorpion..
Venus is easy to see in the morning twilight. It is a distinct "gibbous Moon" shape and is nice in a small telescope. Venus is now within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky.
Mercury is low in the morning twilight. Mercury and Venus are within less than a hand-span of each other, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks.
This week all five of the bright planets are visible in the morning sky. Saturn and the red star Antares are close. During the week Venus moves from Sagittarius to Capricornius. Mercury is close to Venus. Between the 13th -the 17th the pair are within binocular range of the dim globular clouster M75, but this will be difficult to see in the twilight.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Sunday, February 07, 2016
My Images of the Crescent Moon, Venus and Mercury on the Weekend
 |  |
| Morning sky on Saturday February 6 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:33 ACDST with the crescent Moon, Venus and Mercury. Imaged with a Canon IXUS 400 ASA 3xZoom 4 second exposure. (click to embiggen). | Morning sky on Sunday February 7 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:31 ACDST with Venus, Mercury and the crescent Moon. Imaged with a Canon IXUS 400 ASA 3xZoom 4 second exposure. (click to embiggen). |
For the first time in ages the morning sky was clear of cloud or fog. Getting up at 5:15 am I stumbled down the beach for these magnificent views of the crescent Moon (obvious) Venus (the really bright dot) and Mercury. I was able to see all of the line-up of Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury (with Regulus, Spica and Scorpius added to the mix).
Even with the sodium lamps from the street, and the giant glow from the Outer Harbour dock of some ship or other, the heavenly spectacle was magnificent. I tried to make a panorama, but sand is not exactly a stable imaging platform, and my mix of exposures wasn't ideal. I'll see if I can stitch it together later in the week, but I have a bunch of comet pictures to process.
Labels: Conjunction, Mercury, Moon, unaided eye, Venus
Friday, February 05, 2016
The Crescent Moon Meets Venus and Mercury this Weekend (6-7 February, 2016)
 |  |
| Early morning sky on Saturday February 6 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:30 ACDST showing Mars, Saturn with the red star Antares close by, Venus and Mercury with the crescent Moon nearby. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen). | Early morning sky on Sunday February 7 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:30 ACDST, Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen). |
If you have been lucky enough to be following the Moon as it has been moving down the line-up of Jupiter, Mars, Saturn Venus and Mercury in the morning (the last time all five bright classical planets were aligned was in January 2005), then the crescendo is reached this weekend, when the Moon visits first Venus, and then Mercury.
It's probably best to look around an hour before local sunrise (balancing being in darker skies with Mercury being higher in the sky, and it its best with a fairly clear, level eastern horizon, but the view will be well worth it. As well, on the 7th not only is the thin crescent Moon close to Mercury, but Mercury will be highest above the horizon.
After the Moon leaves, the line up will be visible for most of the rest of February (and Venus and Mercury are closest on the 13th), so even if you miss out on the weekend, there is still time to see this lovely sight.
Labels: Conjunction, Mercury, Moon, unaided eye, Venus
Tuesday, February 02, 2016
The Sky This Week - Thursday February 4 to Thursday February 11
The New Moon is Tuesday February 9. Jupiter is visible in the
late
evening sky. All five bright
planets; Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Saturn and Mercury form a long line in
the
morning sky.
The Moon is close to Saturn on the 4th, Venus on the 6th and Mercury on the 7th. Saturn is
close to the red star Antares.
The New Moon is Tuesday February 9. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on Thursday 11 February.
Evening sky on Saturday February 6 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 23:55 ACDST. Jupiter is above the horizon shortly before midnight. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter enters the evening sky before midnight daylight saving time, it slowly climbs higher above the horizon for most of the week.
The evening is also graced by the summer constellations of Taurus (with the V shaped cluster the Hyades forming the head of Taurus the Bull and the beautiful Pleiades cluster nearby) Orion the Hunter and Canis Major with bright Sirius, the dog star, climbing above the north-eastern horizon.
Early morning sky on Saturday February 6 looking east as seen from
Adelaide
at 5:30 ACDST showing Mars, Saturn with the red star Antares close by, Venus and Mercury with the crescent Moon nearby. Similar views
will
be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click
to embiggen).
