Thursday, August 27, 2020
Opposition of Ceres Friday 28 August 2020
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| Location of Ceres as seen looking east from Adelaide at 19:17 ACST (90 minutes after sunset) on Friday 28 August, when it is at opposition. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen) | Approximate view in 10x50 binoculars at the same time, use the bright star Fomalhaut, the brightest star above the eastern horizon at this time, as your guide. (click to embiggen) |
Ceres is the second largest dwarf planet after Pluto and the only dwarf planet in the inner solar system. It comes to opposition, when it is biggest and brightest, on Friday August 28. It won't be spectacular at magnitude 7.7 you will need good binoculars to see it as a point of light and you will need to watch it move over several days to see it move to be sure you have seen it. But it will be cool to say you have seen a water world in the skies.
Black and white spotters map suitable for printing, the circle is the approximate field of view of 10x50 binoculars. the orientation is the same as in the binocular chart above, in that chart c2 Aqr is the same as 88 Aquarii. Click to embiggen and print
Labels: Asteroid, binocular, Ceres, Dwarf Planet
Monday, August 24, 2020
Sky This Week - Thursday August 27 to Thursday September 3
The Full Moon is Wednesday, September 2. Three bright planets are visible in the very early morning skies. Venus is below Orion and the bright star Procyon. Mars is rising well before midnight. Jupiter and Saturn dominate the evening sky but Jupiter now sets before morning twilight. On the 29th the waxing Moon makes a triangle with Saturn and the Moon. Mercury enters the evening twilight.
Evening sky at 18:20 ACST (30 minutes after sunset) on Saturday, August
29 facing east as seen from Adelaide. Mercury is low above
the Eastern horizon in te twilight.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
Evening sky at 19:19 ACST (90 minutes after sunset) on Saturday, August
29 facing east as seen from Adelaide. Jupiter and Saturn are high above
the Eastern horizon.
The insets show the telescopic view of the planets at the same magnification at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Saturday, August
29 showing the north-eastern sky as seen from Adelaide at 5:15 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Venus is below the arm of Orion forming a triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon.
The inset in the telescopic view of Venus at this time
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Sunday, August 30 showing the whole sky as seen from Adelaide at 4:25 am ACST.
Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Jupiter, Saturn Mars and Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. click to embiggen.
Jupiter can be readily seen in the early evening sky. Jupiter and Saturn stay around a hand-span apart during the week and the pair dominate the evening skies. Jupiter was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 14th, but is still an excellent sight. On the 29th the waxing Moon makes a triangle with Saturn and the Moon.
Saturn is too is now visible in the early evening skies. Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 21st, but is still an excellent sight.
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.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the 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 Wednesday, September 2.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
The insets show the telescopic view of the planets at the same magnification at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
The inset in the telescopic view of Venus at this time
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.
Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Jupiter, Saturn Mars and Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. click to embiggen.
Three bright planets grace the early morning sky, this will be the last week to see them as soon Saturn will set before Venus rises.
Mercury is returns to the evening twilight, and should be readily seen by the weeks end.
Venus is below the arm of Orion forming a triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon.
Mars is visible high in the morning sky to the north, It enters the evening sky shortly around late evening but is still low to the horizon until late evening.
Mercury is returns to the evening twilight, and should be readily seen by the weeks end.
Venus is below the arm of Orion forming a triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon.
Mars is visible high in the morning sky to the north, It enters the evening sky shortly around late evening but is still low to the horizon until late evening.
Jupiter can be readily seen in the early evening sky. Jupiter and Saturn stay around a hand-span apart during the week and the pair dominate the evening skies. Jupiter was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 14th, but is still an excellent sight. On the 29th the waxing Moon makes a triangle with Saturn and the Moon.
Saturn is too is now visible in the early evening skies. Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 21st, but is still an excellent sight.
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.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the 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, August 18, 2020
Sky This Week - Thursday August 20 to Thursday August 27
The First Quarter Moon is Wednesday, August 26. Four bright planets are visible in the very early morning skies. Venus is below the arm of Orion. Mars is rising before midnight. Jupiter and Saturn dominate the evening sky but Jupiter now sets before morning twilight.
Jupiter can be readily seen in the early evening sky. Jupiter and Saturn stay around a hand-span apart during the week and the pair dominate the evening skies. Jupiter was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 14th, but is still an excellent sight.
Saturn is too is now visible in the early evening skies. Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 21st, but is still an excellent sight.
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.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the 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, August 26. The Moon is at Perigee, when it is closest to the Earth on the 21st.
