Astroblog

The Last Quarter Moon is Friday, October 29.  Three bright planets are seen in the early evening sky. Venus is readily visible in the early evening sky, leaving the Scorpion and and entering Sagittarius. Venus is in binocular range of the Triffid nebula on the 4th.  Saturn and Jupiter are visible in the evening sky with Jupiter dominating once Venus has set.The shadow of Saturn on its rings are spectacular at this time.

The Last Quarter Moon is Friday, October 29.

 

Evening sky on Saturday, October 30 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 21:16 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset).  Venus is close to the globular cluster M19.

 

The inset shows the telescopic view of Venus at this time. Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

Evening sky on Saturday, October 30 showing the north-western sky as seen from Adelaide at 21:16 pm ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Saturn and Jupiter form a line in the evening sky with the waxing Moon close to Jupiter. 

 

 The insets shows the telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen. 

 

Whole sky showing Jupiter, Saturn and Venus on Saturday October 30, 21:16 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). 

 

 

 

 Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar planetary line up that the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset). 

 

 Mercury  is lost in the twilight. 

 
Venus is visible in the early evening when the sky is fully dark.  I have been able to see Venus from just after sunset and it is easily seen over 3 hours after sunset, longer if you have a clear western horizon.  When the sky is fully dark you can see Venus above the western horizon and bright Jupiter above the northern horizon. Venus is climbing the body of the Scorpion making a rather beautiful sight in the early evening. in binocular range of the Triffid nebula on the 4th, this is binocular only and the relativity dim Triffid nebula may be hard to make out with bright Venus nearby. On the 30th Venus will be at its greatest elongation from the Sun.

Labels: weekly sky

International Space Station zooms between Venus  (obvious brightest sky object) and the Scorpion and Saturn (out of frame to right). Canon Ixus, ISO 3200, 10 x 1 second exposures stacked in Deep Sky Stacker.	Moon taken through my 8" Newtonian, 25 mm Plossl, lens, 2 x Barlow. Video taken with my Xperia mobile phone, converted to AVI with PIPP than stacked with Registax 6.
Moon featuring Copernicus crater taken through my 8" Newtonian, 12.5 mm Plossl, lens, 2 x Barlow. Video taken with my Xperia mobile phone, converted to AVI with PIPP than stacked with Registax 6.	Moon featuring Sinus iridium taken through my 8" Newtonian, 12.5 mm Plossl, lens, 2 x Barlow. Video taken with my Xperia mobile phone, converted to AVI with PIPP than stacked with Registax 6.
Copernicus crater taken through my 8" Newtonian, 2 x Barlow, modified ToUcam webcam and Vega. AVI stacked in Registax 6 then brightness and contrast adjusted in GIMP. large central black blob is guff on the CCD chip.	Sinus iridium taken through my 8" Newtonian, 2 x Barlow, modified ToUcam webcam and Vega. AVI stacked in Registax 6 then brightness and contrast adjusted in GIMP. large central black blob is guff on the CCD chip.

International Observe the Moon Night was on Saturday October 16. The early cloud cleared up in time to see the ISS zoom between Venus, Jupiter and Saturn and the Moon. Despite a lot of atmospheric turbulence I got some decent shots of the Moon (had to discard lots of frames). Didn't bother with Jupiter or Saturn due to the atmospheric shenanigans. 

Web cam shots of Sinus Irium are neat and all, but misses out on a lot of interesting surrounding territory.  The problem with higher magnification is it also magnifies the atmospheric turbulence, so even stacking with wavelets doesn't help as much as I would like. 

software used (Vega seems to have vanished from the web)

Registax

PIPP

GIMP

Labels: international Observe the Moon Night, ISS, Moon, telescope, unaided eye, Venus

The Full Moon is Thursday, October 21.  Three bright planets are seen in the early evening sky. Venus is readily visible in the early evening sky and is climbing the Scorpion. Venus is close to the globular cluster M19 on the 23rd.  Saturn and Jupiter are visible in the evening sky with Jupiter dominating once Venus has set.

