Astroblog

The Full Moon is Monday February 6 (apogee mini moon). Jupiter is easy to see as brightest object in the western evening sky aside from the Moon. Jupiter is sinking towards the horizon coming closer to Venus which is challenging Jupiter for brightest evening object as it climbs out to the twilight. Bright Mars, the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle. Comet C/2022 E3 enters the evening sky and is visible in binoculars. 

The Full Moon is Monday, February 6. The Moon is at Apogee on February 4.

Morning sky on Saturday, February 4  as seen from Adelaide at 05:36 ACDST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Mercury is below the Scorpius.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise). 

 

Evening sky on Saturday, February 4 as seen from Adelaide at 21:03 ACDST, (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is low above the horizon with Jupiter above. You will need a low, unobstructed horizon to see Venus at its best.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (45 minutes after sunset). 

 Evening sky on Saturday, February 4 as seen from Adelaide at 21:56 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars, the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle. 

Jupiter is seen low in the west

 

Mars was at opposition, when was at its biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on December the 8th, but is still an excellent sight. The insets are the telescopic views of Mars and Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). 

 

Labels: weekly sky

Track of comet C/2022 as seen from Adelaide at astronomical twilight (an hour after sunset) when the sky is fully dark (21:53 ACDST). The positions of the comet from 6-14 February are shown. Click to embiggen. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at astronomical twilight. Simulated in Stellarium.	Location of comet C/2022 on 6 February 20:04 as seen from Brisbane at astronomical twilight (an hour after sunset) when the sky is fully dark . Click to embiggen. Simulated in Stellarium.	Location of comet C/2022 on 6 February 21:32 as seen from Melbourne at astronomical twilight (an hour after sunset) when the sky is fully dark . Click to embiggen. Simulated in Stellarium.
Black and white guide map suitable for printing (use with a red light torch to keep your night vision intact). Click to embiggen and print.	Black and white binocular spotters map with guide stars identified, suitable for printing (use with a red light torch to keep your night vision intact). Click to embiggen and print.	Black and white binocular map for the night of February 6 with guide stars identified, suitable for printing (use with a red light torch to keep your night vision intact). Click to embiggen and print. The circle is the approximate field of view of 10x50 binoculars.

You have probably heard of Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), described some what breathlessly in some media outlets as "a rare green comet last seen by the neanderthals". The wording is a bit unclear, but it is not rare for a comet to be green, as comets (variously described as "dirty iceballs" of "Icy dirt balls") come close to the sun their ices start to vaporise, comets not only have water ice but also organic ices such as ethanol and methane.

The ultra violet light from the sun causes these molecule to break down and form dicarbon, two carbon atoms bind together, which fluoresces green in ultraviolet light. Of course this is rather dim, and can usually only be picked up by long exposure images, you are not likely to see any colour with the unaided eye, even in telescopes.

The comet appears to have come from the Oort Cloud, and last passed earth around 50,000 years ago, if any curious proto-humans had looked at the patch of sky were the comet was all those eons ago, it is unlikely that they would have taken notice of the faint fuzzy patch. Whether C/2022 E3 (ZTF) will return to the Oort cloud is still unclear. ZTF stands for Zwicky Transient Facility, which normally looks for things like supernova.

Currently people in the norther hemisphere are reporting that it is just unaided eye visible. With binoculars its looking like a fuzzy blob with a central condensation and the hint of a tail. While you may have seen some stunning images of the dust tail and ion tail, these are telescopic images with extended exposure times, so what you see in a telescope is likely to be much less dramatic. 

Black and white binocular map for the night of February 6 with guide stars identified. Almaaz in the stellarium map is epsilon (ε) Aurigae on the black and white map. The circle is the approximate field of view of 10x50 binoculars.	Approximate binocular sky view or the night of February 6simulated in stellarium for a comparison to the black and white map to give you a feel fro how they translate to the sky. Click to embiggen

Northern Australia has the best views with Places like Darwin and Cairns potentially seeing the comet from the 3rd, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney from the 5th and Adelaide and Melbourne have to wait for the 6th.

While the comet is theoretically unaided eye visible under dark sky conditions when it enters Australian skies, the fact that it will be low in the horizon murk and with the full Moon on the horizon (6th, waxing Moon earlier) will likely make it a binocular only comet.

