Skywatch Line for Monday June 2nd and Tuesday June 3rd , written by Joe Slomka
This is the Skywatch Line for Monday June 2nd and Tuesday June 3rd written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 8:28 PM; night falls at 10:40. Dawn breaks at 3:07 AM and ends with sunrise at 5:19.
The Moon resides in Leo on both nights. Monday’ Moon sets at 1:16 AM and rises at 12:08, at 9PM, it is 46° high in the southwest, appears 30 arc-seconds in size and 49% illuminated; the Moon reaches at First Quarter tonight. Tuesday, it sets at 1:36 AM, 45° high, same size, but 59% lit; the Moon closes in on Regulus when at 12:30 AM the gap shrinks to 32°, binoculars are recommended to make Regulus stand out. Moon sets at 1:54 AM on Wednesday.
Jupiter and Mars remain the only evening planet. Giant Jupiter rises at 6:28 AM in western Taurus, shines with minus 1st magnitude, 32 arc-seconds, highest at 2:01 PM, 15° at 9 PM and sets at 9:34 PM; Tuesday, the Great Red Spot is visible at 9:12 PM; Wednesday, the moon Io begins to travel at 12:43 AM and ends at 2:57, its shadow begins at 1:04 AM and ends at 3:18 AM.
Eastern Red Planet Mars stays in Leo all month and rises at 10:48 AM, 1st magnitude, appears 5 arc-seconds, highest at 5:47 PM, 50° and sets at 12:49 AM.
Asteroid 4Vesta is still visible in southeastern skies, rises at 5:49 PM, 6th magnitude, 98% illuminated, highest a, t 11:34 PM, 31°, and sets at 5:25 AM; early observers can catch it at 4:30 AM when it is 8° in the western sky.
Dawn planets have not changed. Eastern Venus, Saturn and Neptune occupy eastern Pisces at 4:30 AM. Venus remains close to the horizon, rises at 3:21 AM, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, a moderate 23 arc-seconds, rises at 3:21 AM, highest at 9:50 AM, 51% illuminated, but only 2° above the horizon and sets at 4:20 PM. Venus experienced Greatest Elongation on June 1st, shrinks from Earth from 24 arc-seconds to 18 arc-seconds, and remains in our skies until December.
Saturn and Neptune continue to huddle. Saturn rises at 2:23 AM, 1st magnitude, 17 arc-seconds, highest at 8:15 AM, 13° high and sets at 2:07 PM. Neptune brings up the rear, rising at 2:26 AM, 9th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, highest at 8:18 AM, 14° and sets at 2:15 PM. Neptune is located less than 1° from Saturn.
Astronomers have long wondered about the Moon’s origin. Before lunar landings, three theories predominated. The first was that the Moon was literally spun off of a rapidly rotating Earth. The second was that the Moon was formed from leftovers of Earth’s formation. The third theorized that a wandering Moon was already formed elsewhere in the Solar System and captured by Earth’s gravity. Due to the Apollo lunar landings, which brought back moon rocks, a new hypothesis resulted. This concept, supported by moon rock analysis, said that the Earth was hit by a Mars-sized body, which broke off pieces of Earth. Those pieces formed a temporary ring and coalesced into the Moon.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka