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May Observing Guide
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14 years 11 months ago #78008
by Neill
May Observing Guide was created by Neill
Hello all,
Guide is below - enjoy.
OBSERVING GUIDE
(Please note all times are BST and are based on an observing location of Belfast and covers the month of May)
The Sun
At the start of the month the Sun rises at 05:45 and sets at 21:00. By the end of the month, it rises at 04:55 and sets at 21:50.
The Planets
Mercury can be observed for the first week of the month, lying close to M45 - The Pleiades. After that it is too close to the Sun and is at inferior conjunction on the 18th. By month's end, it has become a morning object, but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it sets over two hours after the Sun at 23:05 and is mag +1.2.
Venus is a morning object but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises over an hour before the Sun at 04:35. By month's end, it rises over an hour before the Sun at 03:35.
Mars is also a morning object but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises less than an hour before the Sun at 5:00. By month's end, it rises over an hour before the Sun at 03:35.
Jupiter is also a morning object and like all of the morning planets this month, struggles to climb out of the dawn twilight and thus is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises two hours before the Sun at 03:50. By month's end, it is best placed for observation, rising at 02:00. It lies close to Neptune towards the end of the month with the closest approach on the morning of the 27th when it passes half a degree to the South of it.
Saturn is the best placed planet this month. It can be located in Leo and rises in daylight hours throughout the month. It sets at 04:45 at the start of the month and by month’s end, it sets at 02:45. It fades during the month from mag +0.7 at the start of the month to mag +0.9 by month's end. With the planet’s ring plane almost edge on, this is not a good time to try and observe the rings. It is however a good time to try and observe the smaller satellites and details on the planet’s surface with the rings out of the picture. As with the Earth on March 20th, Saturn will also undergo a similar transition from winter to spring in its Northern Hemisphere on August 10th of this year. However due to the differences between the two planets’ orbits, Saturn will not undergo another equinox until May 2025. The run up to the Saturnian equinox will provide the opportunity to observe interesting events such as conjunctions and transits with its moons.
Uranus is a morning object but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises an hour before the Sun at 04:40. By month's end, it rises two hours before the Sun at 02:45.
Neptune is a morning object but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises two hours before the Sun at 03:55. By month's end, it rises at 02:00.
The Moon
There are two first quarter moons this month, on the 1st and the 31st. The full moon is on the 9th with the last quarter moon on the 17th and the new moon on the 24th.
On the evening of the 1st, the first quarter moon lies to the South-East of M44 - The Beehive Cluster as darkness falls.
On the evening of the 3rd/morning of the 4th, a 72% illuminated waxing gibbous moon lies to the West of Saturn.
On the morning of the 17th, the last quarter moon lies two degrees to the North of Jupiter in the dawn sky.
On the morning of the 21st, a 15% illuminated waning crescent moon lies close to Venus roughly 1 hour before sunrise in the dawn sky.
On the evening of the 28th, a 25% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies three degrees to the South of M44 - The Beehive Cluster in the darkening skies.
On the evening of the 30th/morning of the 31st, a 48% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies to the West of Saturn.
Meteors
The ZHR or Zenithal Hourly Rate is the number of meteors an observer would see in one hour under a clear, dark sky with a limiting apparent magnitude of 6.5 and if the radiant of the shower were in the zenith. The rate that can effectively be seen is nearly always lower and decreases as the radiant is closer to the horizon. The Zenith is the overhead point in the sky for an observer. The radiant is the point in the sky, from which (to a planetary observer) meteors appear to originate, i.e. the Perseids, for example, are meteors which appear to come from a point within the constellation of Perseus. A fireball is defined by the International Astronomical Union as a meteor brighter than any of the planets, i.e. magnitude -4 or brighter. The International Meteor Organisation alternatively defines it as a meteor which would have a magnitude of -3 or brighter at the zenith.
There are two showers this month. The first shower is the Eta Aquarids which peaks on the morning of the 6th. The ZHR predictions for this shower vary between 40 and 85. These are typically fast, bright meteors and are of a similar speed to the Perseids. Some will leave persistent trains. However it is not a well placed shower for us. The radiant only rises at 05:00, however on a positive note, there will be no lunar interference with the 89% illuminated waxing gibbous moon setting at 04:05.
The second shower this month is a minor one. They are the Eta Lyrids, peaking on the 9th with a ZHR of 3. There may be some lunar interference with the just after full moon rising at 22:30 in Libra.
