Thursday, August 31, 2017
Southern Skywatch September 2017 edition is now out!
The September edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.
This month Mars enters the morniing sky, but is very hard to see low to the horizon .
Jupiter comes closer to the western horizon and it is harder to watch this banded world in a telescope. Jupiter comes closer to the bright star Spica during this month and is closest on the 11th. On the 22ndg the Moon is just to the right of Jupiter forming a triangle with Spica.
Saturn is still high in the early evening sky this month. This is still a good time to watch this ringed world in a telescope, although the window of good observation is narrowing. On the 26th and 27th Saturn is close to the Moon.
Mercury enters the morning sky this month but is very difficult to see low on the horizon.
Venus gets lower in the morning sky this month. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 18th. Later in the morning there is a daytime occultation of Venus, this event is for experienced observers only due to the danger from accident sun exposure.
Labels: southern skywatch
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
The Sky This Week - Thursday August 31 to Thursday September 7
The Full Moon is Wednesday, September 6. Jupiter and the
bright star Spica are nearby in the early evening sky and getting closer.
Saturn is visible
all evening in the
heart of the Milky Way. Venus is
now low in the morning sky forming a line with the bright stars Sirius
and Procyon.
The Full Moon is Wednesday, September 6.
Evening sky on Saturday September 2 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide
at
18:52ACST (60 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is above the
horizon close to the bright star Spica. The crescent Moon is above the pair making a nice triangle, The
inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time, with Io transiting Jupiters disk.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is settting mid evening and is above the western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is close to the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo.
The crescent Moon forms a line with Jupiter and Spica on Friday the 25th, and the crescent Moon forms a triangle with the pair on Saturday the 26th.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Evening sky on Saturday September 2 looking north as seen from Adelaide at
18:55 ACST, when Saturn is at its highest. Saturn is almost overhead
high
above the northern horizon.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Morning sky on Saturday September 2 looking east as seen from Adelaide at
5:40 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling below the
bright star Procyon and forms a line with Procyon and Sirius.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". This week Venus forms a line with Procyon and Sirius.
Mars is still lost in the twilight.
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 Wednesday, September 6.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is settting mid evening and is above the western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is close to the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo.
The crescent Moon forms a line with Jupiter and Spica on Friday the 25th, and the crescent Moon forms a triangle with the pair on Saturday the 26th.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Fri 1 Sep 18:39 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Fri 1 Sep 20:32 Io : Disappears into Occultation Sat 2 Sep 18:33 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST Sat 2 Sep 19:53 Io : Transit Ends S Sat 2 Sep 20:43 Io : Shadow Transit Ends Sun 3 Sep 18:04 Io : Reappears from Eclipse Sun 3 Sep 20:18 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 4 Sep 20:03 Eur: Disappears into Occultation Tue 5 Sep 18:16 Gan: Shadow Transit Ends Wed 6 Sep 19:12 Eur: Shadow Transit Ends
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". This week Venus forms a line with Procyon and Sirius.
Mars is still lost in the twilight.
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
Seeing NEO 3122 Florence from Australia
NEO 3122 Florence makes an historic approach to Earth in early September. This will be the closest this asteroid, named after reforming nurse Florence Nightingale has come since 1890.
While not a particularly close approach (September 1, 12:06 UT, 0.047 AU, around 18 Earth-Moon distances), this will be the closest a large NEO has come to Earth since this class of objects were first described.
With a diameter of about 4.3 km, Florence ranks fourth in diameter of those NEO's classified as potentially hazardous. It is also the brightest of the Large NEO's, brighter than 3200 Phaeton (the asteroid responsible for the Geminid meteor shower).
The asteroid will range from magnitude 9 up to around magnitude 8.7 then fading down to 10.
This means that the asteroid is potentially viewable in good binoculars (10x50's and up) under dark sky conditions. However, the waxing Moon will make binocular detection harder closer to closest approach. It will remain easily visible in small telescopes even with the increasing moonlight.
Although the asteroid is effectively on a line between the bright stars Fomalhaut and Altair, Finding the asteroid can be a bit tricky without good maps.
On the 29th, the asteroid is 22" from Zeta (ζ) Capricorii, and so should be easy to spot. You will need to watch the stars around Zeta for around 15 minutes to detect the movement of Florence.
