Astroblog

The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday, July 28. Mercury is visible in the evening twilight, with Venus low on the horizon below. Mercury starts the week close to the bright star Regulus, and during the week  Venus rises toward Regulus too. Saturn enters the evening sky around 9:30 pm, but is still best in the morning. On the 30th the crescent Moon forms a line with Mars and Aldebaran, with Jupiter below. The 30th also sees the Moon occult the Pleiades and 30-31st is the Southern Delta-Aquarids meteor shower. On the 31st Mars, the thin crescent Moon and Jupiter form a diamond with Aldebaran.

The Last Quarter Moon is Sunday, July 28.  

Western evening sky on Thursday, July 25 as seen from Adelaide at 18:01 ACST (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   

Mercury is well above the western horizon at the end of civil twilight, and is still visible at astronomical twilight an hour and a half after sunset. Mercury is at its closest to the bright star Regulus.

Venus is low on the horizon.

 

 

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

Western evening sky on Thursday, August 1 as seen from Adelaide at 18:18 ACST (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   

Mercury is well above the western horizon at the end of civil twilight, and is still visible at astronomical twilight an hour and a half after sunset. Mercury has moved away the bright star Regulus and Venus is coming closer, forming a triangle with Mercury and Regulus.

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

Morning sky on Tuesday, July 30  as seen from Adelaide at 05:10 ACST, . Mars are readily visible. Mars is coming closer to Jupiter and forms a triangle the red star Aldebaran. 

 

The Moon is just beginning to cover (occult) the Pleiades. The inset shows the binocular view at this time. 

The following night, the 31st Mars, the thin crescent Moon and Jupiter form a diamond with Aldebaran.

 

 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time.

The northern sky at 03:00 ACST Wednesday, July 31. The peak of the Southern Delta-Aquarids meteor shower occurs at this time. Viewers should see a meteor roughly every 3 minutes from dark sky locations. The radiant is located just above Saturn.

 

The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at the time. (click to embiggen).

 

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time.

Whole sky on Saturday, July 27 as seen from Adelaide at 18:585 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Scorpius dominates the Eastern horizon. The Southern Cross is prominent in the Southern sky. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. The fainter clusters are fading with the Moon waxing.

 

 

   

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

 

 

Mercury climbs higher in the evening sky, it starts the week close to Regulus  on the 25th. the moves away.

Venus is higher in the evening twilight. It comes closer to Regulus during the week, forming a triangle with Mercury and Regulus by the end of the week.

Mars is rising in the morning sky but is heading towards Jupiter. On the 30th the crescent Moon forms a line with Mars and Aldebaran, with Jupiter below.  On the 31st Mars, the thin crescent Moon and Jupiter form a diamond with Aldebaran.

Jupiter is rising in the the morning twilight sky. Jupiter is below the red star Aldebaran. On the 30th the crescent Moon forms a line with Mars and Aldebaran, with Jupiter below.  On the 31st Mars, the thin crescent Moon and Jupiter form a diamond with Aldebaran.

Saturn climbs higher in the late evening sky.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.


 

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 7:09 am 0 comments

The Full Moon is Sunday, July 21. Mercury is visible in the evening twilight, with Venus low on the horizon below. Mercury comes closer to the bright star Regulus, and is closest on the 25th. Saturn enters the evening sky around 9:30 pm, but is still best in the morning. On the 24th the waning Moon is close to Saturn. In the morning the lineup of planets is Saturn, Mars and Jupiter. Mars is cloning closer to Jupiter, which is below the red star Aldebaran.

The Full Moon is Sunday, July 21.  The Moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the earth, on the 24th.

Western evening sky on Thursday, July 25 as seen from Adelaide at 18:01 ACST (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   

Morning sky on Saturday, July 20  as seen from Adelaide at 05:50 ACST, (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Saturn and Mars are readily visible. Mars is coming closer to Jupiter and is above the Pleiades cluster.  Jupiter is below the red star Aldebaran.

 

 

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

 

The eastern sky at 23:00 ACST Wednesday, July 24 with Saturn rising, The waning Moon is close to saturn

 

The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time.

Whole sky on Saturday, July 20 as seen from Adelaide at 18:55 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Scorpius dominates the Eastern horizon. The Southern Cross is prominent in the Southern sky. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. The fainter clusters are fading with the Moon waxing.

 

 

   

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

 

 

Mercury climbs higher in the evening sky an is close to Regulus on the 25th.

Venus is low in the evening twilight.

Mars is rising in the morning sky but is heading towards Jupiter.

Jupiter is rising in the the morning twilight sky. Jupiter is below the red star Aldebaran.

Saturn climbs higher in the late evening sky. On the 24th the waning Moon is close to Saturn.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.


 

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 10:52 pm 0 comments

The First Quarter Moon is Sunday, July 14. Mercury is visible in the evening twilight, with Venus low on the horizon below. Mercury remains visible when the sky is fully dark. Saturn enters the evening sky around 10pm, but is still best in the morning. In a telescope Saturn's famous rings are almost edge on. In the morning the lineup of planets is Saturn, Mars and Jupiter. Jupiter is below the red star Aldebaran. On the 16th Mars and Uranus are half a finger-width apart, a nice view in binoculars.

