The
Sky this Quarter
Summer 2010
Venus
The "the evening star". Venus is easily found looking W-NW
about an hour after sunset from May to September. The planet reaches
half-phase at the end of August, there after its phase becomes a crescent.
The crescent is a wonderful sight in any telescope. Binoculars will
also resolve the crescent under good conditions.
Mars
(Opposition was on Jan 29th)
Now well past opposition and may be seen low in the West just after
sunset.
Jupiter
Jupiter
rises at 2.30am BST (0130 UT) at the start of June. The planet is
in Pisces and will become more easily located in August when it will
have gained some altitude. Recent observations indicate that Jupiter
has lost its South Equatorial belt due to a major fade, so the view
will be somewhat unusual !
Saturn
In Virgo and located in the SW during the evenings, the rings are
nearly edge on, and in a small telescope might not be seen. The News
letter editor would be delighted to receive accounts of the visibility
(or not) of Saturn's rings in your telescope.
Saturn sets at 0030 BST on June 1st and 22.30 on August 1st.
Pluto
Is at
opposition in Sagittarius (June-July) moving through a dense area
of Milky Way. It is at magnitude 14. Another Dwarf Planet - Ceres
- is 10 degrees to the SW of Pluto. Ceres is magnitude 7.1 when at
its brightest.
Planetary
alignments
Venus, Mars and Saturn will form a grouping from August 1st to 7th,
5-8 degrees above the Western Horizon 1 hr after sunset. Watch the
alignment change from day to day.
Meteor
Showers
The maximum night for the Perseids (August 12/13) is Moon-free, so
a good display may be expected in a dark sky. Predicted maximum is
at 22 Hrs BST on the 12th.
Comets
Comet 103P Hartley could become an easy binocular target in September
when it will be high up in the sky passing though Pegasus, Andromeda
and Cassiopeia. It might become a naked eye object in October.
Currently there is a 10th magnitude comet close to the Pole star. Search for McNaught (2009 K5) and you will find more info such as:
Updated June 2nd, 2010
