Astroblog

Eastern morning sky on Thursday, April 16  as seen from Adelaide at 5:45 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).  Mars, the crescent Moon and Mercury form a triangle above the horizon with Saturn just below. Mars and Mercury are at their closest on the 21st with Saturn close by. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise)

North-western sky on Sunday, April 19 as seen from Adelaide at 18:13 ACST (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Venus and he thin crescent Moon are close together. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (30 minutes after sunset)

Dates and time Lunar X and V are visible. Typically visible from about 4hours from the starting time.

Sky looking North-west on Friday April 24 as seen from Adelaide at 20:20 ACST (click to embiggen). 

The First Quarter Moon is clearly visible above the horizon forming a triangle with  Jupiter and Porcyon. The Lunar X and V may be seen in a telescope or strong binoculars. The inset shows the telescopic view at this time. 

 

 

 

 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset). 

 Comets:

 
C/2026 A1 (MAS): This is a Kreutz family comet, one of a group of related comets that pass close to the sun. Everyone was excited that it might become a super bright comet. However, it’s brightness increase stalled (everyone gasped) then started up again (everyone cheered), with what looked to be an eruption plume. 

Currently the two most likely outcomes are that the comet disintegrates before it reaches the sun (like comet ISON) or it breaks up after perihelion and forms a “headless” comet like C/2011 (W3) Lovejoy. In the latter case we may see a bright tail starching up from the horizon as twilight fades. 

There is still (given the restart in brightness) the possibility that the comet will survive, and we will see a decent comet. The comet has passed intact through the STEREO H1 imager and is in the field of view of the PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) satellite, It has a magnitude of 6.5 and a tail extending more than 3 degrees. So fingers crossed for its survival.

There is the possibility the comet head will be around -3—4 magnitude, (about as bright as Venus), but it will fade rapidly and may be difficult to distinguish against the twilight by the time it is above the horizon in Australia. 

Western sky on the evening of Tuesday, April 7 as seen from Adelaide at 18:28 ACST ( 30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). If it hasn't disintegrated,  Comet C/2026 A1 may be visible low in the twilight. 

C/2026 A1 perihelion is 4 April, the soonest we can see the comet head is probably the 6th or 7th depending on how bright it turns out to be. If there is a decent tail we should see it as the twilight fades. 

Look to the west, bright Venus will be your guide, the comet should be to the west and a bit below. As the twilight fades the comet and its tail may become more visible. As the days progress the comet gets higher, but it will also be dimming rapidly. 

We may see the tail in the late twilight, we may be in a C/2011 (W3) Lovejoy situation, where a bright, long headless tail was seen for a couple of days, or a C/2024 G3 Atlas situation, where a modest length but faint tail was visible in the late twilight for nearly a week.  Either would be good.

C/2025 R3 (PANSTARS): This is also getting a fair bit of attention. While not predicted to be as bright as C/2026 A1, it could be either a good binocular comet or a modest to good unaided eye comet, depending on multiple factors. C/2025 R3’s perihelion is 20 April and is closest to the earth on April 27. It may be visible in Australia from the 27th if the brightest predictions are correct and from the 30th if more modest predictions are correct.

Western sky on Thursday, April 30  as seen from Adelaide at 18:30 ACST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Comet C/2025 R3 may be visible in the twilight.

C/2025 R3 is not a sungrazer, it only gets as close to the sun as between the orbits of Mercury and Venus. Magnitude predictions run anywhere between magnitude 8 (about as bright as Neptune) and 2.8 (about as bright as delta Crucis), not spectacular but easily visible after nautical twilight. 

Stars:

North-Eastern sky as seen from Adelaide at 19:13 ACST on April 17 (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). The constellation of Leo is prominent. Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen)	North-Eastern sky as seen from Adelaide at 19:04 ACST on April 26 (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). The constellation of Leo is prominent and the Moon is close to Regulus. Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen)

As Taurus and Orion sink to the west, an important classical constellation, Leo, is coming to the northern sky. Not the zodiac sign Leo, due to the precession of the equinoxes this now covers Cancer. 

Looking north you can see the pair of bright Procyon and Pollux, forming a triangle with Jupiter, looking east of this triangle the next bright star you see is blue white Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo the Lion.  

From Regulus towards the horizon is a curved trail of stars, this is the sickle of leo, the Leonid meteor shower 's radiant is in the sickle of Leo. 

