Astroblog

Morning sky on Sunday, May 1 as seen from Adelaide at 5:26 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. Venus and Jupiter are spectacularly close. The inset shows the telescopic image at this time.

 

 

 Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

 

The May edition of Southern Skywatch is now up. The planetary action is in the morning sky with four bright planets, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter in the morning sky.

May 1; Venus and Jupiter spectacularly close in the morning sky. May 1; New Moon. May 2; Mercury and thin crescent Moon close low above western horizon in the evening. May 5; apogee Moon. 7-8 May; Eta Aquariid meteor shower. May 5-9; Saturn and Asteroid Vesta close. May 9; First Quarter Moon. May 16; Full Moon. May 18; perigee Moon. May 18; Neptune and Mars at their closest. May 23; Last Quarter Moon. May 22-23; the waning Moon is close to Saturn. May 25; the crescent Moon forms a triangle with Mars and Jupiter. May 27; the thin crescent Moon is above Venus. May 28-31; Mars and Jupiter close.

Mercury  returns to the evening sky late in the month but is barely visible above the horizon deep in the twilight.

Venus starts the month spectacularly close to Jupiter on the 1st. The pair will be 0.2° apart and will fit into the field of view of medium power telescope eye pieces. The phase of Venus, Jupiter’s bands and its Moons should be visible. At this time the pair form a line with Saturn and Mars, with Jupiter below, easily seen an hour and a half before sunrise. After this spectacular paring, Venus sinks towards the horizon over the month as Jupiter rises towards Mars. On May 27 the thin crescent Moon is above Venus.

Mars is high the morning sky in May, Mars makes an attractive line with Saturn, Venus and Jupiter at the beginning of the month, and is readily visible an hour an hour and a half before sunrise, above bright Venus and Jupiter. Over the month Jupiter rises towards Mars. Mars's reddish colour contrasting with the yellowish colour of Jupiter and the bright white of Venus. On the 18th and 19th Mars passes within 0.7 ° of Neptune, the pair potentially visible in binoculars and medium field telescope eye pieces. From the 28th to the 31st Mars and Jupiter are within 1 ° (around a finger width) of each other. They are closest on the 30th, when at 0.7 ° apart the pair visible in binoculars and medium field telescope eye pieces (Jupiter’s moons will be visible, but details on Jupiter harder to see, Mars will be a featureless disk). On May 25 the crescent Moon forms a triangle with Mars and Jupiter.

Jupiter continues to rise higher in the morning sky. Jupiter starts the month spectacularly close to Venus on the 1st. The pair will be 0.2° apart and will fit into the field of view of medium power telescope eye pieces. The phase of Venus, Jupiter’s bands and its Moons should be visible. After this spectacular paring, Venus sinks towards the horizon over the month as Jupiter rises towards Mars. From the 28th to the 31st Mars and Jupiter are within 1 ° (around a finger width) of each other. They are closest on the 29th, when at 0.7 ° apart the pair visible in binoculars and medium field telescope eye pieces (Jupiter’s moons will be visible, but details on Jupiter harder to see, Mars will be a featureless disk).

Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky and is readily visible an hour and a half before sunrise. Saturn is a worthwhile telescope object this month. Between the 5th and 9th Saturn is within 1 ° of the asteroid 4 Vesta, and should be easily seen with binoculars and wide field telescope eye pieces, Saturn’s rings will just be visible, Vesta will be a bright dot that moves night to night. On the May 22 and 23; the waning Moon is close to Saturn.

Moon: May 5; apogee Moon and May 18; perigee Moon.

Labels: southern skywatch

The New Moon is Sunday, May 1. Four bright planets are visible in a line in the Morning sky. Saturn, Mars, Venus and Jupiter. Jupiter is climbing higher in the twilight with Venus sinking to meet it. The beginning of the week sees a planet dance with the crescent Moon coming close to Jupiter (28th) and Venus and Jupiter coming closer, ending with a spectacular close conjunction on May 1. Venus and Neptune have a close conjunction on the 28th (telescope only). On May 2 Mercury is near the thin crescent Moon, low in the evening twilight.

The New Moon is Sunday, May 1. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, on May 5. 

 Morning sky on Thursday, April 28 as seen from Adelaide at 5:25 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. The crescent Moon is close to Jupiter.  

Venus and Neptune are at their closest at this time. The inset shows the telescopic view of Venus, and Neptune at this time. 

 

 

 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

Morning sky on Sunday, May 1 as seen from Adelaide at 5:26 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. Venus and Jupiter are spectacularly close. The inset shows the telescopic image at this time.

