| Observatory |
What's Up...
Some observing hilights
to look forward to...
The following tips on current and upcoming astronomical events
have been assembled for our Okanagan region by Dave Gamble
with the objective of giving OC RASC members a heads-up on
special personal astro-experiences to look forward to.
Mon. June 1 – We start the month really experiencing our diminishing and later starting dark sky hours. But since we love the night let’s kick June off after 9pm by celebrating brilliant Venus in her ‘Evening Star’ role low in the western sky. A bit tired after his full spring performance, Jupiter will be seen just to her upper left. And if you have a very low western horizon and have binoculars with you, perhaps you may be able to add Mercury off to the lower right! Fun stuff!
Wed. June 3 – As they say: ”When the Sun is high, the Moon on the opposite side of the sky will be low”, and that will be demonstrated in the early pre dawn hours this morning. Luna, now just three days past Full will make a brief, but dramatic appearance low in the southern sky. It will be worth getting up for since Luna will be just to the left of the handle of Sagittarius’ teapot asterism.
Sun. June 7 – Tonight we revisit Venus low above the western horizon after sunset… and quite a few things have changed since we did this a week ago. For one thing, Venus has been on the move and is now cozying up to Jupiter, and this rendezvous is taking place near Pollux in Gemini. Again, Mercury will be a tantalizing challenge to their lower right, probably best seen with binoculars.
Mon. June 8 – This is Last Quarter Moon night… er, morning. Luna’s neatly divided sphere will highlight the predawn sky this morning, and just to show that the current evening sky isn’t where all of the planetary action is, Saturn will be seen to her lower left closer to the horizon, beginning its long trek deeper into the night sky as summer progresses.
Wed. June 10 – Let’s pick up the action again in the pre-dawn eastern sky. Our performers have been busy, and the thinning crescent Moon has caught up to Saturn as they pose together among the faint stars of Pisces.
Sun. June 14 – This is New Moon night with Luna located on the other side of the sky in the Sun’s vicinity, leaving the few hours of total darkness we have left, wide open, weather permitting, for deep sky observing and imaging. Let’s make the most of it!
Mon. June 15 – In order to appreciate the night sky we’re now obliged to wait almost until after10pm for it to be dark enough. When that happens tonight, Arcturus, headlining the large star pattern of Bootes, will be dominating the upper southern sky with bright Spica and the stars iof Virgo ornamenting the region to the lower right.
Wed. June 17 – Get set for an exciting daytime astro event late this morning! We’re talking about a daylight occultation of Venus by a thin crescent Moon! To set things up, the action will take place in the eastern sky after 11.30am. Given clear skies the crescent Moon should be quite easy to find. Binoculars or a telescope will reveal Venus shining close to the lower left of the unlit (except for Earthshine) part of the lunar sphere. From there, keep watching. Exact timing for the Okanagan wasn’t available at this writing, but around 11.40am expect to see first contact. After that happens we’ll have to be patient… until around 12.45 when it will be time to get back to the eyepiece. Somewhere close to 12.50pm the bright spark of Venus will suddenly reappear on the upper right of the sunlit lunar crescent. It should be quite a show!
Wed. June 17 – Since this morning, Luna’s position has moved on, and as darkness falls we’ll have reason to revisit her in the sky. The prospect is to see her near M44, the Beehive Cluster, which will be visible if we wait late enough for some darkness, have a low western horizon and have binoculars handy.
Fri. June 19 – Tonight Luna in waxing crescent phase will be found under Leo’s reverse question mark asterism low in the western sky. Again we find ourselves in the position of bidding farewell to familiar star patterns, in this case the ones that have delighted us through the spring nights.
Sun. June 21 – It seems amazing that we’ve already arrived at the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year, and starting tomorrow the days will begin to get shorter! The actual moment of Solstice will occur at 1.25am this morning. By the way, this will also be First Quarter Moon night and Luna will mark the occasion modestly… drifting down to the western horizon as darkness falls.
Sat. June 27 – Tonight Luna will take a view of how summer is coming along in the Okanagan from deep in the southern sky. It’s nice to see our neighour when she’s looking down dramatically from high in the sky, but this isn’t going to happen in summer, at least not two days before Full Moon… we’ll have to settle for a very oblique view of her peeping over the southern horizon nestled among the stars of Scorpius.
Mon. June 29 – Full Moon night has arrived! Since we checked in with Luna a few days ago she’s been busy… moving along the ecliptic to her mid summer location very deep in the south. We’ll see her late tonight just over the southern horizon, right in the middle of the Sagittarius ‘tea pot’.