The First Quarter Moon is Sunday, July 14. The Moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the earth, on the 12th.

Western evening sky on Saturday, July 13 as seen from Adelaide at 18:05 ACST (45 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   

Morning sky on Tuesday, July 16  as seen from Adelaide at 06:22 ACST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Saturn and Mars are readily visible. Mars and Uranus are half a finger-width (0.5°) apart and a nice view in binoculars or medium power telescope eye pieces.  Jupiter is below the red star Aldebaran. The inset is the binocular view of Mars and Uranus.

 

 

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

 

The eastern sky at 23:00 ACST Saturday, July 13 with Saturn rising, the inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time.

Whole sky on Saturday, July 13 as seen from Adelaide at 18:51 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Scorpius dominates the Eastern horizon. The Southern Cross is prominent in the Southern sky. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. The fainter clusters are fading with the Moon waxing.

 

 

   

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

 

 

Mercury climbs higher in the evening sky.

Venus is low in the evening twilight.

Mars is rising in the morning sky but is heading towards Jupiter. On the 15th to 17th it is close to Uranus, being very close on the 16th.

Jupiter is rising in the the morning twilight sky. Jupiter is below the red star Aldebaran.

Saturn climbs higher in the late evening sky.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.


 

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 8:00 am 0 comments

The New Moon is Saturday, July 6. Earth is at aphelion on the 5th. Mercury is visible in the evening twilight and is close to the crescent Moon on the 11th. Saturn enters the evening sky around 11pm, but is still best in the morning. In a telescope Saturn's famous rings are almost edge on. In the morning the lineup of planets is Saturn, Mars and Jupiter. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster. It forms a second "eye" for Taurus the Bull.

The New Moon is Saturday, July 6. Earth is at aphelion, when it is furthest from the Sun on the 5th.

Western evening sky on Thursday, July 11 as seen from Adelaide at 17:48 ACST (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   

Morning sky on Thursday, July 4  as seen from Adelaide at 06:24 ACST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Saturn and Mars are readily visible. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster with the crescent moon forming a line with Jupiter and Mars.

 

 

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

 

The eastern sky at 23:00 ACST Saturday, July 6 with Saturn rising, the inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at the equivalent local time.

 

Whole sky on Saturday, July 6 as seen from Adelaide at 18:48 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Bright Sirius is lost to view. Scorpius now dominates the Eastern horizon. The Southern Cross is prominent in the Southern sky. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. The fainter clusters are now visible with the Moon being new.

 

 

   

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

 

 

Mercury returns to the evening twilight and is close to the crescent moon on the 11th.

Venus returns low in the evening twilight.

Mars is rising in the morning sky but is heading towards Jupiter.

Jupiter is rising in the the morning twilight sky. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster. The crescent Moon forms a line with Jupiter and Mars on the 4th.

Saturn climbs higher in the late evening sky.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.


 

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 9:12 pm 1 comments

The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday, June 29. Mercury is visible in the evening twilight. Saturn enters the evening sky around midnight, but is still best in the morning. On the 27th there is an occultation of Saturn low on the eastern horizon near midnight. In a telescope Saturn's famous rings are almost edge on. In the morning the lineup of planets is Saturn, Mars and Jupiter. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster. The crescent Moon is near Mars on the 2nd and Jupiter on the 3rd.

The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday, June 29. The moon is at perigee, when it is closest to the Earth, on the 27th.

Western evening sky on Saturday, June 29 as seen from Adelaide at 17:42 ACST (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   

Morning sky on Wednesday, July 3  as seen from Adelaide at 06:25 ACST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Saturn and Mars are readily visible. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster with the crescent moon close by.

 

 

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

 

The Moon at 23:47pm AEST in Brisbane looking east on Thursday 27 June just as Saturn reappears. The inset shows the binocular view as Saturn reappears (click to embiggen).

Saturn is just emerging from behind the dark limb of the Moon.

Similar views will be seen from east coast, and some southern central Australia at a similar time.Detailed times and spotters charts are at my occultation site.

Whole sky on Saturday, June 29 as seen from Adelaide at 18:45 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Bright Sirius is still dominant low in the north-western sky in the early evening. Scorpius now well visible above the Eastern horizon. The Southern Cross is prominent in the Southern sky. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. The fainter clusters are now visible with the Moon rising late.

 

 

   

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

 

 

Mercury returns to the evening twilight

Venus is lost in the twilight.

Mars is rising in the morning sky. The crescent Moon is near Mars on the 2nd.

Jupiter is rising in the the morning twilight sky. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster. The crescent Moon is near  Jupiter on the 3rd.

Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. Saturn is occulted by the Moon on the 27th.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.


 

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 10:19 pm 0 comments

The Full Moon is Saturday, June 22. The Earth is at solstice on the 21st. By the weeks end Mercury is visible in the evening twilight. Saturn enters the evening sky around midnight, but is still best in the morning. On the 27th there is an occultation of Saturn low on the eastern horizon near midnight. In a telescope Saturn's famous rings are almost edge on. In the morning the lineup of planets is Saturn, Mars and Jupiter. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster.