On the 30 the brightening Florence is within 22' of 29 Capricorii (which forms a triangle with iota and theta Capricornii), again, watching for 10-15 minutes will detect the asteroid drifting.
On the 31st the asteroid is between mu and beta Aquarii, but is not close to a useful guide star.
On the first the asteroid is within binocular distance of alpha Equuleus, and between that and 1 Aquarii, but again is not near any obvious guide star. Still if you watch for 10-15 minutes you will see the asteroid drift against the background stars.
Many instruments will be watching this approach, including the Goldstone radar to try and capture its shape and possible satellites.
While not spectacular, this will be an historic pass to witness, the next closest approach of Florence is in 2057.
Labels: asteroids, binocular, NEO, telescope
Sunday, August 27, 2017
The ISS Buzzes the Moon (26 August, 2017)
 |  |
| Animation of the ISS passing by the Moon of the evening of the 26th August (10 x 4 second exposures ASA 400, Canon IXUS) | Overlay of images (same exposure details as the animation, click to embiggen to see the ISS track better) |
Saturday was the best of the International Space Station passes as seen from Adelaide, with a close pass to the trio of the Moon, Jupiter and Spica. Naturally most of the afternoon the sky was clouded over, so I was resigned to missing out on this pass. Fortunately I checked shortly before the pass just as a huge gap in the cloud rolled over, so I was able to watch the pass (and image it). Very beautiful it was too, sadly, the Moon is over exposed in these images, so you don't get the full effect of the ISS zipping past the crescent Moon.
Labels: ISS, Jupiter, Moon, unaided eye
Friday, August 25, 2017
Astrophiz Podcast 41 (scintillating edition) is Out!
Astrophiz Podcast 41 is out now.In this episode we are speaking with Dr Hayley Bignall. Hayley is an astrophysicist for Australia’s CSIRO in their Astronomy & Space Science Division.
After her studies, she spent 5 yrs working at the Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe and is now based in Perth, Australia. After spending about 7 years at The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) at Curtin University, she joined CSIRO in 2016.
Hayley explains how a team she works with have made some fabulous discoveries about blazars and quasars and ‘scintillations’ in intergalactic space.
In ‘What’s up Doc’ I tell you what to look for in the morning and evening skies and explains how an occultation project lead to the discovery of a comet with a binary cross-section. You can follow me @ianfmusgrave on Twitter and southern skywatch on facebook.
In the News: Amazing new gravity wave source could be visible neutron stars rather then ‘invisible’ black holes.
Labels: Astrophiz
See the ISS Shoot the Moon (26-27 August) and more bright passes (26 August-2September, 2017)
 |  |  |
| The ISS passes across the Moon, as seen from Brisbane on the evening of Saturday 26 August at 18:30 AEST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes close to the Moon, as seen from Adelaide on the evening of Saturday 26 August at 19:35 ACST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes close to the Moon, as seen from Perth on the evening of Sunday 27 August at 18:46 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 Saturday 26 August for Brisbane. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Saturday 26 August for Adelaide. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Sunday 27 August for Perth. |
Starting tonight there are a series of bright evening passes of the International Space Station lasting six to eight days (depending on your city). Some are low to the horizon, some rapidly enter earth's shadow, but for many places in Australia this series has a spectacular encounter with the ISS gliding close to the trio of Jupiter, ste bright star Spica and the crescent Moon.
The best views are form Brisbane and surrounds where the ISS passes over the Moon, and Perth where the ISS just clips the Moon (some areas around Perth may also see it pass over the Moon).
