Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday June 12 through Monday June 19.
The moon is new late on Saturday the 17th so we’ll have a waning crescent moon in the early morning skies for most of the week. The very thin waxing crescent moon will show up low in the west on Monday the 19th right after sunset.
Venus is still shining brightly in the west after sunset and is setting at 11:35 p.m. at midweek. Mars is above and to the left of Venus and is setting at 11:50 p.m. The two planets will continue to move closer to one another over the next few weeks.
Saturn rises at 12:55 a.m. as it continues to move back towards our evening skies and opposition in late August.
Jupiter is rising at 3:40 a.m. at midweek. Look for Jupiter below the crescent moon on Tuesday morning and to the right of the moon on Wednesday morning.
Mercury is rising at 5:25 a.m., about an hour before the sun.
In space anniversaries this week, Friday June 16 marks 60 years since the launch of the Soviet Vostok 6 spacecraft with cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova, who became the first woman in space. Tereshkova orbited the Earth for nearly three days before returning safely to the Earth.
And 20 years and two days later on June 18, 1983, the space shuttle Challenger launched with astronaut Sally Ride, who became the first US woman astronaut in space. The mission deployed several satellites while on orbit and landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California after 6 days in space.
Public viewing at the 16-inch reflector on top of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building is on Wednesday nights from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m. this summer. PMA 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.
There will be no public viewing at the Painter Hall Telescope this summer. Friday and Saturday night viewing at Painter Hall will resume in the fall semester.
All events are free and open to all ages and no reservations are required. Note that viewing times and availability change throughout the year so please check the schedule before planning a visit. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 512-232-4265 for weather cancellation information, which is updated 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled viewing start time.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.
