Saturday, March 31, 2018
Tiangong 1 Falls, will Australia see it?
UPDATE to the UPDATE to the UPDATE: Tiangong 1 came down at 00:16 UT, 10:16 AEST (close to the median predicted time), in the south pacific, somewhere NW of Tahiti.
UPDATE to the UPDATE: Tiangong 1 now predicted to re-enter today, April 2, between 8:46 am and 1:06 pm AEST, median 10:56 AEST, almost certainly not going to be visible from Australia. Probably Pacific Micronesia to tip of South America.
Forecast image Satview.
UPDATE: Tiangong 1 is still in orbit, Refined predictions are ESA 23:25 UTC on 1 April plus or minus seven hours (that is 9:25 ± 7h AEST on April 2). Dr. Marco Langenbrook predicts (Satevo data) 1 April 20:30 UT ± 7h (GMAT data) 1 April 23:08 UT ± 8h (AEST 9:08 ± 8h April 2). Aerospace corporation April 2nd, 02:00 UTC ± 7 hours (12:00 AEST ± 7h April 2). Satview has an unrealistically precise 02 April 04:43 UT (14:43 AEST). This means for Australia, our best chances for seeing re-entry is if the space station re-enters at 14:00 AEST, with the re-entry path along a line from Darwin to Sydney. If it re-enters at 16:00 AEST then the path lies along southern Victoria. Both re-entries are daylight re-entries. Check you local circumstances around these times using Heavens Above set for your location and choose the "all passes" button.
The Chinese Space Station Tiangong 1 is falling to Earth. The latest, predictions suggest that it will re-enter somewhere around April 1 (UT, Australia is 10 hours ahead of UT (east coast), 9.5 hours ahead (central) and 8 hours ahead (west coast)). Dr. Marco Langenbrook predicts that it will come down between 1.9 April +- 17h and 1.7 April +- 15 h with the latter more likely. This article explains why it is so hard to predict.
image source: ESA/ESOC
Where is still hard to say, part of the track goes over Southern Australia, and it is possible Southern Victoria and Tasmania could see the re-entry if it occurs in the early hours of April 1. Heavens above has a live feed of Tiangong 1's track. if you want to keep up with its possible visibility from your site.
UPDATE to the UPDATE: Tiangong 1 now predicted to re-enter today, April 2, between 8:46 am and 1:06 pm AEST, median 10:56 AEST, almost certainly not going to be visible from Australia. Probably Pacific Micronesia to tip of South America.
UPDATE: Tiangong 1 is still in orbit, Refined predictions are ESA 23:25 UTC on 1 April plus or minus seven hours (that is 9:25 ± 7h AEST on April 2). Dr. Marco Langenbrook predicts (Satevo data) 1 April 20:30 UT ± 7h (GMAT data) 1 April 23:08 UT ± 8h (AEST 9:08 ± 8h April 2). Aerospace corporation April 2nd, 02:00 UTC ± 7 hours (12:00 AEST ± 7h April 2). Satview has an unrealistically precise 02 April 04:43 UT (14:43 AEST). This means for Australia, our best chances for seeing re-entry is if the space station re-enters at 14:00 AEST, with the re-entry path along a line from Darwin to Sydney. If it re-enters at 16:00 AEST then the path lies along southern Victoria. Both re-entries are daylight re-entries. Check you local circumstances around these times using Heavens Above set for your location and choose the "all passes" button.
The Chinese Space Station Tiangong 1 is falling to Earth. The latest, predictions suggest that it will re-enter somewhere around April 1 (UT, Australia is 10 hours ahead of UT (east coast), 9.5 hours ahead (central) and 8 hours ahead (west coast)). Dr. Marco Langenbrook predicts that it will come down between 1.9 April +- 17h and 1.7 April +- 15 h with the latter more likely. This article explains why it is so hard to predict.
Where is still hard to say, part of the track goes over Southern Australia, and it is possible Southern Victoria and Tasmania could see the re-entry if it occurs in the early hours of April 1. Heavens above has a live feed of Tiangong 1's track. if you want to keep up with its possible visibility from your site.