Some local circumstances on the best nights are below:
Adelaide (26th, ISS just beyond the Moon)
| Event | Time | Altitude | Azimuth | Distance (km) | Brightness | Sun altitude |
| Rises | 19:31:47 | 0° | 306° (NW) | 2,315 | 0.8 | -21.0° |
| Reaches altitude 10° | 19:33:52 | 10° | 302° (WNW) | 1,463 | -0.3 | -21.4° |
| Enters shadow | 19:36:50 | 57° | 248° (WSW) | 485 | -3.3 | -22.0° |
Brisbane (26th, passes over the Moon)
| Event | Time | Altitude | Azimuth | Distance (km) | Brightness | Sun altitude |
| Rises | 18:26:22 | 0° | 312° (NW) | 2,305 | 0.9 | -12.8° |
| Reaches altitude 10° | 18:28:26 | 10° | 308° (NW) | 1,454 | -0.1 | -13.2° |
| Maximum altitude | 18:31:40 | 61° | 227° (SW) | 464 | -3.4 | -14.0° |
| Enters shadow | 18:34:08 | 16° | 148° (SSE) | 1,154 | -1.9 | -14.5° |
| Melbourne (26th, ISS enters earths shadow just below Moon) |
| Event | Time | Altitude | Azimuth | Distance (km) | Brightness | Sun altitude | |
| Rises | 20:03:23 | 0° | 299° (WNW) | 2,321 | 0.8 | -26.3° | |
| Reaches altitude 10° | 20:05:30 | 10° | 293° (WNW) | 1,468 | -0.3 | -26.7° | |
| Enters shadow | 20:06:50 | 22° | 284° (WNW) | 959 | -1.3 | -26.9° |
Perth (27th, ISS clips Moon some nearby areas may see it go over the Moon)
| Event | Time | Altitude | Azimuth | Distance (km) | Brightness | Sun altitude |
| Rises | 18:41:42 | 0° | 314° (NW) | 2,309 | 0.9 | -10.2° |
| Reaches altitude 10° | 18:43:46 | 10° | 312° (NW) | 1,457 | -0.2 | -10.6° |
| Maximum altitude | 18:47:02 | 80° | 225° (SW) | 417 | -3.8 | -11.3° |
| Enters shadow | 18:50:01 | 12° | 137° (SE) | 1,341 | -1.6 | -11.9° |
Sydney (28th, very close pass to Jupiter, then Spica)
| Event | Time | Altitude | Azimuth | Distance (km) | Brightness | Sun altitude |
| Rises | 18:19:08 | 0° | 307° (NW) | 2,313 | 1.1 | -10.0° |
| Reaches altitude 10° | 18:21:13 | 10° | 303° (WNW) | 1,461 | 0.0 | -10.5° |
| Maximum altitude | 18:24:28 | 60° | 222° (SW) | 470 | -3.3 | -11.1° |
| Enters shadow | 18:27:41 | 11° | 140° (SE) | 1,451 | -1.4 | -11.8° |
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, a small
difference in location can mean the difference between the ISS passing
over the Moon or missing it completely.
There are lots of other good encounters passing near the pair of Jupiter and Spica and the increasingly distant Moon and Saturn as well.
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. Use the most recent prediction for your site.
There are lots of other good encounters passing near the pair of Jupiter and Spica and the increasingly distant Moon and Saturn as well.
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. Use the most recent prediction for your site.
Labels: ISS, Moon, Satellite, unaided eye
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
The Sky This Week - Thursday August 24 to Thursday August 31
The First Quarter Moon is Tuesday, August 29. Mercury is lost in the twilight. Jupiter and the
bright star Spica are nearby in the early evening sky.
The crescent Moon visits Jupiter on the 25th and 26th. Saturn is visible all evening in the
heart of the Milky Way and is visited by the Moon on the 30th. Venus is now low in the morning sky forming a line with the bright stars Sirius and Procyon.
The First Quarter Moon is Tuesday, August 29. The Moon is at Apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 30th.
Evening sky on Saturday August 26 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide
at
19:16 ACST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is above the
horizon close to the bright star Spica. The crescent Moon is above the pair making a nice triangle, The
inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is settting mid evening and is above the western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is close to the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo.
The crescent Moon forms a line with Jupiter and Spica on Friday the 25th, and the crescent Moon forms a triangle with the pair on Saturday the 26th.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Evening sky on Wednesday August 30 looking north as seen from Adelaide at
19:17 ACST, when Saturn is at its highest. Saturn is almost overhead
high
above the northern horizon. The just past First Quarter Moon is below Saturn
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn. The Moon is below Saturn on the 30th, making it easier to identify.
Morning sky on Saturday August 26 looking east as seen from Adelaide at
5:48 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling below the
bright star Procyon and forms a line with Procyon and Sirus.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". This week Venus forms a line with Procyon and Sirius.
Mars is still lost in the twilight.
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 Tuesday, August 29. The Moon is at Apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 30th.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is settting mid evening and is above the western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is close to the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo.