Comets
Comet 2006 W3 Christensen lies between the square of Pegasus and Lacerta during the month. It is predicted to remain around mag +10 with long term predictions of mag +8 by the summer months. At the start of the month it is visible from about 02:00 and by month’s end it is visible from about midnight.
Comet C/2009 E1 (Itagaki) moves from Andromeda into Pegasus during the month. Its path takes across the top of the great square and will be in the vicinity of Comet 2006 W3 Christensen by month’s end. Current predictions estimate it’s brightness at mag +9 with it expected to fade during the month. At the start of the month, it is visible from about 03:00 and by month’s end it is visible from about midnight.
Comet 22P/Kopff moves from Capricornus into Aquarius this month. Current predictions estimate it’s brightness at mag +9 with similar long term predictions through to the autumn. At the start of the month, it is visible from about 04:00 and by month’s end it is visible from about 03:00. It lies three degrees to the North of the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction on the mornings of the 26th-28th.
Comet C/2008 T2 (Cardinal) moves through Gemini into Canis Minor this month. Current predictions estimate it’s brightness at mag +9 with it expected to remain around that brightness during the month. It is moving Southward and as a result sets earlier and earlier as the month progresses. At the start of the month it is visible until around 02:00 and by month’s end visibility is lost around 23:00. It passes to the East of M35 around the 5th and on the evening of the 11th, it lies two degrees to the South of Comet C/2007 N3 Lulin which is predicted to be mag +12 at the time. By month’s end, the comet lies just to the North of Beta Canis Minoris (mag +2.9).
Comet Yi-Swan (C/2009 F6) was only discovered in March 2009 and this month moves through Perseus into Auriga. It is circumpolar and visible all night. Current predictions estimate the comet’s brightness at mag +9 with predictions that it should remain around that brightness. It should be near to Epsilon Aurigae (mag +2.9) at month’s end.
Deep Sky
On the deep sky front this month, galaxies M81 and M82 can be observed in Ursa Major. In Leo, we have several galaxies on view including The Leo Triplet - M65, M66 and NGC 3628. M95, M96 and M105 can also be observed in Leo. The place to really find galaxies is in Virgo. The Virgo Super Cluster can be found here with numerous galaxies on view. Also in Virgo, M104 - the Sombrero Galaxy can be found. In Coma Berenices, there is M64 - the Black-Eye Galaxy. Also check out the constellation Canes Venatici with the globular cluster - M3 and several galaxies including M51 - the Whirlpool Galaxy and M63 - the Sunflower Galaxy. In Hercules, two globular clusters – M92 and the excellent M13 can be observed and in Lyra – M57 – The Ring Nebula can be observed. Finally there are some excellent open clusters in Cancer - M44 – The Beehive Cluster and M67.
For further observing information, check out
www.eaas.co.uk/index.php?option=com_cont...=blog&id=6&Itemid=11
General Notes
Always keep an eye out for Aurorae. Check out www.stronge.org.uk/spaceweather.html for the most up-to-date information on the aurorae.
Other interesting naked eye phenomena to look out for include the Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein. Both are caused by sunlight reflecting off dust particles which are present in the solar system. The Zodiacal Light can be seen in the West after evening twilight has disappeared or in the East before the morning twilight. The best time of year to see the phenomenon is late-Feb to early-April in the evening sky and September/October in the morning sky - it's then that the ecliptic, along which the cone of the zodiacal light lies, is steepest in our skies. The Gegenschein can be seen in the area of the sky opposite the sun. To view either, you must get yourself to a very dark site to cut out the light pollution. When trying to observe either of these phenomena, it is best to do so when the moon is below the horizon. If you are observing them when the moon has risen, restrict your efforts to the period 4 days either side of the new moon as otherwise the moonlight will be sufficient to drown them out.
Finally check out www.heavens-above.com for the latest passes of the International Space Station and satellites, details of Space Shuttle launches and passes and for details of Iridium Flare activity.
Clear Skies
Neill McKeown
Information Sources Used
www.skyviewcafe.com - Used for the Sun and Planets section. Also partly used for the Moon Section
Sky at Night Magazine Observing Guide and CD
www.aerith.net and cometchasing.skyhound.com – Used for the Comet Section for information and finder charts
BAA Handbook
Stardust Magazine
Sky Guide 2009 – South Dublin Astronomical Society
Guide is below - enjoy.
