Astroblog

Labels: eta aquarid, Meteors, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 5:54 pm 0 comments

Eastern horizon on the morning of Thursday, April 16 as seen from Adelaide at 5:44 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). The Crescent Moon, Mercury, Mars and Saturn for a triangle approximately one hand-span across low to the horizon.	Eastern horizon on the morning of Sunday, April 19 as seen from Adelaide at 5:48 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Mercury, Mars and Saturn for a triangle low to the horizon.
Eastern horizon on the morning of Monday, April 20 as seen from Adelaide at 5:48 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Mercury, Mars and Saturn for a close triangle low to the horizon. Mars is closest to Saturn on the 20th (1.1°). The inset is the binocular view at the time.	Eastern horizon on the morning of Tuesday, April 21 as seen from Adelaide at 5:48 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Mercury, Mars and Saturn for a close triangle low to the horizon. Mercury is 0.6° from Saturn and 1.6° from Mars. The inset is the binocular view at the time.

 Over the past fews days in the morning twilight three bright planets, Mercury, Mars and Saturn, have been drawing closer.

On the 16th there is an attractive massing with three unaided eye planets just above the eastern horizon, all within a 6° circle. 

Mercury at the top is 4° from Mars and 6° from Saturn, as a bonus, the slender crescent of the waning 28-day-old Moon is nearby. The planets then come closer and form a close triable between the 19th to 21st.

Mars is closest to Saturn on the 20th (1.1°). 

On the 21st another nice close conjunction occurs with Mercury 0.6° from Saturn and 1.6° from Mars. Mars has close approaches with the Moon on the 16th (3°), Saturn on the 20th (1.1°) and Mercury on the 21st (1.7°).  

After the close massing from the 23rd the planets stretch out into a line with Mercury heading towards the horizon and fading.

Labels: Mars, massing, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, unaided eye

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

Eastern morning sky on Wednesday, March 18  as seen from Adelaide at 6:37 ACDST (45 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).  Mars, the crescent Moon and Mercury form a triangle above the horizon. The inset is the binocular view a this time. Mars and Mercury are at their closest on the 16th. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (45 minutes before sunrise)

North-western sky on Thursday, March 26  as seen from Adelaide at 20:43 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter is close to the waxing Moon, forming a narrow triangle with Castor and Pollux and a broad triangle with the bright stars Procyon and Betelgeuse.The inset is the telescopic view Jupiter at this time. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset)

Sky looking North-east on Tuesday March 3 as seen from Adelaide at 21:18 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). 

The rising full Moon is partially eclipsed. Totality will start at 22:33 and be at maximum eclipse at 23:03. Other states will see similar views at the equivalent local times. The inset show the binocular view at this time. 

Detailed times for selected cites and viewing charts are at my Lunar Eclipse page. 

 

 

 

 

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

Stars:

North-Eastern sky as seen from Adelaide at midnight1 ACDST on March 12. Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen)	Southern sky as seen from Adelaide at 21:05 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset. Omega Centauri is indicated by the brackets, The inset is the binocular view of Omega Centauri  at this time (click to embiggen)

March nights see the summer constellations of Orion the Hunter and Canis major (Orion’s hunting dog) head towards the western horizon, while Orion’s nemesis, Scorpius the Scorpion, rises in the east.
If you face east around midnight, the distinctive curled shape of Scorpius lies curled above the horizon. Slightly less romantically, it looks like one of those “use no hooks” signs on its side.  

In Greek mythology, Scorpius was a scorpion sent to kill Orion for his hubris. Indigenous Australians interpreted the constellation in a variety of ways. The sting of Scorpius the Scorpion (the curled “hook”) is variously the head of Ingalpir, the crocodile, Karick Karick a pair of hawks or a fringe of feathers around the wings of dark constellation the Emu. The body of the Scorpion contains the bright star Antares the “rival of Mars”. 

Omega Centauri, a magnificent globular cluster, will be readily visible late in the evening forming a triangle with the Southern cross and pointers.

Mira:

North western sky as seen from Adelaide at 21:05 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset) on March 11, when the Moon has not yet risen. Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset. The variable star Mira is above the western horizon and indicated by the jagged circle. The inset is the binocular view of the Mira and the two obvious stars Zeta and Chi Ceti at this time (click to embiggen).

The location of Uranus is indicated by the smooth circle. 

 
The variable star Mira is now around magnitude 3.5, and should be readily visible when the moon is out of the way. 

Labels: binocular, Monthly sky, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 1:18 am 0 comments

North-eastern horizon as seen from Sydney on 3 March at 22:34 AEDST. The Moon is at  totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen	North-eastern as seen from Adelaide on 3 March at 22:03 ACDST. The Moon is at totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen	Eastern horizon as seen from Perth on 3 March at 19:34 AWST. The Moon is at  totality. The inset shows the telescopic/binocular view at this time. Click to embiggen

On the evening of  Tuesday, March the 3rd there is a nice total eclipse, the last total eclipse in Australia until December 2028 (which is in the early morning). Fortunately, the eclipse starts in the early evening, and is very convenient, especially if you have young children. This is a nice eclipse with totality lasting 59 minutes. 

