Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Live Webcasts of the total Lunar Eclipse Wednesday 31 January 2018
If, like me, it looks like you will be clouded out for tonight's total lunar eclipse, you may wish to watch of of these live web casts.
Space.com will be aggregating several web casts.
One from NASA (starts 10:30 UT, 21:30 AEDST, 21:00 ACDST, 18:30 AWST)
https://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html
The direct NASA link is here:
https://twitter.com/NASAMoon
The SLOOH remote telescope will do a webcast at 10:45 UT (21:45 AEDST)
https://www.slooh.com/shows/event-details/482
Griffith Observatory Los Angeles will webcast fro 10:45 UT (21:45 AEDST)
https://livestream.com/GriffithObservatoryTV
The Virtual Telescope Project will webcast from 11:30 UT (22:30 AEDST)
https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/
One from Hong Kong at 6:50 local time
http://www.hko.gov.hk/gts/event/webcast-20180131.htm
And time and Date's live stream from Perth Observatory from 11:30 UT (22:30 AEDST, 19:30 AWST)
https://www.timeanddate.com/live/
Labels: eclipse, Moon, public outreach, webcam
Don't forget, tonight (Wednesday 31 January 2018) is the first total Lunar eclipse since 2015
Don't forget tonight is the night of the "super blue blood" Moon, the first total Lunar eclipse since 2015. Even if it is cloudy, unless totally socked in, it is well worth trying to catch a glimpse through the clouds.
Cloud cover predictions at Skippy Sky.
All of Australia will see this Total eclipse from start to finish. You don't need any special equipment, just your eyes.
For the East Coast Moon the eclipse begins at 22:48 AEDST (21:48 AEST), maximum eclipse is at 00:30 AEDST 1st (23:30 AEST), the eclipse ends at 2:12 AEDST (1:12 AEST) on the 1st
For the Central states the eclipse begins at 22:18 ACDST (21:18 ACST), maximum eclipse is at 24:00 ACDST (23:00 ACST) , the eclipse ends at 1:42 ACDST (12:42 ACDST) on the 1st
For Western Australia the eclipse begins at 19:48 AWST, maximum eclipse is at 21:30 AWST , the eclipse ends at 23:12 AWST.
For more details, links to photographing the eclipse (and what the hype is about) see my eclipse page.
http://astroblogger.blogspot.com.au/2018/01/a-rare-total-eclipse-on-blue-moon.html
Labels: astrophotography, eclipse, Moon, public outreach, unaided eye
The Sky This Week - Thursday February 1 to Thursday February 8
The Last Quarter Moon is Thursday, February 8.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Saturday February looking north as seen from Adelaide at midnight ACDST the asteroid Ceres is between the sickle of Leo and the bottom star of the constellation of Cancer, the crab.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
The large circle represents the field of view of 10x50 binoculars.
The asteroid 1 Ceres is relatively easily visible in binoculars until around the middle of this month, it fades during this time but interference from Moonlight is reduced by mid-month.
Ceres is relatively easy to find. It is above the northern horizon at midnight , and is just between Kappa Leo, The brightish star the is the tip of the sickle of Leo (see charts, if you centre your binoculars on Kappa Leo Ceres will be just below it) and Iota Cancerii (the bottom brightish star of Cancer. You may need to watch night to night as the asteroid moves to be sure of its identity.
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs still higher in the morning sky and is moving away from Mars. On the 8th the Last Quarter Moon is close to Jupiter.
Mars is in the head of Scorpius the scorpion. At the beginning of the week Mars is very close to the moderately bright star beta1 Scorpii (Acab). It then begins to move closer to Antares (the rival of Mars)
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula, including the Lagoon nebula nd the bright globular cluster M22.
The bright planets form a line in the morning sky with the bright stars Antares and Spica, this will look quite attractive.
