Astroblog

The Full Moon is Wednesday March 3. There is a total lunar eclipse in the evening at this time. Saturn is lost 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. Jupiter is close to the waxing moon on the 27th. Uranus can be seen in binoculars above the Pleiades cluster. The variable star Mira may be visible in the evening. 

The Full Moon is Wednesday March 3. There is a total lunar eclipse in the evening at this time.

North-western sky on the evening of Saturday, February 28 as seen from Adelaide at 21:22 ACDST ( 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

The planet Uranus is theoretically visible to the unaided eye from Dark sky locations, as it is magnitude 5.7, but it is best seen with binoculars. The beautiful and obvious Pleiades cluster is the signpost to the faint planet. The waxing moon will make seeing Uranus more difficult.

The variable star Mira is brightening and should be visible now, but the nearly full moon may mean you need binoculars to identify it (the barred circle in the image) 

The inset is the binocular view of the Pleiades and Uranus at this time. 

   

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

 

North-eastern sky on Friday, February 27  as seen from Adelaide at 21:24 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 waxing 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). 

 

Sky looking North-east on Wednesday 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). 

Whole sky on Saturday, February 28  as seen from Adelaide at 21:22 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 high in the north-western sky. 

 

The Southern Cross is rising in the Southern sky.  The moon is nearly full and the fainter clusters and nebula are 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 @ 1:52 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  Wednesday, 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

The First Quarter Moon is Tuesday February 24. The Lunar X can bee seen at First Quarter. Saturn is low in the western twilight. Saturn is near the thin crescent Moon on the 20th. 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. Uranus can be seen in binoculars above the Pleiades cluster. The variable star Mira may be visible in the evening. 

The First Quarter Moon is Tuesday February 24. Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) on the 25th.

North-western sky on the evening of Saturday, February 21 as seen from Adelaide at 21:32 ACDST ( 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

The planet Uranus is theoretically visible to the unaided eye from Dark sky locations, as it is magnitude 5.7, but it is best seen with binoculars. The beautiful and obvious Pleiades cluster is the signpost to the faint planet. The waxing moon will not interfere until later in the week. 

The inset is the binocular view of the Pleiades and Uranus 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 Friday, February 20  as seen from Adelaide at 20:45 ACDST (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Saturn is low in the western twilight. 

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

North-eastern sky on Saturday, February 21  as seen from Adelaide at 21:32 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). 

 

Sky looking North-west on Tuesday February 24 as seen from Adelaide at 20:56 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). 

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). 

Whole sky on Saturday, February 14  as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Saturn has set. Jupiter is prominent in the north.

 

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

 

The Southern Cross is low in the Southern sky.  The moon is waxing and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming harder 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 @ 1:09 am 0 comments

The New Moon is Tuesday February 17. Saturn is low in the western sky. Jupiter is rising before astronomical twilight and 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. Uranus can be seen in binoculars above the Pleiades cluster. Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos may be visible in binoculars. The variable star Mira may be visible in the evening. 

The New Moon is Monday February 17. 

North-western sky on the evening of Saturday, February 14 as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 ACDST ( 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

The planet Uranus is theoretically visible to the unaided eye from Dark sky locations, as it is magnitude 5.7, but it is best seen with binoculars. The beautiful and obvious Pleiades cluster is the signpost to the faint planet. The waning moon will not interfere in the early evening. 

The inset is the binocular view of the Pleiades and Uranus 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 Saturday, February 14  as seen from Adelaide at 21:17 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Saturn is lowering in the west. 

 

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

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

North-eastern sky on Saturday, February 14  as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 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 Saturday, February 14 as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Saturn is setting in the west. Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos is close to the constellation of the Phoenix. 

 

Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos was predicted to be bright, but has remained dim. The comet will be higher in the evening skies when the sky is fully dark and the waning  moon is rising well after the Comet has set. It may be visible in binoculars at this time. 

the circle shows the location of the variable star Mira, which is brightening, it should be visible to the unaided eye about now. 

 

The inset shows the binocular view of the comet at this this time.

 

  

 

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

 

Whole sky on Saturday, February 14  as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Saturn is setting in the northwest. Jupiter is rising in the northeast.

 

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

 

The Southern Cross is low 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 @ 6:00 pm 0 comments

The Last Quarter Moon is Monday February 9. Saturn is low in the western sky. Jupiter is rising before astronomical twilight and 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. Uranus can be seen in binoculars above the Pleiades cluster. Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos may be visible in binoculars. The variable star Mira may be visible in the evening. 

The Last Quarter Moon is Monday February 9. The Moon is at apogee (when it is furthest from Earth) on the 11th.