OBSERVING GUIDE
(Please note all times are BST and are based on an observing location of Belfast and covers the month of May)
The Sun
At the start of the month the Sun rises at 05:45 and sets at 21:00. By the end of the month, it rises at 04:55 and sets at 21:50.
The Planets
Mercury can be observed for the first week of the month, lying close to M45 - The Pleiades. After that it is too close to the Sun and is at inferior conjunction on the 18th. By month's end, it has become a morning object, but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it sets over two hours after the Sun at 23:05 and is mag +1.2.
Venus is a morning object but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises over an hour before the Sun at 04:35. By month's end, it rises over an hour before the Sun at 03:35.
Mars is also a morning object but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises less than an hour before the Sun at 5:00. By month's end, it rises over an hour before the Sun at 03:35.
Jupiter is also a morning object and like all of the morning planets this month, struggles to climb out of the dawn twilight and thus is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises two hours before the Sun at 03:50. By month's end, it is best placed for observation, rising at 02:00. It lies close to Neptune towards the end of the month with the closest approach on the morning of the 27th when it passes half a degree to the South of it.
Saturn is the best placed planet this month. It can be located in Leo and rises in daylight hours throughout the month. It sets at 04:45 at the start of the month and by month’s end, it sets at 02:45. It fades during the month from mag +0.7 at the start of the month to mag +0.9 by month's end. With the planet’s ring plane almost edge on, this is not a good time to try and observe the rings. It is however a good time to try and observe the smaller satellites and details on the planet’s surface with the rings out of the picture. As with the Earth on March 20th, Saturn will also undergo a similar transition from winter to spring in its Northern Hemisphere on August 10th of this year. However due to the differences between the two planets’ orbits, Saturn will not undergo another equinox until May 2025. The run up to the Saturnian equinox will provide the opportunity to observe interesting events such as conjunctions and transits with its moons.
Uranus is a morning object but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises an hour before the Sun at 04:40. By month's end, it rises two hours before the Sun at 02:45.
Neptune is a morning object but is poorly placed for observation. At the start of the month, it rises two hours before the Sun at 03:55. By month's end, it rises at 02:00.
The Moon
There are two first quarter moons this month, on the 1st and the 31st. The full moon is on the 9th with the last quarter moon on the 17th and the new moon on the 24th.
On the evening of the 1st, the first quarter moon lies to the South-East of M44 - The Beehive Cluster as darkness falls.
On the evening of the 3rd/morning of the 4th, a 72% illuminated waxing gibbous moon lies to the West of Saturn.
On the morning of the 17th, the last quarter moon lies two degrees to the North of Jupiter in the dawn sky.
On the morning of the 21st, a 15% illuminated waning crescent moon lies close to Venus roughly 1 hour before sunrise in the dawn sky.
On the evening of the 28th, a 25% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies three degrees to the South of M44 - The Beehive Cluster in the darkening skies.
On the evening of the 30th/morning of the 31st, a 48% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies to the West of Saturn.
Meteors
The ZHR or Zenithal Hourly Rate is the number of meteors an observer would see in one hour under a clear, dark sky with a limiting apparent magnitude of 6.5 and if the radiant of the shower were in the zenith. The rate that can effectively be seen is nearly always lower and decreases as the radiant is closer to the horizon. The Zenith is the overhead point in the sky for an observer. The radiant is the point in the sky, from which (to a planetary observer) meteors appear to originate, i.e. the Perseids, for example, are meteors which appear to come from a point within the constellation of Perseus. A fireball is defined by the International Astronomical Union as a meteor brighter than any of the planets, i.e. magnitude -4 or brighter. The International Meteor Organisation alternatively defines it as a meteor which would have a magnitude of -3 or brighter at the zenith.
There are two showers this month. The first shower is the Eta Aquarids which peaks on the morning of the 6th. The ZHR predictions for this shower vary between 40 and 85. These are typically fast, bright meteors and are of a similar speed to the Perseids. Some will leave persistent trains. However it is not a well placed shower for us. The radiant only rises at 05:00, however on a positive note, there will be no lunar interference with the 89% illuminated waxing gibbous moon setting at 04:05.
The second shower this month is a minor one. They are the Eta Lyrids, peaking on the 9th with a ZHR of 3. There may be some lunar interference with the just after full moon rising at 22:30 in Libra.