The Full Moon is Thursday, October 21. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the earth, on the 25th.

Evening sky on Saturday, October 23 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 21:07 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset).  Venus is close to the globular cluster M19.

 

 The inset shows the telescopic view of Venus at this time, and the binocular view of Venus and M19. Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

Evening sky on Saturday, October 23 showing the north-western sky as seen from Adelaide at 21:07 pm ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Saturn and Jupiter form a line in the evening sky with the waxing Moon close to Jupiter. 

 

 The insets shows the telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.

  

Whole sky showing Jupiter, Saturn and Venus on Saturday October 23rd, 21:07 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). 

 

 

 

 Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar planetary line up that the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

 

 Mercury  is lost in the twilight. 

 
Venus is visible in the early evening when the sky is fully dark.  I have been able to see Venus from just after sunset and it is easily seen over 3 hours after sunset, longer if you have a clear western horizon.  When the sky is fully dark you can see Venus above the western horizon and bright Jupiter above the northern horizon. Venus is climbing the body of the Scorpion making a rather beautiful sight in the early evening. Venus is close to the globular cluster M19 on the 23rd, this is binocular or telescope only and the relativity dim M19 may be hard to make out with bright Venus nearby. 

Labels: weekly sky

The ISS as seen from Brisbane  on the evening of Saturday 16 October at 18:48 AEST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), the white line is the path of the ISS, the other lines are paths of other satellites. Click to embiggen.	The ISS  as seen from Adelaide on the evening of  Saturday 16 October at 20:53 ACDST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), the white line is the path of the ISS, the other lines are paths of other satellites. Click to embiggen.	The ISS as seen from Perth on the evening of  Saturday 16 October at 19:56 AWST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), the white line is the path of the ISS, the other lines are paths of other satellites. Click to embiggen.
All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Saturday 16 October for Brisbane.	All sky chart showing local  times from Heavens Above for Saturday 16 October for Adelaide.	All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for  Saturday 16 October for Perth.

If it is not bucketing down rain where you are, over the next few days there are a series of  bright ISS passes in the late evening twilight/early evening. The ISS passes close to the the bright planets Jupiter, Saturn and Venus on some occasions. On the 16th, which is International Observe the Moon night, most locations except Alice Springs and Darwin see the ISS pass close to the lineup of Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon. 17th sees a close pass to Jupiter from Adelaide. 16th a close pass to Saturn from Hobart. 15th a close pass to Venus from Perth and Saturn from Sydney.

The following tables are from data provided from Heavens Above. Particularly impressive passes are highlighted in yellow.

Passes from Adelaide (ACDST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
12 Oct	-0.4	04:08:25	10°	SSE	04:08:59	10°	SSE	04:09:32	10°	SSE	visible
12 Oct	-3.0	05:43:02	10°	SW	05:46:26	56°	SE	05:49:48	10°	ENE	visible
13 Oct	-1.9	04:56:05	12°	SSW	04:58:57	32°	SE	05:02:03	10°	ENE	visible
14 Oct	-1.1	04:11:34	21°	SE	04:11:34	21°	SE	04:14:04	10°	E	visible
14 Oct	-3.2	05:45:04	10°	WSW	05:48:19	39°	NW	05:51:30	10°	NNE	visible
14 Oct	-2.5	20:49:15	10°	NNW	20:51:14	26°	N	20:51:14	26°	N	visible
15 Oct	-3.9	05:00:34	66°	WSW	05:00:56	77°	NW	05:04:20	10°	NE	visible
15 Oct	-2.2	20:02:36	10°	N	20:05:03	19°	NE	20:07:31	10°	E	visible
15 Oct	-1.9	21:38:28	10°	WNW	21:40:59	32°	WSW	21:40:59	32°	WSW	visible
16 Oct	-1.6	05:50:05	11°	NW	05:50:05	11°	NW	05:51:08	10°	NNW	visible
16 Oct	-3.3	20:50:46	10°	NW	20:54:10	64°	SW	20:57:11	13°	SE	visible
17 Oct	-3.7	20:03:20	10°	NW	20:06:43	67°	NE	20:10:08	10°	SE	visible
17 Oct	-0.7	21:41:42	10°	WSW	21:43:50	15°	SSW	21:45:58	10°	S	visible
18 Oct	-1.2	20:53:25	10°	W	20:56:11	23°	SSW	20:59:00	10°	SSE	visible
19 Oct	-2.0	20:05:26	10°	WNW	20:08:36	35°	SW	20:11:49	10°	SSE	visible
20 Oct	-0.5	20:57:27	10°	SW	20:58:28	11°	SSW	20:59:29	10°	S	visible
21 Oct	-0.8	20:08:36	10°	WSW	20:10:44	15°	SSW	20:12:53	10°	S	visible

