#Astronomy Pictures: Sky & Telescope's Online Gallery

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Night sky highlights for October 2024

Check out the night sky this month, October 2024. Here are videos highlighting the top sights to observe. ** What's Up: October 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA - NASA JPL What are some skywatching highlights in October 2024? A potentially bright comet (C/2023 A3) to look for after mid-month, good opportunities to spy the ocean world NASA's launching to, and the monthly dance of four planets with the Moon. 0:00 Intro 0:21 October planet visibility 0:59 Viewing Europa 2:10 Moon & planet pairings 2:38 Comet C/2023 A3 3:58 September photo highlights 4:12 October Moon phases Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatch.... https://youtu.be/Nkj_ZrZsQC0 ** Tonight's Sky: October 2024 - Space Telescope Science Institute - Tonight's Sky Crisp, clear October nights are full of celestial showpieces. Find Pegasus, the flying horse of Greek myth, to pinpoint dense globular star clusters and galaxies, and keep watching for space-based views of M15, NGC 7331, and the Andromeda Galaxy. About this Series ... “Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. This is a recurring show, and you can find more episodes—and other astronomy videos—at https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/tonights-sky. https://youtu.be/46tzuCrOXgE ** Comet C/2023 A3 and other October 2024 stargazing highlights - BBC Sky at Night Magazine What's in the night sky this month? Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the sky in October 2024, including Comet A3, Saturn and Jupiter moon events, meteor showers and the deep sky. 00:00 Intro 00:14 Inner planets 03:45 Outer planets 10:42 Thin crescent Moon 12:37 Saturn and moon events 13:54 Southern Taurid meteor shower 14:48 Saturn and moons Titan and Dione 15:34 Perigee full Moon 16:48 moon and Pleiades 17:10 Orionid meteor shower 17:27 Ganymede shadow transit of Jupiter 19:00 Comet C/2023 A3 22:58 Stars, constellations and deep sky https://youtu.be/neOG6lKGRxA ** Sky & Telescope's Sky Tour Podcast - October 2024 | A Comet, Andromeda, and Pegasus - Sky & Telescope Youtube Our monthly Sky Tour #astronomy #podcast provides an informative and entertaining 10-minute guided tour of the #nighttime #sky. Join us for the October 2024 episode and ponder the #Moon’s whereabouts; spot a fast-moving #comet, learn what #andromeda and #pegasus have in common, circle around the pole star #Polaris, and watch for meteors shed by #halleyscomet. Listen and subscribe to this podcast at https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/ and don't forget to subscribe to S&T's YouTube channel to get alerts about new videos, including this monthly podcast https://youtu.be/QYgRmEKOVXk See also - Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast: Upcoming Celestial Events | Sky & Telescope - Interactive Sky Chart | Map Your Night Sky - Sky & Telescope - Astronomy Pictures: Sky & Telescope's Online Gallery Archives | Sky & Telescope ** What's in the Night Sky: October 2024 - National Space Centre What's in the Night Sky: October 2024 Sea of Serenity Mars ☄️ Possible Naked Eye Comet ✨ Constellation of the Month: Orion https://youtu.be/hZSqABJaNeA ** What's in the Sky this Month | October 2024 - High Point Scientific on Youtube In this episode of What's in the Sky this Month, Teagan reviews some of the beautiful celestial objects you can see in October 2024! Read the full October 2024 Newsletter: https://www.highpointscientific.com/a... https://youtu.be/T3KLwQVDCco ** Night Sky Notebook October 2024 - Peter Detterline https://youtu.be/BUqKK4wkuPs ** See also: - October Night Sky Guide (October 2024) - Farmers' Almanac - October 2024 Bright Planets and an Annular Eclipse | Almanac.com - What to See in the Night Sky in October 2024 | Astro-Observer - October 2024: What's in the sky this month? | Astronomy.com - October’s Night Sky: Meteors, A Bright Comet And A Huge ‘Supermoon’ | Forbes - Astronomical Events October 2024: Planets, Bright Stars, Comet | Lunar Events October 2024 | Star Walk === Amazon Ads === Celestron 70mm Travel Scope Portable Refractor Telescope Fully-Coated Glass Optics Ideal Telescope for Beginners BONUS Astronomy Software Package == Stellaris: People of the Stars Read the full article

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Top Image: Flaming Star Nebula, IC405;  Constellation Auriga;  Picture from Sky and Telescope;  Photographer Donald Waid, Denton, Texas, 2015;  Two panel mosaic of IC405 (The Flaming Star Nebula) in Auriga.  Hubble palette.  Total exposure: 29 hours.  (https://www.skyandtelescope.com/online-gallery/ic405-the-flaming-star-nebula/)

Image 2:  Flaming Star Nebula, IC405;  Photographer Dave Jurasevich, 2004, Eastern Riverside County, CA;  (http://www.starimager.com/Image%20Gallery%20Pages/Hydrogen%20Alpha%20Images/ic%20405.htm)

