Mercury is still close to the Sun and will not be visible. Venus, although brighter, is getting too close to the Sun and hard to see. For the die-hard astronomers, use a binocular or good telescopes, and with a clear open horizon you might find Venus in the early mornings at 5 am before Sun rise. Venus is in the constellation Taurus. Mars is best seen from 9.30 pm to 4.40 am in the constellation Scorpius. Jupiter is best seen from 9.25 pm to 2.50 am and in the constellation Leo. Saturn is best seen from 10.10 pm to 4.15 am in the constellation Ophiuchus.
Wednesday 18 May
Today in 1991 the first Briton was in space. British astronaut Helen Sharman was launched with two cosmonauts in a Soyuz spacecraft. This comes along with the scheduled return of our Brit Tim Peake who has been in the International Space Station (ISS). Spot ISS in the morning!
The Moon is in apogee at 10.55 pm. The distance of the Moon to the Earth is 405954 km or 253721 miles.
Satellites are visible with the naked eye. They move slowly, as "stars" or "dots" in the night sky. Iridium flares sudden lit up at certain times and at certain places in the night sky. An Iridium flare appears at 11.07 pm in the West and at 30° altitude in the constellation Cancer.
The International Spaces Station (called ISS) is visible as a satellite and can be seen with the naked eye as a bright star moving between all other stars. ISS appears after midnight at 1.48 am in the East South East and 14° above the horizon. ISS disappears already after a few minutes in the Eastern horizon. An orbit around the Earth takes about 90 minutes. ISS appears again at 3.20 am in the South West and at 17° altitude. Highest point in the sky or culmination is at 3.23 am in the South South East at an altitude of 46°. ISS disappears at 3.28 am in the Eastern horizon. And if you do not have enough of ISS ... ISS appears again at 4.54 am in the West. Culmination is at 4.59 in the South at 69° altitude and ISS disappears at 5.04 am in the East.
Thursday 19 May
The small planet Mercury is in aphelion at 5.30 pm. The distance to the Sun is 0.4667 AU. One Astronomical Unit (AU) is the average distance of the Earth to the Sun.
The Jupiter Moon Europa ends its eclipse with Jupiter at 11.19 pm. The four brighter Moons and the surface on Jupiter can be observed with a good and steady binocular or small telescope. Have a go, as it is worth a watch!
The red planet Mars is close to the bright star called Dschubba at 11.52 pm. They are only 58' or less than 2 lunar diameters separated.
The Great Red Spot is in transit on the Jupiter disc at 0.47 am.
A rather bright Iridium flare appears at 2.02 am in the North West at an altitude of 17° in the constellation Lynx.
ISS appears at 2.29 am in the South and about 30° above the horizon. Culmination is at 2.30 am in the South South East at an altitude of 35°. ISS disappears at 2.35 am in the East.
At 3.32 am another flare appears in the West North West at 53° above the horizon and in the constellation Bootes.
ISS passes one Earth orbit and appears again at 4.02 am in the West. Culmination is at 4.06 am in the South at an altitude of 68°. ISS disappears at 4.12 am in the East.
Friday 20 May
A night to observe satellites? An Iridium flare appears at 11.04 pm in the West at an altitude of 26° in the constellation Cancer. Somewhat brighter, another flare at 11.36 pm in the North at 7° Above the horizon in the constellation Andromeda.
ISS appears for the first time tonight at 1.38 am in the South East and 23° above the horizon. ISS disappears already soon at 1.43 am in the Eastern horizon. After one orbit ISS appears a second time at 3.11 am in the West South West and 13° above the horizon. Culmination is at 3.14 am on the South at an altitude of 61°. ISS disappears at 3.19 am in the East. Another third and bright appearance is at 4.45 am in the West. Culmination at 4.50 am at an altitude of 61° and ISS disappears at 4.55 am in the East South East horizon.
Saturday 21 May
Today in 1916 the Daylight Saving Time was introduced in Britain as a war time measure to save fuel.
A rather bright Iridium flare appears in the North East at 10.07 pm at an altitude of 45° in the constellation Draco.
It is Full Moon at 10.14 pm.
Another flare at 10.58 pm in the West at an altitude of 26° in the constellation Cancer.
Mars is at its best tomorrow but is passed by the Full Moon tonight. Below them both lies Antares, whose name actually means “the rival of Mars” – Ant, meaning “anti” and Ares being the original Greek name of the planet. Take a look at the two and make a comparison. Mars is clearly brighter, but which appears to have the stronger colour? Toward the South East lies Saturn, which continues to brighten and will be at its best in just a few short weeks. At 11.40 pm the Moon is closest to Mars. They are less than 10 lunar diameters apart. The altitude is 14° and the Moon phase is 99.8%.
ISS appears at 0.47 am in the East South East at an altitude of 11°. But disappears after 3 minutes at 0.50 am in the Eastern horizon. ISS appears again one pass and after another orbit around the Earth at 2.20 am in the South West. The altitude is 28°. Culmination is at 2.21 am in the South South East and at an altitude of 50°. ISS disappears at 2.26 am in the East.
The Great Red Spot is in transit on the Jupiter disc at 2.25 am.
ISS appears once more at 3.52 am in the West. Culmination is at 3.57 am in the South and at an altitude of 68°. ISS disappears at 4.03 am in the Eastern horizon.