The crescent Moon forms a line with Jupiter and Spica on Friday the 25th, and the crescent Moon forms a triangle with the pair on Saturday the 26th.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 24 Aug 21:12 Io : Transit Begins T Fri 25 Aug 18:26 Gan: Disappears into Occultation Fri 25 Aug 18:32 Io : Disappears into Occultation Fri 25 Aug 20:57 Gan: Reappears from Occultation Fri 25 Aug 21:41 Io : Reappears from Eclipse Sat 26 Aug 18:49 Io : Shadow Transit Ends Sun 27 Aug 19:29 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 28 Aug 21:30 Eur: Reappears from Eclipse Tue 29 Aug 21:08 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn. The Moon is below Saturn on the 30th, making it easier to identify.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". This week Venus forms a line with Procyon and Sirius.
Mars is still lost in the twilight.
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
Monday, August 21, 2017
Seeing the August 21 (UT) total eclipse on livestream
Unless you have been living under a rock you will know that on August 21 (UT) a total eclipse will sweep across the United States. The eclipse (beginning partial) starts at 16:05 UT (2:05 22 August AEST, 1:35 ACST) on the west coast of the US, ending (end of partial eclipse) at 20:09 UT on the east coast (6:09 AEST 22 August, 5:39 ACST).
This interactive map shows you that path of the eclipse and the timings for partial eclipse and totality along the path. For those of us who cannot be there to enjoy the spectacle, there are multitudes of live streams (weather permitting of course).
Of course, the number of people attempting to watch will be enormous, so be prepared for frequent crashes, but here are some highly recommended sites (Australians note, this take place in the early hours of the morning for us):
NASA live stream 12pm – 4pm EDT 21 August (2 am-6am AEST 22 August):
NASA TV https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive
Facebook live https://www.facebook.com/NASA/videos/10155497958441772/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwMDvPCGeE0
Ustream http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv
NASA EDGE Live from Carbondale (21 August 11:45am – 4:15pm EDT - 1:45 am- 6:15 am AEST 22 August)
NASA Edge https://www.nasa.gov/eclipselive/#NASA+EDGE
Ustream http://www.ustream.tv/nasaedge
Facebooklive https://www.facebook.com/nasaedgefan/
Full NASA site: https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream
Virtual telescope project (1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT. 1 am AEST 22 Aug)): https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/
SLOOH live cast starting at 12 pm EST (16 UT; 2 am AEST 22 August) https://live.slooh.com/shows/event-details/393
Space.com live cast (via SLOOH) https://www.space.com/19195-night-sky-planets-asteroids-webcasts.html 1:30 a.m. EDT (1530 GMT) Aug. 21 (1:30 am 22 August AEST)
The Exploratorium12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT, 2 am AEST 22 Aug) https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse
Labels: eclipse, live-stream, public outreach, solar, webcam
Sunday, August 20, 2017
Aurora Occurring NOW! (20 August)
Aurora are visible NOW!
They have been seen in Lymington and Abels Bay, Tasmania. The activity may be like yesterday dying off only to pick up again. Current Solar wind parameters are not great Velocity: 767 km/sec Bz: 0.0 nT Density = 9.0 p/cc but glows still being reported with a Kindex in Hobart of 3. The SWS has issued an aurora watch for tonight due to ongoing activity. The Moon is waning, and is rising around 5:30 am in the early morning so will hardly interfere with morning aurora. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall as the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
They have been seen in Lymington and Abels Bay, Tasmania. The activity may be like yesterday dying off only to pick up again. Current Solar wind parameters are not great Velocity: 767 km/sec Bz: 0.0 nT Density = 9.0 p/cc but glows still being reported with a Kindex in Hobart of 3. The SWS has issued an aurora watch for tonight due to ongoing activity. The Moon is waning, and is rising around 5:30 am in the early morning so will hardly interfere with morning aurora. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall as the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Labels: aurora
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Aurora Occuring NOW! and updated Geomagnetic warning (19-20 August)
Aurora are visible NOW! They have been seen in Bruny Island, Abels Bay, Derwent
River and Tinderbox Tasmania. The activity is dying off now but may pick up
again. Current Solar wind parameters are not fantastic Velocity: 718 km/sec Bz:
4.0 nT Density = 11.0 p/cc but glows still being reported wit a Kindex in Hobart
of 4. The SWS has issued an updated geomagnetic warning for 19-290 August (UT)
due to ongoing activity t from a coronal hole's high speed windstream. The Moon
is waning, and is setting around 5am in the early morning so will hardly
interfere with morning aurora. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall as
the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is sill not available.
SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/39
ISSUED AT 0127UT/19 AUGUST 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 19-20 AUGUST 2017
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
19 Aug: Active
20 Aug: Unsettled to Active
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, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is sill not available.
SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/39
ISSUED AT 0127UT/19 AUGUST 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 19-20 AUGUST 2017
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
19 Aug: Active
20 Aug: Unsettled to Active
Labels: aurora
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
The Sky This Week - Thursday August 17 to Thursday August 24
The New Moon is Tuesday, August 22. Mercury starts the week high above the horizon but sinks rapidly. Jupiter and the
bright star Spica are nearby in the evening sky.
Saturn is visible all evening in the
heart of the Milky Way. Venus
dominates the morning sky forming a triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon and is joined by the crescent Moon on the 19th.
The New Moon is Tuesday, August 22. The Moon is at Perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 18th (There will be a total eclipse of the Sun on August 21 (US time) in the United States, there will be lots of live website viewing for this).
Evening sky on Saturday August 19 looking west as seen from Adelaide at
18:25 ACST (45 minutes after sunset). Mercury is low above the western horizon.
Mercury begins to fall back into the evening twilight sky. It was highest above the horizon on the 12th and is now heading towards the horizon again. Mercury remains visible around 45 minutes after sunset
Evening sky on Wednesday August 24 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide
at
19:12 ACST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is above the
horizon between the bright star Spica and the relatively bright star
Porrima. The crescent Moon is below the trio making a nice evening sight, The
inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Evening sky on Saturday August 12 looking north as seen from Adelaide at 19:46 ACST, when Saturn is at its highest. Saturn is almost overhead
high
above the northern horizon.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Morning sky on Saturday August 19 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 5:56 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling below the
bright star Betelgeuse and forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.
The crescent Moon is close to the Venus.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". This week Venus forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse. The triangle is visited by the creescent Moon on the 19th.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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, August 22. The Moon is at Perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 18th (There will be a total eclipse of the Sun on August 21 (US time) in the United States, there will be lots of live website viewing for this).
Mercury begins to fall back into the evening twilight sky. It was highest above the horizon on the 12th and is now heading towards the horizon again. Mercury remains visible around 45 minutes after sunset
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 17 Aug 19:12 Io : Transit Begins T Thu 17 Aug 20:15 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST Thu 17 Aug 21:09 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 17 Aug 21:25 Io : Transit Ends S Fri 18 Aug 18:29 Gan: Disappears into Eclipse Fri 18 Aug 19:46 Io : Reappears from Eclipse Fri 18 Aug 20:35 Gan: Reappears from Eclipse Sat 19 Aug 20:14 Eur: Transit Begins T Sun 20 Aug 18:40 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 21 Aug 18:55 Eur: Reappears from Eclipse Tue 22 Aug 20:19 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 24 Aug 21:12 Io : Transit Begins T
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". This week Venus forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse. The triangle is visited by the creescent Moon on the 19th.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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, August 10, 2017
Astrophiz Podcast 40 (space junk edition) is Out!
In this episode we celebrate our 40th episode and 10,000+ downloads into 50+ countries.
In this episode we feature Dr Alice Gorman ('Dr Spacejunk') who is a Space Archaeologist and Senior Lecturer at the Department of Archaeology, Flinders University in South Australia.
She is a member of the Advisory
Council of the Space Industry Association of Australia. Alice casts a
new focus on WRESAT-1, Australia's first satellite launch, positioning
Australia as the third nation in space in 1967. She explains how the
Voyager probes and the 'Golden record' are cultural milestones which
mark humanity's place in the solar system. As one of the few space
archeologists on planet earth, she gives fabulous and new insights into
the ISS and the treasure it has become.
Follow Alice on Twitter @drspacejunk
I tells you what to look for in the evening and morning skies, the skinny on the Perseid Meteor Shower, and in 'Ian's Tangent' I shines the light on the Osiris REx mission, occultations, the imminent US eclipse and gravitational lensing.You can follow me @ianfmusgrave on Twitter and southern skywatch on facebook.
In the News: How big is space? (Yuge!)
Latest NASA missions
Labels: Astrophiz
Southern Skywatch August 2017 edition is now out!