Image 3:  Flaming Star Nebula, IC405;  The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405, SH 2-229, or Caldwell 31) is an emission/reflection nebula about 1,500 light-years away in the constellation Auriga. The nebula is about 5 light-years across and surrounds the young irregular variable star AE Aurigae, a runaway star that is believed to have been ejected from the Orion Nebula some 2.7 million years ago.  (Anne’s Astronomy News Website:  http://annesastronomynews.com/photo-gallery-ii/nebulae-clouds/the-flaming-star-nebula-ic405/)

Image 4:  Flaming Star Nebula, IC405;  From the Meadowlark Ridge Observatory, Bruce Bartle, Sept. 2014;  The Flaming Star Nebula is both a reflection and emission nebula. The reflection part (blue in this image) surrounds the hot blue star AE Aurigae - or "Flaming Star". This beautiful area of   nebulosity is located in the northern constellation of Auriga. Its distance from earth is estimated to be around 1500 light years. (https://www.meadowlarkridgeobservatory.com/hidden-pages/flaming-star-nebula-hubble-palette/)

[astrogeoguy]

The Hot Little Planet Peaks in Visibility, and the New Moon mounts a Messier Marathon!

(Above: The Messier Marathon is a bucket-list observing challenge for amateur astronomers. On the weekend of March 17, 2018, it’s possible for observers in mid-northern latitudes to see all 110 objects in Charles Messier’s list of celestial showpieces. The first two objects to observe, the galaxies Messier 74, shown here, and 77, set soon after dusk.)

Astronomy Skylights for this week (from March 11th, 2018) by Chris Vaughan. (Feel free to pass this along to friends and send me your comments, questions, and suggested topics.) I post these with photos at http://astrogeoguy.tumblr.com/ where the old editions are archived. You can also follow me on Twitter as @astrogeoguy! Unless otherwise noted, all times are Eastern Time. Please click this MailChimp link to subscribe to these emails. If you are a teacher or group leader interested joining me on a guided field trip to York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory, or another in your area, visit www.astrogeo.ca. 

If you’d like me to bring my inflatable digital planetarium to your school or other daytime or evening event, visit DiscoveryPlantarium.com and request me. We’ll tour the Universe together! 

(Above: My portable digital Starlab Planetarium in action.)

Public Events

Taking advantage of dark moonless evening skies this week, the members of the RASC Toronto Centre will gather for dark sky stargazing at Long Sault Conservation Area, northeast of Oshawa on (only) the first clear evening from Monday to Thursday this week. You don’t need to be an RASC member, or own any equipment, to join them. Check here for details and watch the banner on their homepage or their Facebook page for the GO or NO-GO decision around 5 pm each day. 

On Monday evenings, York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory runs an online star party - broadcasting views from four telescopes/cameras, answering viewer questions, and taking requests! Details are here. On Wednesday evenings after dark, they offer free public viewing through their telescopes. If it’s cloudy, the astronomers give tours and presentations. Details are here. 

A Spectrum of Stars

If you missed last week’s guide to seeing the colours of bright winter stars, it’s here.

Zodiacal light

For about half an hour after dusk during the period between now and the new moon on March 17, look west-southwest for a broad wedge of faint light rising from the horizon and centered on the ecliptic. This is the zodiacal light - reflected sunlight from interplanetary dust particles that orbit in the plane of the solar system. Try to observe it from a location without light pollution, and don't confuse the zodiacal light with the brighter Milky Way to the northwest. I posted a beautiful picture here. 

The Moon and Planets

Between today (Sunday) and Friday, the old crescent moon will appear low in the southeastern pre-dawn sky - growing slimmer and also moving from a fully dark sky into the pre-sunrise twilight. The shallow tilt of the morning ecliptic will cause the moon to rise at roughly the same time for several mornings in a row – just as the Harvest Moon does during autumn evenings. The moon reaches its new phase on Saturday morning, giving the coming weekend dark skies that are ideal for seeing the best deep sky objects. (More on that later.) Your first chance to spot the freshly minted young moon occurs Sunday evening after sunset, when its very slim crescent will linger briefly over the western horizon. 

(Above: For the past week, the evening sky has featured the inner planets bright Venus and dim Mercury. On Thursday evening, shown at  8:20 pm local time, Mercury reaches its widest point east of the sun and peak visibility.)

Extremely bright Venus continues its escape from the western evening twilight this week. You can look for its bright bauble well above the western horizon after sunset, until it sets at about 8:30 pm local time. Much dimmer Mercury is easy to see this week. It will sit about four finger widths to the upper right of Venus. On Thursday evening, Mercury will reach greatest eastern elongation, its widest separation east of the sun. Viewed in a telescope the hot little planet will exhibit a waning half-illuminated phase, while Venus will be nearly fully illuminated. The best viewing time for Mercury falls between 7:45 and 8:45 pm local time. 

Dim and distant Uranus is located about 17° (1.7 outstretched fist diameters) above the two inner planets, in Pisces (the Fishes). But you’ll need the sky to fully darken before you can see it in binoculars or a telescope. 

(Above: The string of pre-dawn planets continue to define the plane of our Solar System along the Ecliptic (green line), with Jupiter rising before midnight, then Mars, and finally Saturn. Shown here for 6:30 am local time, the old crescent moon will join them on Monday morning before continuing its trip sunwards on the following mornings.) 

