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Posts by
Bruce McClure
Catch Mercury in the west after sunset
Try to spot Mercury, the solar system's innermost planet, as dusk gives way to darkness. Look west, close to the sunset point. On June 23, 2019, Mercury reaches greatest elongation 25 degrees east of the setting sun.
June 23, 2019
Moon and Saturn from nightfall to dawn
As darkness falls on June 18, 2019, notice the bright "star" near the moon. It's not a star. It's a planet, Saturn. You can see the moon and Saturn together from nightfall or early evening until morning dawn.
June 18, 2019
Strawberry Moon and Jupiter from dusk to dawn
The crest of the moon's full phase comes on June 17, 2019, at 8:31 UTC. On both June 16 and 17, the moon will appear full to the eye as it shines close to the king planet Jupiter all night long.
June 16, 2019
Moon to sweep by Jupiter and star Antares
These next several evenings - June 14, 15 and 16, 2019 - watch for the moon to sweep to the north of the red supergiant star Antares and then the king planet Jupiter.
June 14, 2019
Watch these 2 planets: Mercury and Mars
They're not the brightest planets in the sky now, and they're visible only briefly after sunset. But - around June 17, 18 and 19 - Mercury and Mars will have the closest conjunction of 2 planets for 2019.
June 10, 2019
Southern Cross: A southern sky signpost
If you live in the Southern Hemisphere, this is a good time of year to for the Southern Cross in your southern sky, as soon as darkness falls.
June 7, 2019
Young moon, Mercury, Mars on June 4 to 6
These next several days - on June 4, 5 and 6, 2019 - use the young moon to find the planets Mercury and Mars. Then watch for the Mercury-Mars conjunction around June 17 and 18.
June 4, 2019
Observer’s delight: Moon and Venus at dawn
Good luck on catching the early morning spectacle on May 30, 31 and June 1, 2019. Two beautiful heavenly bodies - the moon and Venus - will be near the sunrise point, basking in the sweet glow of dawn.
May 29, 2019
2019’s closest far-moon on May 26
The moon is at last quarter on May 26. And the moon is also at apogee - farthest from Earth for the month - on May 26. The close alignment the 2 events gives us the closest lunar apogee - the closest far-moon - of 2019.
May 25, 2019
Moon and Saturn up around midnight May 21
On May 21, 2019, the moon rises in between the planets Jupiter and Saturn. Saturn doesn't rise until the middle of the night; if you're not a night owl, watch for them before sunup on the morning of May 22.
May 21, 2019