 

 

 Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

 

Whole sky on Saturday April 30, 19:07 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Orion can be seen above the western horizon. As Orion sinks Scorpius rises above the Eastern horizon. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. 

 

 

 

 

 Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset). 

 

Mercury is difficult to see low in the twilight glow. On May 2 Mercury is near the thin crescent Moon, low in the twilight, you will need binoculars to see Mercury and a low level horizon like the ocean.

Venus is lowering in the morning twilight and is moving towards Jupiter. Venus forms a line with Mars and Saturn and Jupiter. On the 28th, the crescent Moon is close to the pair of Venus and Jupiter. On the 28th Venus and Neptune are close, visible together in telescope eyepieces. Venus and Jupiter come closer with a spectacular close conjunction on May 1.

Mars is rising higher, forming a line with Saturn, Venus, and Jupiter.

Jupiter climbs higher in the morning twilight below Venus, Saturn and Mars. Over the Week Venus and Jupiter come closer. On the 28th the crescent Moon is close to the pair of Venus and Jupiter. Venus and Jupiter have a spectacular close conjunction on May 1.

Saturn climbs away from Mars, Venus and Jupiter.

Labels: weekly sky

Morning sky on Tuesday, April 26 as seen from Adelaide at 5:22 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. The waning Moon is close to Mars. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).	Morning sky on Wednesday, April 27 as seen from Adelaide at 5:23 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. The waning Moon is close to Venus. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Morning sky on Thursday, April 28 as seen from Adelaide at 5:24 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. The waning Moon is close to Jupiter. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen)	Morning sky on Friday, April 29 as seen from Adelaide at 5:25 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. The crescent Moon forms a line the planets. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen)
Morning sky on Saturday, April 30 as seen from Adelaide at 5:25 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. Venus and Jupiter are very close. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen)	Morning sky on Sunday, May 1 as seen from Adelaide at 5:26 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. Venus and Jupiter are spectacularly close. The inset shows the telescopic image at this time. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen)

The next few days will see a continuation of the planet dance that we saw the first installment of this morning for ANZAC day. You will of course have to get up early in the morning to see this spectacle.

The waning moon moves down the ladder of four bright planets as Venus and Jupiter come closer to each other. The spectacular finish is on May 1st, When Jupiter and Venus are within telescopic distance of each other.

Labels: Conjunction, Jupiter, Mars, massing, Moon, Saturn, telescope, unaided eye, Venus

The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday, April 23. Mars is readily visible in the morning sky just above bright Venus and below Saturn. Over the week Saturn moves away from Mars. Jupiter is climbing higher in the twilight with Venus sinking to meet it. The end of the week sees a planet dance with the waning Moon coming close to first Saturn (25th), then Mars (26th), Venus, and Jupiter (27th-28th). Venus and Neptune have a close conjunction on the 28th (telescope only).

The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday, April 23.

 Morning sky on Tuesday, April 26 as seen from Adelaide at 5:22 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. The waning Moon is close to Saturn, The inset shows the telescopic views of Venus, Mars,  Saturn and Jupiter at this time.

 

 Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

 

Morning sky on Thursday, April 28 as seen from Adelaide at 5:25 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Saturn, Mars and Venus form a line with Jupiter. The waning Moon is close to Jupiter.  

Venus and Neptune are at their closest at this time. The inset shows the telescopic view of Venus, and Neptune at this time. 

 

 

 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

 

  Whole sky on Saturday April 23, 19:07 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Orion can be seen above the western horizon. As Orion sinks Scorpius rises above the Eastern horizon. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. 

 

 

 

 

 Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset). 

 

Mercury is lost to view.

Venus is high in the morning twilight and is moving towards Jupiter. Venus forms a line with Mars and Saturn and Jupiter. On the 27th and 28th, the crescent Moon is close to the pair of Venus and Jupiter. On the 28th Venus and Neptune are close, visible together in telescope eyepieces.

Mars is rising higher, forming a line with Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. On the 26th the waning Moon is close to Mars.

Jupiter climbs higher in the morning twilight below Venus, Saturn and Mars. Over the Week Venus and Jupiter come closer. On the 27th and 28th the crescent Moon is close to the pair of Venus and Jupiter.

Saturn climbs away from Mars and Venus. On the 25th the waning Moon is close to Saturn.

Labels: weekly sky

The Full Moon is Sunday, April 17. Mars is readily visible in the morning sky just above bright Venus and below Saturn. Over the week Saturn moves away from Mars. Jupiter is climbing higher in the twilight with Venus sinking to meet it. On the 17th Venus and the star ƛ Aquarii are very close together.

The Full Moon is Sunday, April 17. Perigee is Friday, April 20.