The long period variable star Mira is fading from peak brightness, but is still easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira. This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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, January 28, 2018
Using the upcoming Lunar Eclipses to show the Earth is Round.
 |  |
| January 31 Eclipse just at the end of the eclipse, 00:38, when the Earth is almost directly between the Sun and the Moon | July 28 Eclipse just at the end of the eclipse, 06:45 am, when the sun is almost about to rise and a disk Earth would be edge on. |
For some reason there has been a rise in the number of people who think the Earth is flat. They dismiss the images of Earth from Space as "NASA lying to us", despite the number of different space agencies (Russia, China, India, Japan) involved.
There are many ways you can prove the Earth is round (or at least and oblate spheroid) yourself with no particularly sophisticated equipment. However, most involve having at least one helper thousands of kilometres apart or international travel.
However, this year there with two total lunar eclipses there is an opportunity to show that the earth is round all by yourself, you just have to wait 6 months.
A lunar eclipse shows that the Earth is round (as you can see the round edge of the Earth's shadow creeping over the Moons surface see also here), but this could be argued to be the same if the earth was a flat disk.
The January 31 total Lunar eclipse occurs near midnight in Australia, but the July 28 total Lunar eclipse occurs near dawn (The Jan 31 eclipse is also close to perigee, while the July 28 eclipse iwll be close to apogee, so you should get nice size contrasts).
So if you photograph the January and July total lunar eclipses, an the Earth's shadow is a circle at both times, you have shown the Earth is a sphere (or at least a spheroid).
Over to you.
Labels: citizen science, eclipse, Moon, public outreach
Jack would have been 21 Today
I didn't cry.
Jack would have been 21 today, the traditional Coming of Age made irrelevant by people being given adult rights and responsibilities at 18. Jack had embraced his adulthood vigorously, he couldn't wait to vote (learning to drive not so much). His 18th was an exuberant, lively affair, lots of friends, swimming and skylarking around in the backyard. SmallestOne remembers it most as someone put an empty beer bottle on top of the clothes hoist.
Today the backyard is quiet, no one is dive-bombing in the pool, or hanging out in the cabana listening to music or playing computer games. We had a small celebration with his friends for what would have been Jacks 20th last year, but this year the scorching temperatures and work commitments meant we didn't organise anything. The backyard is quiet.
The day after Australia day for us will no longer be a celebration, but a remembrance of a young man who celebrated life as he was finding his identity and voice in a larger world. He stumbled and fell at the threshold to that world, through a random, unfathomable act of nature, but we hold dear the memory of his journey, in the stillness of the back yard and silent pool.
You can find some of Jack's writing for Farrago here
Our friend Frankie shared a photo of Jack when we were at the Turramurra Music Camp in 2000, the highlight for us was Jack's nudie dance during the talent contest. He certainly didn't do things by halves.
Labels: home life
Saturday, January 27, 2018
On ABC Adelaide Radio Sunday 28 January 11:40 am (2018)
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/adelaide/live/
Labels: public outreach, Radio
Thursday, January 25, 2018
A Rare Total Eclipse on a Blue Moon, Wednesday January 31, 2018
 | 
|  |
| North-eastern horizon as seen from Sydney on 31 January at at 23:15 pm AEDST. The eclipse is about halfway to totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen | North-eastern horizon as seen from Adelaide on 31 January at 10:51 pm ACDST. The eclipse is about halfway to totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen | Eastern horizon as seen from Perth on 31 January at 21:15 pm AWST. The eclipse is about halfway to totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen |
On the evening of Wednesday 31 January there will be the an excellent total eclipse of the Moon, the first since September 2015 (for Australians, the last one was 4 April 2015 as we could not see the September eclipse).
"Blue" Moons are not actually blue but are the second full moon to occur in a month. They are uncommon and lunar eclipses on a blue Moon are rarer. While you will see North American sites claiming this is the first "blue" Moon in 152 years, for Australia our last ‘blue moon’ total eclipse was on 30 December 1982. As well, a few times a century, there are two blue Moons a year, 2018 is such a year with ‘blue moons’ in January and March. The last time we had two ‘blue moons’ was in 2010.
