Saturday SkyWatch

Hello Stargazers, this is your Saturday SkyWatch.

There’s been some cloud cover for most of today with moderate cloud cover into tonight. There should be enough gaps in the clouds to get some viewing in and where the sky is clear it should be pretty good viewing as the Moon sets at 3pm and is in its New Moon Phase.

Weather permitting (clouds of course) tonight will be a great night for Milky Way Photography. Bring your phone or camera out and ask Matilda how to take a nice shot, she’ll be happy to help.

This time of year is when Saturn is beginning to make its appearance and will rise at about 6pm and should be visible through a telescope at about 7:30 to 8pm. Venus is also in a good viewing position, able to be seen from around sunset to about 7:13pm.

Scorpio is still in the sky so now is also your chance to see the Butterfly Cluster (M6), the Ptolemy Cluster (M7), and the Cat’s Paw Nebula (NGC 6334) around the constellation Scorpio. If the sky stays clear we may also be able to view the Lagoon Nebula (M8), the Trifid Nebula (M20), the Eagle Nebula (M16), and the Omega Nebula (M17)! The Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) is a little low in the sky this time of year, but we should be able to catch it, Eta Carinae (NGC 3372) and the Jewel Box Cluster (NGC 4755) before 8pm.

Sunset is at 6:17pm tonight and a reminder that Crystals Restaurant at the Bowling Club is open from 5:30pm so you have time to have some dinner and then come visit the Observatory – it’s free! (Donations appreciated).

As always, we look forward to seeing you at the Observatory and don’t forget to look up wherever you are – weather permitting of course!

– The TRRO team