Over the coming days conditions get better as the moon leaves the evening skies and the comet gets higher, but it is also fading, so there is a good chance that it will remain binocular only. This does not that it will be unworthy of following, comet C/2021 A1 Leonard was basically binocular only, but was a lovely little comet with good binocular features and a significant out burst that produced a nice tail than spanned almost an entire binocular field. So do not despair and have a look.

We are also lucky that that we have good guidepost stars and that the comet will be one of the brightest objects in most of the fields aside from the guide stars. 

On the 5th the comet is a binocular field below Capella, alpha (⍺) Aurigae, the brightest object almost due north above the northern horizon (see charts above). On the 6th it is within a binocular field of Capella, close to the brightish star epsilon (ε) Aurigae (Almaaz in Stellarium). It should be obvious as a fuzzy blob with a central condensation.

As always let your eyes dark adapt for around 5 minute before searching, a bit longer if you have been looking at bright computer/TV screens. Start looking when the sky is fully dark for the best results (and hour and a half after local sunset).

In general, to find the comet sweep up from Capella in a line towards mas and Aldebaran (again, see maps above) .

On the 7th the comet is a binocular field above  epsilon (ε) Aurigae, just above a distinctive triangle of stars with epsilon (ε) Aurigae as its apex.

On the 8th it is a binocular field below iota Aurigae, then on the 9th within a binocular field above the star, in a line with Mars. On the 10th it is within a binocular field of Mars.

On the 11th it is a finger width from Mars,  and although no longer unaided eye visible, the sight of the pair together should be really nice.

The comet then continues up towards the Hyades and Aldebaran on the 14th and 15th the comet is within a binocular field of Aldebaran and should still be obvious in binoculars.

The positions for the comet from the  Minor Planet & Comet Ephemeris Service are below. It can also format the output for various astronomy programs. put C/2022 E3 in the search box (note the capitalisation).

=================================================

 C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

Perturbed ephemeris below is based on elements from MPEC 2023-BF4.

    CK22E030
Date       UT      R.A. (J2000) Decl.    Delta     r     El.    Ph.   m1     Sky Motion
            h m s                                                            "/min    P.A.
2023 01 28 000000 13 59 04.4 +73 52 24   0.325   1.139  110.5  54.1   5.6   12.73    322.9
2023 01 29 000000 12 57 41.9 +77 42 40   0.310   1.143  113.2  52.3   5.5   13.99    307.8
2023 01 30 000000 11 05 40.0 +80 09 13   0.298   1.147  115.9  50.6   5.5   15.13    280.2
2023 01 31 000000 08 44 28.4 +79 19 14   0.290   1.151  118.3  48.9   5.4   16.04    245.2
2023 02 01 000000 07 08 06.5 +75 19 56   0.285   1.155  120.2  47.5   5.4   16.60    221.5
2023 02 02 000000 06 16 27.7 +69 50 45   0.284   1.160  121.6  46.4   5.4   16.72    209.0
2023 02 03 000000 05 47 18.0 +63 50 49   0.287   1.164  122.3  45.7   5.5   16.39    202.1
2023 02 04 000000 05 29 12.6 +57 48 35   0.294   1.169  122.3  45.4   5.5   15.66    198.0
2023 02 05 000000 05 17 06.2 +51 59 46   0.304   1.174  121.7  45.6   5.6   14.63    195.3
2023 02 06 000000 05 08 31.6 +46 33 26   0.317   1.180  120.6  46.0   5.7   13.42    193.5
2023 02 07 000000 05 02 11.5 +41 34 11   0.333   1.185  119.2  46.6   5.9   12.15    192.2
2023 02 08 000000 04 57 21.7 +37 03 29   0.352   1.191  117.6  47.2   6.0   10.90    191.2
2023 02 09 000000 04 53 35.5 +33 00 42   0.372   1.197  115.8  47.9   6.1    9.72    190.4
2023 02 10 000000 04 50 35.4 +29 24 03   0.395   1.203  114.0  48.6   6.3    8.64    189.7
2023 02 11 000000 04 48 10.2 +26 11 07   0.419   1.209  112.2  49.1   6.4    7.68    189.2
2023 02 12 000000 04 46 11.8 +23 19 22   0.443   1.215  110.4  49.6   6.6    6.83    188.6
2023 02 13 000000 04 44 34.6 +20 46 15   0.469   1.222  108.7  49.9   6.7    6.08    188.1
2023 02 14 000000 04 43 14.3 +18 29 30   0.496   1.228  107.1  50.2   6.9    5.44    187.6
2023 02 15 000000 04 42 08.0 +16 26 59   0.523   1.235  105.5  50.4   7.0    4.87    187.1
2023 02 16 000000 04 41 13.1 +14 36 55   0.551   1.242  104.0  50.5   7.1    4.38    186.6
2023 02 17 000000 04 40 27.8 +12 57 42   0.580   1.249  102.5  50.6   7.3    3.95    186.0


