Tuesday, November 26, 2019
The Sky This Week - Thursday November 28 to Thursday December 5
The First Quarter Moon is Wednesday December 4. Venus climbs even higher in the evening twilight closing in on Saturn. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 29th. Venus is close to the globular cluster M22 on December 3. Jupiter is difficult to see low in the evening twilight. Saturn is above Jupiter and Venus, higher in the western evening skies. The crescent Moon is close to Saturn on the 30th. Asteroid Vesta visible in binoculars. Mars and Mercury visible in the morning twilight.
The First Quarter Moon is Wednesday December 4. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on Thursday 5 December.
Sky at 21:16 ACDST on Friday 29 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. Venus and the Moon are close with Saturn above the pair.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification and the lower left is Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Sky at 21:16 ACDST on Saturday 30 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. The crescent Moon and Saturn are close with Venus below the pair.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Morning sky at 5:27 ACDST facing east as seen from Adelaide on Saturday 30 November 30 minutes before sunrise.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica and above Mercury. You may need binoculars to see Mercury.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
The North-east horizon as seen in Adelaide at 21:56 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset) Saturday 30 November showing the location of
Vesta (click to embiggen). The inset is the binocular view of Vesta and the prominent guide star.
Vesta is currently easy to find, not far from the bright star Menkar and up from the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta was brightest on the 12th, but is still bright enough to be easily seen in binoculars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, (90 minutes after sunset). A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen up to 90 minutes after sunset.Venus comes closer to Saturn over the week as it leaves Jupiter behind. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 29th. Venus is close to the globular cluster M22 on December 3.
Mercury is climbing out of the twilight but is still difficult to see.
Jupiter is visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive tail of the constellation of Scorpius and below Venus. Jupiter sets around 90 minutes after sunset.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica and above Mercury
Saturn is above Jupiter and Venus and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 10:00 pm. Venus comes closer to Saturn over the week and the crescent Moon is close to Saturn on the 30th.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
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 Wednesday December 4. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on Thursday 5 December.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification and the lower left is Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica and above Mercury. You may need binoculars to see Mercury.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Vesta is currently easy to find, not far from the bright star Menkar and up from the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta was brightest on the 12th, but is still bright enough to be easily seen in binoculars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, (90 minutes after sunset). A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen up to 90 minutes after sunset.Venus comes closer to Saturn over the week as it leaves Jupiter behind. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 29th. Venus is close to the globular cluster M22 on December 3.
Mercury is climbing out of the twilight but is still difficult to see.
Jupiter is visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive tail of the constellation of Scorpius and below Venus. Jupiter sets around 90 minutes after sunset.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica and above Mercury
Saturn is above Jupiter and Venus and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 10:00 pm. Venus comes closer to Saturn over the week and the crescent Moon is close to Saturn on the 30th.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
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, November 19, 2019
Possible outburst of the alpha Monocerotids Meteor shower (October 22 04:50 UT).
The alpha Monocerotids are normally inconspicuous from Australia. But this year there is the prediction of an outburst of up to 400 meteors per hour around 04:50 UT on the 22nd (around 3 pm AEDST).
While this is during daylight hours for us, it is possible the peak may arrive early or late so observations on the morning of the 22nd from around 1 am are encouraged.
Labels: Meteors, unaided eye
Monday, November 18, 2019
The Sky This Week - Thursday November 21 to Thursday November 28
The New Moon is Wednesday November 27. Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight closing in on Jupiter with the pair closest on the 24th. Jupiter is easily
visible low in the western evening skies near Venus. The crescent Moon is close to Jupiter on the 28th. Saturn is above Jupiter and Venus, higher in the western evening skies. Asteroid Vesta visible in binoculars. Alpha Monocerotids meteor shower 21st-22nd. Mars and Mercury close to the crescent Moon 24th-25th
The New Moon is Wednesday November 27. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 23rd.
Sky at 21:11 ACDST on Sunday 24 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. Venus and Jupiter are at their closest with Saturn above the pair.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification and the lower left is Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Sky at 21:15 ACDST on Thursday 28 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. The crescent Moon and Jupiter are close with Venus and Saturn above the pair.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Morning sky at 5:29 ACDST facing east as seen from Adelaide on Sunday 24 November 30 minutes before sunrise.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica near the crescent Moon and Mercury. You may need binoculars to see Mercury.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky facing north-east from Adelaide at 1:00 am ACDST on 21 November, the alpha Monocerotids radiant is indicated with a star burst. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time.