Times for the eclipse at cities around Australia are below. Western Australia sees the moon rise in the twilight almost completely eclipsed, Central states see the eclipse end around Nautical twilight as the sky is beginning to darken. For the East coast sees the eclipse start either when the sky is fully dark or twilight is just ending. Everywhere will be able to see totality and eclipse end.

You will see some sites calling this a "blood Moon", The Moon does not turn the colour of blood but will go a deep copper colour due to the refraction of red light through our atmosphere.

Labels: eclipse, lunar eclipse, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 12:54 am 0 comments

Northern sky on Friday, February 27  as seen from Adelaide at 21:22 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter is close to the nearly full Moon, forming a narrow triangle with Castor and Pollux and a broad triangle with the bright stars Procyon and Betelgeuse. 

The First Quarter Moon is clearly visible above the horizon close to he Pleiades cluster. the Lunar X and V may bee seen in a telescope or strong binoculars. The insets show the telescopic and binocular views at this time. 

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

Stars:

North western sky as seen from Adelaide at 21:41 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset. The inset is the binocular view of the Pleides and Uranus at this time (click to embiggen)	Southern sky as seen from Adelaide at 21:41 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset). Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset. Theta Carina is indicated by the circle, The inset is the binocular view of the the Southern Pleiades and Theta Carina  at this time (click to embiggen)

February nights see the summer constellations of Taurus the Bull, Orion the Hunter and Canis major (Orion’s hunting dog) slip into the north-western sky.

Orion is still visible,  as are the Pleiades, a close grouping of six stars.   A line drawn westward through Betelgeuse, the red star that forms the shoulder of Orion, and Aldebaran brings you to the Pleiades.

Although faint, the Pleiades is pretty to the unaided eye, and delightful in binoculars. If you’re fortunate enough to have a decent telescope, you’ll be able to see a hint of the nebulous cloud that makes photographs of this cluster an astronomical icon. 

The Pleiades is also known as the Seven Sisters in European culture.  Interestingly, many Indigenous Australian groups also saw the cluster as women. The Boorong people of north-western Victoria called it Larnankurrk and described it as a group of women watching Kulkunbulla (the two dancing youths represented by the Saucepan of Orion’s belt).   However, the people of the Lake Albert area saw the Pleiades as a clutch of turkey eggs.

In February, you can also see a constellation called the “Southern Pleiades” (it’s only visible in the southern hemisphere).  It’s a lot less obvious to the unaided eye than the Pleiades themselves, but is truly beautiful in binoculars or a small telescope.  It’s made up of a cluster of stars around theta Carina, which also glories in the name Vathorz Posterior.

To find this small gem, look up from Acrux, the brightest star in the Southern Cross. The second bright star you come to is surrounded by a halo of dim stars, this is the Southern Pleiades. 
You can easily see the Pleiades and the Southern Pleiades from around an hour after sunset as they emerge from the twilight.

 As the night progresses the Pleiades sink into the west. In contrast, the Southern Pleiades rise higher above the southern horizon as February progresses but they will become harder to see due to moonlight.  

Mira:

 
The variable star Mira (omicron Ceti) should start to brighten in February, rising from below unaided eye visibility to around magnitude 4 before peaking in March at around magnitude 3. It will be seen low above the western horizon when the sky is fully dark. 

Labels: binoculars, Monthly sky, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 7:27 pm 0 comments

The eastern sky at 04:40 ACDST Thursday, January 15, as seen from Adelaide. The moon is about to occult the bright star Antares. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). Click to embiggen	The eastern sky at at 05:18 AEDST Thursday, January 15,as seen from Sydney. The moon is about to occult the bright star Antares. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). Click to embiggen	at 02:13 AWST Thursday, January 15, as seen from Perth. The moon is about to occult the bright star Antares. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). Click to embiggen

On Thursday, January 15, Antares, the brightest start in Scorpio, is occulted by the Moon as seen from the all of Australia. (see the table below for major cities). In Western Australia the occultation is seen in good circumstances, the east coast sees the occultation  (or  agraze) in twilight and the occultation end in daylight.

The occultation occurs with the moon above the eastern horizon when the sky is entering twilight for the Eastern and central states. Perth and Western Australia generally sees the occultation start low the south-eastern sky, and egress  somewhat higher under dark conditions.  

Disappearance and appearance times are given in the table below. Other locations will see the occultation at a similar time for cities at a similar latitude (eg Woomera is similar to Adelaide).

While the occultation is visible to the unaided eye, the sight will be better in binoculars or a small telescope. Set up ahead of time so that you can be sure everything is working well and you can watch the entire event comfortably. Antares will be clearly visible to the unaided eye near the Moon. 