Labels: Satellite
Southern Skywatch April 2018 edition is now out!
The April edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.
This month still sees most of the planetary action move to the evening sky. Speedy Mercury returns to the morning sky but Venus and Jupiter become more prominent in the evening sky and Mars and Saturn enter the late evening sky.
Jupiter becomes more prominent the evening sky, and is closes to the Moon on the 3rd and 30th.
Mars is closest to Saturn and M22 (spectacularly so to M22) on the 2nd.
Saturn is close to the globular cluster M22 this month.
UPDATE: never post early in the morning before catching a plane, fixed the wrong dates.
Labels: southern skywatch
Monday, March 26, 2018
The Sky This Week - Thursday March 29 to Thursday April 5
The Full Moon is Saturday, March 31, this is a Blue Moon, the second for the year. Venus is low in the
twilight. Jupiter is
now rising in the late evening
skies but is still best in the morning.
The waning Moon visits Jupiter on April the 3rd. Mars,
bright Jupiter and Saturn form a line together with the bright stars
Antares and
Spica in the morning skies. Mars is closest to Saturn and the globular
cluster M22 on the 2nd.
The Full Moon is Saturday, March 31, this is a Blue Moon, the second for the year. Blue Moons (as defined as the second full Moon in a month), occur every 2 years, 8 months and 18 days. Having two blue Moons in a year occurs roughly 4-5 times a century. The next time there are two blue Moons in a year is 2037.
Evening twilight sky on Saturday March 31 looking west as seen from
Adelaide
at 19:37 ACDST (30 minutes after sunset). Venus is just above the horizon in the twilight.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus is rising higher in the twilight. While is is now much easier to see, you will still need a flat unobscured horizon to see it at its best. Venus is now visible to the unaided eye from 15 minutes after sunset and easy to see 30 minutes after sunset.
Evening sky on Tuesday April 3 looking east as seen from Adelaide
at 23:00 ACST Jupiter is above the horizon close to the waning Moon.
The inset is a simulated telescopic view of Jupiter and its moons at this time on the 4th, with Io and its shadow transiting the Face of Jupiter.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Monday April 2 looking north as seen from Adelaide
at
5:03 ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Mars is at its closest to Saturn and the
bright globular cluster M22. The inset shows the telescopic view of Mars, Saturn and M22 in wide-field objectives.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is now sufficiently high in the evening twilight to be readily visible above the horizon if there are not too many trees or buildings in the way. It is now a hand-span above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. It is bright enough to be visible 15 minutes after sunset.
Mercury is lost to view.
Jupiter is rising well before midnight, but it is still best to view in the morning sky, where it is high above the northern horizon. There are some good Jovian Moon events this week. Jupiter is visited by the waning Moon on April the 3rd
Mars is in Sagittarius the archer. Mars is moving towards Saturn at the beginning of the week. Mars and Saturn (and the globular cluster M22) start the week within binocular range of each other. By the 2nd Mars is closest to both Saturn and M22. Mars and M22 are close enough (0.21 degrees) that they will fit into medium field telescope eyepieces fields of view. Mars and Saturn are a finger-width apart, so you will need a wide-field eyepiece for these two to fit. Scanning with binoculars around Mars and Saturn will be very rewarding now the Moon is out of the way.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula. It is close to the bright globular cluster M22 and the pair are visible in binoculars and wide field telescope eyepieces. Mars and Saturn are within binocular range of each other at the start of this week this week and the pair are closest on the 2nd.
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 Saturday, March 31, this is a Blue Moon, the second for the year. Blue Moons (as defined as the second full Moon in a month), occur every 2 years, 8 months and 18 days. Having two blue Moons in a year occurs roughly 4-5 times a century. The next time there are two blue Moons in a year is 2037.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus is rising higher in the twilight. While is is now much easier to see, you will still need a flat unobscured horizon to see it at its best. Venus is now visible to the unaided eye from 15 minutes after sunset and easy to see 30 minutes after sunset.