The alpha Monocerotids are normally inconspicuous from Australia. But this year there is the prediction of an outburst of up to 400 meteors per hour around 04:50 UT (around 3 pm). While this is during daylight hours for us, it is possible the peak may arrive early or late so observations on the morning of the 21st and 22nd from around 1 am are encouraged.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen up to 90 minutes after sunset.Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week and is closest to it on the 24th, before leaving Jupiter behind.
Mercury is climbing out of the twilight.
Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive tail of the constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week and is closest to it on the 24th, before leaving Jupiter behind. The thin crescent Moon is close to Jupiter on the 28th.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.on the 24th the thin crescent Moon is close to Spica and Mars, and on the 25th Spica, Mars, the thin crescent Moon and Mercury from a line in the morning twilight.
Saturn is above Jupiter and Venus and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 10:00 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
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 November 27. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 23rd.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification and the lower left is Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica near the crescent Moon and Mercury. You may need binoculars to see Mercury.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
The alpha Monocerotids are normally inconspicuous from Australia. But this year there is the prediction of an outburst of up to 400 meteors per hour around 04:50 UT (around 3 pm). While this is during daylight hours for us, it is possible the peak may arrive early or late so observations on the morning of the 21st and 22nd from around 1 am are encouraged.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen up to 90 minutes after sunset.Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week and is closest to it on the 24th, before leaving Jupiter behind.
Mercury is climbing out of the twilight.
Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive tail of the constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week and is closest to it on the 24th, before leaving Jupiter behind. The thin crescent Moon is close to Jupiter on the 28th.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.on the 24th the thin crescent Moon is close to Spica and Mars, and on the 25th Spica, Mars, the thin crescent Moon and Mercury from a line in the morning twilight.
Saturn is above Jupiter and Venus and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 10:00 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
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, November 12, 2019
The Sky This Week - Thursday November 14 to Thursday November 21
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday November 20. Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight closing in on Jupiter. Jupiter is easily
visible low in the western evening skies above Venus. Saturn is above Jupiter, higher in the western evening skies. Asteroid Vesta visible in binoculars. Leonid meteor shower 18th.
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday November 20.
Sky at 21:01 ACDST on Saturday 16 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. Venus, Jupiter and Saturn form a line above the western
horizon.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification and the lower left is Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
The North-east horizon as seen in Adelaide at 21:37 pm ACDST (90 minutes after sunset) showing the location of
Vesta (click to embiggen) on Saturday 16 November. The inset is the binocular view of Vesta and the two prominent guide stars.
Vesta is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta is brightest on the 12th, but with the Full Moon nearby will be difficult to observe, even in binoculars. You may need to block the Moon out with a building to have a chance to see Vesta at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Morning sky at 5:34 ACDST facing east as seen from Adelaide on Saturday 16 November 30 minutes before sunrise.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica. You may need binoculars to see Mars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky facing north-east from Adelaide at 4:00 am ACDST on 18 November, the Leonid radiant is indicated with a star burst. Similar views
will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time.
For this years Leonids the Last Quarter Moon will result in poor viewing conditions. As for the recent past years this year there are low rates, you will be unlikely to see anything substantial (although there may be short bursts of higher rates). The best time to observe in Australia is the morning of the 18th between 3 and 4 am (daylight saving time). The Radiant (where the meteors appear to come from) is in the Sickle of Leo. Orion and the Hyades will be visible. So it will be a quite nice morning, even if there are only a few meteors.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen up to 90 minutes after sunset.Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter is still worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. It sets around 10:30 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening. Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 10:30 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday November 20.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time. The lower right is that of Saturn at the same magnification and the lower left is Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Vesta is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta is brightest on the 12th, but with the Full Moon nearby will be difficult to observe, even in binoculars. You may need to block the Moon out with a building to have a chance to see Vesta at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica. You may need binoculars to see Mars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
For this years Leonids the Last Quarter Moon will result in poor viewing conditions. As for the recent past years this year there are low rates, you will be unlikely to see anything substantial (although there may be short bursts of higher rates). The best time to observe in Australia is the morning of the 18th between 3 and 4 am (daylight saving time). The Radiant (where the meteors appear to come from) is in the Sickle of Leo. Orion and the Hyades will be visible. So it will be a quite nice morning, even if there are only a few meteors.
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen up to 90 minutes after sunset.Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Jupiter is still worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. It sets around 10:30 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening. Venus comes closer to Jupiter over the week.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 10:30 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
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, November 11, 2019
Live Streaming and Webcasts of the Transit of Mercury (12 November/11 November UT)
Transit of Mercury as seen from Australia in November 2006 at around
8:30am, click to enlarge. Mercury is the tiny dot roughly in the
centre-top.Sadly, Australia will not get to see it (we will get to see the next in 2032 though). However, there are any number of live web-casts you can follow.