MPEC one line format
    CK22E030  2023 01 12.7851  1.112249  1.000327  145.8156  302.5557  109.1685  20230225   7.5  4.0      C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

Labels: binocular, C/2022 E3, comet, unaided eye

Full Moon January 7, 21:18 ACDST. Apogee 8th -1d9h.	Full Moon February 6, 21:18 ACDST (FM 4 am, apogee 4th -1d9h)	Full Moon March 7, FM 23:00 ACDST
Full Moon April 6, 21:27 ACST	Full Moon May 6 03:52 ACST,  at maximum penumbral Lunar eclipse	Full Moon June 6 18:41 ACST
Full Moon July 3 18:41:00 ACST.	Full Moon August 2 5:00 ACST. Perigee 2nd 3:30pm	Full Moon August 31 02:00 ACST. Perigee, 11:30 am (best this year) also Blue Moon
Full Moon September 29 20:00 ACST,	Full Moon October 29 05:04 ACST Partial Lunar Eclipse	Full Moon November 17 21:53 ACDST
Full Moon December 27 21:18 ACST  Maximum libration 19:30 ACST	First Quarter Moon April 28 19:02 ACST apogee 16:30 ACST	First Quarter Moon November 20 21:02 ACDST perigee 22nd 18:30 ACDST

 A year of full Moons showing the variation in size as the moons move from perigee to apogee. I also show the apogee and Perigee First Quarter Moons. All the moons are shown on the day and time they are full (unless they are below the horizon, in which case the size at astronomical twilight is shown), and although this is not the optimal time for size comparisons, you can clearly see the size difference over the year (compare Feb 6 to Aug 31) the original scale for all is 2 degrees of field of view cropped down). Although the field rotation of the Moon makes it less clear, you can also see the effect of libration.

In 2023 we have two good Perigee Moons in a row (August 2, August 31), one of which is a “Blue Moon” (August 31). However, as you can see the differences are subtle, and it requires a keen eye and good memory to distinguish a perigee "super" Moon from more ordinary moons, the best contrast is with the apogee "mini" moon of February 6, even though this is not a good apogee Moon).

That doesn't mean you shouldn't try though. Daniel Fischer has been able to see the difference, you can read his account and viewing tips here:
http://earthsky.org/space/can-you-discern-supermoons-large-size-with-the-eye-an-observer-says-yes

Photographing them can be more rewarding. You can see images of perigee Moon and apogee Moon pairs from 21 Jan 2019 here and 10 August 2014 here.Tips for photographing them are here.

There is also a penumbral Lunar Eclipse on 5/6 May and a poor Partial Lunar eclipse favouring WA on October 29 in the early morning.

Labels: apogee, Moon, perigee, public outreach, Yearly Moons

The First Quarter Moon is Sunday January 29. Jupiter is easy to see as brightest object in the western evening sky aside from the Moon. The crescent Moon is close to Jupiter on the 26th. Bright Mars, the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle. This triangle is joined by the Moon on the 30th, and the Moon is close to Mars on the 31st.  Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight, and soon will challenge Jupiter for brightest evening object when it leaves the twilight.

The First Quarter Moon is Sunday January 29.

Morning sky on Saturday, January 28 as seen from Adelaide at 05:29 ACDST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Mercury is below the Scorpius.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise). 

 

Evening sky on Saturday, January 28 as seen from Adelaide at 21:09 ACDST, (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is low above the horizon with Saturn below. You will need a low, unobstructed horizon to see Venus clearly. You will need binoculars to glimpse Saturn. This will be your last opportunity to see Saturn before it is lost in the twilight.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (45 minutes after sunset). 

