Saturday SkyWatch

Image of the Jewel Box Cluster.

Saturday 29th March 2025

Hello Stargazers, this is your

🌌 Saturday SkyWatch! 🌌

🌅 Sunset & Observatory Hours

  • Sunset: 7:10 PM
  • Nautical Sunset: 8:05 PM
  • Astronomical Sunset: 8:35PM
    As we get closer to daylight savings ending, the Observatory will open earlier and close earlier. This Saturday we will be open from sunset till 10:30pm.

☁️ Weather & Viewing Conditions

Clear Outside Forecast (for viewing conditions and weather): https://clearoutside.com/forecast/-35.27/147.10?view=midday

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 New Moon (0.3%) and will set at 6:56PM. This means the sky will be sans Moon during observing hours as well as being in the best possible phase for viewing.

🌟 Feature Object: Small Magellanic Cloud

This dwarf irregular galaxy is one of the nearest intergalactic neighbours of the Milky Way at approximately 200 000 Light years and also one of the most distant object visible to the naked eye. It is visibly close to the globular cluster 47 Tucanae and is often used as a guide when looking for this globular cluster in the night sky. The SMC boasts a prominent supernova remnant, and multitudes of star clusters and HII regions, and is often mistaken for a random cloud in the night sky if you have never seen it before.

ℹ️ Other Information

We are in the beginnings of Milky-Way season where the central core is visible in the early mornings (around 2am), so dust off your smartphone lenses or your cameras and prepare to take some photographs over the next 6 (ish) months.

As always, feel free to bring along a picnic blanket, some non-alcoholic beverages, and don’t forget your stargazing eyes for tonight.

🌍 Website & Further Viewing Information

For more information on what is in the sky tonight as well as forecast and viewing information head to the Full Saturday Skywatch on the website!

https://therockregionalobservatory.com/saturday-skywatch/

🔭 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 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: Taurus (setting), Orion, Canis Major, Gemini, Canis Minor, Cancer, Leo, Leo Minor, Virgo (rising), Bootes (rising), Scorpio (rising)

  • Bright Stars: Aldebaran (setting), Betelgeuse, Rigel, Pollux, Sirius, Castor, Procyon, Regulus, Spica, Arcturus, Antares (rising)

  • Nebula: Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070), Carinae Nebula (C 92), Prawn Nebula (IC 4628 rising), Rosette Nebula (C 49), Orion Nebula (M 42), De Mairan’s Nebula (M 43), Thor’s Helmet (NGC 2359), M78 Nebula, Flame Nebula (NGC 2024), Horsehead Nebula (IC 434), Robin’s Egg Nebula (NGC 1360 setting), Running Chicken Nebula (C 100), Statue of Liberty Nebula (NGC 3576).

  • Galaxies: Large Magellanic Cloud, Small Magellanic Cloud, Centaurus A (C 77), Antennae Galaxies (C 60 & C 61), Backwards Galaxy (NGC 4622), Bear Paw Galaxy (NGC 2537), Black Eye Galaxy (M 64), Butterfly Galaxies (NGC 4567 & NGC 4568), Circinus Galaxy (ESO 97-G13), Cocoon Galaxy (NGC 4490), NGC 4485 (Cocoon Galaxy pair), Coma Pinwheel Galaxy (M 99), Condor Galaxy (NGC 6872), Eye of God (NGC 1232 setting), Eye of Sauron (NGC 4151 rising), Meathook Galaxy (NGC 2442 & NGC 2443), Mice Galaxies (NGC 4676), Needle Galaxy (C 38), Penguin/Porpoise Galaxy (NGC 2936), Sombrero Galaxy (M 104), Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M 83), Topsy-Turvy Galaxy (NGC 1313), Whale Galaxy (C 32).

  • Star Clusters: Pleiades (M 45 setting), Hyades (C 41 Setting), Coma Star Cluster (sits near the Gamma Comae Berenices star), Trapezium Cluster (HD 37020), Shoe Buckle Cluster (M 35), Pinwheel Cluster (M 36), Salt-and-Pepper Cluster (M 37), Starfish Cluster (M 38), Little Beehive Cluster (M 41), Beehive Cluster (M 44), Southern Pleiades (IC 2602), Omicron Velorum Cluster (C 85), Southern Beehive Cluster (C 96), Wishing-Well Cluster (C 91), Moth Wing Cluster (NGC 6281 Rising), Caroline’s Cluster (C 58), Jewel Box Cluster (NGC 4755), Pearl Cluster (C 97), Omega Centauri (C 80), 47 Tucanae (NGC 104), M3 Globular Cluster, M4 Globular Cluster (rising), M68 Globular Cluster, M80 Globular Cluster (rising).

  • Planets: Jupiter, Mars

🪐 Upcoming Astronomical Events for this week

📅 29th March: The Moon and Venus are in Conjunction at around 1am, Neptune is also close to the Moon and will end up in a Conjunction around 8:30am, Mercury and Venus are in closer angular proximity to each other which will bring Mercury into Conjunction with the Moon at around 7:30am, there is also a New Moon and a partial Solar Eclipse. The partial solar eclipse will not be visible from our location.

📅 30th March: Moon at Perigee

📅 2nd April: The Moon and Uranus are in Conjunction early morning followed by a conjunction between the Moon and Pleiades near sunrise.

📅 3rd April: The Moon is in conjunction with Aldebaran at around 2:30am, followed by Jupiter ar around 10am, then Pollux at 2pm and finally is at Occultation with Elnath at around 8pm to 11pm.

📅 5th April: The Moon and Pollux are back in Conjunction

📅 6th April: The Moon and Mars are in Conjunction

As always, don’t forget to look up wherever you are!
– The TRRO Team