Evening sky at 19:13 ACST (90 minutes after sunset) on Saturday, August 22 facing east as seen from Adelaide. Jupiter and Saturn are high above the Eastern horizon.
The insets show the telescopic view of the planets at the same magnification at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Saturday, August 22 showing the north-eastern sky as seen from Adelaide at 5:25 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Venus is below the arm of Orion.
The inset in the telescopic view of Venus at this time
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Sunday, August 16 showing the whole sky as seen from Adelaide at 4:25 am ACST.
Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Jupiter, Saturn Mars and Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. click to embiggen.
The insets show the telescopic view of the planets at the same magnification at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
The inset in the telescopic view of Venus at this time
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.
Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Jupiter, Saturn Mars and Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. click to embiggen.
Four bright planets grace the early morning sky, this will be the last week to see them as soon Jupiter will set before Venus rises.
Pluto Neptune and Uranus are also part of this line-up, but unable to be seen with the unaided eye.
Mercury is lost in the morning twilight.
Venus is below the arm of Orion.
Mars is visible high in the morning sky to the north, east of Jupiter and Saturn. It enters the evening sky shortly before midnight but is still low to the horizon.
Pluto Neptune and Uranus are also part of this line-up, but unable to be seen with the unaided eye.
Mercury is lost in the morning twilight.
Venus is below the arm of Orion.
Mars is visible high in the morning sky to the north, east of Jupiter and Saturn. It enters the evening sky shortly before midnight but is still low to the horizon.
Jupiter can be readily seen in the early evening sky. Jupiter and Saturn stay around a hand-span apart during the week and the pair dominate the evening skies. Jupiter was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 14th, but is still an excellent sight.
Saturn is too is now visible in the early evening skies. Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 21st, but is still an excellent sight.
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.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the 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, August 10, 2020
Sky This Week - Thursday August 13 to Thursday August 20
The New Moon is Wednesday, August 19. Four bright planets are visible in the very early morning skies. Venus is below the arm of Orion and is visited by the crescent Moon on the 16th. Mars is rising before midnight. Jupiter and Saturn are easily visible in the evening sky but Jupiter now sets before morning twilight. Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE is still (just) visible in binoculars.
The New Moon is Wednesday, August 19.
Evening sky at 19:06 ACST (90 minutes after sunset) on Saturday, August 15 facing east as seen from Adelaide. Jupiter and Saturn are high above the Eastern horizon.
The insets show the telescopic view of the planets at the same magnification at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Sunday, August 16 showing the north-eastern sky as seen from Adelaide at 5:29 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Venus is below the arm of Orion and above the crescent Moon.
The inset in the telescopic view of Venus at this time
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Sunday, August 16 showing the whole sky as seen from Adelaide at 4:30 am ACST.
Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Jupiter, Saturn Mars and Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. click to embiggen.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
Jupiter can be readily seen in the early evening sky. Jupiter and Saturn stay around a hand-span apart during the week and the pair dominate the evening skies. Jupiter was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 14th, but is still an excellent sight.
Saturn is too is now visible in the early evening skies. Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 21st, but is still an excellent sight.
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.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the 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 insets show the telescopic view of the planets at the same magnification at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
The inset in the telescopic view of Venus at this time
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Sunday, August 16 showing the whole sky as seen from Adelaide at 4:30 am ACST.Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Jupiter, Saturn Mars and Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. click to embiggen.
Evening sky at 19:10 ACST (90 minutes after sunset) on Saturday, August 15 facing north-west as seen from Adelaide.
Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE is climbing higher in our skies. It requires binoculars to see. It will looks like a fuzzy dot and a small tail might be visible from dark sky sites.
Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE is climbing higher in our skies. It requires binoculars to see. It will looks like a fuzzy dot and a small tail might be visible from dark sky sites.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
Four bright planets grace the early morning sky.
Pluto Neptune and Uranus are also part of this line-up, but unable to be seen with the unaided eye.
Mercury is lost in the morning twilight.
Venus is below the arm of Orion above the crescent Moon.
Mars is visible high in the morning sky to the north, east of Jupiter and Saturn. It enters the evening sky shortly before midnight but is still low to the horizon.
Pluto Neptune and Uranus are also part of this line-up, but unable to be seen with the unaided eye.
Mercury is lost in the morning twilight.
Venus is below the arm of Orion above the crescent Moon.
Mars is visible high in the morning sky to the north, east of Jupiter and Saturn. It enters the evening sky shortly before midnight but is still low to the horizon.
Jupiter can be readily seen in the early evening sky. Jupiter and Saturn stay around a hand-span apart during the week and the pair dominate the evening skies. Jupiter was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 14th, but is still an excellent sight.