While these are all at horrible times here in Australia, if you are a late stayer or an early riser, you can catch a rare event.
| Event | Universal Time | AEDST |
| Contact I | 12:35:27 | 23:35 (11th) |
| Contact II | 12:37:08 | 23:37 (11th) |
| Greatest Transit | 15:19:48 | 02:19 (12th) |
| Contact III | 18:02:33 | 05:04 (12th) |
| Contact IV | 18:04:14 | 05:04 (12th) |
Webcasts:
Time and date: https://www.timeanddate.com/live/
Space.com: https://www.space.com/mercury-transit-2019-viewing-guide.html
Vimeo: https://livestream.com/GriffithObservatoryTV/MercuryTransit2019
Royal Observatory: https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/when-is-the-next-transit-of-mercury
Labels: live-stream, Mercury, transit, webcast
Wednesday, November 06, 2019
Yet Another series of Bright ISS passes (6-11 November, 2019)
 |  |  |
| The ISS passes close to Venus, Antares and Jupiter as seen from Sydney on the evening of Friday 8 November at 20:33 AEDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes above Jupiter as seen from Adelaide on the evening of Wednesday 6 November at at 21:37 ACDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes close to Venus and Jupiter, as seen from Perth on the evening of Saturday 9 November at 19:51 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 Friday 8 November for Sydney. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Wednesday 6 November for Adelaide. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Saturday 9 November for Perth. |
Over the next few days there are a series of bright ISS passes in the early evening or twilight where the ISS passes close to Venus, Jupiter or Saturn. Some are in twilight but the passes are very bright and will be well worth watching for.
The following tables are from data provided from Heavens Above.
Passes from Adelaide (ACDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -2.7 | 21:35:56 | 10° | WSW | 21:39:04 | 35° | NW | 21:39:14 | 35° | NW | visible |
| 07 Nov | -3.6 | 20:47:06 | 10° | SW | 20:50:29 | 72° | NW | 20:52:45 | 19° | NE | visible |
| 08 Nov | -1.0 | 21:37:09 | 10° | WNW | 21:38:09 | 11° | NW | 21:39:09 | 10° | NW | visible |
| 09 Nov | -1.6 | 20:47:03 | 10° | WSW | 20:49:40 | 21° | NW | 20:52:16 | 10° | N | visible |
Passes from Brisbane (AEST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -2.6 | 19:33:09 | 10° | SSW | 19:36:11 | 29° | SE | 19:36:20 | 29° | SE | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.7 | 18:45:09 | 10° | S | 18:47:25 | 17° | SE | 18:49:41 | 10° | E | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.4 | 20:21:08 | 10° | WSW | 20:22:45 | 22° | W | 20:22:45 | 22° | W | visible |
| 08 Nov | -3.6 | 19:32:13 | 10° | SW | 19:35:36 | 69° | NW | 19:36:20 | 48° | NNE | visible |
| 09 Nov | -3.4 | 18:43:37 | 10° | SSW | 18:46:56 | 53° | SE | 18:49:59 | 12° | ENE | visible |
| 10 Nov | -1.3 | 19:32:27 | 10° | W | 19:34:44 | 17° | NW | 19:36:37 | 12° | NNW | visible |
| 11 Nov | -2.3 | 18:43:03 | 10° | WSW | 18:46:10 | 35° | NW | 18:49:15 | 10° | NNE | visible |
Passes from Hobart (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -3.2 | 20:29:12 | 10° | WSW | 20:32:32 | 52° | NW | 20:35:50 | 10° | NE | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.0 | 21:18:53 | 10° | WNW | 21:20:09 | 12° | NW | 21:21:25 | 10° | NNW | visible |
Passes from Melbourne (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -3.4 | 20:29:37 | 10° | SW | 20:32:59 | 56° | SE | 20:36:19 | 10° | ENE | visible |
| 06 Nov | -1.2 | 22:07:35 | 10° | W | 22:09:14 | 14° | NW | 22:09:14 | 14° | NW | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.9 | 21:18:03 | 10° | WSW | 21:20:53 | 24° | NW | 21:22:45 | 16° | N | visible |
| 08 Nov | -2.9 | 20:29:03 | 10° | WSW | 20:32:20 | 45° | NW | 20:35:34 | 10° | NNE | visible |
| 10 Nov | -1.1 | 20:29:23 | 10° | W | 20:31:25 | 15° | NW | 20:33:26 | 10° | NNW | visible |
Passes from Perth (AWST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -2.7 | 20:39:21 | 10° | WSW | 20:42:08 | 42° | WNW | 20:42:08 | 42° | WNW | visible |
| 07 Nov | -3.8 | 19:50:37 | 10° | SW | 19:54:01 | 84° | SE | 19:55:39 | 28° | NE | visible |
| 08 Nov | -1.1 | 20:40:05 | 10° | W | 20:41:44 | 13° | NW | 20:42:09 | 13° | NW | visible |
| 09 Nov | -1.9 | 19:50:23 | 10° | WSW | 19:53:14 | 25° | NW | 19:55:48 | 11° | N | visible |
Passes from Sydney (AEDST)
| Date | Brightness | Start | Highest point | End | Pass type | ||||||
| (mag) | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
| 06 Nov | -3.5 | 20:31:21 | 10° | SW | 20:34:43 | 58° | SE | 20:36:20 | 27° | ENE | visible |
| 07 Nov | -1.7 | 21:20:02 | 10° | W | 21:22:33 | 20° | NW | 21:22:45 | 20° | NW | visible |
| 08 Nov | -2.6 | 20:30:51 | 10° | WSW | 20:34:02 | 38° | NW | 20:36:20 | 16° | NNE | visible |
| 10 Nov | -0.9 | 20:31:52 | 10° | WNW | 20:33:05 | 12° | NW | 20:34:18 | 10° | NNW | visible |
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 a star or planets or missing it completely. As always, 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, Satellite, unaided eye
Monday, November 04, 2019
The Sky This Week - Thursday November 7 to Thursday November 14
The Full Moon is Tuesday November 12. Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight and Mercury is lost in the twilight. Jupiter is easily
visible low in the western evening skies. Saturn is above Jupiter, higher in the western evening skies. Asteroid Vesta visible in binoculars but hard to see in the Moonlight.
The Full Moon is Tuesday November 12.
Sky at 20:53 ACDST on Sunday 10 November (60 minutes after sunset)
looking west as seen from Adelaide. Venus, Jupiter and Saturn form a line above the western
horizon.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at 20:53 on 9 November. The lower right is that of Saturn on the 10th at the same magnification.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
The North-east horizon as seen in Adelaide at 10 pm local daylight
saving time (9:00 pm non-daylight saving time) showing the location of
Vesta (click to embiggen) on Tuesday 12 November when it is at opposition. The inset is the binocular view of Vesta and the two prominent guide stars.
Vesta is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta is brightest on the 12th, but with the Full Moon nearby will be difficult to observe, even in binoculars. You may need to block the Moon out with a building to have a chance to see Vesta at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Morning sky at 5:39 ACDST facing east as seen from Adelaide on Saturday 9 November 30 minutes before sunrise.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica. You may need binoculars to see Mars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen over 60 minutes after sunset.Venus passes close to the bright Star Antares on the 10th.
Mercury is lost in the twilight. Mercury transits the Sun's disk on the 12th, but this will not be seen from Australia (but will from North Island New Zealand).
Jupiter is still well worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. It sets around 11:00 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 11 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
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 November 12.
The left upper insert shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at 20:53 on 9 November. The lower right is that of Saturn on the 10th at the same magnification.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen.
Vesta is currently easy to find, near the two brightish stars that form the foreleg of Taurus the bull. Vesta is brightest on the 12th, but with the Full Moon nearby will be difficult to observe, even in binoculars. You may need to block the Moon out with a building to have a chance to see Vesta at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, click to embiggen. A spotter guide with printable charts is here.
Mars is low above the horizon just below Spica. You may need binoculars to see Mars.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (30 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is higher above the western horizon in the late evening twilight. Venus is now readily seen over 60 minutes after sunset.Venus passes close to the bright Star Antares on the 10th.
Mercury is lost in the twilight. Mercury transits the Sun's disk on the 12th, but this will not be seen from Australia (but will from North Island New Zealand).
Jupiter is still well worth observing in the early evening. Jupiter is easily visible in the western sky and is located beside the distinctive constellation of Scorpius and above Venus. It sets around 11:00 local time and is a good telescope target in the early evening.
Mars is just visible in the morning twilight near the bright star Spica.
Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and near the "handle" of the "teapot of Sagittarius. It is best for telescopic viewing from just around astronomical twilight local time until around 11 pm.
Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEDST, Western sky at 10 pm AEDST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to current time.
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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