Tuesday, July 25, 2017
The Sky This Week - Thursday July 27 to Thursday August 3
The First Quarter Moon is Monday, July 31. Mercury climbs above Regulus. Jupiter and the
bright star Spica are nearby in the evening sky.
The Moon forms a triangle with the pair on July 29. Saturn is visible all night in the
heart of the Milky Way and is close to the Moon on August 3. Venus
dominates the morning sky below the head of Taurus the
Bull. The Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on the 30th.
The First Quarter Moon is Monday, July 31. The Moon is at apogee, furthest from the earth, on August 3rd.
Evening sky on Saturday July 29 looking west as seen from Adelaide at
18:29 ACST (60 minutes after sunset). Mercury is above the western horizon above Regulus.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious well over 60 minutes after sunset. Mercury is climbing away from the bright star Regulus but the pair are still obviously close together.
Evening sky on Saturday July 29 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide at
18:59 ACST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is above the
horizon between the bright star Spica and the relatively bright star
Porrima. The waxing Moon forms a triangle with Spica and Jupiter. The inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter on Saturday July 22 at
18:55 ACST .
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now almost between Porrima and Spica. The waxing Moon forms a triangle with Spica and Jupiter on the 29th.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Evening sky on Thursday August 3 looking north as seen from Adelaide at
20:50 ACST, when Saturn is at its highest. Saturn is almost overhead
high
above the northern horizon. The Moon is just below Saturn.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Morning sky on Saturday July 29 looking east as seen from Adelaide at
6:19 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling below the
bright star Aldebaran and forms a triangle with Aldebaran and Betelguese. The inset shows the
telescopic view of Venus at this time.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". At the start of the Week Venus is below the head of Taurus the Bull and the bright star Aldebaran. by mid-week it forms the tip of the second horn of the Bull, and forms a triangle with Aldebaran and Beteguese.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Evening sky looking east from Adelaide at 2 am local time on July 30th in South
Australia. The cross marks the radiant (the point where the meteors
appear to originate from) of the Southern Delta Aquariids. Similar views
will
be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).
The Southern Delta-Aquarids meteor shower runs from from 12 July to 23rd August, peaking on Sunday July the 30th. The number of meteors you will see depends on how high the radiant is above the horizon, and how dark your sky is. This shower is fairly faint, with the highest rate of around a meteor every 4 minutes.
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.
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/
The First Quarter Moon is Monday, July 31. The Moon is at apogee, furthest from the earth, on August 3rd.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious well over 60 minutes after sunset. Mercury is climbing away from the bright star Regulus but the pair are still obviously close together.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now almost between Porrima and Spica. The waxing Moon forms a triangle with Spica and Jupiter on the 29th.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 27 Jul 18:42 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 27 Jul 21:53 Eur: Reappears from Eclipse Sat 29 Jul 20:21 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 31 Jul 17:51 Gan: Transit Ends Mon 31 Jul 20:16 Gan: Shadow Transit Begins S Mon 31 Jul 22:00 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 31 Jul 22:24 Gan: Shadow Transit Ends
Tue 1 Aug 17:51 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Tue 1 Aug 20:46 Io : Transit Begins T Tue 1 Aug 21:57 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST Tue 1 Aug 22:58 Io : Transit Ends S Wed 2 Aug 18:05 Io : Disappears into Occultation Wed 2 Aug 21:27 Io : Reappears from Eclipse Thu 3 Aug 18:36 Io : Shadow Transit Ends Thu 3 Aug 19:31 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 3 Aug 19:45 Eur: Disappears into Occultation
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". At the start of the Week Venus is below the head of Taurus the Bull and the bright star Aldebaran. by mid-week it forms the tip of the second horn of the Bull, and forms a triangle with Aldebaran and Beteguese.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
Evening sky looking east from Adelaide at 2 am local time on July 30th in South
Australia. The cross marks the radiant (the point where the meteors
appear to originate from) of the Southern Delta Aquariids. Similar views
will
be seen elsewhere at the equivalent local time (click to embiggen).The Southern Delta-Aquarids meteor shower runs from from 12 July to 23rd August, peaking on Sunday July the 30th. The number of meteors you will see depends on how high the radiant is above the horizon, and how dark your sky is. This shower is fairly faint, with the highest rate of around a meteor every 4 minutes.
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.