The August edition of Southern Skywatch is up Yes, it's late, my life is still not on track yet lots of tooing and froing over mum's health.
This month Mars is lost in the suns glare.
Jupiter is still in an good position to watch the banded world in a telescope. Jupiter comes closeer to the bright star Spica during this month. On the 25tg the Moon is just below Jupiter forming a line with Spica..
Saturn is high in the evening sky this month. This is a perfect time to watch this ringed world in a telescope. On the 3rd Saturn is close to the Moon.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening sky early this month, and is in an excellent position for viewing. After the 12th Mercury lowers towards the horizon.
Venus gets lower in the morning sky this month. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 19th.
Labels: southern skywatch
Tuesday, August 08, 2017
The Sky This Week - Thursday August 10 to Thursday August 17
The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday, August 15. Mercury is at its highest above the horizon on the 12th. Jupiter and the
bright star Spica are nearby in the evening sky.
Saturn is visible all evening in the
heart of the Milky Way. Venus
dominates the morning sky forming a triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon.
The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday, August 15.
Evening sky on Saturday August 12 looking west as seen from Adelaide at
18:38 ACST (60 minutes after sunset). Mercury is high above the western horizon.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is highest above the horizon on the 12th and is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious 90 minutes after sunset. After this Mercury heads towards the horizon again.
Evening sky on Saturday August 12 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide
at
19:08 ACST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is above the
horizon between the bright star Spica and the relatively bright star
Porrima. The
inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time with Europa crossing Jupiter disk.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 10 Aug 18:20 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST
Thu 10 Aug 19:26 Io : Transit Ends S
Thu 10 Aug 20:20 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Thu 10 Aug 20:31 Io : Shadow Transit Ends
Thu 10 Aug 22:27 Eur: Disappears into Occultation
Fri 11 Aug 17:51 Io : Reappears from Eclipse
Sat 12 Aug 19:45 Eur: Shadow Transit Begins ST
Sat 12 Aug 19:59 Eur: Transit Ends S
Sat 12 Aug 21:59 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Sat 12 Aug 22:06 Eur: Shadow Transit Ends
Sun 13 Aug 17:50 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Tue 15 Aug 19:30 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Wed 16 Aug 22:03 Io : Disappears into Occultation
Thu 17 Aug 19:12 Io : Transit Begins T
Thu 17 Aug 20:15 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST
Thu 17 Aug 21:09 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Thu 17 Aug 21:25 Io : Transit Ends S
Evening sky on Saturday August 12 looking north as seen from Adelaide at
20:14 ACST, when Saturn is at its highest. Saturn is almost overhead
high
above the northern horizon.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Morning sky on Tuesday August 16 looking east as seen from Adelaide at
6:04 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling below the
bright star Betelgeuse and forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse. The waning Moon is close to the Hyades. The inset shows the
telescopic view of Venus at this time.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". At the start of the week Venus forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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 Tuesday, August 15.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is highest above the horizon on the 12th and is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious 90 minutes after sunset. After this Mercury heads towards the horizon again.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 10 Aug 18:20 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST
Thu 10 Aug 19:26 Io : Transit Ends S
Thu 10 Aug 20:20 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Thu 10 Aug 20:31 Io : Shadow Transit Ends
Thu 10 Aug 22:27 Eur: Disappears into Occultation
Fri 11 Aug 17:51 Io : Reappears from Eclipse
Sat 12 Aug 19:45 Eur: Shadow Transit Begins ST
Sat 12 Aug 19:59 Eur: Transit Ends S
Sat 12 Aug 21:59 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Sat 12 Aug 22:06 Eur: Shadow Transit Ends
Sun 13 Aug 17:50 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Tue 15 Aug 19:30 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Wed 16 Aug 22:03 Io : Disappears into Occultation
Thu 17 Aug 19:12 Io : Transit Begins T
Thu 17 Aug 20:15 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST
Thu 17 Aug 21:09 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Thu 17 Aug 21:25 Io : Transit Ends S
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". At the start of the week Venus forms a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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
Friday, August 04, 2017
Geomagnetic warning and Aurora Watch (4-5 August)
The SWS has issued a geomagnetic warning and aurora watch for 4-5 August (UT)
due to an impact from a coronal holes high speed wind-stream. This is expected to
arrive late in the UT day on the 4th (which is the morning of the 5th Australian
time). The Space Weather Prediction Service has Predicted a G1-G2 storm on 4
August UT (with most of the action after sunrise on the 5th, but possibly G1
storms around 4 am).