Passes from Brisbane (AEST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
13 Oct	-2.9	04:29:26	10°	SSW	04:32:48	53°	SE	04:36:07	10°	NE	visible
13 Oct	-1.3	19:30:37	10°	NNW	19:31:16	15°	NNW	19:31:16	15°	NNW	visible
14 Oct	-1.6	03:42:19	10°	SSW	03:45:19	27°	SE	03:48:16	10°	ENE	visible
14 Oct	-2.7	18:43:42	10°	N	18:46:37	27°	NE	18:48:07	19°	E	visible
14 Oct	-0.4	20:20:54	10°	W	20:21:14	12°	W	20:21:14	12°	W	visible
15 Oct	-0.8	02:57:30	16°	SSE	02:57:46	16°	SE	02:59:58	10°	E	visible
15 Oct	-3.0	04:31:30	10°	WSW	04:34:37	33°	NW	04:37:42	10°	NNE	visible
15 Oct	-2.0	19:32:45	10°	WNW	19:35:51	33°	SW	19:37:53	18°	SSE	visible
16 Oct	-3.9	03:46:59	66°	W	03:47:15	71°	NW	03:50:38	10°	NE	visible
16 Oct	-3.3	18:45:01	10°	NW	18:48:23	66°	SW	18:51:48	10°	SE	visible
17 Oct	-0.4	19:36:54	10°	SW	19:38:01	11°	SW	19:39:09	10°	SSW	visible
18 Oct	-0.8	18:47:54	10°	W	18:50:23	19°	SW	18:52:53	10°	S	visible