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
Tuesday, July 18, 2017
The Sky This Week - Thursday July 20 to Thursday July 27
The New Moon is Sunday, July 23. Mercury rendezvous with Regulus and the thin crescent Moon on the 25th. Jupiter and the
bright star Spica are nearby in the evening sky.
Saturn is visible all night in the
heart of the Milky Way. Venus
dominates the morning sky below the head of Taurus the
Bull. The crescent Moon is below Venus on the
21st.
The New Moon is Sunday, July 23. The Moon is at Perigee, closest to the earth, on the 22nd.
Evening sky on Tuesday July 25 looking west as seen from Adelaide at
18:25 ACST (60 minutes after sunset). Mercury is above the western horizon near Regulus and the thin crescent Moon.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious at least 60 minutes after sunset. Mercury is climbing towards the bright star Regulus. On the 25th and 26th Mercury and Regulus will be less than a finger-width apart, on the 25t they are joined by the thin crescent Moon.
Evening sky on Saturday July 22 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide at
18:55 ACST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is above the
horizon between the bright star Spica and the relatively bright star
Porrima. The inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter on Saturday July 22 at
18:55 ACST .
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Porrima than Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Evening sky on Saturday July 15 looking north as seen from Adelaide at
21:40 ACST, when Saturn is at its highest. Saturn is almost overhead
high
above the northern horizon.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Morning sky on Friday July 21 looking east as seen from Adelaide at
6:19 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling below the
bright star Aldebaran and above the crescent Moon. The inset shows the
telescopic view of Venus at this time.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". At the start of the Week Venus is below the head of Tarus the Bull and the bright star Aldebaran. The Crescent Moon is below Venus on the 21st forming a line with Aldebaran .
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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.
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/
The New Moon is Sunday, July 23. The Moon is at Perigee, closest to the earth, on the 22nd.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious at least 60 minutes after sunset. Mercury is climbing towards the bright star Regulus. On the 25th and 26th Mercury and Regulus will be less than a finger-width apart, on the 25t they are joined by the thin crescent Moon.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Porrima than Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just before midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 20 Jul 17:53 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 20 Jul 19:19 Eur: Reappears from Eclipse Thu 20 Jul 21:17 Gan: Disappears into Occultation Tue 20 Jun 22:57 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Fri 21 Jul 23:40 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Sat 22 Jul 19:32 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 24 Jul 18:26 Gan: Shadow Transit Ends Mon 24 Jul 21:11 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 24 Jul 21:37 Io : Disappears into Occultation Tue 25 Jul 18:49 Io : Transit Begins T Tue 25 Jul 20:02 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST Tue 25 Jul 21:01 Io : Transit Ends S Tue 25 Jul 22:13 Io : Shadow Transit Ends Tue 25 Jul 22:39 Eur: Transit Begins T Wed 26 Jul 19:32 Io : Reappears from Eclipse Wed 26 Jul 22:50 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 27 Jul 18:42 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 27 Jul 21:53 Eur: Reappears from Eclipse
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus is lowering in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". At the start of the Week Venus is below the head of Tarus the Bull and the bright star Aldebaran. The Crescent Moon is below Venus on the 21st forming a line with Aldebaran .
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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.
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
Sunday, July 16, 2017
Geomagnetic warning and Aurora Watch (16-17 July)
The Australian Space Weather Service (SWS) has now issued a Geomagnetic Alert an Aurora Watch for possible aurora for 16-17 July (UT)
due to an impact from a coronal Mass Ejection. This is expected to arrive late
in the UT day on the 16th (which is the morning of the 17th Australian time).
The Space Weather Prediction Service has predicted a G1-G2 storm on July 16 UT (with most of the action on the morning f the 17th, probably extending into the evening of the 18th AEST if we are lucky). If these geomagnetic events occur and result in aurora they could be seen from Tasmania and Southern Victoria, weather permitting. The Moon is waning, and present in the early morning so will only modestly interfere with morning aurora. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall of the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, beams have been reported consistently over the last few aurora, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is expected to be operational by the end of July 2017 .
SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/34
ISSUED AT 0010UT/15 JULY 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
Geomagnetic conditions may rise to minor storm levels late on
16 Jul. Geomagnetic activity is expected to remain enhanced to
active to minor storm levels with the possibility of major storm
periods on 17 Jul due to CME effects.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL MASS EJECTION
FROM 16-17 JULY 2017
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
16 Jul: Active to Minor Storm
17 Jul: Active to Minor Storm, some major storm periods possible.
_____________________________________________________________
SUBJ: SWS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0230 UT ON 15 Jul 2017 by Space Weather Services
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A Coronal Mass Ejection(CME) is anticipated to impact the Earth late
in the UT day of 16 July (Monday morning AEST). Aurora sightings
possible for Southernmost Australian regions should the CME arrive
earlier than anticipated. Aurora alerts will follow if significant
geomagnetic activity actually occurs.
