🌌 Saturday SkyWatch! 🌌
🌅 Sunset & Observatory Hours
- Sunset: 5:08 PM
- Nautical Sunset: 6:07 PM
- Astronomical Sunset: 6:38 PM
This Saturday we will be open from sunset till 9:30pm /li>
☁️ Weather & Viewing Conditions
B.O.M. Forecast for The Rock:
http://www.bom.gov.au/places/nsw/the-rock/
To learn how to read the Clear Outside forecast page, follow this link:
https://clearoutside.com/page/how_to_use/
🌙 Moon Phase
Tonight’s Moon is a Waxing Crescent (22%) and will transit at 4:11 PM. This means the moon will be in the Western sky during viewing tonight, but as it’s only 22% full this means it will be a great time to view its terminator and still be able to view clusters and nebula.
🌟 Feature Object: Butterfly Cluster (M6)
An Open Cluster in Scorpio, this cluster is currently rising as the night goes on and will be visible throughout the winter months and is visible with the naked eye – it just looks like a regular old star. Through a telescopes (or binoculars) this cluster looks like a butterfly, hence the name.
ℹ️ Other Information
Bring warm clothes, a beanie, and some gloves if you don’t like the cold. The view will be well worth venturing out!
Feel free to bring a picnic blanket and some snacks and non-alcoholic refreshments.
🔭 In the Sky Tonight
Note that just because these objects are
in the sky at the moment, you may not always see them. Visibility is dependent on weather, moon brightness, atmospheric conditions, and equipment parameters. Check the weather and viewing conditions above, and if in doubt ask a friendly volunteer if you’re able to see an object in the night sky!
Prominent Constellations
Orion (setting), Canis Major, Gemini (setting), Canis Minor, Cancer, Leo, Leo Minor, Virgo, Libra (rising), Bootes (rising), Scorpio, Ophiuchus (rising)
Bright Stars
Betelgeuse, Rigel, Pollux, Sirius, Castor, Procyon, Regulus, Spica, Arcturus, Antares, Rasalhague (rising)
Nebula
Eta Carina Nebula (NGC 3372), Statue of Liberty Nebula (NGC 3576), Banana Nebula (NGC 3199), NGC 3603 (Star Forming Region in Carina), Running Chicken Nebula (C 100), Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334), Ghost of Jupiter (NGC 3242), Southern Ring Nebula (NGC 3132), Spiral Planetary Nebula (NGC 5189), Albino Butterfly Nebula (NGC 2440), Retina Nebula (IC 4406), Toby Jug Nebula (IC 2220), Chameleon Cloud (IC 2631), Snake Nebula (Barnard 72), GUM 15 (HII region in Vela)
Galaxies
Large Magellanic Cloud, Small Magellanic Cloud, Centaurus A (C 77), Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038/4039), Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M 83), The Tweezers Galaxy (NGC 4945), NGC 5068 (Spiral Galaxy in Virgo), NGC 4650 (Spiral Galaxy in Centaurus Chain), Dust Devil Galaxy (NGC 4753), Iota’s Ghost (NGC 5102), NGC 4699 (Spiral Galaxy in a Group: Virgo), NGC 5253 (Irregular Galaxy in Centaurus), NGC 4976 (Peculiar Elliptical in Centaurus), NGC 3557 (Elliptical Radio Galaxy in Centaurus Group), NGC 4696 (Brightest Galaxy in Centaurus Cluster), NGC 3962 (Elliptical LINER-type in Crater), The Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565), NGC 4494 (Elliptical in Coma Berenices), NGC 3585 (Elliptical Galaxy in Hydra), NGC 3256 (Spiral Interacting Galaxy in Vela), NGC 2997 (Face-On unbarred Spiral in Antlia), NGC 3175 (Spiral Emission Galaxy in Antlia), Meathook Galaxy (NGC 2442), The Spanish Dancer (NGC 1566),
Star Clusters
Pearl Cluster (NGC 3766), Jewel Box Cluster (NGC 4755), NGC 5281 (open cluster in Centaurus), NGC 5316 (open cluster in Centaurus), Wishing Well Cluster (NGC 3532), IC 2714 (open cluster in Carina), NGC 2547 (open cluster in Vela), Southern Beehive Cluster (NGC 2516), Omicron Velorum Cluster (IC 2391), NGC 3114 (open cluster in Carina), NGC 3293 (open cluster in Carina), NGC 6124 (open cluster in Scorpius), NGC 6193 (open cluster in Ara), NGC 6167 (open cluster in Norma), Northern Jewel Box (NGC 6231), NGC 6383 (open cluster in Scorpius), Butterfly Cluster (M6), Ptolemy’s Cluster (M7), Omega Centauri (NGC 5139), NGC 6397 (globular cluster inu Ara), 47 Tucanae (NGC 104), M4 (globular cluster in Scorpius), NGC 6541 (globular cluster in Corona Australis), M62 (globular cluster in Ophiuchus), M19 (globular cluster in Ophiuchus), NGC 5986 (globular cluster in Lupus), MGC 6441 (globular cluster in Scorpius), NGC 6388 (globular cluster in Scorpius), NGC 4372 (globular cluster in Musca)
Planets
Jupiter, Mars
🪐 Upcoming Astronomical Events for this week
📅 31
st May: Moon and beehive cluster are in Conjunction.
📅 1
st June: Moon in Conjunction with Mars
📅 6
th June: Moon is in occultation with Spica
📅 7
th June: Moon is in conjunction with Spica
As always, don’t forget to
look up wherever you are!
– The TRRO Team