Passes from Darwin (ACT)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
12 Oct	-2.9	19:41:43	10°	N	19:44:29	30°	NE	19:44:29	30°	NE	visible
13 Oct	-0.4	05:37:48	10°	SSE	05:38:56	11°	SE	05:40:05	10°	ESE	visible
13 Oct	-1.2	20:31:26	10°	W	20:33:59	20°	SW	20:34:24	20°	SW	visible
14 Oct	-2.5	19:43:20	10°	NW	19:46:33	43°	SW	19:49:47	10°	SSE	visible
15 Oct	-2.8	05:37:37	10°	SSW	05:40:56	50°	SE	05:44:12	10°	NE	visible
16 Oct	-1.3	04:50:43	10°	S	04:53:28	23°	SE	04:56:13	10°	ENE	visible
17 Oct	-0.2	04:06:50	11°	ESE	04:06:50	11°	ESE	04:07:10	10°	ESE	visible
17 Oct	-2.7	05:39:57	11°	WSW	05:42:42	26°	NW	05:45:35	10°	N	visible
18 Oct	-2.4	04:56:45	30°	NNE	04:56:45	30°	NNE	04:58:38	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.
12 Oct	-0.2	03:04:58	11°	ESE	03:04:58	11°	ESE	03:05:05	10°	ESE	visible
12 Oct	-3.1	04:37:58	25°	SW	04:39:43	56°	SSE	04:43:07	10°	ENE	visible
13 Oct	-2.0	03:53:04	33°	ESE	03:53:04	33°	ESE	03:55:30	10°	E	visible
13 Oct	-3.0	05:26:06	11°	WSW	05:29:01	34°	NW	05:32:09	10°	NNE	visible
14 Oct	-3.7	04:41:34	56°	NW	04:41:40	57°	NW	04:45:02	10°	NE	visible
15 Oct	-0.9	03:57:30	11°	ENE	03:57:30	11°	ENE	03:57:42	10°	ENE	visible
15 Oct	-1.7	05:30:35	13°	NW	05:30:36	13°	NW	05:32:09	10°	NNW	visible
15 Oct	-2.2	20:35:27	10°	N	20:37:53	19°	NE	20:37:53	19°	NE	visible
16 Oct	-3.9	21:23:32	10°	NW	21:26:58	84°	NE	21:27:12	75°	E	visible
17 Oct	-3.5	20:36:13	10°	NW	20:39:33	50°	NE	20:42:55	10°	ESE	visible
17 Oct	-1.7	22:13:22	10°	W	22:15:58	29°	SW	22:15:58	29°	SW	visible
18 Oct	-2.5	21:25:37	10°	W	21:28:55	42°	SSW	21:31:16	17°	SE	visible
18 Oct	-0.3	23:03:47	10°	SW	23:04:17	12°	SW	23:04:17	12°	SW	visible
19 Oct	-3.2	20:37:58	10°	WNW	20:41:22	62°	SSW	20:44:49	10°	SE	visible
19 Oct	-1.4	22:15:57	10°	WSW	22:18:42	21°	S	22:19:14	21°	S	visible
20 Oct	-1.5	21:28:06	10°	WSW	21:31:02	25°	SSW	21:33:56	10°	SE	visible
20 Oct	-0.4	23:06:05	10°	SW	23:06:55	14°	SSW	23:06:55	14°	SSW	visible
21 Oct	-1.9	20:40:16	10°	W	20:43:23	31°	SSW	20:46:32	10°	SE	visible
21 Oct	-1.2	22:18:25	10°	SW	22:20:58	19°	S	22:21:28	18°	SSE	visible

Passes from Melbourne (AEDST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
12 Oct	-1.3	04:37:58	14°	SSW	04:39:57	22°	SSE	04:42:43	10°	E	visible
13 Oct	-0.6	03:53:04	16°	SE	03:53:04	16°	SE	03:54:37	10°	ESE	visible
13 Oct	-3.8	05:26:06	10°	SW	05:29:34	88°	NW	05:32:59	10°	NE	visible
14 Oct	-3.0	04:41:34	46°	S	04:42:07	52°	SE	04:45:28	10°	ENE	visible
14 Oct	-1.3	21:20:37	10°	NNW	21:21:14	14°	NNW	21:21:14	14°	NNW	visible
15 Oct	-0.6	03:57:30	11°	E	03:57:30	11°	E	03:57:44	10°	E	visible
15 Oct	-2.7	05:30:34	24°	WNW	05:31:20	26°	NW	05:34:14	10°	N	visible
15 Oct	-2.7	20:33:41	10°	N	20:36:34	26°	NE	20:37:53	20°	E	visible
15 Oct	-0.9	22:10:09	10°	W	22:10:59	15°	W	22:10:59	15°	W	visible
16 Oct	-1.1	04:46:59	12°	NNE	04:46:59	12°	NNE	04:47:17	10°	NNE	visible
16 Oct	-3.0	21:22:25	10°	WNW	21:25:46	53°	SW	21:27:12	30°	SSE	visible
17 Oct	-3.8	20:34:53	10°	NW	20:38:18	87°	NE	20:41:46	10°	SE	visible
17 Oct	-0.9	22:13:13	10°	WSW	22:15:31	16°	SSW	22:15:59	16°	SSW	visible
18 Oct	-1.2	21:25:04	10°	W	21:27:52	22°	SSW	21:30:40	10°	SSE	visible
19 Oct	-1.9	20:37:07	10°	W	20:40:15	32°	SSW	20:43:25	10°	SE	visible
19 Oct	-0.4	22:17:15	10°	SSW	22:17:55	10°	SSW	22:18:35	10°	S	visible
20 Oct	-0.6	21:28:30	10°	SW	21:30:09	13°	SSW	21:31:47	10°	S	visible
21 Oct	-0.8	20:40:07	10°	WSW	20:42:24	16°	SSW	20:44:42	10°	SSE	visible