Saturn is too is now visible in the early evening skies. Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 21st, but is still an excellent sight.
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.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the 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
Sunday, August 09, 2020
Southern Skywatch August 2020 edition is now out!
(similar views will be seen Australia wide 90 minutes before sunrise)
The August edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.
August 1; waxing Moon, Jupiter and Saturn form a line in the evening sky.
August 2; Jupiter, Saturn and waning Moon form a triangle in the
evening sky. August 3; Jupiter, Saturn and the waxing Moon, form a line
in the evening sky. August 9 Waning Moon near to Mars. August 9; Moon at
Apogee. August 15-16; crescent Moon close to Venus. August 21; Moon at
perigee. August 28; waxing Moon close to Jupiter. August 29; Jupiter,
Saturn and waning Moon form a triangle in the evening sky.
Mercury is lost in the twilight
Venus is visible below Orion as is cloe to the crescent Moon on the 16th.
Mars is close to the Moon on the 9th.
Jupiter climbs higher the evening sky. On the 2th Jupiter, the waxing Moon and Saturn
form a line in the late evening/early morning sky.The line up is repeated on the 28th.
Saturn climbs higher the evening sky. August 29; Jupiter,
Saturn and waning Moon form a triangle in the evening sky.
August 9; Moon at
Apogee. August 21; Moon at
perigee.
Labels: southern skywatch
Tuesday, August 04, 2020
Sky This Week - Thursday August 6 to Thursday August 13
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday, August 12. Four bright planets are visible in the early morning skies. Venus is in the arm of Orion. Mars is rising before midnight. The waning Moon is close to Mars on the 9th. Jupiter and Saturn are easily visible in the evening sky. Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE is still (just) visible in binoculars.
The Last Quarter Moon is Wednesday, August 12. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on the 9th.
Evening sky at 19:06 ACST (90 minutes after sunset) on Saturday, August 8 facing east as seen from Adelaide. Jupiter and Saturn are high above the Eastern horizon.
The insets show the telescopic view of the planets at the same magnification at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Saturday, August 8 showing the north-eastern sky as seen from Adelaide at 5:37 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Crescent Venus is in the arm of Orion.
The inset in the telescopic view of Venus at this time
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.
Morning sky on Sunday, August 9 showing the whole sky as seen from Adelaide at 5:00 am ACST.
Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Jupiter, Saturn Mars and Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. click to embiggen.
Evening sky at 18:37 ACST (60 minutes after sunset) on Saturday, August 8 facing north-west as seen from Adelaide.
Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE is climbing higher in our skies. It requires binoculars to see. It will looks like a fuzzy dot and a small tail might be visible from dark sky sites.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
The insets show the telescopic view of the planets at the same magnification at this time.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
The inset in the telescopic view of Venus at this time
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.
Four bright planets are visible stretching west to east. Jupiter, Saturn Mars and Venus.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time. click to embiggen.
Evening sky at 18:37 ACST (60 minutes after sunset) on Saturday, August 8 facing north-west as seen from Adelaide.Comet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE is climbing higher in our skies. It requires binoculars to see. It will looks like a fuzzy dot and a small tail might be visible from dark sky sites.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.
Four bright planets grace the morning sky.
Pluto Neptune and Uranus are also part of this line-up, but unable to be seen with the unaided eye.
Mercury is lost in the morning twilight.
Venus is is in the arm of Orion.
Mars is visible high in the morning sky to the north, east of Jupiter and Saturn. It enters the evening sky shortly before midnight but is still low to the horizon. The waning Moon is close to Mars on the 9th.
Jupiter is lowering in the morning sky and now can be readily seen in the early evening sky. Jupiter and Saturn stay around a hand-span apart during the week. Jupiter was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 14th, but is still an excellent sight.
Saturn is also lowering in the morning sky near Jupiter drawing away from Mars. It too is now visible in the early evening skies. Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 21st, but is still an excellent sight.
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.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the 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/
Pluto Neptune and Uranus are also part of this line-up, but unable to be seen with the unaided eye.
Mercury is lost in the morning twilight.
Venus is is in the arm of Orion.
Mars is visible high in the morning sky to the north, east of Jupiter and Saturn. It enters the evening sky shortly before midnight but is still low to the horizon. The waning Moon is close to Mars on the 9th.
Jupiter is lowering in the morning sky and now can be readily seen in the early evening sky. Jupiter and Saturn stay around a hand-span apart during the week. Jupiter was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 14th, but is still an excellent sight.
Saturn is also lowering in the morning sky near Jupiter drawing away from Mars. It too is now visible in the early evening skies. Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on July the 21st, but is still an excellent sight.
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.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the 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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