Skywatch Line for Friday, May 30, through Sunday, June 1, written by Sam Salem

This is Dudley Observatory’s Skywatch Line for Friday, May 30, through Sunday, June 1, written by Sam Salem.

On Friday, Sun rises at 5:20am and sets at 8:26pm; Moon rises at 8:33am.

On Friday and Saturday nights, the waxing crescent Moon will float between Mars and the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux.

On Saturday, the crescent Moon is approaching Mars this evening. At nightfall they’re about 4° apart.

On Sunday, the Moon leaves Mars moving near Regulus, shining only about 1° from it.

In the west as twilight ends, the waxing crescent Moon will lie next to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion. The steady red light of similar brightness nearby is the planet Mars. They’ll set before midnight.

Mercury will lie on the far side of the Sun on Friday, reaching superior conjunction. It can’t be seen from Earth since it is behind the Sun. It’ll emerge in the evening sky later in June.

Venus will appear farthest from the Sun in the morning sky on Sunday. Venus will be about 46 degrees, or 4 1/2 fist widths, from the Sun. This position in its orbit is known as greatest western elongation. Each morning after this, Venus will move slightly closer to the Sun. Saturn will be nearby.

Jupiter will lie low in the west the first week of June. Try to catch it in the bright evening twilight. It’ll emerge in the morning sky sometime in July. It’ll lie below the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux.

On Friday night, Titan casts its shadow on Saturn. This happens every 15 years when Titan, Saturn’s largest Moon, cross Saturn’s face from Earth’s viewpoint and cast its tiny black shadow onto Saturn. The latest series of these events has begun. They will happen every 16 days from now to October. On Friday night, Titan’s shadow crosses Saturn’s face from 5:05 am. to 10:53 am. on Saturday. Saturn is only up in view for a short time before and during early dawn, these times mean that only western North America is the favored place to watch the plant and it’s moon shadow. Saturn is so low which will make the shadow undetectable even in a large telescope.

The Big Dipper floats high in the northwest these evenings. The middle star of its bent handle is Mizar, with tiny little Alcor right next to it. Mizar is always on the side toward Vega. Which is now the brightest star in the east.