Passes from Perth (AWST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
12 Oct	-2.3	04:46:44	10°	SSW	04:50:01	40°	SE	04:53:15	10°	ENE	visible
13 Oct	-1.3	03:59:38	10°	SSW	04:02:30	24°	SE	04:05:20	10°	E	visible
14 Oct	-0.7	03:14:37	15°	SSE	03:14:54	15°	SSE	03:17:01	10°	ESE	visible
14 Oct	-3.5	04:48:35	10°	SW	04:51:56	50°	NW	04:55:14	10°	NNE	visible
14 Oct	-3.4	19:51:30	10°	NNW	19:54:20	48°	NNE	19:54:20	48°	NNE	visible
15 Oct	-3.7	04:03:39	47°	SW	04:04:32	80°	SE	04:07:56	10°	NE	visible
15 Oct	-2.7	19:04:33	10°	N	19:07:29	27°	NE	19:10:26	10°	ESE	visible
15 Oct	-1.3	20:41:29	10°	W	20:44:04	22°	SW	20:44:04	22°	SW	visible
16 Oct	-0.7	03:20:05	11°	ENE	03:20:05	11°	ENE	03:20:19	10°	ENE	visible
16 Oct	-1.9	04:53:12	13°	WNW	04:53:35	14°	NW	04:55:22	10°	NNW	visible
16 Oct	-2.3	19:53:30	10°	WNW	19:56:43	38°	SW	19:59:58	10°	SSE	visible
17 Oct	-3.5	19:05:50	10°	NW	19:09:14	73°	SW	19:12:40	10°	SE	visible
18 Oct	-0.6	19:56:52	10°	WSW	19:58:51	15°	SSW	20:00:52	10°	S	visible
19 Oct	-1.1	19:08:27	10°	W	19:11:12	22°	SW	19:14:00	10°	SSE	visible

Passes from Sydney (AEDST)

Date	Brightness	Start			Highest point			End			Pass type
	(mag)	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
12 Oct	-1.0	04:39:06	10°	SSW	04:41:42	19°	SSE	04:44:17	10°	E	visible
13 Oct	-0.6	03:53:04	12°	S	03:54:05	13°	SSE	03:55:50	10°	ESE	visible
13 Oct	-3.8	05:27:51	10°	SW	05:31:17	80°	NW	05:34:41	10°	NE	visible
14 Oct	-3.0	04:41:34	19°	SSW	04:43:51	53°	SE	04:47:12	10°	ENE	visible
14 Oct	-1.7	19:46:20	10°	NNE	19:47:45	12°	NE	19:48:07	12°	ENE	visible
14 Oct	-0.8	21:20:51	10°	WNW	21:21:14	12°	WNW	21:21:14	12°	WNW	visible
15 Oct	-1.4	03:57:30	24°	ESE	03:57:30	24°	ESE	03:59:26	10°	E	visible
15 Oct	-2.4	05:30:34	11°	W	05:33:01	21°	NW	05:35:39	10°	N	visible
15 Oct	-3.9	20:33:20	10°	NW	20:36:45	84°	NE	20:37:53	40°	SE	visible
16 Oct	-2.5	04:46:59	27°	N	04:46:59	27°	N	04:48:54	10°	NNE	visible
16 Oct	-3.3	19:46:07	10°	NNW	19:49:21	42°	NE	19:52:38	10°	ESE	visible
16 Oct	-1.1	21:23:48	10°	W	21:26:19	19°	SSW	21:27:12	17°	SSW	visible
17 Oct	-1.7	20:35:41	10°	W	20:38:43	29°	SW	20:41:47	10°	SSE	visible
18 Oct	-2.7	19:47:51	10°	WNW	19:51:10	50°	SW	19:54:33	10°	SE	visible
19 Oct	-0.6	20:39:17	10°	WSW	20:40:55	13°	SSW	20:42:34	10°	S	visible
20 Oct	-0.9	19:50:44	10°	W	19:53:14	19°	SSW	19:55:46	10°	SSE	visible