Labels: binocular, Moon, Occultation, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 5:53 pm 0 comments

North-eastern sky on Saturday, January 10  as seen from Adelaide at 22:17 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter is rising and at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth. 

Moon:

 Sky looking North on Wednesday January15 as seen from Adelaide at 22:17 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). 

 Orion is prominent in the mid sky.  Below Orion is Bright Jupiter, forming a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.

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

Stars:

 January nights are dominated by the summer constellations of Taurus the Bull, Orion the Hunter and Canis major, Orion’s hunting dog. 

Orion is probably the most iconic of these, with Orion’s belt and sword known as the “saucepan” to most Australians.   Orion is almost due north an hour and a half after sunset when the sky is fully dark. Deeper into the night they are seen further northwards. They also travel further north later in the month.

To the Boorong people of north-western Victoria the belt and sword (and where is the belt and sword in relation to the ‘saucepan’ ) were Kulkunbulla, two dancing youths. 

If you are out in the country under dark skies, the stars of the sword look misty. This is the great Orion nebula, an astrophotography favourite. While you will not see the same detail with your eye as long exposure photographs, even in binoculars you can see the general shape of the great nebula 
Above the saucepan is the blue-white star Rigel, while below is the red super giant star Betelgeuse, which marks Orion’s shoulder. 

To the north of Betelgeuse is another red star, Aldebaran, which is the the eye of Taurus the bull, with the V shaped group of stars, the Hyades, next to Aldebaran forming the bulls head. Below Orion is Bright Jupiter, forming a triangle with Procyon and Betelgeuse.

The Christmas holiday season will be a fantastic time to explore our skies.

Labels: Monthly sky, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 4:37 pm 0 comments

The table below shows significant astronomical events that can be seen with the unaided eye or minimal equipment in 2026 in Australia (and to some degree elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere, occultations and eclipses are very region specific). 

This year we get a good Total Lunar eclipse visible Australia wide and at a good time in the evening so all can watch. There are good oppositions of Jupiter and Saturn and a daytime occultation of Jupiter and some nice occultations of Antares.

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. T indicates a telescope only event. As well as apogee and perigee moons I have also included times when the Lunar X is visible at First Quarter. 

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

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 3:06 pm 1 comments

The northern horizon at 3:13 am ACDST as seen from Adelaide on Sunday December 14 when the Geminid radiant is at its highest. The Geminid radiant is marked with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at  a similar latitude and the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).	The northern horizon at 1:46am AEST as seen from Brisbane on on Sunday December 14 when the Geminid radiant is at its highest. The Geminid radiant is marked with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at  a similar latitude and the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).	The northern horizon at 3:17 am AEDST as seen from Melbourne on Sunday December 14 when the Geminid radiant is at its highest. The Geminid radiant is marked with a starburst. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at  a similar latitude and the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).

This year is a modest year for the Geminid meteor shower. The Geminids are an unusual meteor shower in that their parent body is 3200 Phaethon, an asteroid, rather than a comet. It is speculated though that Phaeton is actually a "gassed out" comet, and so the debris that makes up the Geminids may still be cometary particles, but is more likely broken rock fragments from its close approach to the sun.

The Geminids are usually a fairly reliable meteor shower but this year there will be some  interference from the Moon.

The Geminids have a broad peak and normally show good activity well before and after the peak on the day before and after. The nominal peak is December 14, 08h UT, that means in Australia this year most of the activity is concentrated on the morning of the 14th after sunrise, but there will still be decent rates before twilight, and on the 15th as well.

As the radiant doesn't rise until just before midnight (daylight saving time) in most of Australia and the radiant is highest (with the best meteor rates) in the early hours in a narrow band around 3 am local time, so you are going to lose some sleep for this.  Fortunately this is a Sunday, so you can sleep in after. 

Northern Australians should see a meteor every 2 minutes or so under dark skies in the early morning of the 14th. Good rate will also bee seen on the morning of the 15th. Obviously under suburban skies you will see fewer. 

You can find predictions for your local site at the meteor flux estimator (choose 4 Geminids and date 13-14 December, don't forget to change the date to 2025). You will have to enter your local latitude and longitude for your site. I have also made a table for major cities below.

You can follow the progress of the shower at the IMO Geminids Live page. 

At 3.00 am in the morning AEDST (midnight, AEST) Castor (alpha Geminorum) is about four hand-spans above the horizon and almost due north. Pollux, the other twin, is less than a hand-span to the right again and below Castor. The radiant is just below Pollux. The best rates are when the radiant is highest, when it is due north, the Moon is low to the horizon and before astronomical twilight. This is around 3:30 am ACDST Adelaide ~3:00 ACST Darwin, ~1-1:30 am local time Perth and Brisbane and ~ 2:30-3:00 am AEDST Melbourne, Sydney and Hobart.

Labels: geminids, Meteors, unaided eye

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 9:01 pm 0 comments