The inset is a simulated telescopic view of Jupiter and its moons at this time on the 4th, with Io and its shadow transiting the Face of Jupiter.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is now sufficiently high in the evening twilight to be readily visible above the horizon if there are not too many trees or buildings in the way. It is now a hand-span above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. It is bright enough to be visible 15 minutes after sunset.
Mercury is lost to view.
Jupiter is rising well before midnight, but it is still best to view in the morning sky, where it is high above the northern horizon. There are some good Jovian Moon events this week. Jupiter is visited by the waning Moon on April the 3rd
Mars is in Sagittarius the archer. Mars is moving towards Saturn at the beginning of the week. Mars and Saturn (and the globular cluster M22) start the week within binocular range of each other. By the 2nd Mars is closest to both Saturn and M22. Mars and M22 are close enough (0.21 degrees) that they will fit into medium field telescope eyepieces fields of view. Mars and Saturn are a finger-width apart, so you will need a wide-field eyepiece for these two to fit. Scanning with binoculars around Mars and Saturn will be very rewarding now the Moon is out of the way.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula. It is close to the bright globular cluster M22 and the pair are visible in binoculars and wide field telescope eyepieces. Mars and Saturn are within binocular range of each other at the start of this week this week and the pair are closest on the 2nd.
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, March 22, 2018
Nova Carina 2018, bright (well, just unaided eye) Southern Nova ASASSN-18FV
 |  |
| Sky looking south as seen from Adelaide at astronomical twilight (90 minutes after sumset). Yje nova is almost directly between the Southern Cross and the false cross. The nova is indicated by the yellow star (click to bingen) | Printable black and white chart suitable for use with binoculars. showing the area around the nova. The large circle is the field of view of 10x50 binoculars, the small that of a 24 mm eyepiece with a 114 mm reflector. click to embiggen and print. |
There is a bright nova visible in Carina (ASASSN-18FV), well placed for Southern hemisphere observers, recent reports suggest that the magnitude is between 6 and 7 (just visible to the unaided eye to easily binocular visible). I have not been able to confirm the magnitudes because of cloud.
UPDATE: The nova is roughly between the top star of the false cross and delta crucis near a pair of fairly obvious brightish stars that form a triangle with the very obvious Southern Pleiades (just at the bottom of the chart). These two stars form an obvious triangle with another dimmer star, just below this dimmer star is a triangular asterism, and the nova is next to that. However, it is in a very crowded field close to a magnitude 5 star, and distinguishing them may be difficult.
The nova may fade, or may brighten further, you can find the most recent observations here
https://www.aavso.org/apps/webobs/results/?star=ASASSN-18FV
AAVSO notice
https://www.aavso.org/aavso-alert-notice-626
Astronomers telegrams describing the nova
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=11456
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=11460
http://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=11457
Tip of te hat to Daniel Fischer for the heads up.
Labels: binoculars, nova
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
The Sky This Week - Thursday March 22 to Thursday March 29
The First Quarter Moon is Sunday, March 25. Venus is low in the
twilight. Jupiter is
now rising in the late evening
skies but is still best in the morning.
Mars,
bright Jupiter and Saturn form a line together with the bright stars
Antares and
Spica in the morning skies. Mars closes in on Saturn. Saturn is in
binocular range of some interesting nebula and the globular
cluster M22. Mars is within binocular distance of the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae and Saturn.
The First Quarter Moon is Sunday, March 25. The Moon is at Perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 27th.
Evening twilight sky on Saturday March 24looking west as seen from
Adelaide
at 19:50 ACDST (30 minutes after sunset). Venus is
low in the twilight, with the waxing moon not far away.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus is rising higher in the twilight. You will still need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert to see it at its best. Venus is now visible to the unaided eye (just) from 15 minutes after sunset andr elatively easy to see 30 minutes after sunset.
Evening sky on Saturday March 24 looking East as seen from Adelaide
at 23:00 ACDST Jupiter is just rising above the horizon.
