Saturday SkyWatch

Image of the Jewel Box Cluster.

Saturday 19th April 2025

Hello Stargazers, this is your

🌌 Saturday SkyWatch! 🌌

🌅 Sunset & Observatory Hours

  • Sunset: 5:42 PM
  • Nautical Sunset: 6:38 PM
  • Astronomical Sunset: 7:07 PM
    This Saturday we will be open from sunset till 9:30pm.

☁️ 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 Waning Gibbous (74%) and will rise at 9:42 PM. This means the Moon will rise after the viewing period, so a great time for nebula and galaxy viewing.

🌟 Feature Object: Southern Pinwheel Galaxy

This barred spiral galaxy (the same classification as the Milky Way) is visible with binoculars and resides between the Hydra and Centaurus constellations in the night sky. It is also a starburst galaxy, meaning that it has an exceptionally high rate of star formation (compared to other galaxies) consuming its interstellar gas much faster than other galaxies.

ℹ️ Other Information

There are two meteor showers peaking on the 22nd and 23rd April, so keep an eye out for possible sightings during the Saturday skywatch this weekend!

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

📅 22nd April: Lyrid Meteor Shower Peak, Greatest Elongation of Mercury (you can catch this in the morning before sunrise)

📅 23rd April: π-puppids Meteor Shower Peak

📅 25th April: The Moon is in conjunction with Venus, Saturn and Neptune at different times of the day

📅 26th April: The Moon is in conjunction with Mercury

📅 27th April: Venus is at its brightest

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