The night sky this week

Every Monday, I pick the North American sky highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere), but be sure to check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.

ForbesPictured: The full rising of the “Strawberry Moon” marks the once-in-18-year eventfrom Jamie Carter

The night sky this week: June 24-30, 2024

Just a few days after the solstice, this week has the last sunsets of 2024. A bad week for stargazing? Actually, no. Of course, you’ll have to stay up until around midnight to get enough dark in the sky to see the stars, but the twilight hours will include fabulous views of the giant waning moon close to Saturn and Neptune, many satellites capturing the brightness of the sun. and even “space clouds” in the northern skies.

Here’s what to see in the night sky this week:

Tuesday, June 25: Launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket

Today we will see the launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. It will take the NASA/NOAA weather satellite GOES-U (soon to be called GOES-19) into a geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the equator. In addition to U.S. weather forecasts, GOES-U is unique in having a coronagraph to image the sun’s corona—the mysterious, hottest outer atmosphere visible only from Earth during a total solar eclipse—and thus help physicists solar to more accurately predict the coronal mass ejections and, therefore, the solar wind from the sun.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting a two-hour launch window that opens at 5:16 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 25. Keep an eye out supply of SpaceX for exact times and check the SpaceX YouTube channel for a live feed.

Thursday, June 27: Moon-Saturn conjunction

In the early morning hours (rising in the east around 1:00 a.m.), the 68% bright giant moon — at its closest approach to Earth this month — will appear very close to Saturn. Mars and Jupiter will also appear above the east.

From eastern Australia and northeastern New Zealand, the moon will hide (eclipse) the “circled planet” for several hours, according to In-The-Sky.org.

Friday, June 28: The last quarter Moon hides Neptune

This morning, it’s the turn of Neptune – the eighth planet from the sun – to be visited by a waning 58% illuminated crescent moon rising in the east around 01:00 AM. It’s a great opportunity to see Neptune – usually a challenging target – with a pair of binoculars.

From northern South America (northwest Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela), the moon will hide (eclipse) the “surrounded planet” for several hours, according to In-The-Sky.org.

Saturday, June 29: Darkest Summer Skies

Stargazing becomes difficult with the nights now so short in the Northern Hemisphere. At least the moon is now out of the way, though. Now waxing near 1:00 a.m. wherever you are above the equator, the last-quarter (or third-quarter) Moon — only half illuminated — will rise 50 minutes later each night.

Sunday, June 30: ‘Asteroid Day’

Today is Asteroid Day, but hopefully that doesn’t mean some dangerous space rock is bound for Earth. Later this year will see the “first light” for the Vera Rubin Observatory, which will deploy a wide-angle camera to map the night sky in real time, helping to find thousands of asteroids that scientists have yet to see. they know.

Naked Eye Target of the Week: Hidden Clouds

Twilight will dominate your stargazing, so make the most of it. At their best in the northern twilight sky during June and July (at latitudes between 50° and 70° north and south of the equator), bright or “nightglow” clouds are high clouds of icy dust that form about 50 miles/80 kilometers up.

Best seen with the naked eye or a pair of binoculars, the subtle NLCs are visible at this time of year because they are illuminated by the setting sun but never quite below the horizon.

Binocular Target of the Week: Large Globular Cluster

Ideally placed in the night sky this month is M13, the “Great Globular Cluster in Hercules.” A spectacular sight with binoculars or a small telescope, the nearest and brightest globular cluster – as seen from the Northern Hemisphere – is about 25,000 light-years away.

A globular cluster includes 10 billion-year-old stars that formed outside the Milky Way and now orbit in its halo. M13 is one of 150 we know of – but it’s one of the best to observe. Look almost at the zenith – directly overhead – between the bright stars Vega and Arcturus.

The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For more accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums such as SkySafari Pro AND Stellarium. check out lift-planes/set-planes, East West AND moon rise/set times for where you are.

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I wish you clear skies and open eyes.