Returning to Regulus, looking east the next brightish star you see is  theta Leonis. In  10x50 binoculars, under dark skies,  in the same binocular field you may see a whiteish smudge, the is the galaxy M66. In a telescope the galaxy M65 is nearby.

On the 26th the Moon is close to Regulus, and an occultation is seen in North and South America.  

Labels: Monthly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 11:27 pm 0 comments

The Full Moon is Thursday April 2. Daylight savings ends on Sunday April 5. Venus climbs higher in the twilight. Jupiter dominates the northern sky. In the morning Mercury is in a excellent position to view well above the eastern horizon with are Mars below it. Comet C/2026 A1 may be visible in the western evening twilight from around April 6-7 (or it may completely fizzle out).

The Full Moon is Thursday April 2. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth,  on April 7.

Mercury is visible with Mars below it low to the horizon. 

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

Venus is visible just above the western horizon, you will need a level, unobscured horizon to see it. 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (30 minutes after sunset).  

Northern sky on Saturday, April 4  as seen from Adelaide at 20:30 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on January the 10th, but will be bright for many months. Jupiter forms a broad triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon, and a narrower triangle with the stars Castor and Pollux.

 

The inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

 

Western sky on the evening of Tuesday, April 7 as seen from Adelaide at 18:28 ACST ( 30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). If it hasn't disintegrated,  Comet C/2026 A1 may be visible low in the twilight. 

 

Bright Venus will be your guide, the comet should be to the west and a bit below. The comets location is marked by a cross in the image. 

 

As the twilight fades the comet and its tail may become more visible. As the days progress the comet gets higher, but it will also be dimming rapidly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (30 minutes after sunset).   

 

Whole sky on  Saturday, April 4  as seen from Adelaide at 20:40 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Jupiter is prominent in the north.

 

Bright Canopus and Sirius are near the Zenith. Orion is now in the north-western sky. 

 

The Southern Cross is rising in the Southern sky.  The moon is waning and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming easier to see.    

 

 

 

   

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

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 6:24 pm 0 comments

The Full Moon is Thursday April 2. Venus climbs higher in the twilight. Jupiter dominates the northern sky. It forms a broad triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon, and a narrower triangle with the stars Castor and Pollux. In the morning Mercury is in a excellent position to view well above the eastern horizon with Mars below it.

The Full Moon is Thursday April 2.

Mercury is visible with Mars below it low to the horizon. 

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

Venus is visible just above the western horizon, you will need a level, unobscured horizon to see it. 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (30 minutes after sunset).  

Northern sky on Saturday, March 28  as seen from Adelaide at 20:40 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on January the 10th, but will be bright for many months. Jupiter forms a broad triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon, and a narrower triangle with the stars Castor and Pollux.

 

The inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

 

Whole sky on  Saturday, March 28  as seen from Adelaide at 20:40 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Jupiter is prominent in the north.

 

Bright Canopus and Sirius are near the Zenith. Orion is now in the north-western sky. 

 

The Southern Cross is rising in the Southern sky.  The moon is waxing and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming hard to see.    

 

 

 

   

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

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 4:58 pm 0 comments

https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/

After a series of disappointments where geomagnetic storms occurred after 2 am (after I had given up and gone to bed) or in the evening twilight, or in daytime there is a further chance of periods of G3 due to ongoing coronal hole effects. 

While G1-G2 geomagnetic conditions are most likely, G3 may be possible for sustained southward solar wind parameter Bz. If this occurs there is a strong possibility of aurora.  

The Moon is in still in crescent phase and although setting around 10 pm it will not significantly  interfere with seeing aurora in the evening and early morning.  Keep an eye out and be patient, as the magnetic polarity of the wind fluctuates significantly and aurora may come and go.

As of now the solar wind conditions are
Solar Wind Parameters Used:
   Date: 23 03 2026 0453 UT
   Velocity:   694 km/sec
   Bz:    2.0 nT
   Density =    2.0 p/cc

Calculated Information from Solar wind parameters:
   Magnetopause Stand Off Distance  =   11.8Re
   Solar Wind Dynamic Pressure Dp =   0.80nPa

_____________________________________________________________
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 22-24 MARCH 2026
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
22 Mar:  G2-G3
23 Mar:  G1-G2, chance G3
24 Mar:  G1-G2, chance G3

*****************************************************************************

Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.