The Space Weather Prediction Service has predicted a G1-G2 storm on July 16 UT (with most of the action on the morning f the 17th, probably extending into the evening of the 18th AEST if we are lucky). If these geomagnetic events occur and result in aurora they could be seen from Tasmania and Southern Victoria, weather permitting. The Moon is waning, and present in the early morning so will only modestly interfere with morning aurora. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall of the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, beams have been reported consistently over the last few aurora, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is expected to be operational by the end of July 2017 .
SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/34
ISSUED AT 0010UT/15 JULY 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
Geomagnetic conditions may rise to minor storm levels late on
16 Jul. Geomagnetic activity is expected to remain enhanced to
active to minor storm levels with the possibility of major storm
periods on 17 Jul due to CME effects.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL MASS EJECTION
FROM 16-17 JULY 2017
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
16 Jul: Active to Minor Storm
17 Jul: Active to Minor Storm, some major storm periods possible.
_____________________________________________________________
SUBJ: SWS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0230 UT ON 15 Jul 2017 by Space Weather Services
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
A Coronal Mass Ejection(CME) is anticipated to impact the Earth late
in the UT day of 16 July (Monday morning AEST). Aurora sightings
possible for Southernmost Australian regions should the CME arrive
earlier than anticipated. Aurora alerts will follow if significant
geomagnetic activity actually occurs.
Labels: aurora
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Yet Another good Week for ISS passes, (12 July - 20 July)
 |  |  |
| The ISS passes below Jupiter, as seen from Melbourne on the evening of Monday 17 July at 19:05 AEST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes below Saturn, as seen from Adelaide on the evening of Monday 17 July at 18:35 ACST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. | The ISS passes below Saturn, as seen from Perth on the evening of Monday 17 July at 18:36 AWST. Simulated in Stellarium (the ISS will actually be a bright dot), click to embiggen. |
 |  |  |
| All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Monday 17 July for Melbourne. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Monday 17 Julyy for Adelaide. | All sky chart showing local times from Heavens Above for Monday 17 July for Perth. |
Starting tonight there are a series of bright evening passes of the International Space Station lasting around eight days. Some are low to the horizon, some rapidly enter earth's shadow, but for many places in Australia this series has the ISS gliding either close to Jupiter, Saturn or a series of bright stars (except Darwin, which only gets three bright evening passes). For some passes there are also bright iridium flares close by (eg July 19 from Adelaide,check the prediction sites for details).
The ISS passes extremely close to the bright stars Canopus and Arcturus during some of these passes (check your local predictions)
Most of the major cites see the ISS pass close to either Saturn of Jupiter at the following days and times:
Adelaide 17th July 18:34 ACST (Saturn) 18:32 Canopus, 19th July Jupiter (18:26) Arcturus (18:27)
Brisbane 18th July 18:16 AEST (Saturn) 18:12 Canopus, 20th July Jupiter (18:07) Arcturus (18:08)
Sydney 16th July 18:22 AEST (Saturn) 18:19 Canopus, 18th July Jupiter (18:14) Arcturus (-)
Melbourne 16th July 18:21 AEST (Saturn) 18:18 Canopus, 17th July Jupiter (19:05) Arcturus (19:06)
Perth 17th July 18:36 AWST (Saturn) 18:30 Canopus, 19th July Jupiter (18:29) Arcturus (18:36)
Hobart 17th July 17:25 AEST (Saturn) 18:23 Canopus, 18th July Jupiter (18:12) Arcturus (18:13)
Most of the major cites see the ISS pass close to either Saturn of Jupiter at the following days and times:
Adelaide 17th July 18:34 ACST (Saturn) 18:32 Canopus, 19th July Jupiter (18:26) Arcturus (18:27)
Brisbane 18th July 18:16 AEST (Saturn) 18:12 Canopus, 20th July Jupiter (18:07) Arcturus (18:08)
Sydney 16th July 18:22 AEST (Saturn) 18:19 Canopus, 18th July Jupiter (18:14) Arcturus (-)
Melbourne 16th July 18:21 AEST (Saturn) 18:18 Canopus, 17th July Jupiter (19:05) Arcturus (19:06)
Perth 17th July 18:36 AWST (Saturn) 18:30 Canopus, 19th July Jupiter (18:29) Arcturus (18:36)
Hobart 17th July 17:25 AEST (Saturn) 18:23 Canopus, 18th July Jupiter (18:12) Arcturus (18:13)
When and what you will see is VERY location dependent, so you need to use either Heavens Above or CalSky
to get site specific predictions for your location, a small
difference in location can mean the difference between the ISS passing
over a star or missing it completely.
