Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday June 9th and 10th, written by Joe Slomka
This is the Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday June 9th and 10th written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 8:33 PM; night falls at 10:48. Dawn breaks at 3:02 AM and ends with sunrise at 5:17.
Monday’s Moon lies in southeastern Scorpius, sets at 3:39 AM, appears 10° high, appears 29 arc-seconds in size, 98% illuminated and rises at 7:32 PM; tonight, the Moon is 3½° from Antares, the brightest star of Scorpius. Tuesday finds the Moon moved into Ophiuchus, setting at 4:14 AM, 2° high also in the southeast, 30 arc-seconds and rises at 8:35 PM; Regulus also lies 3° from Mars at 2 hours after sunset. Wednesday’s Full Moon sets at 4:57 AM.
Gas Giant Jupiter, in Taurus, close to the Western horizon, rises at 6:08 AM, glimmering with minus 1st magnitude, 32 arc-seconds, 12° highest at 10:40 PM, sits 3° close to Mercury and sets at 9:13 PM; Tuesday, the Great Red Spot (a giant storm) becomes visible at 2:11 AM; Wednesday the moon Io begins to cross the planet’s face at 2:45 AM and ends at 4:59 AM, followed appears in Gemini at 7:02 AM, shines with minus 1st magnitude, appears 5 arc-seconds, highest at 2:47 PM, 15° high, 87% lit and sets at 10:33 PM.
Southwestern Red Planet Mars rises at 11:40 AM, 1st magnitude, diminished 5 arc-seconds, 47° high, 91% lit and sets at 1:30 AM.
Asteroid 4Vesta, remains visible; rising in the Southeast at 5:20 PM, 6th magnitude, 97% lit, highest at 11:04 PM, 38° highest and sets at 4:53 AM.
Venus hovers near the eastern horizon, in Cetus, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, 22 arc-seconds, rises at 3:12 AM, highest at 9:50 AM, 4° highest, 54% lit and sets at 5:28 PM.
Saturn and Neptune share Pisces in the East. Saturn rises at 2:56 AM, 1st magnitude, 17 arc-seconds, highest at 8:49 AM, 15° high at 4:30 AM and sets at 1:42 PM. Neptune, 1° from Saturn, rises at 2:54 AM, 8th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, highest at 8:51 AM, 18° high and sets at 2:48 PM.
Planets of the Solar System own a total of 288 moons, or satellites, of which Saturn has 62. Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, is also the brightest at eighth magnitude – within the ability of even small telescopes. Titan is second in size only to Jupiter’s moon, Ganymede; our Moon is third. Titan is unique in that it is the only satellite with a substantial atmosphere. It is about 1.5 times the pressure of Earth’s atmosphere. Nitrogen is the predominant gas, with a mix of hydrogen compounds. As a result, Titan’s atmosphere can be called “smog”. This “smog” hindered astronomers from observing the surface. When space probe Huygens landed on Titan, it revealed river systems and lakes, just like Earth. However, methane, not water, flowed on these rivers. Titan’s clouds also rain methane, just like earthly storms.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka