Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday January 15 through Sunday January 21.
The moon is at first quarter late on Wednesday night, so we’ll have a waxing crescent moon for the first part of the week and a waxing gibbous moon for the second half of the week.
Saturn is low in the west-southwest at sunset and is setting at 8:45 p.m. at midweek.
Jupiter is shining brightly high in the south at sundown and is setting at 1:30 a.m. at midweek. Look for Jupiter and the moon to pair up on Thursday night.
Venus is bright in the predawn skies and is rising at 5:05 a.m. at midweek. Mercury follows at 5:55 a.m. and Mars rounds out the group at 6:25 a.m.
In space anniversaries this week, Sunday the 21st marks 60 years since the launch of the Relay 2 satellite, part of an early experimental US satellite communications program. Relay 2 operated until September 1965 when the Mojave Desert Ground Station was repurposed. Both Relay 1 and Relay 2 are still in Earth orbit since their orbits are high enough to not get pulled into reentry by atmospheric drag.
Public viewing at the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building on Wednesday nights will resume next week.
Public viewing at the 9-inch refractor at Painter Hall is on Friday and Saturday nights currently from 7 to 9 p.m. Painter Hall is located on 24th street about halfway between Speedway and Guadalupe and is northeast of the UT Tower. Take the elevator to the 5th floor then take the stairs up to the 6th floor and follow the signs up to the telescope.
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.