The pre-dawn planets continue to delight us this week. Extremely bright Jupiter will be rising about 12:15 am local time. It will reach its highest elevation (about three fist diameters) above the southern horizon by 5:30 am local time. And it will continue to catch your eye as you leave for school or work until close to sunrise (about 7:30 am local time). 

Reddish Mars is dimmer than Jupiter, but it is steadily brightening as Earth closes our distance from it. Over the next five months, Mars will outshine everything but the king of planets, the moon, and the bright star Vega. For this week, Mars will rise at about 3:15 am local time and appear a bit more than 3 fist diameters to the east (lower left) of Jupiter. 

The red planet is steadily moving towards yellowish Saturn - with Mars now only about one fist width to Saturn’s upper right. The ringed planet rises just before 4 am local time, putting it two fist diameters above the southeastern horizon just before the dawn sky begins to brighten. The teapot-shaped constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer) will sit directly below Saturn all year. 

Messier Marathon Weekend is Coming!

Charles Messier’s list of the best and brightest showpieces in the night sky is popular with astronomers of all experience levels. During the new moon period in early spring each year, it’s possible for lovers of deep sky objects, who live anywhere on Earth between latitudes 20° south and 55° north, to observe every one of the 110 objects within a single night. For many amateur astronomers, this observing challenge is a bucket list item known as the Messier Marathon. This coming weekend is your chance for 2018! 

(Above: A gallery of all 110 deep-sky objects in the Messier List, starting with Messier 1 at upper left. The collection includes a sampling of nearly every type of deep-sky object, including galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters. Images like these are a helpful preview of what you will see in your telescope. Source SEDS.org)

The Messier list (or catalog) objects are designated by their “M-codes”, M1 through M110 (or Messier 1 through Messier 110). Astronomers commonly refer to the group as the Messiers. Most of these famous objects also have proper names, such as the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51), the Pleiades (M45), and the Beehive Cluster (M11). 

The objects in the list are distributed throughout the night sky visible from mid-northern latitudes. (Messier and his contemporaries observed them from Paris.) None of the objects are found in the area between Pisces and Aquarius, so when the sun moves between those two constellations in late March every year, it allows us to see all of the Messier objects between dusk and dawn. The idea of a running a “Messier Marathon” originated in 1979 with another comet hunter, Californian Don Machholz. 

To see the fainter Messiers, pick a moonless night within a day or two of the new moon, which occurs this Saturday, March 17. A clear sky all night long is a must, so check the forecast and choose the night that offers the best conditions. If more than one night looks promising, make your attempt on the first night, so you have the option for a second try. 

Pick a site free from direct lights and light pollution, with open sightlines to the horizon, especially to the west and the southeast. To improve your site selection, use a star chart, planisphere, or astronomy app to preview where the objects will be, especially the ones that will be observed when they’re near the horizon. A site at higher elevation will also give you more time to observe the low objects. Bring warm clothes, and stock up on snacks and drinks – you’ll be awake all night! 

(Above: Many of the Messier objects, such as Messier 45 (at top center left, also known as the Pleiades), are bright enough to see with binoculars or unaided eyes. Others require a telescope of at least 80 mm aperture. Bright stars can guide you to many objects. For example, Messier 34 is located about midway between the stars Algol and Almach. The sky is shown for the Great Lakes region at 8 p.m. local time and the Messier objects are highlighted.)

Many Messier objects are visible in binoculars – 10x50 models offer a good compromise between weight and performance. The dimmer objects will require a telescope. A 3-inch diameter (80 millimeter) telescope will work under very dark sky conditions, but a larger aperture telescope will make the job easier. Low power, wide field of view eyepieces are recommended. Be sure to set up your telescope, and organize your other equipment, well before sunset. 

To start your marathon, you will need to quickly catch the objects that set in the west after sunset – specifically the dim galaxies M77 and M74. By the time the sky has grown dark enough to see these galaxies, they will be nearing the horizon. It’s a good idea to limit the time spent on the first galaxy so as not to miss the other one. Immediately after viewing those two, you’ll look for M33, the large face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation of Triangulum (the Triangle), and then the Andromeda Galaxy trio of M31, M32, and M110. 

From this point, you will have time to work your way systematically across the sky from west to east. As you do so, more objects will rise in the east. By late evening, you should arrive at the Virgo Cluster of galaxies. When you have viewed the 17 objects there, you can take a break until the next group of Messiers rises into view at around 3 am local time. Here’s a website with a recommended viewing order. The objects aren’t ordered simply by their setting time, because brighter objects can be picked out during twilight, while dimmer objects need more darkness. (Be careful not to confuse the viewing order with the Messier number.) 

(Above: After a long night of Messier hunting, the final object, the globular star cluster Messier 30 (bottom center), will rise shortly before the sun. Ensure your observing location has a low southeastern horizon, and use a sky chart or astronomy app to predict the direction where the object will appear. The sky is shown for the Great Lakes region at 6:45 a.m. local time. Southern USA observers will benefit from having a shorter twilight period.)

