SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).

The Sun and Moon

There is a total solar eclipse on 21 June.

Solstice occurs on Earth on 21 June, marking the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and the start of winter in the south. During the longest days of the summer, observers north of about 50° north latitude never experience true darkness. As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Taurus to the constellation Gemini.

The phases of the Moon are

Full : 6 June
Last Quarter : 14 June
New : 21 June
First Quarter : 28 June

The Moon is at apogee on 11 June and at perigee on 23 June.

Like last month, two planets are occulted by the Moon. Saturn slips behind the disc of the Moon on 19 June and Jupiter disappears briefly two days later. Normally, all three bodies would be too close to the Sun to be able to view these events. However, those in the path of totality on 21 June should be able to see both Jupiter and Saturn once the Moon has totally obscured the face of the Sun.

The Planets

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
Mercury
Mercury begins to retrograde on 4 June. The closest planet to the Sun is at inferior conjunction on 16 June and returns to prograde motion on 28 June. Elusive Mercury can be found in the constellations Taurus and Orion.
Venus
On 8 June Venus reaches greatest elongation west. The "morning star" is starting to lose altitude in the eastern sky before sunrise in the southern hemisphere but the best is yet to come for northern observers. Venus can be found in the constellations Pisces and Aries.
Mars
The red planet is at opposition on 13 June. It is especially bright this month because it is closest to the Earth on 21 June. Look for Mars in the constellation Ophiuchus and compare its colour with that of the nearby star Antares.
Jupiter
Jupiter is probably too close to the Sun this month to be visible in the constellation Taurus.
Saturn
Like its giant neighbour Jupiter, the ringed planet is near the Sun in the constellation Taurus.
Uranus
This gas giant rises before midnight in the constellation Capricornus.
Neptune
Neptune rises just before Uranus in the constellation Capricornus.
Pluto
Pluto is at opposition on 4 June and so is up all night in the constellation Ophiuchus. However, because it is so small and faint, a large telescope is always needed to see it.

Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors

Minor Planets
A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
Comets
There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
Meteors
There are no major meteor showers this month.

The Celestial Sphere

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.

Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)

Northern Hemisphere : 45° N

Southern Hemisphere : 30° S

For More Information...

Credits

Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of Sky & Telescope and in other fine amateur astronomy magazines available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.

The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.

Obliquity Copyright © 1995-2001 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman
All Rights Reserved
Designed and maintained by Obliquity
Last modified on 31 May 2001
https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/archive/2001/may2001.html