Saturday SkyWatch

Image of the Jewel Box Cluster.

Saturday 10th May 2025

🌌 Saturday SkyWatch! 🌌

🌅 Sunset & Observatory Hours

  • Sunset: 5:20 PM
  • Nautical Sunset: 6:17 PM
  • Astronomical Sunset: 6:47 PM
    This Saturday we will be open from sunset till 9:30pm.

☁️ 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 Gibbous (92%) and will transit at 10:31 PM. This means the Moon will be in the West during the viewing period, so if you’re after some photographs of the Moon now is a great time to do it!

🌟 Feature Object: Carina Nebula (C 92)

One of the largest diffuse nebula in our sky, it is four times larger and even brighter than the famous Orion nebula but it is much less well known as it is situated in the Southern Sky and is only visible from specific Northern Latitude locations. It contains multiple open clusters and is home to many extremely luminous stars and areas indicating ongoing star formation.

ℹ️ Other Information

The Eta-Lyrids meteor shower peaks on May 10th and the radiant can be see in the early morning at around 3am.

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

🔭 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 (setting), Canis Major, Gemini, Canis Minor, Cancer, Leo, Leo Minor, Virgo, Libra (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

📅 10th May: Eta-Lyrids peak around 3am, the Moon and Spica are also at Occultation from around 15:53 to 20:18 and will be in Conjunction at 16:43.

📅 11th May: Neptune and Ceres are in conjunction at 2:09am.

📅 14th May: The Moon and Antares are in conjunction at 2:52pm.

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