The final wave of objects includes M55, M75, M72, M73, and M2, which rise in the pre-dawn. The last Messier is the globular cluster M30, which will rise in the east as dawn starts to break - so it will be a challenge to see this object. Observers in southerly latitudes will have an advantage because the sun rises and sets more vertically, giving them a shorter twilight period. 

Several astronomy organizations will recognize your achievement if you observe all of the Messier objects. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will issue an RASC Messier Certificate to members who complete the list and provide documentation. The society recognizes both the Go-to and manual approaches. The Astronomical League will send a Messier Program Certificate to members-at-large or members of affiliated astronomical societies who provide observational notes for 70 objects found without a Go-to telescope. The organization will send a lapel pin and honorary membership certificate for completing the entire list (over any time frame). Both organizations’ websites have information and observing forms to download and print out. 

Good hunting! If you’d like more details, check out my latest Mobile Astronomy column on Space.com. It’s here.

Keep looking up to enjoy the sky! I love getting questions so, if you have any, send me a note.

[azure-emily]

Comet C/2018 V1 Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto Gif

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Night sky highlights for September 2024

Check out the night sky this month, September 2024. Here are several videos highlighting the top sights to observe. ** What's Up: September 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA - NASA JPL What are some skywatching highlights in September 2024? Five planets each make appearances, the Harvest supermoon shows us a partial eclipse, then slices through the Pleiades. Plus International Observe the Moon Night and solar sail sightings! 0:00 Intro 0:18 Sept. planets visibility 1:06 Moon & planet highlights 2:58 Solar sail visibility 3:38 International Observe the Moon Night 4:34 August photo highlights 4:48 September Moon phases Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatch.... See also What's Up: September 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA| NASA Science https://youtu.be/bLhVllgLZ94 ** Tonight's Sky: September 2024 - Space Telescope Science Institute - Tonight's Sky In September, Pegasus becomes increasingly prominent in the southeastern sky, allowing stargazers to locate globular star clusters and a nearby double star, Alpha Capricorni. Keep watching for space-based views of densely packed, spherical collections of ancient stars in visible and X-ray light About this Series ... “Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. This is a recurring show, and you can find more episodes—and other astronomy videos—at https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/tonights-sky. https://youtu.be/k-qQSeAUfp0 ** What's in the night sky, January 2024 - BBC Sky at Night Magazine Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what's in the night sky this month, including the planets improving, a partial lunar eclipse on 18 September and Saturn and Jupiter moon events. 00:00 Introduction 00:08 Inner planets 02:55 Outer planets 09:28 Saturn Titan event 11:38 Ganymede transits Jupiter 12:46 18 September partial lunar eclipse 14:19 Autumn equinox 14:43 Saturn's moons 18:08 Stars and constellations https://youtu.be/Ch4GPsKV4yc ** Sky & Telescope's Sky Tour Podcast – September 2024 | The Equinox and the Summer Triangle - Sky & Telescope Youtube https://youtu.be/klDHLZGDp30 See also - Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast: Upcoming Celestial Events | Sky & Telescope - Interactive Sky Chart | Map Your Night Sky - Sky & Telescope - Astronomy Pictures: Sky & Telescope's Online Gallery Archives | Sky & Telescope ** What's in the Night Sky: September 2024 - National Space Centre What's in the Night Sky: September 2024 Saturn at Opposition Partial Eclipse of the Moon Andromeda Galaxy ✨ Constellation of the Month: Andromeda https://youtu.be/FXnUIdQm85s ** What's in the Sky this Month | September 2024 - High Point Scientific on Youtube In this episode of What's in the Sky this Month, Teagan reviews some of the beautiful celestial objects you can see in September 2024! Read the full September 2024 Newsletter: https://www.highpointscientific.com/a... Looking to expand your astronomy knowledge even further? The Astronomy Hub is the place to learn everything from what’s in the sky this month, to what gear can help you capture the best celestial images. Learn more here ➡️ https://www.highpointscientific.com/a... ... #highpointscientific #astronomy #september Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 00:37 - Nearest Neighbors 02:02 - Saturn & Neptune at Opposition 03:01 - NGC 7000 04:04 - Messier 39 04:30 - Messier 2 04:59 - Messier 15 05:33 - Conclusion https://youtu.be/i-cGqFx917M ** Night Sky Notebook September 2024- Peter Detterline What's happening in the sky in September 2024. https://youtu.be/5jRmxNMkOHU ** See also: - September’s Night Sky Notes: Marvelous Moons | NASA Science - Catch a Fall Feast of Lunar Occultations in September | Universe Today - Night sky, September 2024: What you can see tonight | Space.com - September Night Sky Guide (September 2024) | Farmers' Almanac - September 2024 Stargazing Guide | Perfect Astronomy - September 2024: What's in the sky this month? Saturn and Neptune reach opposition, with Mercury at its best | Astronomy.com - September 2024 Night Sky Calendar | Voyageurs Conservancy - 15 Must-See Astronomy Events in the September Night Sky (2024) | Space TourismGuide.com - See 6 planets in late August and early September | EarthSky.com === Amazon Ads === Celestron 70mm Travel Scope Portable Refractor Telescope Fully-Coated Glass Optics Ideal Telescope for Beginners BONUS Astronomy Software Package == Stellaris: People of the Stars Read the full article

