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Look up, June skies are jam-packed with spectacular sights

 
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 991069
United Kingdom
06/03/2010 06:57 PM
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Look up, June skies are jam-packed with spectacular sights
If you like going to buffets for the variety, then that is exactly what is in store for you in the starry heavens this month. From planets, asteroids and comets, the night sky in June has something for everyone.

Starting on June 6 the king of all planets, Jupiter, joins the waning crescent moon in the dawn sky in the east. The gas giant remains the bright 'morning star for the rest of the summer until it moves into the evening skies this fall.

Meanwhile, later the same day, Mars will be pairing off with the brilliant white star Regulus at dusk. As the 180-million-kilometre distant red planet marches eastward, it moves through the constellation Leo the first week in June, gliding just above the 76-light-year distant lead star of the celestial lion. With binoculars or small telescope you might notice that the pair will only be separated by a degree -two full moon disks apart in the sky. This temporary double star will make for an especially pretty show because of the stark colour contrast between the orange-hued Mars and white diamond-like Regulus.

Joining the evening planetary parade is the waning crescent moon. On June 14, the moon will hang just below Venus, very low in the western horizon. Then two days later, the moon will pass by Mars. Finally on June 18 it will be below ringed Saturn.

Meanwhile for early bird sky-watchers, Jupiter will have a close encounter with the elusive planet Uranus on June 8. Using binoculars, look for a greenish star just above Jupiter -separated by less space than a full moon disk. To see this special conjunction of these two gas giants you will have to get up before dawn. They are best seen around 4 a.m. This is a great opportunity to track down Uranus -which lies a whopping 3 billion kilometres away from Earth.

June also sees a couple of rare visitors in our late night skies. First, the largest asteroid in the solar system, Ceres, will be passing through the constellation Sagittarius. Ceres orbits the sun in the asteroid belt, between Mars and Jupiter. It is best seen after midnight low in the southern horizon. This 900-km wide chunk of rock will be visible with binoculars throughout the first half of June. You will spot it as it passes just to the west of the constellation's famous Lagoon nebula.

Finally, try your hand at capturing a faint new comet gracing our early morning skies. Comet McNaught is predicted to become bright in binoculars during the first half of June. Discovered in 2009 by an Australian amateur astronomer, this mountain of ice is best seen in the wee hours of the morning between 3 and 4 a.m., low in the northeast sky in the constellation Perseus. It should look like a fuzzy ball. Astronomers believe this is the first time this icy visitor is swinging by the sun, so lots of mystery surrounds it. No one knows for sure if it will sport a nice tail or if it will actually become bright enough to see with the naked eye. The only way to know for sure is to go outside and see for yourself.

[link to www.montrealgazette.com]
SpaceGhost

User ID: 987179
United States
06/03/2010 06:58 PM
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Re: Look up, June skies are jam-packed with spectacular sights
Excellent!

Now if my skies will clear up.....
Texas Uncensored

User ID: 991597
United States
06/03/2010 07:09 PM
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Re: Look up, June skies are jam-packed with spectacular sights
Cool information. I'll be out there with video cam at the ready.

Mnvs
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 739630
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06/03/2010 07:12 PM
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Re: Look up, June skies are jam-packed with spectacular sights
Are you Jack Horkheimer?





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