You will also see some sites calling this a "blood Moon", The Moon does not turn the colour of blood, but will go a deep copper colour due to the refraction of red light through our atmosphere. This will be a fairly deep eclipse with the Moon becoming quite dark. You may even see the Beehive cluster become visible to the unaided eye next to the Moon during totality.
The 31 January eclipse starts after twilight has ended in the eastern and central states. In Western Australia the partial phase begins at civil twilight, and totality starts when the sky is fully dark. Totality is long and deep, over an hour compared to only 12 minutes long for the 4 April eclipse in 2015. See timings table below.
You don't need special filters or fancy equipment to watch the lunar eclipse, you just need your eyes and somewhere comfortable to sit and watch. Watching earth's shadow creep across the Moons face, as the stars begin to appear again is quite beautiful. The moon is very obvious to the east-north east. Binoculars or a telescope are a plus, but not necessary.
A guide I wrote for the October 2014 lunar eclipse to taking photos of the eclipse is here.
On the East coast, the eclipse starts after when the sky is quite dark at 9:48 pm AEST (10:48pm AEDST) and Totality is at 10:51 pm AEST (11:51 pm AEDST), so the Moon will appear to be a burnished copper disk in a dark sky full of stars. As totality fades you will see the stars extinguish.
In the central states the eclipse starts just after Nautical twilight at 9:18 pm ACST (10:18 pm ACDST) and Totality begins at10:21 pm ACST (11:21 pm ACDST) after the sky is fully dark. Central states will also see the eclipsed Moon in all its coppery glory and if you wait past midnight you can see the stars fade as the Moon returns.
In WA, the eclipse starts just after civil twilight and the moon will look quite dramatic as it climbs above the horizon with the earth's shadow creeping across its face , but totality will occur when the sky is fully dark. The eclipse starts at 7:48 pm AWST and Totality begins at 8:51 pm AWST.
The eclipse starts reasonably high in the sky (except WA where it starts close to the horizon) and is good viewing from almost anywhere. Totality is around midnight in the central and eastern states, a bit late for the kids but it is school holidays. This such a good eclipse it is worth letting them stay up.
New Zealand sees the eclipse in the early morning of the following day (February 1).
See here for a map and contact timings in Universal Time for sites outside Australia.
| City | Civil Twilight | Astronomical twilight | Moonrise | Eclipse Start | Totality Start | Maximum Eclipse | Totality End | Eclipse End |
| Adelaide (ACDST) | 8:51 pm | 10:00 pm | 8:11 pm | 10:18 pm | 11:21 pm | 12:00 pm | 00:38 am | 01:42 am |
| Alice Springs (ACST) | 7:47 pm | 8:45 pm | 7:11 pm | 7:45 pm | 9:24 pm | 11:00 pm | 11:38 pm | 00:42 am |
| Auckland (NZT) | 9:02 pm | 10:13 pm | 8:15 pm | 00:47 am | 01:51 am | 02:29 am | 03:07 am | 04:11 am |
| Brisbane (AEST) | 7:08 pm | 8:09 pm | 6:28 pm | 9:48 pm | 10:51 pm | 11:30 pm | 00:08 am | 01:12 am |
| Cairns (AEST) | 7:20 pm | 8:45 pm | 6:41 pm | 9:48 pm | 10:51 pm | 11:30 pm | 00:08 am | 01:12 am |
| Canberra (AEDST) | 8:45 pm | 9:56 pm | 7:58 pm | 10:48 pm | 11:51 pm | 00:30 pm | 01:08 am | 02:12 am |
| Christchurch (NZT) | 9:29 pm | 10:55 pm | 8:40 pm | 00:47 am | 01:51 am | 02:29 am | 03:07 am | 04:11 am |
| Darwin (ACST) | 7:41 pm | 8:34 pm | 7:07 pm | 7:45 pm | 9:24 pm | 11:00 pm | 11:38 pm | 00:42 am |
| Hobart (AEDST) | 8:39 pm | 10:02 pm | 7:53 pm | 10:48 pm | 11:51 pm | 00:30 pm | 01:08 am | 02:12 am |
| Melbourne (AEDST) | 9:02 pm | 10:15 pm | 8:20 pm | 10:48 pm | 11:51 pm | 00:30 pm | 01:08 am | 02:12 am |
| Perth (AWST) | 7:46 pm | 8:51 pm | 7:10 pm | 7:48 pm | 8:51 pm | 9:30 pm | 10:08 pm | 11:12pm |
| Rockhampton (AEST) | 7:10 pm | 8:08 pm | 6:31 pm | 9:48 pm | 10:51 pm | 11:30 pm | 00:08 am | 01:12 am |