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Night sky highlights for August 2024

Check out the night sky this month, August 2024. Here are videos highlighting the top sights to observe. ** What's Up: August 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA - NASA JPL What are some skywatching highlights in August 2024? Mars and Jupiter have a super close meetup, the conditions look good for the Perseid meteors, and how to observe a stellar nursery – the Lagoon Nebula. 0:00 Intro 0:14 Moon & planet highlights 1:14 Perseid meteor shower peaks 1:51 Observing the Lagoon Nebula (M8) 3:59 August Moon phases Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatch.... https://youtu.be/2SLRWhzsLyc ** Tonight's Sky: August 2024 - Space Telescope Science Institute - Tonight's Sky In August, a flock of star-studded figures soars overhead. Look for the Vega and Lyra constellations, which point to Epsilon Lyrae and the Ring Nebula. You can also spot three bright summer stars: Vega, Deneb, and Altair, which form the Summer Triangle. Keep watching for space-based views of these and other stars and nebulas. About this Series ... “Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. This is a recurring show, and you can find more episodes—and other astronomy videos—at https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/tonights-sky. https://youtu.be/SLlvXIAHj7U ** What to see in the night sky: August 2024 - BBC Sky at Night Magazine What's in the night sky tonight? Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel discuss August 2024's astronomy and stargazing highlights, including a lunar occultation of Saturn, the Perseid meteor shower and the glorious sights of the Summer Milky Way. 00:00 Intro 00:15 Inner planets 03:22 Outer planets 09:37 Jupiter and Saturn moon events 11:22 Perseid meteor shower 12:22 Saturn moon events 13:43 Moon conjunctions 14:24 Jupiter occults a star 15:33 Moon near the Beehive 15:45 Summer Milky Way sights https://youtu.be/HzWhWIzfDSE ** Sky & Telescope's Sky Tour Podcast - August 2024 - Sky & Telescope Youtube See also - Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast: Upcoming Celestial Events | Sky & Telescope - Interactive Sky Chart | Map Your Night Sky - Sky & Telescope - Astronomy Pictures: Sky & Telescope's Online Gallery Archives | Sky & Telescope ** What's in the Night Sky: August 2024 - National Space Centre https://youtu.be/fiKG1Mw8xMA ** Night Sky Notebook August 2024- Peter Detterline https://youtu.be/pxonbvGXFqU ** See also: - August Night Sky Guide (August 2024) | Farmers' Almanac - Night Sky for August 2024: Planets, Stars, and the Moon | The Old Farmer's Almanac - August Night Sky Guide (August 2024) | Stellara - Night Sky Highlights - August 2024 | Royal Museums Greenwich - Astrophotography in August 2024: what to shoot in the night sky this coming month | MSN === Amazon Ads === Celestron 70mm Travel Scope Portable Refractor Telescope Fully-Coated Glass Optics Ideal Telescope for Beginners BONUS Astronomy Software Package == Stellaris: People of the Stars Read the full article

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Night sky highlights for July 2024

Check out the night sky this month, July 2024. Here are videos highlighting the top sights to observe. ** What's Up: July 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA - NASA JPL What are some skywatching highlights in July 2024? The Moon and planets come together twice in the morning sky – at the start and end of July, find the elusive planet Uranus with some help from Mars, and two star clusters – M6 and M7 – are well placed for viewing in the evening. 0:00 Intro 0:xx Moon & planet highlights x:xx Use Mars to locate planet Uranus x:xx Star clusters M6 & M7 in Scorpius x:xx July Moon phases Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatch.... https://youtu.be/5OAu8tb8tt8 ** Tonight's Sky: July 2024 - Space Telescope Science Institute - Tonight's Sky In July, find the Scorpius constellation to identify the reddish supergiant Antares, which will lead you to discover a trio of globular star clusters. Keep watching for space-based views of these densely packed, spherical collections of ancient stars, as well as three nebulas: the Swan Nebula, the Lagoon Nebula, and the Trifid Nebula. About this Series ... “Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. This is a recurring show, and you can find more episodes—and other astronomy videos—at https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/tonights-sky. https://youtu.be/DhxgdO5w2IE ** What to see in the night sky: January 2024 - BBC Sky at Night Magazine What's in the night sky tonight? Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel talk us through July 2024's night-sky highlights, including noctilucent clouds, Ceres and Pluto at opposition, Galilean Moon transits and deep-sky objects in the Milky Way. 00:00 Intro 00:18 Inner planets 03:38 Outer planets 08:10 Noctilucent clouds 12:20 Ceres at opposition 12:45 Galilean moons transit 13:14 Pluto at opposition 16:39 Milky Way and deep-sky objects 19:50 Summer Triangle https://youtu.be/ZwQ-cdGsZnM ** Sky & Telescope's Sky Tour Podcast – July 2024 | Summer Stargazing and the Moon - Sky & Telescope Youtube Our monthly Sky Tour #astronomy #podcast provides an informative and entertaining 10-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. Join us for the July 2024 episode and get some #stargazing tips, check dates for the #Moon’s #phases, watch #Saturn migrate into the evening #sky, and tour of the #stars of summer. Listen and subscribe to this podcast at https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/ and don't forget to subscribe to S&T's YouTube channel to get alerts about new videos, including this monthly podcast Learn more about #observing and #stargazing on our website, https://skyandtelescope.org/ and subscribe to our monthly magazine at https://skyandtelescope.org/subscribe. https://youtu.be/Thkn_DMyrtg See also - Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast: Upcoming Celestial Events | Sky & Telescope - Interactive Sky Chart | Map Your Night Sky - Sky & Telescope - Astronomy Pictures: Sky & Telescope's Online Gallery Archives | Sky & Telescope ** What's in the Night Sky: July 2024 - National Space Centre What's in the Night Sky: July 2024 Jupiter and Mars Mare Frigoris ✨ Constellation of the Month: Corona Borealis Whether you're a beginner or an expert, looking at the night sky with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, check out Hayley's tour of the night sky to find out what you can see this month. https://youtu.be/TUHnpJYZOgA ** Night Sky Notebook July 2024- Peter Detterline https://youtu.be/mNict0t7e9w ** See also: - July’s Night Sky Notes: A Hero, a Crown, and Possibly a Nova!| NASA Science - July.1.2024 - Night Sky Network | NASA Science - July 2024 Sky Watch: Astronomical Events | The Old Farmer's Almanac - What’s up in the night sky: July 2024 | The Planetary Society - July 2024 Issue | Astronomy.com - Astronomical Events July 2024 | Meteor Showers July | Space Events | Comet July 2024 | Star Walk - July 2024 – Events and Planet Finder Charts – Nightskyonline.info === Amazon Ads === Celestron 70mm Travel Scope Portable Refractor Telescope Fully-Coated Glass Optics Ideal Telescope for Beginners BONUS Astronomy Software Package == Stellaris: People of the Stars Read the full article

