texas

skywatchers report


Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report for Wednesday June 2nd through Sunday June 6th.

The moon is at third quarter on Friday June 4th.

Venus is visible in the western skies after sunset. Look for the twin stars of Gemini - Castor and Pollux - to Venus' upper right. Venus is setting at 11 p.m. at the end of the week.

A little farther up in west after sunset is Mars, which is alongside Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion, this week. The red planet and the white star will be less than a degree apart on Sunday the 6th. Mars is setting a little after 1 a.m. at the end of the week.

Saturn is high in the southwest in the evening skies and is setting at 2:30 a.m. at the end of the week.

The moon will be alongside Jupiter on the morning on the 6th. Jupiter rises at 2:30 a.m. that morning. If you have binoculars or a small telescope, that morning would also be a good time to look for Uranus, which is about half a degree to the upper left of Jupiter.

Mercury is rising at about 5:15 a.m. at the end of the week.

Public viewing at the 16-inch reflector on top of Robert Lee Moore Hall is on Wednesday nights from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m. RLM is located on the southeast corner of Dean Keeton and Speedway. Take the elevator to the 17th floor and follow the signs to the telescope. Wednesday night viewings will run from June 9 to August 4 this summer.

Public viewing at the 9-inch refractor at Painter Hall is on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m. Painter Hall is located on 24th street about halfway between Speedway and Guadalupe and is northeast of the UT Tower. To get to the telescope, take the elevator to the 5th floor and exit to the left. Follow the 5th floor hallway to the end and take the staircase through the double doors on the left. Once you reach the 6th floor, go to your right and follow the signs up to the telescope. Painter Hall viewings will run from June 4 to August 14th this summer.

All events are free and open to all ages and no reservations are required. Note that viewing times and availability change throughout the year. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 232-4265 for weather cancellation information, which is updated 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled start time when a viewing is cancelled.

Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report.