| Sydney (AEDST) | 8:28 pm | 9:35 pm | 7:46 pm | 10:48 pm | 11:51 pm | 00:30 pm | 01:08 am | 02:12 am |
| Townsville (AEST) | 7:17 pm | 8:13 pm | 6:40 pm | 9:48 pm | 10:51 pm | 11:30 pm | 00:08 am | 01:12 am |
Labels: astrophotography, Blue Moon, eclipse, Moon, public outreach
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
The Sky This Week - Thursday January 25 to Thursday February 1
The Full Moon is Wednesday, January 31. This is a "blue" Moon and the time of the first total eclipse since September 2015. The
variable star Mira is at maximum. Mars and
bright Jupiter are close together. Saturn is visible in the
morning sky and forms a line with the star Antares, Mars, Jupiter and
the star Spica. The asteroid Ceres is visible in binoculars.
The Full Moon is Wednesday, January 31. This is a "blue" Moon, the second full Moon in the month and the time of the first total eclipse since September 2015. The Moon is at perigee on January 30th, when it is closest to the Earth.
Evening sky on January 31 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 22:51 ACDST, about half way to totality. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen). The darkening of the Moon will be readily visible.
On the evening of January 31, continuing into the morning of 1 February there is a total eclipse of the Moon, this is the first total Lunar eclipse since April 2015. This is a nice deep eclipse, and though you have to stay up late to see it go to totality, it is well worth it. It is still school holidays, so let the kids stay up late to watch. You may even see the Beehive cluster become visible to the unaided eye next to the Moon during totality.
All of Australia will see this Total eclipse from start to finish.
For the East Coast Moon the eclipse begins at 22:48 AEDST (21:48 AEST), maximum eclipse is at 00:30 AEDST 1st (23:30 AEST), the eclipse ends at 2:12 AEDST (1:12 AEST) on the 1st
For the Central states the eclipse begins at 22:18 ACDST (21:18 ACST), maximum eclipse is at 24:00 ACDST (23:00 ACST) , the eclipse ends at 1:42 ACDST (12:42 ACDST) on the 1st
For Western Australia the eclipse begins at 19:48 AWST, maximum eclipse is at 21:30 AWST , the eclipse ends at 23:12 AWST
For more details and hints on photographing the eclipse see my eclipse site.
See here for a map and contact timings in UT for sites outside Australia.
Morning sky on Saturday January 27 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 5:28 ACDST (60 minutes before sunrise). Jupiter, Mars Saturn and
Mercury form a line in the morning sky with the bright stars Antares and
Spica (off the chart to the left).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Saturday January 27 looking north as seen from Adelaide
at 2:00 ACDST the asteroid Ceres is just below the sickle of Leo.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Black and white binocular chart suitable for printing (click to embiggen
and print).
The large circle represents the field of view of 10x50 binoculars. The small that of a 4" Newtonian telescope with a 24 mm eyepiece. Use the horizon chart for orientation first.
The asteroid 1 Ceres is relatively easily visible in binoculars from around the middle of this month, it brightens during this time but there is significant interference from Moonlight by the end of the month.
Ceres is relatively easy to find. It is above the northern horizon at astronomical twilight in the morning, and is just below Kappa Leo. The brightish star the is the tip of the sickle of Leo (see charts, if you centre your binoculars on Kappa Leo Ceres will be just below it). You may need to watch night to night as the asteroid moves to be sure of its identity..
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs still higher in the morning sky and is moving away from Mars after their spectacular conjunction last week.