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Night sky highlights for June 2024

Check out the night sky this month, June 2024. Here are videos highlighting the top sights to observe. ** What's Up: June 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA - NASA JPL What are some skywatching highlights in June 2024? Saturn and Mars continue to dominate the a.m. sky, but they're joined by Jupiter as the month goes on. And some tips for identifying some commonly seen objects in the night sky. 0:00 Intro 0:14 Moon & planet highlights 1:03 Identifying common objects 4:14 June Moon phases "Planet Parade" note: Some online sources have shared excitement about a "parade of planets" visible in the morning sky in early June. In reality, only two of the six planets supposedly on display will actually be visible. Jupiter and Mercury will be at or below the horizon in morning twilight and not visible; Uranus and Neptune are far too faint to see without a telescope, especially as the morning sky brightens. The real planet parade will be June 29, when Saturn, the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter will line up across the morning sky. We'll talk more about that lineup in the July "What's Up" video. Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatch.... https://youtu.be/N1XM4BIoBdA ** Tonight's Sky: June 2024 - Space Telescope Science Institute - Tonight's Sky Though the nights are shorter in June, they are filled with fine sights. Look for the Hercules constellation, which will lead you to a globular star cluster with hundreds of thousands of densely packed stars. You can also spot Draco the dragon, which will point you to the Cat’s Eye Nebula. Keep watching for space-based views of globular star clusters and the nebula. About this Series ... “Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. This is a recurring show, and you can find more episodes—and other astronomy videos—at https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/tonights-sky. https://youtu.be/HxBzX92U0Gc ** What to see in the night sky: June 2024 - BBC Sky at Night Magazine Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what's in the night sky this month, including how to find Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, how to locate the T Coronae Borealis nova event, Ceres at opposition and noctilucent clouds. 00:00 Intro 00:15 Inner planets 06:12 Outer planets 09:52 The Moon 10:59 Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS 14:56 Daytime Moon 16:36 Summer Solstice 17:05 Einstein crater, Mare Orientale 18:49 Ceres at opposition 19:34 Noctilucent clouds 20:55 Arcturus and Boötes 21:50 T Coronae Borealis nova 25:31 Spica and Antares 27:27 Ophiuchus https://youtu.be/7oX7lcPOyIA ** Sky & Telescope's Sky Tour Podcast – June 2024 | Summer Solsctice and a Snake-handler in the Sky. - Sky & Telescope Youtube Our monthly Sky Tour #astronomy #podcast provides an informative and entertaining 10-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. Join us for the June 2024 episode where we time this month’s #solstice, trace the #Moon’s cycle of phases, spot three #planets before dawn, and track down a snake-handler in the early summer #sky. See also - Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast: Upcoming Celestial Events | Sky & Telescope - Interactive Sky Chart | Map Your Night Sky - Sky & Telescope - Astronomy Pictures: Sky & Telescope's Online Gallery Archives | Sky & Telescope ** Night Sky Notebook June 2024- Peter Detterline https://youtu.be/QqjhNjJ3l1c ** See also: - June Night Sky Guide (June 2024) | Farmers' Almanac - 5 Must-See Astronomical Events in the June Night Sky (2024) | SpaceTourismGuide.com - Night sky, June 2024: What you can see tonight | Space.com - What’s up in the night sky: June 2024 | The Planetary Society - Visible planets and night sky guide for June | EarthSky.org === Amazon Ads === Celestron 70mm Travel Scope Portable Refractor Telescope Fully-Coated Glass Optics Ideal Telescope for Beginners BONUS Astronomy Software Package == Stellaris: People of the Stars Read the full article

