Amateur Astronomy - Sky this Week for July 13 to July 19, 2008
Sun, 07/13/2008 - 20:14 — Vern
Tues July 15 the ISS appears in the northwest at 5:18 am and disappears in the east at 5:23 am (-0.3 magnitude)
Thurs July 17 the ISS appears in the northwest at 4:30 and disappears in the east at 4:35 am (-0.4 magnitude)
In the morning on Friday July 18 the ISS appears in the northwest at 4:53 am and disappears in the southeast at 4:59 am (-2.5 magnitude)
That evening it appears at 9:19 pm in the SSW and disappears in the east-northeast at 9:24 pm (-1.5 magnitude)
And again that evening at 10:54 pm in the west and disappears in the north-northeast at 10:59 pm (-0.1 magnitude)
On Saturday July 19 the ISS appears in the northwest at 3:42 am and disappears in the east at 3:47 am (-0.5)
at 5:17 am it appears in the west and disappears in the southwest at 5:22 am (magnitude -1)
at 9:42 pm it appears in the southwest and disappears in the northeast at 9:48 pm. (-2.3)
On Sunday morning July 20 the ISS appears in the northwest at 4:05 am and disappears in the southeast at 4:11 (magnitude -2.5)
Mon July 14 at 00:54 am (excellent)
Mon July 14 at 08:45 pm (low)
Wed July 16 at 02:32 am
Wed July 16 at 10:23 pm
Fri July 18 at 04:10 am (low)
July 19 at 00:01 am (excellent)
July 19 at 07:53 pm (low)
Monday morning July 14, Jupiter's moon Europa crosses the disk starting around 2:28 am followed by its shadow at 2:43 am. Jupiter sets around 5:30 am. Monday evening July 14, Jupiter's moon Io crosses the disk around 9:11 pm followed by its shadow at 9:20 pm . Transit ends 11:30 pm. Somewhere around 9:30 pm you can get an image of both Io's shadow and the red spot.
There was a conjuction of the Giant Red Spot, 'Red Spot Junior', and 'Little Red Spot' in early July. 'Red Spot Junior' survived but 'Little Red Spot' was consumed.
Mercury can be viewed very low in the eastern sky about 45 minutes before sunrise in the constellation Gemini. It is at maximum elognation at noon on Fri. It will quickly moves lower into the bright twilight next week. It reappears in the evening sky in August.
The following is a presentation of a few astronomical objects that may be viewed in the sky this week, July 13 to 19, 2008.
International Space Station
There are some excellent passes of the ISS over Colorado this week. (See www.heavens-above.com for times for your specific location). Toward the end of the week it is visible both in the early morning and in the evening sky. The brightest passes are:Tues July 15 the ISS appears in the northwest at 5:18 am and disappears in the east at 5:23 am (-0.3 magnitude)
Thurs July 17 the ISS appears in the northwest at 4:30 and disappears in the east at 4:35 am (-0.4 magnitude)
In the morning on Friday July 18 the ISS appears in the northwest at 4:53 am and disappears in the southeast at 4:59 am (-2.5 magnitude)
That evening it appears at 9:19 pm in the SSW and disappears in the east-northeast at 9:24 pm (-1.5 magnitude)
And again that evening at 10:54 pm in the west and disappears in the north-northeast at 10:59 pm (-0.1 magnitude)
On Saturday July 19 the ISS appears in the northwest at 3:42 am and disappears in the east at 3:47 am (-0.5)
at 5:17 am it appears in the west and disappears in the southwest at 5:22 am (magnitude -1)
at 9:42 pm it appears in the southwest and disappears in the northeast at 9:48 pm. (-2.3)
On Sunday morning July 20 the ISS appears in the northwest at 4:05 am and disappears in the southeast at 4:11 (magnitude -2.5)
Sun
There are no active regions visible on the solar disk as of today Sunday. On Sunday July 13 sunrise is at 5:45 am and sunset is at 8:31 pm On Saturday July 19 sunrise is at 5:50 am and sunset is at 8:28 pm MDTMoon
As the week begins, the moon is at lunation 11. It is full on Fri July 18 at 1:59 am. It ends the week at lunation 17 Thirty nine years ago this Wednesday, Neil Armstron, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin began their journey to the moon.Planets
You may be able to spot the planet Venus just barely above the western horizon around 9pm. It is currently magnitude -3.8. Around 9:30 pm you can see Mars and Saturn fairly low and nearly straight west in the constellation Leo. The semidiameter of Mars is 4.2 arc sec and it is +1.7 magnitude in brightness. Saturn is magnitude +1.2 in brightness and the semidiameter is 16.5 arc sec. The planet Jupiter may be seen low in the southeast in the constellation Sagittarius as the sky darkens in the early evening. It is magnitude -2.6 in brightness and the semidiameter is 47.3 arc sec. The great red spot crosses the center of Jupiter at the following times this week: Sun July 13 at 05:03 am (low)Mon July 14 at 00:54 am (excellent)
Mon July 14 at 08:45 pm (low)
Wed July 16 at 02:32 am
Wed July 16 at 10:23 pm
Fri July 18 at 04:10 am (low)
July 19 at 00:01 am (excellent)
July 19 at 07:53 pm (low)
Monday morning July 14, Jupiter's moon Europa crosses the disk starting around 2:28 am followed by its shadow at 2:43 am. Jupiter sets around 5:30 am. Monday evening July 14, Jupiter's moon Io crosses the disk around 9:11 pm followed by its shadow at 9:20 pm . Transit ends 11:30 pm. Somewhere around 9:30 pm you can get an image of both Io's shadow and the red spot.
There was a conjuction of the Giant Red Spot, 'Red Spot Junior', and 'Little Red Spot' in early July. 'Red Spot Junior' survived but 'Little Red Spot' was consumed.
Mercury can be viewed very low in the eastern sky about 45 minutes before sunrise in the constellation Gemini. It is at maximum elognation at noon on Fri. It will quickly moves lower into the bright twilight next week. It reappears in the evening sky in August.
Comets
Bright moonlight interfers with locating dim comets this week. Comet C/2007 W1 Boattini is getting dimmer but is up higher as the week progresses. It should be around magntiude 6 to 6.5 this week, so you may be able to spot it in the early morning with binoculars. It moves from constellation Cetus into Aries this week. See www.cometchasing.com or www.aerith.net for more information. Checkout the Astroleague Comet club at http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/comet/comet.htmMeteor Showers
The annual Perseid meteor shower begins this week. Unfortunately the moon will obscure most of them, though a few of the brighter ones may be visible. The Perseid meteor shower begins July 17, peaks on Aug 12, and continues through Aug 24. Best time to view meteors is in early morning, about two to three hours before sunrise. See www.amsmeteors.org for more info. Also checkout the Astroleague Meteor Club at http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/meteor/metrcl.htmlSummary
This week you can see some of the bright passes of the International Space Station. Look for rays on the bright full moon. View Jupiter's great red spot and see moon shadow's cast on clouds in its upper atmosphere. A comet that may be seen in the morning sky with binoculars. If you are interested in learning more about some of the fascinating objects in the sky, attend one of the astronomy club meetings in your area . If you happen to be in Colorado this week stop by the Longmont Astronomical Society (www.longmontastro.org) meeting on Thursday July 17th, the Denver Astronomical Society (www.denverastro.org) meeting on Friday July 18th, or the Boulder Astronomical Society meeting on Saturday July 21st (www.boulderastro.org). If you are Des Moines, Iowa on Friday or Saturday, maybe stop by the Astroleague Conference.Copyright (c) Raben Systems, Inc. 2008. All rights reserved.
