2019 Week 23: (June 2-June 8)

This week we are hoping for less smoke and moderate conditions conducive to optimal viewing.  The smoke from the Northern Alberta forest fires encompassed Calgary with a thick blanket that essentially reduced visibility and breathability to zero.

Date	Event
June 3	New Moon
June 4	Mercury 4°N of Moon
June 5	Mars 1.6°N of Moon
June 5	Mercury 1.2°N of M35
June 7	Moon in Beehive (M44)

Early Monday morning the Moon completes another lunar cycle and will be new.  The waxing crescent shortly following will also signal the end of Ramadan and the celebration of Eid.  The next day at work were are inundated with excellent home cooked Middle Eastern food from members of our team.

The evening of June 4 the great challenge will begin.  Find a place where you have a clear view of the western horizon.  Shortly after the Sun sets the Moon will be well placed between Mercury and Mars.  Also Mercury will be sitting right next to the star cluster M35 just above the foot of Castor.  Mars is now quite distant from us and will actually appear 10x dimmer in the sky than the diminutive Mercury.

It may be difficult to catch a glimpse of this multiple conjunction as you will be contending with a bright dusk sky.  Binoculars or a telescope may assist you in this endeavour.  However, it is recommended you do not start using your optical aid until you are sure the Sun is below the horizon.

Mars/Moon/Mercury/M35 Conjunction

Two nights later the Moon will be in conjunction with the Beehive Cluster (M44).  This cluster forms the heart of the crab constellation known as Cancer.  Just after 11pm in the evening throw the Moon into your binocular field.  You will also see M44.  This conjunction will be much easier than the one from Tuesday as the sky will be darker.

There is one rocket launch tentatively scheduled for this week.  A Chinese Long March 11 will take a couple Earth-imaging satellites into orbit.

Long March 11 Rocket

Date	Event
June 5	Long March 11 - Jilin 1

 It will take off from an ocean platform in the Yellow Sea.  The launch time has yet to be determined.

This week we will explore a rather large but often forgotten constellation.  Boötes lies right above the head in late Spring from northern latitudes.  It contains the brightest star in the north celestial sky--Arcturus.  You may have wondered what that bright red/orange star above your head has been.

Typically recognized as the herdsman it forms the shape of a person holding a herding tool in its hand.  Although it contains no Messier objects it can be easily used to find the globular cluster M3.

M3 is located almost exactly between Arcturus and the bright star of the constellation Canes Venatici--Cor Coroli.

How to find M3

Cor Caroli is the bright star located under the last star in the handle of the Big Dipper.  Follow a line between Cor Caroli and Arcturus and you should glimpse the fairly bright globular cluster M3.

For more information about Boötes and M3 check out the links below:

https://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2017/04/explore-universe-bootes.html

https://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2018/05/messier-objects-m3.html

Spend some time under the dark skies this Spring and learn about the constellations.  Next week Jupiter will be at opposition and will appear the brightest and largest of 2019.  This is a perfect time to track down someone with a telescope to showcase the beauty of our Solar System's largest planet!