Start looking several minutes before the pass is going to start to get yourself oriented and your eyes dark adapted. Be patient, there may be slight differences in the time of the ISS appearing due to orbit changes not picked up by the predictions. Use the most recent prediction for your site.
Start looking several minutes before the pass is going to start to get yourself oriented and your eyes dark adapted. Be patient, there may be slight differences in the time of the ISS appearing due to orbit changes not picked up by the predictions. Use the most recent prediction for your site.
Labels: ISS, Jupiter, Satellite, Saturn, unaided eye
The Sky This Week - Thursday July 13 to Thursday July 20
The Last Quarter Moon is Monday, July 17. Mercury climbs higher in the evening sky. Jupiter and the
bright star Spica are nearby in the evening sky.
Saturn is visible all night in the
heart of the Milky Way. Venus
dominates the morning sky between the Pleiades and the Hyades clusters
and continues
towards the bright star Aldebaran, forming a second "eye" for Taurus the Bull on the 13th. The crescent Moon is in the Hyades above Venus on the 20th. The ISS returns to evening skies.
The Last Quarter Moon is Monday, July 17.
Evening sky on Saturday July 15 looking west as seen from Adelaide at
18:22 ACST (60 minutes after sunset). Mercury is above the western horizon climbing towards Regulus.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious at lest 60 minutes after sunset.
Evening sky on Saturday July 15 looking north-west as seen from Adelaide at
18:52 ACST (90 minutes after sunset). Jupiter is above the
horizon between the bright star Spica and the relatively bright star
Porrima. The inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter on
Sunday July 16 at 22:23 ACST as Io and its shadow transits Jupiter.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Porrima than Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just after midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Evening sky on Saturday July 15 looking north as seen from Adelaide at 22:00 ACST, when Saturn is at its highest. Saturn is almost overhead high
above the northern horizon.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Morning sky on Thursday July 20 looking east as seen from Adelaide at
6:22 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling below the bright star Aldebaran and the crescent Moon. The inset shows the
telescopic view of Venus at this time.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus climbs higher in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". at the start of the Week Venus Forms a second eye for Tarus the Bull with the bright star Aldebaran. It then moves below Hildebrand. The Crescent Moon is near Aldebaran and above Venus on the 20th.
The evening sky facing East at 18:35 pm ACST on Monday 17 June as seen from Adelaide. Adelaide
gets to see the ISS pass next to Saturn. This week sees a series of
bright International space station passes in the evening visible from
most parts of Australia. More details here. When and what you will see is VERY location dependent, so you need to use either Heavens Above or CalSky
to get site specific predictions for your location.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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.
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/
The Last Quarter Moon is Monday, July 17.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious at lest 60 minutes after sunset.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset). (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern-western horizon in the early evening at full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Porrima than Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until just after midnight. Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 13 Jul 19:46 Gan: Reappears from Occultation Thu 13 Jul 22:31 Gan: Disappears into Eclipse Fri 14 Jul 22:52 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Sat 15 Jul 18:43 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Sun 16 Jul 22:23 Io : Transit Begins T Sun 16 Jul 23:39 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST Mon 17 Jul 19:40 Io : Disappears into Occultation Mon 17 Jul 20:22 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 17 Jul 23:08 Io : Reappears from Eclipse Tue 18 Jul 18:07 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST Tue 18 Jul 19:05 Io : Transit Ends S Tue 18 Jul 19:58 Eur: Transit Begins ST Tue 18 Jul 20:18 Io : Shadow Transit Ends T Tue 18 Jul 22:29 Eur: Transit Ends Tue 18 Jul 22:35 Eur: Shadow Transit Begins S Wed 19 Jul 17:37 Io : Reappears from Eclipse Wed 19 Jul 22:01 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 20 Jul 17:53 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 20 Jul 19:19 Eur: Reappears from Eclipse Thu 20 Jul 21:17 Gan: Disappears into Occultation
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern to northern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus climbs higher in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "Gibbous Moon". at the start of the Week Venus Forms a second eye for Tarus the Bull with the bright star Aldebaran. It then moves below Hildebrand. The Crescent Moon is near Aldebaran and above Venus on the 20th.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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.