Mars is moving away from Jupiter towards the head of Scorpius the scorpion. By the end of the week Mars is close to the moderately bright star beta1 Scorpii.
Mercury is dropping back towards the horizon this week and will be lost in the twilight at the end of the week.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky, leaving Mercury behind.
The bright planets form a line in the morning sky with the bright stars Antares and Spica, this will look quite attractive.
Evening sky on Saturday January 27 looking north-west as seen from
Adelaide at 22:00 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen)
The long period variable star Mira is now at peak brightness, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira (and on the 27th the waxing Moon is close to Antares). This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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, January 31. This is a "blue" Moon, the second full Moon in the month and the time of the first total eclipse since September 2015. The Moon is at perigee on January 30th, when it is closest to the Earth.
Evening sky on January 31 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 22:51 ACDST, about half way to totality. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen). The darkening of the Moon will be readily visible.
On the evening of January 31, continuing into the morning of 1 February there is a total eclipse of the Moon, this is the first total Lunar eclipse since April 2015. This is a nice deep eclipse, and though you have to stay up late to see it go to totality, it is well worth it. It is still school holidays, so let the kids stay up late to watch. You may even see the Beehive cluster become visible to the unaided eye next to the Moon during totality.
All of Australia will see this Total eclipse from start to finish.
For the East Coast Moon the eclipse begins at 22:48 AEDST (21:48 AEST), maximum eclipse is at 00:30 AEDST 1st (23:30 AEST), the eclipse ends at 2:12 AEDST (1:12 AEST) on the 1st
For the Central states the eclipse begins at 22:18 ACDST (21:18 ACST), maximum eclipse is at 24:00 ACDST (23:00 ACST) , the eclipse ends at 1:42 ACDST (12:42 ACDST) on the 1st
For Western Australia the eclipse begins at 19:48 AWST, maximum eclipse is at 21:30 AWST , the eclipse ends at 23:12 AWST
For more details and hints on photographing the eclipse see my eclipse site.
See here for a map and contact timings in UT for sites outside Australia.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
The large circle represents the field of view of 10x50 binoculars. The small that of a 4" Newtonian telescope with a 24 mm eyepiece. Use the horizon chart for orientation first.
The asteroid 1 Ceres is relatively easily visible in binoculars from around the middle of this month, it brightens during this time but there is significant interference from Moonlight by the end of the month.
Ceres is relatively easy to find. It is above the northern horizon at astronomical twilight in the morning, and is just below Kappa Leo. The brightish star the is the tip of the sickle of Leo (see charts, if you centre your binoculars on Kappa Leo Ceres will be just below it). You may need to watch night to night as the asteroid moves to be sure of its identity..
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs still higher in the morning sky and is moving away from Mars after their spectacular conjunction last week.
Mars is moving away from Jupiter towards the head of Scorpius the scorpion. By the end of the week Mars is close to the moderately bright star beta1 Scorpii.
Mercury is dropping back towards the horizon this week and will be lost in the twilight at the end of the week.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky, leaving Mercury behind.
The bright planets form a line in the morning sky with the bright stars Antares and Spica, this will look quite attractive.
The long period variable star Mira is now at peak brightness, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira (and on the 27th the waxing Moon is close to Antares). This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
The Sky This Week - Thursday January 18 to Thursday January 25
The Last Quarter Moon is Thursday, January 25. The
variable star Mira is close to maximum. Mars and
bright Jupiter are close together. Saturn and Mercury are visible in the morning sky and forms a line with the star Antares, Mars, Jupiter and the star Spica. Mercury is low in the twilight by the end of the week. The asteroid Ceres is visible in binoculars by mid-week.
The Last Quarter Moon is Thursday, January 25.
Morning sky on Saturday January 20 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 5:19 ACDST (60 minutes before sunrise). Jupiter, Mars Saturn and Mercury form a line in the morning sky with the bright stars Antares and Spica.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Saturday January 20 looking north as seen from Adelaide
at 3:00 ACDST the asteroid Ceres is just below the sickle of Leo.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Black and white binocular chart suitable for printing (click to embiggen
and print).