 Morning sky on Saturday April 16 as seen from Adelaide at 5:15 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Venus and Mars form a line with Saturn. Jupiter is below Venus. The inset shows the telescopic view of Venus, Mars, and Saturn at this time.

 

 Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

 

Whole sky on Saturday, April 16, 19:15 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Orion can be seen above the western horizon. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover however the nearly Full  Moon will make the dimmer objects harder to see. 

 

 

 

 

 Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset). 

 

Mercury  is lost to view.

Venus is high in the morning twilight and is moving away from Mars. Venus forms a line with Mars and Saturn.

Mars is rising higher, forming a widening pair with Venus and Saturn.

Jupiter climbs higher in the morning twilight below Venus, Saturn and Mars. 

Saturn climbs away from Mars and Venus.

Labels: weekly sky

The First Quarter Moon is Saturday April 9. Mars is readily visible in the morning sky just above bright Venus and below Saturn. Over the week Saturn moves away from Mars. Jupiter is climbing higher in the twilight. On the 13th Jupiter and Neptune are spectacularly close (telescope only).

The First Quarter Moon is Saturday April 9. Apogee is Friday April 8.

 Morning sky on Saturday April 9 as seen from Adelaide at 5:10 am ACST (90 minutes before sunrise). Venus and Mars form a line with Saturn. Jupiter is low to the horizon.

 

 

 Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

Labels: weekly sky

Morning sky on Saturday April 30 as seen from Adelaide at 5:55 am ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus and Jupiter are very close.  

 

 

 

 Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise), click to embiggen.

 

The April edition of Southern Skywatch is now up. The planetary action is in the morning sky with four bright planets, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter in the morning sky.

April 1; Mars, Saturn and Venus form a line in the morning twilight.  April 1; New Moon. April 4, daylight savings ends. April 5; Saturn and Mars very close. April 8; apogee Moon. April 9; First Quarter Moon. April 13; Neptune and Jupiter at their closest. April 17; Full Moon. April 23; Last Quarter Moon. April 20; perigee Moon. April 25; the crescent Moon is close to Saturn. April 26; the crescent Moon is close to Mars. April 27; the thin crescent Moon is above the pair of Jupiter and Venus. April 28; the thin crescent Moon is below Jupiter and Venus. April 28; Venus spectacularly close to Neptune. April 30; Venus and Jupiter close.

Mercury  returns to the evening sky late in the month but is barely visible above the horizon deep in the twilight.

Venus starts the month in a line with Saturn and Mars, with Jupiter below, easily seen an hour before sunrise. Venus sinks towards the horizon over the month for a close approach to Neptune and Jupiter.
On the 28th Venus is a mere 14 arc seconds from Neptune, this is a telescope only event best seen around 5 am from Eastern and central sites, sadly Venus does not rise in WA until after closest approach. Venus is a gibbous phase in telescopes. 

Venus and Jupiter continue to come closer and on the 30th the pair are just 1degree (one finger width) apart. On April 27 the thin crescent Moon is above the pair of Jupiter and Venus. On April 28 the thin crescent Moon is below Jupiter and Venus.

Mars is high the morning sky in April, Mars makes an attractive line with Venus and Saturn at the beginning of the month, and is readily visible an hour before sunrise, above bright Venus and dim Saturn. Mars's reddish colour contrasting with the yellowish colour of Saturn and the bright white of Venus. 

Mars comes close to Saturn in the early part of the month, the pair are closest on the 5th and 6th, being 0.5 deg (half a finger-width apart, they will fit easily into medium power telescope eye pieces. Mars then leaves Saturn behind as Saturn rises higher in the morning sky. On April 26 the crescent Moon is close to Mars.

Jupiter continues to rise higher in the morning sky, although it is not a good telescopic target most of this month. On the 13th Jupiter is 0.1 degree from Neptune, the pair easily fit into the field of view of medium sized telescope eyepieces, but with Jupiter fairly low to the horizon this may be difficult to view. On April 27 the thin crescent Moon is above the pair of Jupiter and Venus. On April 28 the thin crescent Moon is below Jupiter and Venus. On the 30th Jupiter will be 1 degree from Venus, and even closer on the 1st of May and reasonably well placed for telescopic viewing.

Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky and is readily visible an hour and a half before sunrise. Saturn is a worthwhile telescope object this month. Mars come close to Saturn in the early part of the month, the pair are closest on the 5th and 6th, being 0.5 deg (half a finger-width apart, they will fit easily into medium power telescope eye pieces. Saturn then leaves Mars behind as Saturn rises higher in the morning sky. On the April 25 the crescent Moon is close to Saturn.

Moon: April 8; apogee Moon and April 20; perigee Moon.

Labels: southern skywatch