If these geomagnetic events occur and result in aurora they could be seen from Tasmania and Southern Victoria, weather permitting. The Moon is waxing, and is setting around 4am in the early morning so will only modestly interfere with morning aurora. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall of the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is sill not available.
SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/36
ISSUED AT 0547UT/03 AUGUST 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
During UT days 4-5 August expect an increase in geomagnetic activity
up to active to minor storm levels due to influence of the recurrent
coronal hole.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 04-05 AUGUST 2017
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
04 Aug: Active
05 Aug: Active
_____________________________________________________________
SUBJ: SWS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0003 UT ON 04 Aug 2017 by Space Weather Services
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
Effects of a coronal hole are expected to impact the Earth during the
next 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant geomagnetic activity
and visible auroras during local nighttime hours. Aurora sightings are
expected to be possible for Tasmania and coastline of Victoria. Aurora
alerts will follow if significant geomagnetic activity actually
occurs.
If these geomagnetic events occur and result in aurora they could be seen from Tasmania and Southern Victoria, weather permitting. The Moon is waxing, and is setting around 4am in the early morning so will only modestly interfere with morning aurora. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall of the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is sill not available.
SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/36
ISSUED AT 0547UT/03 AUGUST 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
During UT days 4-5 August expect an increase in geomagnetic activity
up to active to minor storm levels due to influence of the recurrent
coronal hole.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 04-05 AUGUST 2017
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
04 Aug: Active
05 Aug: Active
_____________________________________________________________
SUBJ: SWS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0003 UT ON 04 Aug 2017 by Space Weather Services
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
Effects of a coronal hole are expected to impact the Earth during the
next 48 hours, possibly resulting in significant geomagnetic activity
and visible auroras during local nighttime hours. Aurora sightings are
expected to be possible for Tasmania and coastline of Victoria. Aurora
alerts will follow if significant geomagnetic activity actually
occurs.
Labels: aurora
Wednesday, August 02, 2017
Partial Lunar Eclipse (Morning, Tuesday August 8, 2017)
 |  |
| Morning sky on Tuesday, August 8 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 03:51 ACST. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen). Note the darkening of the edge of the Moon. | Earth's shadow is formed from two overlapping cone-shaped sections. The outer or penumbral shadow is where the Earth blocks part but not all of the Sun's light from reaching the Moon, the Umbra is where all of the light is blocked. This year the Moon brushes the edge of the Umrba. Click to embiggen |
On the morning of Tuesday 8 August there is a partial eclipse of the Moon, where the Moon only partially enters the inner, darkest segment of the shadow cast by Earth. This is the first Umbral eclipse since 2015.
Unfortunately, this all occurs in the early morning,
so you will need to get up in the early hours to see it. However, to
eclipse aficionados seeing a dark sliver carver from the Moons silver glow is worth it.
All of Australia will see this partial eclipse from start to finish. The eclipse is quite shallow, so only a small fraction of the Moons southern edge is in darkness (although the southern half of the moon will be dimmer due to the penumbral shadow).
All of Australia will see this partial eclipse from start to finish. The eclipse is quite shallow, so only a small fraction of the Moons southern edge is in darkness (although the southern half of the moon will be dimmer due to the penumbral shadow).
See the table below for timings for major cities (all times are am on the morning of the 17th). Twilight is Astronomical twilight, an hour and a half before sunrise, when the sky is still fully dark. See here for a map and contact timings in UT for sites outside Australia. Asia and Africa have the best views. My guide to imaging eclipses may be helpful.
| City | Eclipse start | Mid eclipse | End eclipse | Twilight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide (ACST) | 2:52 | 3:51 | 4:49 | 5:38 |
| Brisbane (AEST) | 3:22 | 4:21 | 5:19 | 5:07 |
| Canberra (AEST) | 3:22 | 4:21 | 5:19 | 5:28 |
| Darwin (ACST) | 2:52 | 3:51 | 5:50 | 6:26 |
| Hobart (AEST) | 3:22 | 4:21 | 5:19 | 5:41 |
| Melbourne (AEST) | 3:22 | 4:21 | 5:19 | 5:57 |
| Perth (AWST) | 1:22 | 2:21 | 3:19 | 4:56 |
| Sydney (AEST) | 3:22 | 4:21 | 5:19 | 5:19 |
The Sky This Week - Thursday August 3 to Thursday August 10
The Full Moon is Tuesday, August 8, and a partial Lunar eclipse occurs at this time. Mercury climbs higher above Regulus. Jupiter and the
bright star Spica are nearby in the evening sky.