Sunday 22 May
Mars in in opposition near lunchtime. Look at night when Mars appears opposite the Sun in the sky and is at its most brilliant in the evening sky. Observers with a telescope will be able to see the reddish coloured disc of the planet and, with enough magnification, surface markings and polar ice caps. Meanwhile, the Moon has left Mars behind and now accompanies Saturn across the sky. They are less than 5 lunar diameters apart. Although the Moon’s light may dim the surrounding stars, both planets should still be easily visible.
ISS appears at 1.28 am in the South South East at an altitude of 38°. This is about the highest point. ISS passes the bright star Altair in the constellation Aquila. Their separation is only 0.123° so ISS nearly crosses the star in the sky. ISS disappears at 1.34 am in the Eastern horizon. After an orbit, which takes about 90 minutes, ISS appears again at 3.01 am in the West.
Culmination is at 3.05 am in the South and at an altitude of 69°. ISS disappears in the East at 3.10 am. ISS appears once more at 4.36 am in the West. Culmination is at 4.41 am in the South South West at an altitude of 46°. ISS disappears at 4.46 am in the East South East.
The Moon is in maximum libration at 8.14 am and the South Pole is tipped into our view.
Monday 23 May
The Jupiter Moon Ganymede begins its eclipse behind Jupiter at 10.49 pm.
At 10.55 pm a bright Iridium flare appears in the North North East at an altitude of 24° in the constellation Cancer. Another bright flare appears at 11.28 pm in the North North East at an altitude of 14° in the constellation Cassiopeia.
The Jupiter Moon Io disappears for an occultation behind Jupiter at midnight. The Jupiter Moon Callisto ends its shadow transit at 0.35 am.
ISS appears at 0.37 am in the East South East at an altitude of 22°. After a few minutes, at 0.41 am ISS disappears already in the East.
At 1.45 am an Iridium flare appears in the North North West at only 9° altitude and in the constellation Auriga.
ISS appears once more at 2.09 am in the West North West at an altitude of 17°. Culmination is at 2.12 am in the South and at 64° altitude. ISS disappears at 2.17 am in the Eastern horizon. One more orbit and ISS appears at 3.43 am in the West. Culmination is at 3.48 am in the South South West at an altitude of 58°. ISS disappears at 3.54 am in the East South East.
Tuesday 24 May
Today 330 year ago, on 24 May 1686 Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit was born. He died 16 September 1736 at the age of only 50. Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit was a German-Dutch physicist and meteorological instrument maker. He lived in Holland for most of his life. He invented the alcohol thermometer in 1709 and mercury thermometer in 1714 and developed the Fahrenheit temperature scale. Many of you still use the Fahrenheit readings.
The Moon is in maximum declination South at 12.21 pm. This is the 3rd lowest Southernmost Moon position of the next 10 years. The former lower Southern Southernmost Moon position was on 27 April 2016. The next lower Southern Southernmost Moon position will be on 14 August 2016.
The Jupiter Moon Io begins its shadow transit at 10.25 pm and ends its actual transit at 11.25 pm.
ISS appears at 11.45 pm in the East South East at an altitude of 12°. ISS already disappears after a few minutes at 11.48 pm in the Eastern horizon.
At 0.40 am the Jupiter Moon Io ends its shadow.
ISS appears at 1.18 am in the South West and 28° above the horizon. Culmination is at 1.19 am in the South South East at an altitude of 54°. ISS disappears at 1.24 am in the East. ISS appears again after 90 minutes orbit at 2.50 am in the West. Culmination is at 2.55 am in the South and at an altitude of 67°. ISS disappears again at 3.01 am in the East. ISS appears once more at 4.27 am in the West. Culmination is at 4.32 am in the South South West at an altitude of 31°. ISS disappears at 4.37 am in the South East horizon.
Wednesday 25 May
Today in 1961 the formal announcement of an American lunar landing was made by President John F. Kennedy speaking to the Congress: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space program in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important in the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.”
Satellites are visible with the naked eye. They move slowly, as "stars" or "dots" in the night sky. Iridium flares sudden lit up at certain times and at certain places in the night sky. At 10.49 pm an Iridium flare appears in the North at an altitude of only 7° in the constellation Perseus. Another flare is at 10.53 pm in the West North West at an altitude of 21° in the constellation Cancer.
The International Spaces Station (called ISS) is visible as a satellite and can be seen with the naked eye as a bright star moving between all other stars. ISS appears at 10.53 pm in the East South East and 8° above the horizon. ISS disappears after only 2 minutes at 10.55 pm in the East. Another pass at 0.25 pm in the South South West at an altitude of 29°. Culmination is at 0.26 am in the South South East at an altitude of 41°. ISS disappears at 0.32 am in the East.
The Moon is close to the bright star called Rho1 Sgr at 0.40 am. Their separation is about 5 lunar diameters. Look for a clear horizon as the altitude is only 6°. The Moon phase is 84%.
ISS appears again at 1.58 am in the West. Culmination is at 2.03 am in the South at an altitude of 70°. ISS disappears at 2.08 am in the Eastern horizon.
A very bright Iridium flare appears at 3.04 am in the West North West at an altitude of 43° in the constellation Canes Venatici.
ISS appears once more at 3.34 am in the West. Culmination is at 3.39 am in the South South West at an altitude of 43°. ISS disappears at 3.44 am in the East South East horizon.
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