2018 Week 19: (May 6-May 12)

We are now in the first full week of May and there is an important observing event for astronomers.  The chart below highlights this week.

Date	Event
May 6	Mars 3°S of Moon
May 7	Last Quarter
May 8	Jupiter at Opposition
May 12	Mercury 2°S of Uranus

That time has arrived again for the year.  Jupiter will be at opposition.  It will be positioned directly opposite the Sun as viewed from Earth.  This will give us the brightest, largest view of the big planet.  I am sure you've probably seen a bright object encroaching into the evening sky from the East over the past month.  This is Jupiter.  On Tuesday it will rise as the Sun is setting.  A pair of binoculars, held steady, will reveal its 4 Galilean Moons and a telescope will resolve its equatorial belts and big red spot.  I will likely be observing this planet all week and all month long trying to take high frame rate videos to produce photographs.

Jupiter

Also happening next week, the Moon will be at its Last Quarter phase as it rises in during the middle of the early morning while it is still dark.

There are not any public events happening around town next week but stay tuned the following week for a free lecture on astro navigation during the Cold War.

If you want to catch Venus it is quite easy to see at this time.  If you look toward the West at sunset you will see a bright point of light in the sky.  You will likely see it even before the sun sets as it is so bright.  As it gets darker it will be much easier to see and during a dark night at a dark location its light will even cast shadows.  It is currently at a waning gibbous phase with an illumination percentage of 85.8% with a diameter of 12.1".  It will be in this phase until August when it slips into a waning crescent as shown in the image below.

Venus

Saturn and Mars are both hanging out in Sagittarius this week rising at 1:15am and 2:30am respectively.  Unless you like to stay up really late or get up really early you'll have to wait a few months to see them at a reasonable time.  Mars will be in opposition this year on July 27 where avid astrophotographers will have their best opportunity to catch some major features on the planet's surface!

Keep your eyes on the sky and see if you can spot some of your favourite constellations!  I will try to post a Spring constellation map later this week so you can print it out and match them from your backyard!