Comets
Comet 2006 W3 Christensen lies between the square of Pegasus and Lacerta during the month. It is predicted to remain around mag +10 with long term predictions of mag +8 by the summer months. At the start of the month it is visible from about 02:00 and by month’s end it is visible from about midnight.
Comet C/2009 E1 (Itagaki) moves from Andromeda into Pegasus during the month. Its path takes across the top of the great square and will be in the vicinity of Comet 2006 W3 Christensen by month’s end. Current predictions estimate it’s brightness at mag +9 with it expected to fade during the month. At the start of the month, it is visible from about 03:00 and by month’s end it is visible from about midnight.
Comet 22P/Kopff moves from Capricornus into Aquarius this month. Current predictions estimate it’s brightness at mag +9 with similar long term predictions through to the autumn. At the start of the month, it is visible from about 04:00 and by month’s end it is visible from about 03:00. It lies three degrees to the North of the Jupiter-Neptune conjunction on the mornings of the 26th-28th.
Comet C/2008 T2 (Cardinal) moves through Gemini into Canis Minor this month. Current predictions estimate it’s brightness at mag +9 with it expected to remain around that brightness during the month. It is moving Southward and as a result sets earlier and earlier as the month progresses. At the start of the month it is visible until around 02:00 and by month’s end visibility is lost around 23:00. It passes to the East of M35 around the 5th and on the evening of the 11th, it lies two degrees to the South of Comet C/2007 N3 Lulin which is predicted to be mag +12 at the time. By month’s end, the comet lies just to the North of Beta Canis Minoris (mag +2.9).
Comet Yi-Swan (C/2009 F6) was only discovered in March 2009 and this month moves through Perseus into Auriga. It is circumpolar and visible all night. Current predictions estimate the comet’s brightness at mag +9 with predictions that it should remain around that brightness. It should be near to Epsilon Aurigae (mag +2.9) at month’s end.
Deep Sky
On the deep sky front this month, galaxies M81 and M82 can be observed in Ursa Major. In Leo, we have several galaxies on view including The Leo Triplet - M65, M66 and NGC 3628. M95, M96 and M105 can also be observed in Leo. The place to really find galaxies is in Virgo. The Virgo Super Cluster can be found here with numerous galaxies on view. Also in Virgo, M104 - the Sombrero Galaxy can be found. In Coma Berenices, there is M64 - the Black-Eye Galaxy. Also check out the constellation Canes Venatici with the globular cluster - M3 and several galaxies including M51 - the Whirlpool Galaxy and M63 - the Sunflower Galaxy. In Hercules, two globular clusters – M92 and the excellent M13 can be observed and in Lyra – M57 – The Ring Nebula can be observed. Finally there are some excellent open clusters in Cancer - M44 – The Beehive Cluster and M67.
For further observing information, check out
www.eaas.co.uk/index.php?option=com_cont...=blog&id=6&Itemid=11
General Notes
Always keep an eye out for Aurorae. Check out www.stronge.org.uk/spaceweather.html for the most up-to-date information on the aurorae.
Other interesting naked eye phenomena to look out for include the Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein. Both are caused by sunlight reflecting off dust particles which are present in the solar system. The Zodiacal Light can be seen in the West after evening twilight has disappeared or in the East before the morning twilight. The best time of year to see the phenomenon is late-Feb to early-April in the evening sky and September/October in the morning sky - it's then that the ecliptic, along which the cone of the zodiacal light lies, is steepest in our skies. The Gegenschein can be seen in the area of the sky opposite the sun. To view either, you must get yourself to a very dark site to cut out the light pollution. When trying to observe either of these phenomena, it is best to do so when the moon is below the horizon. If you are observing them when the moon has risen, restrict your efforts to the period 4 days either side of the new moon as otherwise the moonlight will be sufficient to drown them out.
Finally check out www.heavens-above.com for the latest passes of the International Space Station and satellites, details of Space Shuttle launches and passes and for details of Iridium Flare activity.
Clear Skies
Neill McKeown
Information Sources Used
www.skyviewcafe.com - Used for the Sun and Planets section. Also partly used for the Moon Section
Sky at Night Magazine Observing Guide and CD
www.aerith.net and cometchasing.skyhound.com – Used for the Comet Section for information and finder charts
BAA Handbook
Stardust Magazine
Sky Guide 2009 – South Dublin Astronomical Society
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