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
Friday, July 07, 2017
Geomagnetic warning and Aurora Watch (8-9 July)
The Australian Space Weather Service (SWS) has now issued a Geomagnetic Alert an Aurora Watch for possible aurora for 8-9 July (UT) due
to solar wind from a coronal hole. This is expected to arrive late in the UT
day on the 8th (which is the morning of the 9th Australian time). The Space Weather Prediction Service has Predicted a G1 storm on July 9 UT. If these
geomagnetic events occur and result in aurora they could be seen from Tasmania
and Southern Victoria, weather permitting.
However, the Moon is nearly full, so will significantly interfere. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall of the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, beams have been reported consistently over the last few aurora, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is expected to be operational by the end of July 2017 .
SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/33
ISSUED AT 0057UT/07 JULY 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
Expect an increase in geomagnetic activity late on UT day, 08
July due to influence of geoeffective coronal hole.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 08-09 JULY 2017
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
08 Jul: Quiet to Active isolated cases of Minor Storm levels at higher
latitudes
09 Jul: Unsettled
_____________________________________________________________
SUBJ: SWS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0130 UT ON 07 Jul 2017 by Space Weather Services
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
Effects of a coronal hole are expected to impact the Earth within the
next 48 hours, possibly resulting in geomagnetic activity and visible
auroras during local nighttime hours at Tasmania latitudes. Aurora
alerts will follow if significant geomagnetic activity actually
occurs.
However, the Moon is nearly full, so will significantly interfere. Be patient, as the activity may rise and fall of the magnetic polarity of the wind may fluctuate significantly.
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, beams have been reported consistently over the last few aurora, as well as bright proton arcs and "picket fences".
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
A new aurora camera is being installed at Campania, Tasmania. A live feed of the images from this camera is expected to be operational by the end of July 2017 .
SUBJ: SWS GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCE WARNING 17/33
ISSUED AT 0057UT/07 JULY 2017
BY THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE.
Expect an increase in geomagnetic activity late on UT day, 08
July due to influence of geoeffective coronal hole.
INCREASED GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY EXPECTED
DUE TO CORONAL HOLE HIGH SPEED WIND STREAM
FROM 08-09 JULY 2017
_____________________________________________________________
GEOMAGNETIC ACTIVITY FORECAST
08 Jul: Quiet to Active isolated cases of Minor Storm levels at higher
latitudes
09 Jul: Unsettled
_____________________________________________________________
SUBJ: SWS AURORA WATCH
ISSUED AT 0130 UT ON 07 Jul 2017 by Space Weather Services
FROM THE AUSTRALIAN SPACE FORECAST CENTRE
Effects of a coronal hole are expected to impact the Earth within the
next 48 hours, possibly resulting in geomagnetic activity and visible
auroras during local nighttime hours at Tasmania latitudes. Aurora
alerts will follow if significant geomagnetic activity actually
occurs.
Labels: aurora
Tuesday, July 04, 2017
The Sky This Week - Thursday July 6 to Thursday July 13
The Full Moon is Sunday, July 9. Mars is lost in the
twilight. Mercury climbs higher in the evening sky. Jupiter and the bright star Spica are nearby in the evening sky.
Saturn is visible all night in the
heart of the Milky Way. The Moon is close to Saturn on the 7th. Venus dominates the morning sky between the Pleiades and the Hyades clusters and continues
towards the bright star Aldebaran.
The Full Moon is Sunday, July 9.
Evening sky on Saturday July 8 looking west as seen from Adelaide at
18:00 ACST (45 minutes after sunset). Mercury is low above the western horizon.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious at last 45 minutes after sunset if you have a reasonably level unobstructed horizon.
Evening sky on Saturday July 8 looking north as seen from Adelaide at
18:05 ACST (when Jupiter is highest in the sky). Jupiter is above the
horizon between the bright star Spica and the relatively bright star
Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Porrima than Spica. The inset shows the telescopic view of Jupiter on
Sunday July 9 at 21:42 ACST as Io and its shadow transits Jupiter and europa is just about to be occulted..