The large circle represents the field of view of 10x50 binoculars. The small that of a 4" Newtonian telescope with a 24 mm eyepiece. Use the horizon charts for orientation first.
The asteroid 1 Ceres is relatively easily visible in binoculars form around the middle of this month, it brightens during this time but there is significant interference from Moonlight by the end of the month.
Ceres is relatively easy to find. It is above the northern horizon at astronomical twilight in the morning, and is just below Kappa Leo. The brightish star the is the tip of the sickle of Leo (see charts, if you centre your binoculars on Kappa Leo Ceres will be just below it). You may need to watch night to night as the asteroid moves to be sure of its identity..
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs still higher in the morning sky and is moving away from Mars after their spectacular conjunction last week.
Mars is moving away from Jupiter after their spectacular conjunction last week.
Mercury is dropping back towards the horizon this week.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky, leaving Mercury behind.
The bright planets form a line in the morning sky with the bright stars Antares and Spica, this will look quite attractive.
Evening sky on Saturday January 20 looking north-west as seen from
Adelaide at 22:11 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen)
The long period variable star Mira is now near peak brightness, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira. This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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 Thursday, January 25.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
The large circle represents the field of view of 10x50 binoculars. The small that of a 4" Newtonian telescope with a 24 mm eyepiece. Use the horizon charts for orientation first.
The asteroid 1 Ceres is relatively easily visible in binoculars form around the middle of this month, it brightens during this time but there is significant interference from Moonlight by the end of the month.
Ceres is relatively easy to find. It is above the northern horizon at astronomical twilight in the morning, and is just below Kappa Leo. The brightish star the is the tip of the sickle of Leo (see charts, if you centre your binoculars on Kappa Leo Ceres will be just below it). You may need to watch night to night as the asteroid moves to be sure of its identity..
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs still higher in the morning sky and is moving away from Mars after their spectacular conjunction last week.
Mars is moving away from Jupiter after their spectacular conjunction last week.
Mercury is dropping back towards the horizon this week.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky, leaving Mercury behind.
The bright planets form a line in the morning sky with the bright stars Antares and Spica, this will look quite attractive.
The long period variable star Mira is now near peak brightness, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira. This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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
Tuesday, January 09, 2018
The Sky This Week - Thursday January 11 to Thursday January 18
The New Moon is Wednesday, January 17. The
variable star Mira is now bright enough to see easily. Mars and
bright Jupiter are close together. On
January 12 the crescent Moon forms a triangle with the pair. Mercury and Saturn climb
higher in the morning sky and are closest on the 13th, the thin crescent Moon joins the pair on the 15th
The New Moon is Wednesday, January 17. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 15th.
Morning sky on Friday January 12 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 5:11 ACDST (60 minutes before sunrise). Jupiter and Mars form a triangle with the crescent Moon. Mercury and Saturn as visible close to the horizon.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Saturday January 13 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 5:11 ACDST (60 minutes before sunrise). Jupiter is close to Mars. The crescent Moon is near Antares.
Mercury and Saturn and Saturn are at their closest.
The inset shows a simulation of the field of view of a 24 mm eyepiece on a 114mm Newtonian telescope bracketing Saturn and Mercury.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs still higher in the morning sky and is moving away from Mars after their spectacular conjunction last week. The pair are still visible together in binoculars for the rest of the week.
On January 12 Mars and Jupiter are visited but the crescent Moon, forming a nice triangle in the sky.
Mars is moving away from Jupiter after their spectacular conjunction last week. The pair are still visible together in binoculars for the rest of the week.
Mercury is dropping back towards the horizon this week and has a close encounter with Saturn on the 13th in the twilight. On the 15th the pair are joined by the thin crescent Moon,
Saturn climbs out of the twilight, climbing towards Mercury. The pair will are at their closest on the 13th, when they will fit together in low power telescope eyepieces. Being so close to the horizon this will be a viewing challenge. For most of the week they will be visible together in binoculars. Although the planetary pair are close to the triffid and lagoon nebulae, the closeness to the horizon and the approaching dawn means it will be difficult of see these nebulae.