The inset is a simulated telescopic view of Jupiter and its moons at this time.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Saturday March 24 looking north as seen from Adelaide
at
5:56 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise). Mars is moving towards Saturn
and away from the trifid and Lagoon nebulae. Saturn is close to the bright globular cluster M22, and is in the same binocular field as Mars this week.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is low in the evening twilight although it is climbing out of the horizon murk, being just five finger-widths above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. It is bright enough to be just visible 15 minutes after sunset.
Mercury is lost to view.
Jupiter is rising well before midnight, but it is still best to view in the morning sky, where it is high above the northern horizon. There are some good Jovian Moon events this week.
Mars is in Sagittarius the archer. Mars is moving away from the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae and towards Saturn. Mars and the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae are visible together in binoculars. Mars and Saturn are now within binocular ange of each other. Scanning with binoculars around Mars and Saturn will be very rewarding now the Moon is out of the way.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula. It is coming closer to the bright globular cluster M22 and the pair are visible in binoculars and wide field telescope eyepieces.Mars and Saturn are within binocular range of each other this week.
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 Sunday, March 25. The Moon is at Perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 27th.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus is rising higher in the twilight. You will still need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert to see it at its best. Venus is now visible to the unaided eye (just) from 15 minutes after sunset andr elatively easy to see 30 minutes after sunset.
Evening sky on Saturday March 24 looking East as seen from Adelaide
at 23:00 ACDST Jupiter is just rising above the horizon.The inset is a simulated telescopic view of Jupiter and its moons at this time.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is low in the evening twilight although it is climbing out of the horizon murk, being just five finger-widths above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. It is bright enough to be just visible 15 minutes after sunset.
Mercury is lost to view.
Jupiter is rising well before midnight, but it is still best to view in the morning sky, where it is high above the northern horizon. There are some good Jovian Moon events this week.
Mars is in Sagittarius the archer. Mars is moving away from the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae and towards Saturn. Mars and the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae are visible together in binoculars. Mars and Saturn are now within binocular ange of each other. Scanning with binoculars around Mars and Saturn will be very rewarding now the Moon is out of the way.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula. It is coming closer to the bright globular cluster M22 and the pair are visible in binoculars and wide field telescope eyepieces.Mars and Saturn are within binocular range of each other this week.
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, March 13, 2018
The Sky This Week - Thursday March 15 to Thursday March 22
The New Moon is Saturday, March 17. Venus and Mercury are low in the twilight. Venus is close to the crescent Moon on the 19th. Jupiter is now rising in the late evening
skies but is still best in the morning.
Mars,
bright Jupiter and Saturn form a line together with the bright stars
Antares and
Spica in the morning skies. Mars closes in on Saturn. Saturn is in binocular range of some interesting nebula and the globular
cluster M22. Mars is in between the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae on the 20th.
The New Moon is Saturday, March 17.
Evening twilight sky on Monday March 19 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at 19:54 ACDST (30 minutes after sunset). Venus and the Moon are nearby low in the twilight, with Mercury almost on the horizon.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus and Mercury are very low in the twilight. You will need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert. Venus is now visible to the unaided eye (just) from 15 minutes after sunset andrelatively easy to see 30 minutes after sunset, but you will need binoculars to see Mercury low in the horizon murk. By the end of the week Mercury is lost t view. On the 19th Venus is near the thin crescent Moon with Mercury just above the horizon.
Evening sky on Saturday March 17 looking East as seen from Adelaide
at 23:00 ACDST Jupiter is just rising above the horizon.
The inset is a simulated telescopic view of Jupiter on March 20 at 1:0 ACDST, with Io and its shadow on the face of Jupiter.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Tuesday March 20 looking north as seen from Adelaide
at
5:34 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise). Mars is moving towards Saturn
and is between the trifid and Lagoon nebulae. Saturn is coming closer to the bright globular cluster M22.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is low in the evening twilight. and is still very difficult to see, being just four finger-widths above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. It is bright enough to be just visible 15 minutes after sunset, but it is easier to find it in binoculars first. On the 19th Venus is close to the crescent Moon
Mercury is very low in the evening twilight just to the right of Venus. You will need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert, and binoculars, to be able to see Mercury low on the horizon.