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern horizon in the early evening ju before full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Porrima than Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until jussssst . Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Evening sky on Friday July 7 looking east as seen from Adelaide at
18:44 ACST, an hour and a half after sunset. Saturn is reasonably high
above the horizon and the waxing Moon is just below Saturn.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, an hour and a half after sunset. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view. On the 7th the waxing Moon is just below Saturn.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Morning sky on Saturday July 8 looking east as seen from Adelaide at 6:24 ACST (60 minutes before sunrise). Venus is dazzling and moves
towards the bright star Aldebaran during the week, Passing between the Pleiads and Hyades clusters. The inset shows the
telescopic view of Venus at this time.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus climbs higher in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "half-Moon". During the Week Venus moves towards the bright star Aldebaran passing between the Pleiades and Hyades clusters.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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.
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/
The Full Moon is Sunday, July 9.
Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight sky. It is now readily visible above the western horizon half an hour after sunset, and is obvious at last 45 minutes after sunset if you have a reasonably level unobstructed horizon.
Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).
Jupiter is rising before sunset and is now high above the northern horizon in the early evening ju before full dark. It is in between the bright star Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, and the relatively bright star Porrima. Jupiter is now closer to Porrima than Spica.
Opposition, when Jupiter is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, was on April the 8th. Jupiter is rising before the sun sets and is visible until jussssst . Jupiter is a good telescopic target from astronomical twilight on, and the dance of its Moons is visible even in binoculars. The following Jupiter events are in AEST.
Thu 6 Jul 18:31 Gan: Disappears into Eclipse Thu 6 Jul 20:43 Gan: Reappears from Eclipse Fri 7 Jul 22:03 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Sat 8 Jul 17:55 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Sat 8 Jul 23:15 Io : Disappears into Occultation Sun 9 Jul 20:28 Io : Transit Begins T Sun 9 Jul 21:44 Io : Shadow Transit Begins ST Sun 9 Jul 22:31 Eur: Disappears into Occultation ST Sun 9 Jul 22:40 Io : Transit Ends S Sun 9 Jul 23:42 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Sun 9 Jul 23:55 Io : Shadow Transit Ends Mon 10 Jul 17:44 Io : Disappears into Occultation Mon 10 Jul 19:34 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Mon 10 Jul 21:13 Io : Reappears from Eclipse Tue 11 Jul 18:23 Io : Shadow Transit Ends T Tue 11 Jul 19:49 Eur: Transit Ends Tue 11 Jul 19:57 Eur: Shadow Transit Begins S Tue 11 Jul 22:21 Eur: Shadow Transit Ends Wed 12 Jul 21:13 GRS: Crosses Central Meridian Thu 13 Jul 19:46 Gan: Reappears from Occultation Thu 13 Jul 22:31 Gan: Disappears into Eclipse
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time, an hour and a half after sunset. (click to embiggen).
Saturn was at opposition on the 15th, when it was biggest and brightest in the sky as seen from earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is a good telescopic target from 9 pm on. It is poised above the dark rifts in the Milky Way and is in a good area for binocular hunting. It continues to climb into the evening skies as the week progresses. Saturn's rings are visible even in small telescopes and are always good to view. On the 7th the waxing Moon is just below Saturn.
The constellation of Scorpio is a good guide to locating Saturn. The distinctive curl of Scorpio is easy to see above the north-eastern horizon, locate the bright red star, Antares, and the look below that towards the horizon, the next bright object is Saturn.
Similar views will be seen throughout Australia at the equivalent local time (that is 60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).
Venus climbs higher in the morning sky and is visible in telescopes as a "half-Moon". During the Week Venus moves towards the bright star Aldebaran passing between the Pleiades and Hyades clusters.
Mars is lost in the twilight.
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.
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
Saturday, July 01, 2017
The ISS pass on June 30, 2017
 |  |
| The ISS passing just above Canopus on 30 June, 2017. The ISS was around magnitude -2.4. Stack of 9 images in Deep Sky Stacker (one frames was dropped buring stacking, 5 second exposures 400 ASA with an ageing Canon IXUS) | Animation of all 10 images |
I missed the more spectacular June 29 pass due to clouds and rain. Still a very nice pass through a nice piece of sky. It looks clear for tonight, which will be a bright Pass just below the Southern Cross, and hopefully Monday, where the ISS will almost pas on top of Sirius then just below Canopus.
Labels: astrophotography, ISS, Satellite
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