 Evening sky on Monday, January 30 as seen from Adelaide at 22:05 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars, the red star Aldebaran and and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle. The waxing Moon is near the Pleiades. The following night it is near Mars.

Jupiter is seen low in the west

 

Mars was at opposition, when was at its biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on December the 8th, but is still an excellent sight. The insets are the telescopic views of Mars and Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). 

Labels: weekly sky

 Evening sky on Monday, January 23 as seen from Adelaide at 21:16 ACDST, (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is low above the horizon close to Saturn with the thin crescent Moon nearby.You will need a low, unobstructed horizon to see Venus clearly. You may need binoculars to glimpse Saturn.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (45 minutes after sunset).

The January edition of Southern Skywatch is now up. 

This month Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars grace the evening sky. Saturn is soon lost to view and Mercury is visible in the morning skies.

January 3; the Moon is close to Mars. January 7; Full Moon. January 5; Earth at perihelion. January 8; apogee Moon. January 15; Last Quarter Moon. January 21; the thin crescent moon near Mercury in the morning sky. January 22; New Moon. January 22; Moon at perigee. January 23; the crescent Moon is close to Saturn and Venus low in the twilight. January 26; the crescent Moon is close to Jupiter. January 29; First Quarter Moon. January 31; the Moon is close to Mars again.

Mercury is in the morning sky, and is readily visible in the eastern morning twilight from about mid month. Mercury is at its furthest from the Sun on the 30th, when it is highest above the horizon. On the 20th and then the 21st the thin crescent Moon is near Mercury. 

Venus Venus is in the western twilight and is visible an hour after sunset by the end of the month. Saturn is above Venus and comes closer towards the end of the month. On the 22nd and 23th Venus is less than a finger-width from Saturn, on the 23rd the pair are joined by the thin crescent Moon. You will probably need binoculars to see Saturn, and a level, unobstructed horizon the see Venus at it's best. 

Earth is at perihelion on 5 January when it is closest to the Sun.

 Mars spends January forming a triangle with the bright red star Aldebaran and the beautiful Pleiades star cluster. While Mars continues to dim after opposition last month, it remains one of the brightest objects in the sky and easily recognizable. On the 3rd and 31st Mars is close to the waxing Moon. 

Jupiter is lowering into the western evening sky, it is still easily recognizable as the brightest object in the early evening sky (after Venus sets in the twilight). On the 26th Jupiter is near the crescent Moon.  

Saturn is low in the evening twilight then is lost to view in late January. During the month Saturn comes closer to Venus, and on the 22d and 23rd the pair are less than a finger-width apart. On the 23rd the thin crescent Moon joins the pair. You will need binoculars to see Saturn and a level, unobstructed horizon will be needed to see the pair at their best.

 

 

Labels: southern skywatch

The New Moon is Sunday January 22. Jupiter is easy to see as brightest object in the western evening sky aside from the Moon. The crescent Moon is close to Jupiter on the 26th. Bright Mars, the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle.  Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight, and soon will challenge Jupiter for brightest evening object when it leaves the twilight. Saturn meets Venus and  crescent Moon in the twilight on the 23rd. The thing crescent Moon is near Mercury in the morning twilight.

The New Moon is Sunday January 22. The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 22nd as well. 

Morning sky on Friday, January 20 as seen from Adelaide at 05:18 ACDST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Mercury is below the thin crescent Moon. On the morning of Saturday it is just above it.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise). 

 

Evening sky on Monday, January 23 as seen from Adelaide at 21:16 ACDST, (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is low above the horizon close to Saturn with the thin crescent Moon nearby.You will need a low, unobstructed horizon to see Venus clearly. You may need binoculars to glimpse Saturn.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (45 minutes after sunset).

 Evening sky on Thursday, January 26 as seen from Adelaide at 22:05 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars, the red star Aldebaran and and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle. Jupiter is seen low in the west

 

Mars was at opposition, when was at its biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on December the 8th, but is still an excellent sight. The insets are the telescopic views of Mars and Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). 

Labels: weekly sky

The table below shows significant astronomical events that can be seen with the unaided eye or minimal equipment in 2023 in Australia (and to some degree elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, ocultations and eclipses are very region specific). 