Evening sky on Saturday January 13 looking north-west as seen from
Adelaide at 22:15 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen)
The long period variable star Mira is now near peak brightness, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira. This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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 Wednesday, January 17. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 15th.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Mercury and Saturn and Saturn are at their closest.
The inset shows a simulation of the field of view of a 24 mm eyepiece on a 114mm Newtonian telescope bracketing Saturn and Mercury.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs still higher in the morning sky and is moving away from Mars after their spectacular conjunction last week. The pair are still visible together in binoculars for the rest of the week.
On January 12 Mars and Jupiter are visited but the crescent Moon, forming a nice triangle in the sky.
Mars is moving away from Jupiter after their spectacular conjunction last week. The pair are still visible together in binoculars for the rest of the week.
Mercury is dropping back towards the horizon this week and has a close encounter with Saturn on the 13th in the twilight. On the 15th the pair are joined by the thin crescent Moon,
Saturn climbs out of the twilight, climbing towards Mercury. The pair will are at their closest on the 13th, when they will fit together in low power telescope eyepieces. Being so close to the horizon this will be a viewing challenge. For most of the week they will be visible together in binoculars. Although the planetary pair are close to the triffid and lagoon nebulae, the closeness to the horizon and the approaching dawn means it will be difficult of see these nebulae.
The long period variable star Mira is now near peak brightness, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira. This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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
Tuesday, January 02, 2018
Perigee full Moon of January 2, 2018
Perigee full Moon of January 2, 2018 at 23:00 ACST. Click to embiggen.After a clear cloud free day, the clouds came over as the moon rose, got this shot in a brief hole in the cloud, the it socked in completely.
My plan to take sequential shots showing the Moon receding was foiled, and I only had time to do this mobile phone shot, not one with my better cameras.
At this time the Moon was 357000 km from Earth, not as good as at astronomical twilight (356896 km) but still closer that the perigee Moon of 4 Dec 2017.
It doesn't look good for Mars and alpha2 librae tomorrow morning.
Labels: astrophotography, Moon, perigee
Mars and Jupiter in a Spectacular Conjunction in the Morning Sky (3-9 January, 2018)
The inset shows a simulation of the field of view of a 12 mm eyepiece on a 114mm Newtonian telescope. Mercury is now visible low to the horizon.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Over the next few mornings, Mars and Jupiter will be putting on a spectacular display as they dance close together. For mots of this time the pair are visible not only close in the sky with the unaided eye, culminating on the 7th when the pair are only 0.25 degrees apart (less that a quarter of a finger-width). For most of this tome the pair are also visible in initially low, then at their closest in high power telescope eye pieces where the disk of Jupiter it's moons and the tiny disk of Mars may be seen together.
The viewing week starts tomorrow morning when the bright double star alpha2 Librae (Zubenelgenubi) are at their closest, and visible together in low power telescope eyepieces.
Although viewing can potentially start at 4:00 am, it is better to wait until 4:30 when the pair will be sufficiently high above the horizon murk and surrounding obstacles (this goes for all the observing times, although the charts are for nautical twilight (60 minutes before sunrise), the planets and stars are so bright that encroaching dawn will have little effect at this time. Atmospheric turbulence may make imaging difficult.
The pair or Jupiter and Mars are visible in binoculars all week, in a 24 mm or equivalent eyepiece (you will need to adjust for your own telescopes characteristics, this is a general guide) from the 5th to the 9th. a 12.25 mm eyepiece from the 6th to the 8th and a 5 mm eyepiece on the 7th. The scale lines on the above charts can give you a guide to your own telescopes field of views with different eye pieces.
As a grand finale, the waning moon is close to the pair on the 11th, and the crescent Moon forms a triangle with them on the 12th.