Jupiter is high in the northern morning skies and is rising before midnight.
Mars is higher in the morning skies and is readily visible in the pre twilight dark. Mars starts the week close to the bright star alpha2 Librae, Zubenelgenubi, and slowly draws away as it heads towards the head of the Scorpion..
Venus is easy to see in the morning twilight. It is a distinct "gibbous Moon" shape and is nice in a small telescope. Venus stars the week (just) within binocular distance of the bright globular cluster M22. It moves away after this. On the 6th Venus is now within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks. On the 6th the crescent Moon, Venus and Mercury form a broad triangle, with the Moon closest to Venus.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is close to the Moon on February 4.
Mercury is low in the morning twilight. It climbs higher in the twilight sky, brightening and coming closer to Venus. On the 6th Mercury and Venus are within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks. On the 7th the thin crescent Moon, Venus and Mercury form a triangle, with the Moon closest to Mercury.
This week all five of the bright planets are visible in the morning sky, the first time this has happened for 10 years. Saturn and the red star Antares are close. During the week Venus moves through the "handle" of the teapot of Sagittarius.. Mercury climbs higher and comes closer to Venus. The Moon visits Saturn, Venus and Mercury in turn this week.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
The New Moon is Tuesday February 9. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on Thursday 11 February.
Jupiter enters the evening sky before midnight daylight saving time, it slowly climbs higher above the horizon for most of the week.
The evening is also graced by the summer constellations of Taurus (with the V shaped cluster the Hyades forming the head of Taurus the Bull and the beautiful Pleiades cluster nearby) Orion the Hunter and Canis Major with bright Sirius, the dog star, climbing above the north-eastern horizon.
Jupiter is high in the northern morning skies and is rising before midnight.
Mars is higher in the morning skies and is readily visible in the pre twilight dark. Mars starts the week close to the bright star alpha2 Librae, Zubenelgenubi, and slowly draws away as it heads towards the head of the Scorpion..
Venus is easy to see in the morning twilight. It is a distinct "gibbous Moon" shape and is nice in a small telescope. Venus stars the week (just) within binocular distance of the bright globular cluster M22. It moves away after this. On the 6th Venus is now within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks. On the 6th the crescent Moon, Venus and Mercury form a broad triangle, with the Moon closest to Venus.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is close to the Moon on February 4.
Mercury is low in the morning twilight. It climbs higher in the twilight sky, brightening and coming closer to Venus. On the 6th Mercury and Venus are within less than a hand-span of Mercury, and the pair remain close for the next couple of weeks. On the 7th the thin crescent Moon, Venus and Mercury form a triangle, with the Moon closest to Mercury.
This week all five of the bright planets are visible in the morning sky, the first time this has happened for 10 years. Saturn and the red star Antares are close. During the week Venus moves through the "handle" of the teapot of Sagittarius.. Mercury climbs higher and comes closer to Venus. The Moon visits Saturn, Venus and Mercury in turn this week.
There are lots of interesting things in the sky to view with a telescope. If you don't have a telescope, now is a good time to visit one of your local astronomical societies open nights or the local planetariums.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Southern Skywatch February, 2016 edition is now out!
The line-up of Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury as seen from
Adelaide on the morning of 6 February at 5:30 am. (click to embiggen) The February edition of Southern Skywatch is up. This month features still more nice planetary action. It is in the early morning with Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Mars and Jupiter forming a line in the morning sky and the crescent Moon joining them. This means that all five bright, classical planets are visible together in the morning for the first time since January 2005.
Jupiter enters the evening sky and has close encounters with the Moon.
Mars is visible in the early morning sky and has close encounters with the crescent Moon.
Saturn has close encounters with the crescent Moon.
Venus is prominent in the morning twilight and is close to the crescent Moon on the 6th 7th. It is close to Mercury from the 6th to 22nd.
Mercury is at its best on the 7th, but remains good for most of the month.
The waning Moon passes in front of the moderately bright Zavijava (Beta Virginis) in the constellation of Virgo on the morning of February 25.
Labels: southern skywatch
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