North-western sky on the evening of Saturday, February 7 as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 ACDST ( 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

The planet Uranus is theoretically visible to the unaided eye from Dark sky locations, as it is magnitude 5.7, but it is best seen with binoculars. The beautiful and obvious Pleiades cluster is the signpost to the faint planet. The waning moon will not interfere in the early evening. 

The inset is the binocular view of the Pleiades and Uranus 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 Saturday, February 7  as seen from Adelaide at 21:17 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Saturn is lowering in the west. 

 

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

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

North-eastern sky on Saturday, February 7  as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on 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 Saturday, February 7 as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Saturn is setting in the west. Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos is close to the constellation of the Phoenix. 

 

Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos was predicted to be bright, but has remained dim. The comet will be higher in the evening skies when the sky is fully dark and the waning  moon is rising well after the Comet has set. It may be visible in binoculars at this time. 

the circle shows the location of the variable star Mira, which is brightening, it should be visible to the unaided eye about now. 

 

The inset shows the binocular view of the comet at this this time.

 

  

 

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

 

Whole sky on Saturday, February 7  as seen from Adelaide at 21:52 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Saturn is setting in the northwest. Jupiter is rising in the northeast.

 

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

 

The Southern Cross is low 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 @ 6:00 pm 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 Full Moon is Monday February 2. Saturn is low in the western sky. Jupiter is rising before astronomical twilight and was at opposition, when it biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 10th. The nearly full Moon is close to Jupiter on the 31st. Uranus can be seen in binoculars above the Pleiades cluster. Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos may be visible in binoculars by the end of the week. 

The Full Moon is Monday February 2. The Moon at perigee when it is closest to Earth on the 30th.

North-western sky on the evening of Saturday, January 31 as seen from Adelaide at 22:00 ACDST ( 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

The planet Uranus is theoretically visible to the unaided eye from Dark sky locations, as it is magnitude 5.7, but it is best seen with binoculars. The beautiful and obvious Pleiades cluster is the signpost to the faint planet. The waxing moon may make finding Uranus harder until the end of the week. 

The inset is the binocular view of the Pleiades and Uranus 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 Saturday, January 31  as seen from Adelaide at 21:25ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Saturn is lowering in the west. 

 

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

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

North-eastern sky on Saturday, January 21  as seen from Adelaide at 22:00 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 10th, but will be bright for many months. The nearly Full Moon is close to Jupiter making an attractive pattern with Jupiter and the bright 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 Thursday, February 5 as seen from Adelaide at 21:54 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Saturn is sinking in the west. Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos is close to the constellation of Grus the crane. 

 

Comet C/2024 E1 Wierzchos was predicted to be bright, but has remained dim. By the end of the week the comet will be higher in the evening skies when the sky is fully dark and the bright moon is rising later. It may be visible in binoculars at this time. 

 

The inset shows the binocular view of the comet at this this time, close to the two stars forming the wing of the Crane.   

 

 

 

 

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

 

Whole sky on Saturday, January 31  as seen from Adelaide at 22:00 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Saturn is lowering in the northwest. Jupiter is rising in the northeast.

 

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

 

The Southern Cross is low in the Southern sky.  The moon is nearly full and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming harder 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 @ 6:00 pm 0 comments

The First Quarter Moon is Monday January 26. Saturn is low in the western sky and close to the thin crescent Moon on the 23rd. Jupiter is rising before astronomical twilight and was at opposition, when it biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 10th. Uranus can be seen in binoculars above the Pleiades cluster.

The First Quarter Moon is Monday January 26.

Eastern sky on the evening of Saturday, January 24 as seen from Adelaide at 22:07 ACDST ( 90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

The planet Uranus is theoretically visible to the unaided eye from Dark sky locations, as it is magnitude 5.7, but it is best seen with binoculars. The beautiful and obvious Pleiades cluster is the signpost to the faint planet. 

The inset is the binocular view of the Pleiades and Uranus 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 Friday, January 23  as seen from Adelaide at 21:31ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Saturn is lowering in the west and is just above the crescent Moon. 

 

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

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

North-eastern sky on Saturday, January 24  as seen from Adelaide at 22:07 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 10th, but will be bright for many months.

 

 

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, Saturday, January 24  as seen from Adelaide at 22:07 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Saturn is lowering in the northwest. Jupiter is rising in the northeast.

 

Bright Canopus and Sirius are rising. Orion is now high in the north-western sky. 

 

The Southern Cross is low in the Southern sky.  The moon is waxing and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming harder 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 @ 7:52 pm 0 comments