Jupiter is rising well before midnight, but it is still best to view in the morning sky, where it is high above the northern horizon. There are some good Jovian Moon events this week.
Mars is in Sagittarius the archer. Mars is moving towards the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae and Saturn. From the16th Mars and the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae are visible together in binoculars. It is between the two nebulae on the 20th and visible in wide field telescope eyepieces. Scanning with binoculars around Mars and Saturn will be very rewarding now the Moon is out of the way.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula. It is coming closer to the bright globular cluster M22 and the pair are visible in binoculars and wide field telescope eyepieces.
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 Saturday, March 17.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus and Mercury are very low in the twilight. You will need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert. Venus is now visible to the unaided eye (just) from 15 minutes after sunset andrelatively easy to see 30 minutes after sunset, but you will need binoculars to see Mercury low in the horizon murk. By the end of the week Mercury is lost t view. On the 19th Venus is near the thin crescent Moon with Mercury just above the horizon.
The inset is a simulated telescopic view of Jupiter on March 20 at 1:0 ACDST, with Io and its shadow on the face of Jupiter.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is low in the evening twilight. and is still very difficult to see, being just four finger-widths above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. It is bright enough to be just visible 15 minutes after sunset, but it is easier to find it in binoculars first. On the 19th Venus is close to the crescent Moon
Mercury is very low in the evening twilight just to the right of Venus. You will need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert, and binoculars, to be able to see Mercury low on the horizon.
Jupiter is rising well before midnight, but it is still best to view in the morning sky, where it is high above the northern horizon. There are some good Jovian Moon events this week.
Mars is in Sagittarius the archer. Mars is moving towards the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae and Saturn. From the16th Mars and the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae are visible together in binoculars. It is between the two nebulae on the 20th and visible in wide field telescope eyepieces. Scanning with binoculars around Mars and Saturn will be very rewarding now the Moon is out of the way.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula. It is coming closer to the bright globular cluster M22 and the pair are visible in binoculars and wide field telescope eyepieces.
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, March 12, 2018
Seeing Venus in the twilight (11 March 2018)
 |  |
| Venus seen in the twilight above the ocean at 20:08 ACDST. Taken with a Canon IXUS 400 ASA 1/20 minute exposure. Click to embiggen to see Venus clearly. | Enlarged crop of the area to show location of Mercury. Venus uis the bright dot above Mercury |
I have been able to see Venus for about a week (more due to the weather and clouds than due to its actual visibility), and yesterday was a good opportunity to see Venus and Mercury together. Sadly, although Veus was readily visible to the unaided eye 30 minutes after sunset, Mercury is still invisible without binoculars (it did {just] show up in the photos). Venus will become more prominent over the next weeks, with a nice encounter with the thin crescent Moon on the 19th. Mercury never gets better this month.
Labels: astrophotography, Mercury, unaided eye observation, Venus
Wednesday, March 07, 2018
The Sky This Week - Thursday March 8 to Thursday March 15
The Last Quarter Moon is Friday, March 9. Venus and Mercury are low in the twilight. Mars,
bright Jupiter and Saturn form a line together with the bright stars
Antares and
Spica in the morning skies. Jupiter is now rising in the late evening
skies.
Saturn is in binocular range of some interesting nebula and the globular
cluster M22. The Moon is close to Mars on the 10th, Mars and Saturn on the 11th then Saturn on the 12th.
The Last Quarter Moon is Friday, March 9. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest form the Eath on March 11.
Evening twilight sky on Saturday March 10 looking west as seen from Adelaide
at 20:07 ACDST (30 minutes after sunset). Venus and Mercury are close together low in the twilight.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus and Mercury are very low in the twilight. You will need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert. Venus is now visible to the unaided eye (just) from 15 minutes after sunset but you will need binoculars, to see Mercury low in the horizon murk.
