See The Solar System Sparkle In Twilight: The Night Sky This Week

Forbes Innovation Science See The Solar System Sparkle In Twilight: The Night Sky This Week Jamie Carter Senior Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I inspire people to go stargazing, watch the Moon, enjoy the night sky Following Jun 11, 2023, 07:15pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin This week brings some spectacular solar system views in twilight. getty Each Monday I pick out the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week ahead, but be sure to check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.

The Night Sky This Week: June 12-18, 2023 Venus has been a bright presence in the west in the early evening sky for most of 2023, but that’s about to end as it retreats to a crescent and ultimately disappears into the sun’s glare during July. Before that, it will take a trip close to the Beehive cluster, one of the prettiest open clusters of stars in the spring sky in the northern hemisphere. Meanwhile, early risers will get some lovely views of a crescent moon this week, including one with the night sky’s other brilliant open cluster, the Pleiades.

However, with a New Moon this week it’s a wonderful week to go stargazing at night with the Milky Way in prime position—if you can stay up late enough for true darkness. After all, the solstice—the longest day and shortest night of the year in the northern hemisphere—is coming next week! How do we know this? The Pleiades star cluster is now visible in the east just before sunrise … calendars are sure helpful, but the positions of stars have for thousands of years marked the passing of time and the beginning of seasons. Tuesday, June 13: Venus And The Beehive Cluster Just a few weeks after Mars’ appearance in M44, Venus has a turn.

The still-bright “Evening Star” planet will make a close pass of the Beehive Cluster (M44) in the constellation Cancer. You will be able to see it with the naked eye, though any pair of binoculars will get you a superior look at M44’s blue stars. Mars will be just above.

Wednesday, June 14: A Waning Crescent Moon And Jupiter for early-risers. Stellarium MORE FOR YOU Once In A Thousand Year Cosmic Explosion Has Been Explained At Last Hermeus Is Plugging An F 15 Engine Into its Hypersonic Test Aircraft Astronaut s Brains Need Three Years Off Between Trips Say Scientists W ednesday, June 14: A Waning Crescent Moon And Jupiter If you’re up around 04:00 a. m.

have a look to the east to see a 15%-lit waning crescent moon just 2º from Jupiter, which is now a morning object—and will be until late summer. Thursday, June 15: A Waning Crescent Moon And Uranus Just after 04:00 a. m.

in the east-northeast pre-dawn sky Will be an 8% illuminated waning crescent moon between Jupiter to its upper right and the Pleiades to its lower left. However, on the lower right, the moon will be the planet Uranus. However, to see it you will likely need binoculars.

Friday, June 16: A Young Crescent Moon And The Pleiades an hour before sunrise. Stellarium Friday, June 16: A Young Crescent Moon And The Pleiades Another early start will get you views about 04:30 a. m.

of a by now just 3%-lit crescent moon rising in the east-northeast just below the Pleiades open cluster of sparkling blue stars, the appearance of which is a clue that the solstice is close. Saturday, June 17: Saturn Retrograde From today through November 4, Saturn will be in a period of apparent retrograde motion” while in the constellation Pisces—appearing to go backward in the sky. Earth is orbiting the Sun much faster than the outer planets, so occasionally overtakes them.

They then appear to be moving backward for a short time. Sunday, June 18: New Moon A new moon occurs when our satellite is roughly between us and the Sun. Is therefore completely invisible, which is a shame because it’s actually up all day hanging around in the glare of our star.

The only time a new moon is visible is during a solar eclipse, but even then you can only see it as a data sheet across the sun’s disc. The Milky Way arching over Emerald Lake and Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho National Park, BC, Canada, in . .

. [+] June. (Photo by: Alan Dyer /VW PICS/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Universal Images Group via Getty Images Object Of The Week: The Milky Way Summer is the best time to see the Milky Way from the northern hemisphere, but conditions have to be perfect.

You’ll need a very dark sky, which means getting as far as you can from urban lights. The best time to try is the week before (and a few nights after) the New Moon, which occurs on June 18 this month. However, you will have to stay up late—it won’t get properly dark until at least midnight.

The New Moons in July and particularly August and September will be the best times to try for the summer Milky Way if you live at far northern latitudes. Times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information consult online planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Live .

Check planet-rise/planet-set , sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times for where you are. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn .

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