TGP NOMINAL XTRA - JUNE SKIES 2020
Ross Hockham's June Sky Guide
June and July is the best time to hunt for those Noctilucent clouds which we spoke about last month, a high altitude phenomenon at 82km in the Mesosphere they are ice sheets of tiny ice crystals from meteor dust,
that hang in the atmosphere.
They have been spotted already so best seen just before the Sun rises or after it sets as it lights up these from beneath giving you a whispy blue, white cloud that’s not that common,
but if you are out about 45mins to an hour after or before sunset or sunrise, keep an eye out.
June and July is the best time to hunt for those Noctilucent clouds which we spoke about last month, a high altitude phenomenon at 82km in the Mesosphere they are ice sheets of tiny ice crystals from meteor dust,
that hang in the atmosphere.
They have been spotted already so best seen just before the Sun rises or after it sets as it lights up these from beneath giving you a whispy blue, white cloud that’s not that common,
but if you are out about 45mins to an hour after or before sunset or sunrise, keep an eye out.
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Last night (5th), there was a very weak Penumbral Eclipse of the Moon, as it rose.
On the back of that, tonight (6th) will be almost a full moon called a ‘strawberry moon’
which will be rising shortly before midnight and will look bigger due to the effect of our atmosphere,
and our eye's inability to put it in perspective to the horizon.
It may have an orange glow as it rises, but it will not be pinky as its name suggests.
The name 'Strawaberry Moon' comes from the relatively short season for harvesting strawberries in north-eastern North America which most of the full Moon names come from,
depending on the season of the native Americans.
On the 8/9th Just after midnight the planets Jupiter and Saturn will appear close to the 87% Waning Moon.
Making a great view or picture opportunity as the moon is just below Saturn with Jupiter to its top right.
Venus should start to appear after this date but is at 1% phase this morning,
very low in the sky and close to the Sun.
Do not attempt to view Venus at this stage, unless you are a professional Astronomer.
Making a great view or picture opportunity as the moon is just below Saturn with Jupiter to its top right.
Venus should start to appear after this date but is at 1% phase this morning,
very low in the sky and close to the Sun.
Do not attempt to view Venus at this stage, unless you are a professional Astronomer.
On the morning of the 12th, the Moon moves towards Mars.
So you will be able to see how the Moon moves each night/morning back across the skies. The next morning (13th), the Moon is right below the planet Mars and as a challenge this is not an easy spot (but we like a challenge). The planet Neptune is up in the early hours and apparently you may be able to spot it will a steady hand and a pair of binoculars. Find the Moon and just above this is the red planet Mars Neptune is above Mars. probably the best time to see them is around 3am, before the Sun starts rising. |
On the 16th Venus has risen considerable high now and further from the morning sun at around 5%.
It’s a easier target to spot.
Also on the 16th a weak meteor shower peaks but with the Lyrids only producing 5-10 meteors per hour,
It’s not really spoken about much.
The dusty trail of a comet with a centuries-long orbit around the sun.
As the Earth enters it's stream, we encounter more meteors or bits of dust entering our atmosphere at speed.
As always meteor showers can be unpredictable.
Some minor meteor showers have had peaks of 100’s, so if we hit a dense part of the trail we might get lucky.
So keep your eyes on the constellation Lyra where they radiate from!
On the morning of the 19th, Venus will be Occulted by a 3% lit Moon in the daylight skies around 8.40am.
But go out in plenty of time before this, as times vary depending on your location.
You will see the crescent Venus near the middle of the edge of the Moon, disappearing behind it,
and then reappearing around 09:42am.
you will need a telescope to see it and it may be a bit of a challenge, as the Sun is up so be very careful.
NEVER LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN!
On the 20th, the Sun reaches it's most northerly point in the sky, at 22.43,
marking the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
This is called the Summer Solstice and traditionally, this period fell between the planting,
and harvesting of crops, leaving people who worked the land time to relax.
This is why June became the traditional month for weddings.
For us Astronomers it means that winter is coming and the nights are getting longer.
On the 24th and 25th, fading comet and Oort Cloud object C/2017 T2 Panstarrs,
is close to M106 in the evening, just south of this galaxy.
It maybe a great opportunity for Astrophotographers and comet hunters,
and should be visible in modest scopes.
On the 27th, another small meteor shower peaks, 'the Bootids'. Again only producing around 5 per hour, appearing to radiate from just below Ursa Major (The Great Bear, The plough, Big Dipper etc) Also Venus is now 15% lit priming herself to steal the morning show from the other planets. |
On the 28th, If you, fancy a bit of an asteroid hunt, 7 IRIS comes into opposition in Sagittarius.
7 IRIS is a large main-belt asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.
7 IRIS is a large main-belt asteroid orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.