It is still not ideal to watch the planets this week. Mercury is an evening challenge, low in the Western horizon. Mercury is best seen from 9.20 pm to 9.50 pm and is in the constellation Leo. Venus is still quite close to the Sun. Venus is best seen from after Sunset to 9.40 pm. Venus is also in the constellation Leo. The red planet Mars is obvious in the South East and is best seen from Sunset to just over midnight. Mars is in the constellation Libra. Jupiter is getting closer to the Sun. The giant planet is best seen from Sunset to 10.35 pm and is in the constellation Leo. Saturn is visible from Sunset to 1.20 am and in the constellation Ophiuchus.
Cygnus is one of the most prominent and well known constellations of the summer sky. Representing a swan, the star Albireo marks its head and its brightest star, Deneb, marks the tail of the bird. Deneb, a blue-white supergiant, is the 19th brightest star in the sky and lies at a distance of about 800 light years. It is about 200 000 times more luminous than the Sun, making it one of the most luminous stars known. Albireo is a famous target in the world of amateur astronomy. When observed with a telescope, the star is neatly split into a beautiful pair of blue and gold stars. The colours are both unmistakable and stunning, making this double star a favourite with astronomers across the world.
Wednesday 27 July
At 12.34 pm the Moon is in perigee. The distance of the Moon to the Earth is 369 627 km or for the British … 213 017 miles.
The International Space Station (ISS) can be seen with the naked eye. It moves slowly as a bright dot or star through the night sky. ISS appears at 10.35 pm at the South West horizon. At 10.39 pm ISS passes the planet Saturn with about 2 lunar diameters. Worth a watch and a good opportunity to make pictures. Culmination or highest point in the sky is at 10.40 pm in the South South East and at an altitude of 26°. ISS disappears at 10.46 pm in the Eastern horizon. A rotation or one orbit of ISS around the Earth takes approximately 90 minutes. The next appearance is at 0.11 am in the West South West. Culmination is at 0.17 am in the South at an altitude of 63°. ISS disappears again at 0.22 am in the East. And if you missed the two previous ISS passes, there are still two other opportunities in the morning. ISS appears again at 1.48 am in the West. Culmination is at 1.53 am in the South at an altitude of 59°. ISS disappears at 1.58 am in the East South East. And once more ... ISS appears at 3.24 am in the West. Culmination is at 3.29 am in the South South West at an altitude of 23°. ISS disappears at 3.34 am in the South East.
The meteor shower called Beta-Cassiopeids is best seen from about 11 pm to 3.35 am. The expectation is that you will see 4 to 5 meteors an hour. All rather fast with a velocity of 51.6 kilometre a second.
Thursday 28 July
ISS appears at 9.43 pm in the South South West. Culmination is at 9.48 pm in the South East and at an altitude of 18°. ISS disappears at 9.53 pm in the Eastern horizon. After one orbit, ISS is visible again at 11.19 pm in the West South West. Culmination is at 11.24 pm in the South South East at an altitude of 52°. ISS disappears again at 11.28 pm in the East. And, if you missed the two previous ISS passes, there will be another one ... ISS appears at 0.55 am in the West. Culmination is at 1 am in the South at an altitude of 67°. ISS disappears shortly after in the Earth's shadow at 1.01 am in the South East and 52° above the horizon.
At 2.01 am an Iridium flare is visible in the North North West at only 7° above the horizon an in the constellation Ursa Major. Look for a clear and open horizon.
A challenge to spot the next ISS pass. ISS appears at 2.31 am in the Western horizon. ISS only gets 10° above the horizon when it disappears in the Earth's shadow at 2.33 am.
Another Iridium flare is visible at 3.23 am in the West North West at an altitude of 46° in the constellation Hercules.
The meteor shower called Beta-Cassiopeids is best seen from 10.50 pm to 3.30 am. The local hour rate today is between 5 and 6 meteors. Watch out, as these meteors are rather rapid.
The Earthshine is visible on the Moon at 3.35 am. The Moon is close to the star Del3 Tau. They are just over 5 lunar diameters separated. The altitude is 19° and the Moon phase is 26%.
At 4 am an Iridium flare is visible in the East South East at an altitude of 35° in the constellation Aries.
The Moon is in Taurus and passes some brighter stars. Look out just after 4 am. The Moon is less than a quarter lunar diameter away from the star Hyadum I, about 4 lunar diameters from Hyadum II, about 4 lunar diameters from The1 Tau, and 7 lunar diameters from Alp Tau.
Friday 29 July
The meteor shower Beta-Cassiopeids is at its maximum at 2 pm. So not visible for our longitude in its maximum. The expectation is that there are 10 meteors an hour. The stream is active from 3 July to 19 August. A few meteor showers peak today but five are actually ongoing and three are clustered close together over the Southern horizon. Both the Alpha Capricornids and the Piscis Austrinids have a maximum rate of about 5 per hour. The Delta Aquariids are more active, with about 16 per hour being visible. Fortunately, the Moon is currently a waning crescent so your chances of seeing a few shooting stars are increased. Have a look once it is dark.
The Moon is in maximum libration North at 6.08 pm. The Lunar's North Pole and Mare Frigoris are tipped into our view.