This year we get a Partial Lunar eclipse best visible from western Australia. A Total Solar eclipse is visible from the tip of Western Australia and everywhere else sees a partial eclipse (best from WA and central north). There are good oppositions of Jupiter and Saturn. We also get an occultation of the Pleiades and a binocular comet.

As well we have some fantastic parings and lineups and good meteor showers.

Close pairings of the Moon and bright planets are given special attention as not only is the Moon a ready guide to locating the planets if you are not familiar with them, these massings are rather beautiful. 

Special events are bolded.

Date	Event
January
3 January 2023	Moon between Mars and Pleiades
5 January 2023	Earth at Perihelion
21 January 2023	Crescent Moon near Mercury in morning twilight.
23 January 2023	Saturn, Venus and Crescent Moon close in the evening twilight
26 January 2023	Crescent Moon close to Jupiter
February
4 February 2023	Comet C/2022 E3 visible above northern horizon (binocular)
11-13 February 2023	Comet C/2033 E3 comes close to Mars the enters the Hyades (binocular)
19 February 2023	Crescent Moon and Mercury close in the morning twilight
22 February 2023	Crescent Moon near Venus in evening twilight
23 February 2023	Crescent Moon close to Jupiter.
28 February 2023	Waning Moon close to Mars
26-30 February 2023	Venus and Jupiter come close together ahead of a spectacular conjunction in March
March
2 March 2023	Venus and Jupiter in a spectacular close approach (0.5 degrees) in evening twilight
3 March 2023	Mercury very close (1 degrees) to Saturn deep in morning twilight
20 March 2023	Crescent Moon and Saturn close in early morning twilight
21 March 2023	Earth at Equinox
24 March 2023	Crescent Moon and Venus close in evening twilight
28 March 2023	Waning Moon close to Mars.
April
12 April 2023	Venus near the Pleiades.
16 April 2023	Saturn and crescent Moon close in morning sky.
20April 2023	Total Solar Eclipse; Exmouth WA (partial in the rest of Australia)
23April 2023	Crescent Moon close to Venus in evening sky
26 April 2023	Waxing Moon close to Mars in evening sky
May
5/6 May 2023	Penumbral eclipse of the Moon
6-7 May 2023	Eta Aquariid meteor shower
14 May 2023	Waning Moon close to Saturn in the morning sky
18 May 2023	Mercury, Jupiter and crescent Moon form a triangle in morning twilight
23 May 2023	Crescent Moon below Venus in the evening sky
24-25 May 2023	Mars with waxing Moon nearby
June
3 June 2023	Mars in heart of Beehive cluster (M44), Venus forms line with Castor and Pollux
10 June 2023	Saturn near waning Moon in morning sky
14 June 2023	Crescent Moon near Jupiter in morning sky, Venus near Beehive cluster in evening sky
17 June 2023	Thin Crescent Moon, Mercury and red star Aldebaran form a line low in the morning twilight
22 June 2023	Earth at solstice
22 June 2023	Crescent  Moon forms triangle with Mars and Venus in evening sky
July
7 July 2023	Earth at aphelion, waning Moon near Saturn in the morning sky.
8 July 2023	Venus at greatest brilliance
10 July 2023	Venus, Mars and the bright star Regulus form a triangle in the evening twilight
12 July 2023	Crescent Moon close to Jupiter in the morning sky
19 July 2023	Thin Crescent Moon close to Mercury low in evening twilight
20 July 2023	Crescent Moon, Venus and bright star Regulus for a triangle in the evening twilight
21 July 2023	Mars near crescent Moon in the morning twilight
26 July 2023	Venus, Mercury and Regulus form a triangle
30 July 2023	Mercury Very close (0.5 degrees) to Regulus, Venus close by
29-30 July 2023	Southern Delta Aquarids meteor shower
August
2 August 2023	Perigee Full Moon (“super” Moon)
3 August 2023	Saturn close (2 degrees) to Moon in evening sky
8-9 August 2023	Jupiter near waning Moon
18 August 2023	Thin crescent Moon forms triangle with Mercury and Mars in evening twilight
19 August 2023	Thin crescent Moon forms line with Mercury and Mars in evening twilight
27 August 2023	Saturn at opposition
30 August 2023	Saturn  near waxing Moon in evening
31 August 2023	Perigee Full Moon (“Super” Moon) also Blue Moon
September
4 September 2023	Jupiter close to waning Moon in evening sky
12 September 2023	Thin crescent Moon close to Venus in dawn sky
16-17 September 2023	Crescent Moon near Mars
23 September 2023	Earth at Equinox
27 September 2023	Saturn close to the waxing Moon
October
1-2 October 2023	Jupiter  and waning Moon near in evening sky
11 October 2023	Venus and crescent Moon close in morning sky
24 October 2023	Saturn and the waxing Moon close in evening sky
21-22 October 2023	Orionid meteor shower
28 October 2023	Twilight partial eclipse of the Moon (best from WA)
29 October 2023	Jupiter and the Full Moon close in evening sky
30-31 October 2023	Ocultation of the Pleiades (before  midnight 30th to early morning 31st)
November
3 November 2023	Opposition of Jupiter
10 November 2023	Crescent Moon near Venus in morning sky
14 November 2023	Opposition of Uranus
18 November 2023	Leonid Meteor Shower
20 November 2023	Waxing Moon near Saturn in the evening sky
25 November 2023	Waxing Moon near Jupiter in Evening sky
29 November 2023	Occultation of bright star Beta Tauri in morning sky
December
10 December 2023	Venus and crescent Moon close
14 December 2023	Geminid Meteor shower in the morning
14 December 2023	Mercury near thin crescent Moon low in the twilight
17-18 December 2023	Waxing Moon near Saturn in the evening
22 December 2023	Earth is at Solstice
22 December 2023	Jupiter near waxing Moon in the evening
23 December 2023	Asteroid Vesta at opposition
31 December 2023	Venus, Mercury and Mars form a triangle low the twilight morning sky