Labels: binocular, Conjunction, Jupiter, Mars, telescope, unaided eye
The Sky This Week - Thursday January 4 to Thursday January 11
The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday, January 9. The
variable star Mira is now bright enough to see easily. Mars is easy to
see and is heading towards
bright Jupiter. The pair are spectacularly close on January 7 and visible together in telescopes. On January 11 the waning Moon forms a line with the pair. Mercury climbs higher in the morning sky followed by Saturn.
The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday, January 9.
Morning sky on Sunday January 7 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 5:05 ACDST (60 minutes before sunrise). Jupiter and Mars are spectacularly close together.
The inset shows a simulation of the field of view of a 12 mm eyepiece on a 114mm Newtonian telescope. Mercury is now visible low to the horizon.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Thursday January 11 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 5:08 ACDST (60 minutes before sunrise). Jupiter is close to Mars with the waning Moon nearby. Mercury is more prominent and Saturn is rising to meet it.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs higher in the morning sky and is now quite prominent. It is moving away from the bright double star alpha2 Librae (Zubenelgenubi). The pair and Mars are visible together in binoculars at the start of the week, as well at the start of the the week Mars and Jupiter can be seen together in low power telescope eyepieces.
On January 7 Mars and Jupiter are spectacularly close, being 0.25 degrees apart (around a quarter of a finger width). At this time the pair are visible together in high power telescope eye pieces.
Mars is close to the bright double star alpha2 Librae (Zubenelgenubi) and moving towards Jupiter. At the beginning of the week the trio are visible together in binoculars. At this time Spica, Mars, alpha2 Librae (Zubenelgenubi) and Jupiter form a line in the morning sky. On the 4th Mars and Zubenelgenubi are visible together in low power telescope eyepieces. Mars than leaves Zubenelgenubi behind and closes in on Jupiter, on the 5th Mars and Jupiter are visible together in low power telescope eye pieces. The pair come closer and are visible together in high power telescope eye pieces on the 7th. They then draw apart and are visible in medium power telescope eyepieces on the 8th.
Mercury is now rising rapidly into the morning skies, and will be highest on the 2nd, it then drops back towards the horizon and a close encounter with Saturn in the twilight.
Saturn climbs out of the twilight, climbing towards Mercury. The pair will meet next week.
Evening sky on Saturday January 6 looking north-west as seen from
Adelaide at 22:19 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen)
The long period variable star Mira is now near peak brightness, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira. This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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, January 9.
The inset shows a simulation of the field of view of a 12 mm eyepiece on a 114mm Newtonian telescope. Mercury is now visible low to the horizon.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter climbs higher in the morning sky and is now quite prominent. It is moving away from the bright double star alpha2 Librae (Zubenelgenubi). The pair and Mars are visible together in binoculars at the start of the week, as well at the start of the the week Mars and Jupiter can be seen together in low power telescope eyepieces.
On January 7 Mars and Jupiter are spectacularly close, being 0.25 degrees apart (around a quarter of a finger width). At this time the pair are visible together in high power telescope eye pieces.
Mars is close to the bright double star alpha2 Librae (Zubenelgenubi) and moving towards Jupiter. At the beginning of the week the trio are visible together in binoculars. At this time Spica, Mars, alpha2 Librae (Zubenelgenubi) and Jupiter form a line in the morning sky. On the 4th Mars and Zubenelgenubi are visible together in low power telescope eyepieces. Mars than leaves Zubenelgenubi behind and closes in on Jupiter, on the 5th Mars and Jupiter are visible together in low power telescope eye pieces. The pair come closer and are visible together in high power telescope eye pieces on the 7th. They then draw apart and are visible in medium power telescope eyepieces on the 8th.
Mercury is now rising rapidly into the morning skies, and will be highest on the 2nd, it then drops back towards the horizon and a close encounter with Saturn in the twilight.
Saturn climbs out of the twilight, climbing towards Mercury. The pair will meet next week.
The long period variable star Mira is now near peak brightness, and is easily visible to the unaided eye, even in Moonlight. The circle marks the location of Mira in the rambling constellation of Cetus. The Arrow shaped head of Taurus the bull points almost directly at Mira. This is a good time to see this iconic variable star
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
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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