 

When and what you will see is VERY location dependent, so you need to use  Heavens Above  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 planet 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

The Full Moon is Thursday, October 21.  Three bright planets are seen in the early evening sky. Venus is readily visible in the early evening sky and is climbing the Scorpion. Venus is close to bright star Antares on the 17th.  Saturn and Jupiter are visible in the evening sky with Jupiter dominating once Venus has set. The waxing Moon is close to Jupiter on the 15th. The waxing Moon forms a line with Jupiter and Saturn on the 16th, which is International Observe the Moon Night. The International Space station passes between Venus and the lineup from many states at this time.

The Full Moon is Thursday, October 21.

Evening sky on Sunday, October 17 looking west as seen from Adelaide at 20:52 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset).  Venus is close to the bright star Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius.

 

 

The inset shows the telescopic view of Venus at this time. Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

Evening sky on Friday, October 15 showing the north-western sky as seen from Adelaide at 20:58 pm ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Saturn and Jupiter form a line in the evening sky with the waxing Moon close to Jupiter. 

 The insets shows the telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn at this time. Ganymede is behind Jupiter and will emerge around 22:16 ACDST. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset), click to embiggen.

 

Whole sky showing the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, The International Space Station and Venus on international Observe the Moon night, Saturday October 16th, 20:53 ACDST, 82 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). 

 

 Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar planetary line up that the equivalent time (82 minutes after sunset). You will need a specific prediction for your site for the ISS (eg from Heavens above) 

 

 Mercury  is lost in the twilight. 

 
Venus is visible in the early evening when the sky is fully dark.  I have been able to see Venus from just after sunset and it is easily seen over 3 hours after sunset, longer if you have a clear western horizon.  When the sky is fully dark you can see Venus above the western horizon and bright Jupiter above the north-eastern horizon. Venus is climbing the body of the Scorpion making a rather beautiful sight in the early evening. Venus is close to bright star Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius, on the 17th.

Labels: weekly sky

 Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, The International Space Station and Venus on international Observe the Moon night, Saturday October 16th, 20:53 ACDST, 82 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). 

 

 

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar planetary line up that the equivalent time (82 minutes after sunset). You will need a specific prediction for your site for the ISS (eg from Heavens above)  

International Observe the Moon Night is on Saturday October 16. Although the moon is past last quarter, which is good for crater viewing, there is a lot to see with the unaided eye or binoculars. As well, on the 16th the waxing moon forms a line with Jupiter and Saturn. 

For most of Australia there is a spectacular addition as the international space station shoots between Venus and the other planets in the late twilight. The time and exact location will be different for each site, so you will need a specific prediction for your site for the ISS (eg from Heavens above)

At this time the Moon is at maximum libration, with Mare Humboldtanium now visible in binoculars or telescopes.While the moon keeps on face towards the earth, changes in perspective form the Earth and Moons relative positions in their orbits means that sometimes we can see bits of the Moon normally hidden, this is libration. 

Other features visible are the very obvious Copernicus crater, Gassendi crater right on the dark/light boundary and Sinus Iridium. See the map to the left, click to embiggen.

There are many ways to observe the Moon. Unaided eye, binoculars, telescope. No matter what approach you choose, it will be well worth it to go out and just look up. 

Average view of the Moon	Maximum libration on October 16, showing Mare Humboldtanium at the edge of the Moon (click to embiggen for a clearer view)

In the week  leading up to international Observe the Moon night on the 16th the Moon is rather beautiful as it dances amongst the planets. On the 10th (tonight) Venus, the crescent Moon and the bright star Antares from a triangle.  The First Quarter Moon forms a line with Jupiter and Saturn on the 13th and the waxing Moon is close to Saturn on the 14th. Then the waxing Moon is close to Jupiter on the 15th. On the 15th the waxing moon is close to Jupiter and the pair fit into the FOV of 10x50 binoculars. So happy Moon viewing all!

Labels: international Observe the Moon Night, ISS, Moon, public outreach