As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, mostly green at the moment.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky. https://www.skippysky.com.au/Australia/index.html
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 6:25 pm 0 comments

https://www.sws.bom.gov.au/ 

A minor geomagnetic storm (G1) with a Kindex of 5 is currently ongoing. And yes, it's daylight. 

If this storm persists and strengthens (there is a prediction of G3 major storm levels), there is a strong possibility of aurora.  

As I wrote before, the Moon is in crescent phase and will not interfere with seeing aurora in the evening and early morning.  Keep an eye out and be patient, as the magnetic polarity of the wind fluctuates significantly and aurora may come and go.

As of now the solar wind conditions are:
Solar Wind Parameters Used:
   Date: 21 03 2026 0601 UT
   Velocity:   452 km/sec
   Bz:   -3.0 nT
   Density =    8.0 p/cc

Calculated Information from Solar wind parameters:
   Magnetopause Stand Off Distance  =   10.6Re
   Solar Wind Dynamic Pressure Dp =   1.36nPa
**********************************************************************************

G1 (MINOR) GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE IN PROGRESS (K OF 5 REACHED)
PRELIMINARY AUSTRALIAN REGION K INDICES FOR 20 03 26: 2334 3345

GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
21 Mar:  G2-G3
22 Mar:  G1-G2
23 Mar:  G0-G2

Labels: aurora

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 5:12 pm 0 comments

Two CME arrivals are happening in the coming days. The first CME is associated with the M2.7 flare on 16-Mar which is expected to arrive at 19/1800UT +/ 12 hours (that's either early morning on the 20th or very late on the 19th in Australia). 

The second CME is associated with another M2.7 flare on 18-Mar and is expected to arrive at 20/1700UT +/- 12 hours. 

In addition, solar wind 27 day recurrent patterns suggest coronal hole wind streams are likely to increase the solar wind speed over 21-23 March.

Some recent storms occurred during daylight hours in Austral, but lets hope we are lucky with night arrivals as this time as conditions are good.

If storms eventuate, visible aurora may be seen in Tasmania and possibly southern parts of Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia during local night hours. 

The Moon is in crescent phase and will not interfere with seeing aurora in the evening and early morning.  Keep an eye out and be patient, as the magnetic polarity of the wind fluctuates significantly and aurora may come and go.

Dark sky sites have the best chance of seeing anything, and always allow around 5 minutes for your eyes to become dark adapted.

As always look to the south for shifting red/green glows, mostly green at the moment.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky. https://www.skippysky.com.au/Australia/index.html
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
_____________________________________________________________

INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED 
FROM 19-23 MARCH 2026
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
19 Mar:  Initially G0, then G1-G2
20 Mar:  G1-G2 (minor to moderate)
21 Mar:  G1-G2 (minor to moderate)
22 Mar:  G0-G1 (minor to moderate)

Labels: aurora

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 10:13 pm 0 comments

The First Quarter Moon is Thursday March 26. Earth is is at its autumnal equinox on the 21st.Venus begins to emerge from the twilight and is near the thin crescent moon on the 20th and 21st.. Jupiter dominates the northern sky. It forms a broad triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon, and a narrower triangle with the stars Castor and Pollux. On the 26th Jupiter is close to the  First Quarter  Moon. In the morning Mars and Mercury are visible low to the horizon.

The First Quarter Moon is Thursday March 26. Earth is is at its autumnal equinox on the 21st. The Moon is at perigee (when it is closest to Earth) on the 22nd.

Mars and Mercury are visible low to the horizon. 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (45 minutes before sunrise).   

Venus is visible just above the western horizon, you will need a level, unobscured horizon to see it. The thin crescent Moon is nearby.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (30 minutes after sunset).  

Northern sky on Thursday, March 26 as seen from Adelaide at 20:43 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on January the 10th, but will be bright for many months. Jupiter forms a broad triangle with the bright stars Betelgeuse and Procyon, and a narrower triangle with the stars Castor and Pollux. Jupiter is close to the  First Quarter  Moon.

 

 

The inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.   

 

    

 

 

 

 

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

 

Whole sky on  Saturday, March 14 as seen from Adelaide at 20:50 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Jupiter is prominent in the north.

 

Bright Canopus and Sirius are near the Zenith. Orion is now in the north-western sky. 

 

The Southern Cross is rising in the Southern sky.  The moon is waxing and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming hard to see.    

 

 

 

   

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

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 9:04 pm 0 comments