Labels: Asteroid, Conjunction, eclipse, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Moon, Opposition, Saturn, unaided eye, Venus, Yearly Sky Events

The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday January 15. Jupiter is easy to see as brightest object in the western evening sky aside from the Moon. Bright Mars, the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle.  Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight, and soon will challenge Jupiter for brightest evening object when it leaves the twilight. Saturn sinks towards the twilight and Venus.

The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday January 15.

Evening sky on Saturday, January 14 as seen from Adelaide at 21:16 ACDST, (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is low above the horizon coming closer to Saturn ahead of a close approach later in the Month.You will need a low, unobstructed horizon to see Venus clearly.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (45 minutes after sunset).

 

Evening sky on Saturday, January 14 as seen from Adelaide at 22:37 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars, the red star Aldebaran and and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle.Jupiter is seen low in the west

 

Mars was at opposition, when was at its biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on December the 8th, but is still an excellent sight. The insets are the telescopic views of Mars and Jupiter at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). 

Labels: weekly sky

The Full Moon is Saturday January 7. The earth is at perihelion, when it is closest to the Sun on the 5th. Jupiter is easy to see as brightest object in the western evening sky aside from the Moon. Bright Mars, the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle.  Venus climbs higher in the evening twilight while Mercury falls back towards the horizon and is lost to view this week. Saturn sinks towards the twilight.

The Full Moon is Saturday January 7. The earth is at perihelion, when it is closest to the Sun on the 5th. The Moon is apogee, when it is furthest form the earth, on the 8th (mini Moon).

 Evening sky on Saturday, January 7 as seen from Adelaide at 21:17 ACDST, (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is low above the horizon and Mercury is lost in the twilight.You will need a low, unobstructed horizon to see Venus clearly.

   

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (45 minutes after sunset).

 

Evening sky on Saturday, January 7 as seen from Adelaide at 22:33 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen). Mars, the red star Aldebaran and and the Pleiades cluster form a triangle.

 

Mars was at opposition, when was at its biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on December the 8th, but is still an excellent sight. The inset is the telescopic view at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). 

 

Evening sky on Saturday, January 7 as seen from Adelaide at 22:33 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Saturn forms a triangle with delta and gamma Capricornii low in the west with Jupiter to the north-west.

 

The insets are the telescopic view of  Jupiter (Saturn is too low for good telescopic observation).

 Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). 

Labels: weekly sky