June skies

Posted on 2007 January 01 @ 00:01 - filed under Astronomy.

Mercury is in the evening sky for the first two weeks and by months end disappears in the solar glare. Venus is prominent in the evening sky setting three hours after the Sun. Mars can be seen in the morning sky, rising five hours before sunrise. Jupiter is visible throughout the night for the first two weeks, being at opposition on the 5th. By month's end it sets two hours before sunrise. Saturn is visible in the evening sky, setting about four hours after the Sun.

Early evening, Crux and the Pointers are high in the south, which Canopus and the stars of Argo are in the south-west. In the west, Sirius shines prominently, while Orion below it is setting. In the north-west, Venus is very prominent, with Saturn in Leo above it, and Gemini below. In the first part of the month, Mercury can be seen in Gemini. In the north-east, Arcturus is obvious, with Spica shining bright above it. In the eastern sky, bright Jupiter competes for attention with the curved form of Scorpius and reddish Antares.

Around midnight, Crux and the Pointers are high in the south with Canopus on the way down. Achernar can be seen low on the southern horizon. In the north-west, Spica and Arcturus are prominent. To the north, Hercules and Lyra (in Vega) can be seen. Altair in Aquila is obvious in the north-east. Facing east, high up, Sagittarius is approaching the zenith. More southward, Fomalhaut is prominent. The Milky Way arches directly overhead, centred on Scorpius (and Jupiter) at the zenith.

Before sunrise, in the South, Crux is low down, while in the south-east, Achernar is high up, with Canopus prominent lower down. In the south-west, just the Scorpion's tail remains, accompanied by Jupiter setting. Altair is obvious in the north-west, while low down northward lies Deneb (in Cygnus). Facing North, Pegasus glides gracefully. Obvious high up in the north-east lies Mars. In the east, Aldebaran (in Taurus) and Rigel (in Orion) hug the horizon, just as they did at sunset. The Milky Way runs along the horizon, from south to north, passing far westward of the zenith.

June events

Constellations

Constellations visible from Southern Africa at 21:00 SAST (* = overhead):

Apus, Ara, Boötes, Carina, Centaurus*, Chamaeleon, Circinus, Coma Berenices, Corona Australis, Corona Borealis, Corvus*, Crater*, Crux*, Dorado, Hydra*, Hydrus, Leo, Leo Minor, Libra, Lupus*, Mensa, Musca, Norma, Octans, Pavo, Reticulum, Sagittarius, Scorpius, Scutum, Telescopium, Triangulum Australe, Tucana, Virgo*, Volans.

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Keywords: Astronomy, Southern Sky Almanack, 2007, monthly sky review, Southern Sky Talk podcast

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