Saturn is visible all night in the
heart of the Milky Way and is close to the Moon on August 3. Venus
dominates the morning sky below the head of Taurus the
Bull.
The Full Moon is Tuesday, August 8, and a partial Lunar eclipse occurs in the early morning.
Morning sky on Tuesday, August 8 looking west as seen from
Adelaide at 03:51 ACST. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen). Note the darkening of the edge of the Moon.
After a significant break (no umbra eclipses since 2015)lunar eclipses are back, Augusts Lunar eclipse is a fairly shallow partial eclipse occurring early in the morning.
None the less an obvious chunk will be seen on the southern edge to the Moon. This will be visible throughout Australia. See here for more details, timings and observing hints.
Evening sky on Saturday August 5 looking west as seen from Adelaide at
18:34 ACST (60 minutes after sunset). Mercury is high above the western horizon.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious 90 minutes after sunset. Mercury climbs away from the bright star Regulus. By the end of the week Regulus sets well before Mercury.
Evening sky on Saturday August 5 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide
at
19:04 ACST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is above the
horizon between the bright star Spica and the relatively bright star
Porrima. The
inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter on Saturday at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now almost between Porrima and Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 3 Aug 18:36 Io : Shadow Transit Ends
Thu 3 Aug 19:31 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Thu 3 Aug 19:45 Eur: Disappears into Occultation
Sat 5 Aug 19:30 Eur: Shadow Transit Ends
Sat 5 Aug 21:10 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Mon 7 Aug 19:29 Gan: Transit Begins T
Mon 7 Aug 22:03 Gan: Transit Ends
Tue 8 Aug 18:40 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Wed 9 Aug 20:03 Io : Disappears into Occultation
Thu 10 Aug 18:20 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST
Thu 10 Aug 19:26 Io : Transit Ends S
Thu 10 Aug 20:20 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Thu 10 Aug 20:31 Io : Shadow Transit Ends
Thu 10 Aug 22:27 Eur: Disappears into Occultation
Evening sky on Thursday August 3 looking north as seen from Adelaide at
20:50 ACST, when Saturn is at its highest. Saturn is almost overhead
high
above the northern horizon. The Moon is just below Saturn.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Morning sky on Saturday August 5 looking east as seen from Adelaide at
6:10 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling below the
bright star Aldebaran and forms a triangle with Aldebaran and Betelguese. The inset shows the
telescopic view of Venus at this time.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". At the start of the Week Venus forms a triangle with Aldebaran and Beteguese.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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, August 8, and a partial Lunar eclipse occurs in the early morning.
After a significant break (no umbra eclipses since 2015)lunar eclipses are back, Augusts Lunar eclipse is a fairly shallow partial eclipse occurring early in the morning.
None the less an obvious chunk will be seen on the southern edge to the Moon. This will be visible throughout Australia. See here for more details, timings and observing hints.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious 90 minutes after sunset. Mercury climbs away from the bright star Regulus. By the end of the week Regulus sets well before Mercury.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now almost between Porrima and Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 3 Aug 18:36 Io : Shadow Transit Ends
Thu 3 Aug 19:31 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Thu 3 Aug 19:45 Eur: Disappears into Occultation
Sat 5 Aug 19:30 Eur: Shadow Transit Ends
Sat 5 Aug 21:10 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Mon 7 Aug 19:29 Gan: Transit Begins T
Mon 7 Aug 22:03 Gan: Transit Ends
Tue 8 Aug 18:40 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Wed 9 Aug 20:03 Io : Disappears into Occultation
Thu 10 Aug 18:20 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST
Thu 10 Aug 19:26 Io : Transit Ends S
Thu 10 Aug 20:20 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian
Thu 10 Aug 20:31 Io : Shadow Transit Ends
Thu 10 Aug 22:27 Eur: Disappears into Occultation
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". At the start of the Week Venus forms a triangle with Aldebaran and Beteguese.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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
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