"Night Sky" report for May 11, 2012.

With the Moon well on the wane, last quarter being on Sunday morning, Venus is the brightest starlike object to be seen at nightfall. It's low in the NW sky at dusk, and sets at about 7pm. The International Space Station occasionally tries to rival the brilliant Venus. Check the satellite prediction website www.heavens-above.com for details of the evening passes by the ISS this coming week. The best passes are as follows.  Tomorrow, the Space Station should start low in the NW at 7:00:50pm and climb to be high overhead at 7:04:00 before disappearing into the shadow of the Earth. On Sunday, in twilight, look NNW at 6:07:00pm, high in the NE at 6:10:05, and low in the ESE at 6:12:45. These figures are for the Perth region. Elsewhere, check "Heavens Above".

"Night Sky" report for April 13th, 2012.
The Space Station is often visible in the early morning; e.g. on Monday morning, early risers across the south-west of WA can watch it going NW to high overhead to SE from about 5:28 to 5:33:20am. Observers further afield, seek your predictions from www.heavens-above.com . At daybreak Mercury's prominent in the east and Saturn's at about the same height in the west. You won't see Mercury any further from the Sun than this. The waning Moon is a morning object, too. Last quarter's today, the morning half moon. Venus stands out in the NW sky at dusk, setting now at about 8pm. At the same time Mars is well up in the NE and Saturn's coming up in the east.

"Night Sky" report for March 30th, 2012.




The International Space Station (ISS) will make some good evening passes in the coming week. The following figures are for the Perth area. Elsewhere, check the satellite prediction website www.heavens-above.com. Tonight, the ISS goes from low in the SW at 7:55:30pm, finishing well up in the SSW at 7:57:25pm. Tomorrow, in twilight: SSW at 6:58:25, SE at 7:01:10 and E at 7:02:40. Sunday: SW at 7:36:35, very high in NW at 7:39:45, N at 7:40:20. Monday (twilight): SW at 6:39:05, very high in SE at 6:42:15, ENE at 6:45:25. It’s best to check the predictions on the actual date of observation. Venus continues to dominate the NW sky at dusk while Jupiter slips away, down and to the left. The waxing Moon is at first quarter phase tomorrow and will be one of the main targets at the free Astrofest on the sports ground at Curtin Uni tomorrow evening.

"Night Sky" report for March 23rd, 2012.

The Moon’s in waxing crescent phase this week. New moon, phase zero, was yesterday. By Sunday evening the thin, new crescent moon will be visible near the western horizon in the evening twilight . On Monday at dusk, weather permitting, try to get to a vantage point where you can see low down into the WNW: Jupiter, the Moon and Venus will be all in a row. Look again on Tuesday to see how much the Moon has shifted in just 24 hours. Jupiter’s setting earlier than Venus now, and the gap between them is widening. Mars is well up in the NE sky at nightfall and culminates in the north at about 10:45pm. Saturn is rising just to the south of east at about 7:45pm, beneath the star Spica. On Saturday next week, the 31st, the annual Astrofest will be on again at Curtin Uni.

"Night Sky" report for March 16th, 2012.

Have you been watching Venus and Jupiter doing their planetary shuffle in the western sky at dusk? Soon Jupiter will move out of the picture. On the weekend they’ll be setting at the same time, and after that Jupiter will be setting ahead of Venus. Having checked on Jupiter and Venus, turn around and look to the north-eastern sky where bright, reddish Mars is prominent. By 8:30pm Saturn comes into view as well, rising in the east with the star Spica directly above it. The Moon goes through the waning crescent phases in the coming week, with new moon next Friday. The autumn equinox is next Tuesday – the sure sign that summer’s over. From our earthbound viewpoint it looks like the Sun is crossing the plane of the equator, heading north. Sunrise is due east and sunset is due west, at equinox time.

Information provided by Perth Observatory, 337 Walnut Road, Bickley 6076. Phone 9293-8255.

"Night Sky" report for March 9th, 2012.

Full moon was yesterday, but it'll still look full tonight. Note Venus and Jupiter, near each other in the western sky at dusk. Day by day, you can see their relative positions changing. That's why they're called planets (wanderers). Venus does most of the moving - it's nearer to us and its motion is more obvious. Also at nightfall you'll see reddish Mars rising in the ENE. Watch for the Space Station, starting tomorrow night when it goes from NNW to E between 7:38pm and 7:43pm. On Sunday: WNW to S between 8:18pm and 8:22pm. On Monday (best!): NW to overhead to SE from 7:21pm to 7:27pm.

Information provided by Perth Observatory, 337 Walnut Road, Bickley 6076. Phone 9293-8255.

"Night Sky" report for March 2nd, 2012.

The waxing gibbous moon, half moon with a hump, is the most obvious feature in the evening sky. It's working up to full moon next Thursday. Venus and Jupiter stand out in the WNW at dusk - watch how they appear to approach each other in the coming fortnight. Mars is rising in the ENE at nightfall. It's at opposition on Saturday night: that's the alignment of Sun-Earth-Mars, in that order. Mars and the Sun are on diametrically opposite sides of the Earth. Astronomers favour opposition because it's the period when an outer planet is closest and is visible all night.

Apology:

On the Australia Day holiday I somehow managed to forget to do the Night Sky report for the West Australian newspaper. My apologies to those who like to see it in print on the weather page in Friday’s paper.

"Night Sky" report for January 28, 2012.

The International Space Station makes a series of evening passes in the coming days. See www.heavens-above.com. Tonight it goes from SSW at 8:18:15pm to SE at 8:21:05 and E at 8:22:45. Tomorrow, WSW at 8:57:20pm to high in the NW at 9:00:20. Monday, a beauty: SW at 8:00:20pm, almost overhead in the SE at 8:03:30, and NE at 8:06:00. These figures are for the Perth area. Elsewhere, check Heavens-Above.

The Moon’s in waxing crescent phase, with first quarter due next Tuesday Feb. 1st. Venus dominates the western sky at dusk, with Jupiter well up in the NW sky. These two planets, the brightest planets, will converge until they’re close-ish in a fortnight from now. Mars is attracting attention now as it brightens and rises steadily earlier – look for it low in the eastern sky around 10pm.

Night Sky" report for January 13, 2012.

With the Moon waning - last quarter on Monday - we have dark skies in the early evening. Venus is the brightest celestial object at nightfall, dominating the western sky at dusk. Next in order of brightness is Jupiter which is well up in the NW. Also visible at dusk is the brightest star Sirius, the Dog Star, high up in the east. Sirius is actually a double star: the bright Sirius "A" which we can easily see, and a faint white dwarf companion star, Sirius "B". From here to there is 8.6 light years or about 81 million million km. Mars rises just to the north of east around 10:45pm. Saturn rises just to the south of east around 12:20am. At daybreak Mars is high up in the north and Saturn is just as high in the NE.

"Night Sky" for January 6, 2012.

Earth went through perihelion yesterday at 9am: closer to the Sun than at any other time of year. The waxing Moon will be full on Monday, when moonrise will occur just before sunset. Try to find a vantage point where you can see both east and west, e.g. on a high rise, or out on the sea in a boat: Moon comes up, Sun goes down.

Venus continues to dominate the western sky at nightfall, but is gradually setting earlier now. Watch for the Space Station on Sunday: WNW at 9:28:30pm, SW at 9:31:20, and SSE at 9:34:10. Also on Monday: NW at 8:31:25pm, overhead at 8:34:30, and SE at 8:37:40. These times are for Perth. Elsewhere, check www.heavens-above.com .