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Night sky highlights for May 2024

Check out the night sky this month, May 2024. Here are videos highlighting the top sights to observe. ** What's Up: May 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA - NASA JPL What are some skywatching highlights in May 2024? Mars and Saturn tussle with the Moon, Mercury makes a brief a.m. appearance, East Coasters can see red giant star Antares emerge from behind the Moon, and the eta Aquariid meteors peak on May 6th. 0:00 Intro 0:15 Moon & planet highlights 1:06 Moon occults Antares 1:53 eta Aquariid meteor shower 3:54 May Moon phases Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What's Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatch.... https://youtu.be/ZxJdX9x6jyU ** Tonight's Sky: May 2024 - Space Telescope Science Institute - Tonight's Sky In May, we are looking away from the crowded, dusty plane of our own galaxy toward a region where the sky is brimming with distant galaxies. Locate Virgo to find a concentration of roughly 2,000 galaxies and search for Coma Berenices to identify many more. Keep watching for space-based views of galaxies like the Sombrero Galaxy, M87, and M64. About this Series ... “Tonight’s Sky” is a monthly video of constellations you can observe in the night sky. The series is produced by the Space Telescope Science Institute, home of science operations for the Hubble Space Telescope, in partnership with NASA’s Universe of Learning. This is a recurring show, and you can find more episodes—and other astronomy videos—at https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/tonights-sky. https://youtu.be/qeRSwy8PkM8 ** What to see in the night sky: May 2024 - BBC Sky at Night Magazine What can you see in the night sky tonight? Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky this month, including the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, Asteroid Pallas at opposition, noctilucent clouds and a tantalising lunar occultation of star cluster M4. 00:00 Intro 00:21 Solar System planets 04:39 Eta Aquariid meteor shower 05:29 The Moon 10:52 Minor planet (2) Pallas opposition 11:16 Noctilucent Clouds 12:39 Lunar occultation of M4 14:03 Arcturus and Boötes 17:45 Corona Borealis 19:47 Keystone asterism in Hercules 21:05 Globular cluster M13 25:19 Spica 26:00 Virgo 27:17 Antares https://youtu.be/ECVwDfQIRCU ** Sky & Telescope's Sky Tour Podcast – May 2024 | Full Moon and the Swiss Army knife of the Sky - Sky & Telescope Youtube Our monthly Sky Tour #astronomy #podcast provides an informative and entertaining 10-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. Join us for the May 2024 episode where we highlight this month’s #lunar phases, track down three #planets before dawn, keep alert for bits of #Halley’s #Comet, and get to know the Swiss Army knife of the #night #sky. Listen and subscribe to this podcast at https://skyandtelescope.org/observing/ and don't forget to subscribe to S&T's YouTube channel to get alerts about new videos, including this monthly podcast Learn more about #observing and #stargazing on our website, https://skyandtelescope.org/ and subscribe to our monthly magazine at https://skyandtelescope.org/subscribe. See also - Sky Tour Astronomy Podcast: Upcoming Celestial Events | Sky & Telescope - Interactive Sky Chart | Map Your Night Sky - Sky & Telescope - Astronomy Pictures: Sky & Telescope's Online Gallery Archives | Sky & Telescope ** Night Sky Notebook May 2024- Peter Detterline https://youtu.be/AxIi3NC_p7A ** See also: - Night Sky Highlights - May 2024 | Royal Museums Greenwich - Visible planets and night sky guide for May | EarthSky.org - May Night Sky Guide (May 2024) | Farmers' Almanac - Night sky, May 2024: What you can see tonight | Space.com - What's in the Sky This Month? May 2024 | High Point Scientific - May 2024 – Events and Planet Finder Charts | Nightskyonline.info - Night Sky Map & Planets Visible Tonight | TimeAndDate === Amazon Ads === Celestron 70mm Travel Scope Portable Refractor Telescope Fully-Coated Glass Optics Ideal Telescope for Beginners BONUS Astronomy Software Package == Stellaris: People of the Stars Read the full article

[astrogeoguy]

A Late Harvest Moon, Uranus looms Closer, and Venus and Mars Meet up!

(Above: Michael Watson of Toronto took this composite image hours after the September 2017 full moon. Already the shadows along the right limb show the waning process underway. His terrific Flickr gallery is at  https://www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/36244824604/)

Stargazing News for this week (from October 1st, 2017) by Chris Vaughan. (Feel free to pass this along to friends and send me your comments, questions, and suggested topics.) I post these with photos at http://astrogeoguy.tumblr.com/ where the old editions are archived. You can also follow me on Twitter as @astrogeoguy! All times mentioned are in Eastern Standard Time. Please click this MailChimp link to subscribe to these emails. If you are a teacher or group leader interested in joining me in a guided field trip to the York University Observatory, visit www.astrogeo.ca. 

Happy October! It’s getting dark noticeably earlier nowadays, and winter favorites Taurus, Gemini, and Orion are rising in late evening. An annual meteor shower called the Orionids starts this week, so keep an eye out anywhere in the sky for “shooting stars” that are moving in a direction away from Orion. 