The Full Moon is Saturday, June 22. The Earth is at solstice, when the night is longest, on the 21st.

Western evening sky on Thursday, June 27 as seen from Adelaide at 17:41 ACST (30 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   

Morning sky on Saturday, June 22  as seen from Adelaide at 06:22 ACST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Saturn and Mars are readily visible. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster.

 

 

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

 

The Moon at 23:47pm AEST in Brisbane looking east on Thursday 27 June just as Saturn reappears. The inset shows the binocular view as Saturn reappears (click to embiggen).

Saturn is just emerging from behind the dark limb of the Moon.

Similar views will be seen from east coast, and some southern central Australia at a similar time.Detailed times and spotters charts are at my occultation site.

Whole sky on Saturday, June 22 as seen from Adelaide at 18:43 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Bright Sirius is still dominant low in the north-western sky in the early evening. Scorpius now well visible above the Eastern horizon. The Southern Cross is prominent in the Southern sky. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. The fainter clusters are lost in the light of the waxing, then Full, moon.

 

 

   

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

 

 

Mercury returns to the evening twilight

Venus is lost in the twilight.

Mars is rising in the morning sky.

Jupiter is rising in the the morning twilight sky. Jupiter is between the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster.

Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky. Saturn is occulted by the Moon on the 27th.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.


 

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 7:59 am 0 comments

The Moon at 23:07pm ACST in Adelaide looking east on Thursday 27 June just as Saturn reappears. The inset shows the binocular view as Saturn reappears (click to embiggen).	The Moon at 23:47pm AEST in Brisbane looking east on Thursday 27 June just as Saturn reappears. The inset shows the binocular view as Saturn reappears (click to embiggen).	The Moon at 23:39pm AEST in Canberra looking east on Thursday 27 June just as Saturn reappears. The inset shows the binocular view as Saturn reappears (click to embiggen).

On the evening of Thursday, June 27, between 11pm and midnight  there is an occultation of Saturn. The second of three occultations seen from Australia this year. This best as a binocular and telescope event. The Moon will have just risen, so this will be difficult for telescopes.

The path of the occultation, taken from the the IOTA site 

This occultation is visible from the eastern states from Cairns to Melbourne. and part of central Australia.

In the rest of Australia the Moon and Saturn will be very close when the Moon rises.  

Start watching about half an hour beforehand to get set up and familiar with the sky. Saturn will disappear behind the bright limb of the Moon very close to the horizon. In Cairns, Melbourne and Adelaide the Moon will rise with Saturn behind the Moon, you will need a level, unobscured horizon to see the occultation. 

Again, as the Moon is close to the horizon when ingress occurs it will be difficult to get telescopes to point that low, and binoculars will be required. By the time Saturn reappears the Moon will be higher (around 15°) so telescopes may be successful.  As Saturn reappears from behind the dark limb of the moon this should be quite dramatic.

Imaging Saturn and the Moon together will be a challenge, due to the differences in brightness, again however, as Saturn appears from behind the dark limb, some over exposure of the Moon will not really affect Saturn. You will need a high ISO (3200 to 1600) to have a short enough exposure time to stop Saturn from trailing. Try practicing the night or morning before to get an idea of your cameras/mobile phones performance. You will need a tripod for your camera or binoculars, and possibly some wy to attach the camera to binoculars or telescope (dedicated amateur astronomers will already have this kit). See this post for some examples.

Labels: binoculars, Moon, Occultation, Saturn, telescope

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 7:26 am 0 comments

The First Quarter Moon is Friday, June 14. Comet 12P Pons-Brooks is no longer visible in binoculars. Saturn enters the evening sky around midnight, but is still best in the morning. In a telescope Saturn's famous rings are almost edge on. In the morning the lineup of planets is Saturn, Mars and Jupiter. with Jupiter low on the horizon.

The First Quarter Moon is Friday, June 14. The moon is at apogee, when it is furthest from the Earth, at this time.

Eastern evening sky on Saturday, June 15 as seen from Adelaide at 18:41 ACST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).   

Morning sky on Saturday, June 15  as seen from Adelaide at 06:22 ACST, (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Saturn and Mars are readily visible. Jupiter is below the pair and is now more visible but still low on the horizon.

 

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

 

 

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

 

Whole sky on Saturday, June 15 as seen from Adelaide at 18:41 ACST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Bright Sirius is still dominant low in the north-western sky in the early evening. Scorpius now well visible above the Eastern horizon. Between the bright star Canopus and the Southern Cross are a wealth of binocular objects to discover. The fainter clusters will be begin to be lost as the moon waxes.

 

 

   

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

 

 

Mercury is lost in the twilight

Venus is lost in the twilight.

Mars is rising in the morning sky.

Jupiter is low the the morning twilight sky.

Saturn climbs higher in the morning sky.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.


 

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky

# posted by Ian Musgrave @ 11:25 pm 0 comments