ISS appears at 10.26 pm in the West South West. Culmination is at 10.31 pm in the South South East at an altitude of 40°. ISS disappears 10.36 pm in the East. ISS appears again at 0.02 am in the West. Culmination is at 0.07 am in the South and at an altitude of 70°. ISS disappears at 0.09 am in the East. ISS appears once more at 1.38 am in the West but disappears already at 1.41 am in the Earth shadow at 19° above the horizon.
Another great opportunity for those who want to get up early. The crescent Moon passes through the Hyades and will appear very close to the bright star Aldebaran, the red eye of Taurus the Bull. The 22% illuminated Moon occults the bright star Aldebaran for Central America. Look toward the East at about 3.45 am in the morning to see the star glinting beside the Moon while the Pleiades shimmer above it. Toward the North lies the star Capella, one of the brightest stars of winter, now returning to the night sky after several months of being lost in the light of the Sun. Look for the Earthshine on the Moon.
At 3.54 am an Iridium flare is visible in the East South East at altitude of 34° in the constellation Aries.
Saturday 30 July
The Sun rotates. For the Solar observers, at 4.35 pm, it is the beginning of Carrington rotation number 2180,
The planet Mercury passes 17’ or about half a lunar diameter from the star Regulus at 8.31 pm. Too early for us, as it is still day time. They are about 22° from the Sun. The Sun sets at 9.04 pm.
ISS appears at 9.33 pm in the South West. Culmination is at 9.38 pm in the South South East at an altitude of 29°. ISS disappears at 9.43 pm in the East. One orbit around the Earth takes about 90 minutes. ISS appears at 11.09 pm in the West South West. Culmination is at 11.14 pm in the South at an altitude of 65°. ISS disappears at 11.17 pm in the East.
An Iridium flare appears at 11.24 pm in the North North East at an altitude of 18° in the constellation Perseus.
A short pass of ISS at 0.45 am in the West. ISS disappears already after 5 minutes in the West South West at an altitude of 44°.
The meteor shower Beta-Cassiopeids has now a local hour rate of 4 to 5 meteors.
Look for the Earthshine on the Moon at 4.40 am. The Moon is in maximum declination North at 5.50 am. This is the 3rd lowest Northernmost Moon position of the next 10 years. The former lower Northern Northernmost Moon position was on 9 May 2016. The next lower Northern Northernmost Moon position will be on 27 August 2016.
Sunday 31 July
A bright Iridium flare appears at 9.54 pm in the North East at an altitude of 56° in the constellation Cepheus. This will be a double flare. Both are at the same time and at the same spot. Worth a watch!
ISS night tonight. The first pass is at 10.16 pm in the West South West. Culmination is at 10.21 pm in the South South East at an altitude of 55°. ISS disappears at 10.26 pm in the East. The next pass starts at 11.52 pm in the West. Culmination is at 11.58 pm in the South at an altitude of 66°. ISS disappears short after at 11.58 pm in the East South East and 44° above the horizon. A short pass starts at 1.29 am in the West. Disappearing at 1.31 am at 11° altitude.
The waning crescent Moon continues its journey toward the Sun and now passes through the edge of Gemini, the Twins. Look for the Earthshine on the Moon at about 4.40 am. This morning presents another good opportunity to catch Earthshine illuminating its surface in the pre-dawn sky but can you see Castor and Pollux low on the North Eastern horizon? The Lunar crescent is 40 hours before New Moon and is 3.6% illuminated. The Moon rises at 3.58 am, 87 minutes before the Sun.
Monday 1 August
The International Space Station passes once more a few times tonight. ISS appears at 9.23 pm in the West South West. Culmination is at 9.28 pm in the South South East at an altitude of 43°. ISS disappears at 9.34 pm in the East. ISS appears next at 10.59 pm in the West. Culmination is at 11.05 pm in the South at an altitude of 70°. ISS disappears at 11.07 pm in the East and 17° above the horizon. A short pass of ISS is at 0.36 am in the West. ISS disappears at 0.40 am in the West South West and 27° above the horizon.
A very bright Iridium flare is visible at 3.08 am in the West North West at an altitude of 39° in the constellation Hercules.am in the East South East at altitude of 38° in the constellation Aries.
Tuesday 2 August
It is New Moon at 9.44 pm.
ISS appears at 10.06 pm in the West. Culmination is at 10.12 pm in the South at an altitude of 67°. ISS disappears at 10.16 pm in the East. After an orbit, ISS has its next pass. ISS appears at 11.43 pm in the West. Culmination is at 11.48 pm in the South South West at an altitude of 53°. ISS disappears at that time in the Earth's shadow.
A very bright Iridium flare is visible at 3.39 am in the East South East at an altitude of 37° in the constellation Aries.
Wednesday 3 August
At 9.10 am the Moon is in maximum libration East. If the Moon would be visible, Mare Crisium limb is tipped into our view.
The International Space Station (ISS) moves along the night sky as a bright dot of star. It is easily visible with the naked eye and you do not need a telescope of binoculars to see. ISS appears the first time tonight at 9.13 pm in the West South West. Culmination or highest point in the sky is at 9.19 pm in the South South East at an altitude of 58°. ISS disappears at 9.24 pm in the Eastern horizon. An orbit of ISS around the Earth takes about 90 minutes. ISS will pass again at 10.50 pm in the West. Culmination is at 10.55 pm in the South at an altitude of 64°. ISS disappears at 10.57 pm in the East South East in the Earth shadow and 22° above the horizon. A short pass is at 0.26 am in the West and at 0.29 am ISS disappears in the West South West at an altitude of 18°.
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