Evening sky on Saturday March 10 looking East as seen from Adelaide
at 23:30 ACDST Jupiter is just rising above the horizon.
The inset is a simulated telescopic view of Jupiter on March 11 at 5:27 ACDST, with Ganymede, Io and their shadows on the face of Jupiter.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Sunday March 11 looking north as seen from Adelaide
at
5:27 ACDST (90 minutes before sunrise). Mars is moving towards Saturn
and the trifid nebula and Saturn is coming closer to the bright globular cluster M22. The Moon lies between Mars and Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is low in the evening twilight. and is still very difficult to see, being just three finger-widths above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. It is bright enough to be just visible 15 minutes after sunset, but it is easier to find it in binoculars first.
Mercury is very low in the evening twilight just to the right of Venus. You will need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert, and probably binoculars, to be able to see Mercury low on the horizon.
Jupiter is rising before midnight, but it is still best to view in the morning sky, where it is high above the northern horizon. There are some good Jovian Moon events this week.
Mars is moving down the body of Scorpius the scorpion. Mars moves away from Antares (the rival of Mars) over the week. Mars is moving towards the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae and Saturn. Scanning with binoculars around Mars and Saturn will be very rewarding once the Moon is out of the way. The Waning Moon is close to Mars on the 10th.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula. It is just within range of the Lagoon and Triffid nebulae and is coming closer to the bright globular cluster M22. The waning Moon is close to Mars and Saturn on the 11th then Saturn on the 12th.
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 Friday, March 9. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest form the Eath on March 11.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).
Venus and Mercury are very low in the twilight. You will need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert. Venus is now visible to the unaided eye (just) from 15 minutes after sunset but you will need binoculars, to see Mercury low in the horizon murk.
The inset is a simulated telescopic view of Jupiter on March 11 at 5:27 ACDST, with Ganymede, Io and their shadows on the face of Jupiter.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is low in the evening twilight. and is still very difficult to see, being just three finger-widths above the horizon 30 minutes after sunset. It is bright enough to be just visible 15 minutes after sunset, but it is easier to find it in binoculars first.
Mercury is very low in the evening twilight just to the right of Venus. You will need a flat unobscured horizon, like the ocean or the desert, and probably binoculars, to be able to see Mercury low on the horizon.
Jupiter is rising before midnight, but it is still best to view in the morning sky, where it is high above the northern horizon. There are some good Jovian Moon events this week.
Mars is moving down the body of Scorpius the scorpion. Mars moves away from Antares (the rival of Mars) over the week. Mars is moving towards the Triffid and Lagoon nebulae and Saturn. Scanning with binoculars around Mars and Saturn will be very rewarding once the Moon is out of the way. The Waning Moon is close to Mars on the 10th.
Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. It is within binocular range of several attractive clusters and nebula. It is just within range of the Lagoon and Triffid nebulae and is coming closer to the bright globular cluster M22. The waning Moon is close to Mars and Saturn on the 11th then Saturn on the 12th.
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
Saturday, March 03, 2018
Southern Skywatch March 2018 edition is now out!
The eastern morning sky on March 30, 90 minutes before sunrise showing
Saturn and the Mars close, Inset shows Saturn, Mars and M22 though
Binoculars. (similar views will be seen Australia wide 90 minutes before
sunrise, click to embiggen).The March edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.
This month still sees most of the action move in the morning sky. Speedy Mercury and Venus are low in the evening sky, but Venus will be hard to see until the end of the month.
Jupiter enters the evening sky, but is still best seen in the morning sky.
Mars passes between the Trifid and Lagoon Nebula and closes in on Saturn and M22.
Saturn is close to the globular cluster M22 this month.
March 7; Moon close to Jupiter. March 10-11; Mars and Moon close. March 11-12; Mars and Saturn close.
March 11; Moon at Apogee. March 27 Moon at Perigee.
March 19, Crescent Moon above Venus and Mercury in the twilight.
March 30; Saturn and Mars close, with M22 nearby.
Labels: southern skywatch
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