Public Events

An early heads-up - on Thursday evening, October 19, weather permitting, I’ll be hosting a free community star party in the Pomona Mills Meadow in Thornhill Village. Astronomers and guests are all welcome to join us, starting at 7:30 pm! Come see Saturn and other deep sky objects under a dark moonless sky. The cloud date is October 26. 

On Saturday evening, October 7, the Ontario Science Centre is hosting a free public star party to celebrate Saturn and the Cassini Mission. There will be telescope viewing of Saturn, the moon, and more (weather permitting), live music, and science demonstrations. Details are here. (Parking fees apply.) 

Other events this week include:

Archaeoastronomy: The Astronomy of Civilizations Past, a free public talk by U of T Professor Emeritus John Percy at the Pape/Danforth Library on Wednesday, October 4 at 6:30 pm (Details here).

On Wednesday, October 4 at 7 pm, Waterloo’s Perimeter Institute talk and live webcast of A new View on Gravity and the Dark Side of the Cosmos by Dr. Erik Verlinde of the University of Amsterdam (Details here).

The Universe’s Baby Picture: an Evening with Professor David Spergel, of Princeton, Thursday, October 5 at 7 pm at the Ismaili Centre on Wynford Drive (free with online registration, details here).

On Thursday, October 5 at 7 pm at the St. James Town Library, the free public presentation  Earth's Battered Moon presented by Sara Mazrouei of U ot T (details here).

On Thursday, October 5, 2017 at 8 pm the free public AstroTour presentation The Long Path towards Finding Habitable Exo-Worlds, downtown at U of T (details here). 

The Moon and Planets

The moon reaches its full phase, directly opposite the sun in the sky at 2:40 pm on Thursday, so it will already have a dark sliver on its right side when it rises about four hours later. The full moon of October, traditionally called the Hunter's Moon, Blood Moon, or Sanguine Moon, always shines in or near the stars of Cetus (the Whale) and Pisces (the Fishes). This month’s full moon is also the Harvest Moon, traditionally defined as the full moon closest to the September equinox. 

(Above: On October 8, shown here at 6 am EDT, the waning gibbous moon will approach and pass through the triangular stars of Taurus, occulting the bright star Aldebaran for Asia)

By next Sunday evening, the waning gibbous moon will reach the stars making the triangular face of Taurus (the Bull). Through Sunday night and into Monday morning, the moon will pass among them. Observers in central and northeastern Asia will get to see the moon pass in front of (or occult) the bright star Aldebaran, which represents one of the bull’s eyes, at about 19:00 UT. 

If you are out under a clear early evening sky this week, look for Jupiter very low in the west, a short distance south of where the Sun went down. The giant planet sets less than hour after the sun, at about 7:30 pm local time. Our views of Jupiter will be heavily distorted because we have to look through such a deep blanket of air when it is sitting so low. 

(Above: Jupiter at lower right sets soon after the sun this week, while Saturn lingers into the evening sky, shown at 7:30 pm local time.)

Saturn is the obvious yellowish object partway up the southern sky as the evening darkens. It sets in the west just about 10:20 pm local time. Once it’s dark, pull out your telescope and look for some of Saturn’s moons sprinkled around the ringed planet. Up to six or seven can be seen in amateur telescopes. The reflected sunlight from Saturn is taking about 85 minutes to reach us! 

(Above: The full Harvest moon on Thursday night, shown here at 8:30 pm local time, will hinder your searches for Uranus and Neptune, but they’ll still be there after the moon moves on.)

Blue-green Uranus is situated about halfway along the eastern (left-hand) string of stars that form Pisces (the Fishes). It’s low in the east at dusk and is observable for the rest of the night in binoculars under a dark sky. We’re approaching the days when the planet is closest and brightest for this year. To help guide you, there’s a medium-bright star about a finger’s width below Uranus. Tiny blue Neptune is also observable all night long, located in the southeastern evening sky about two finger widths to the lower left of the medium-bright star Hydor in Aquarius (the Water-Bearer). But it is too faint to be seen with unaided eyes. 

(Above: In the pre-dawn eastern sky of Thursday, October 5, bright Venus, which is swinging down and sunwards, will pass within 0.5 degrees of much dimmer Mars, shown here at 5:30 am local time. The two planets will  be near one another on the surrounding mornings.)

Extremely bright Venus rises in the eastern sky after 5 am local time. This week, the planet continues to descend slowly sunward below Leo (the Lion). In the eastern pre-dawn sky of Thursday, October 5, Venus will sit very close indeed to much dimmer Mars. At only 0.25 degrees separation, the two planets will fit within the view of a backyard telescope’s eyepiece. The two planets will be slightly farther apart on the surrounding mornings. Speaking of Mars, it rises in the east about 5:15 am, a short while after Venus. 

I’ll post sky charts for the visible planets here. 

Keep looking up to enjoy the sky! I love getting questions so, if you have any, send me a note.

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Rosette Nebula (NGC2238)

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Comet C/2018 V1 Machholz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto Ion and Dust Tails

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Comet 38P/Stephan-Oterma on 2018 November 06