Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday January 27th through Sunday February 2nd.
The moon is new on Wednesday the 29th, so we’ll start the week with a waning crescent moon and then we’ll have a waxing crescent moon in the early evening skies for the rest of the week.
Saturn is now very low in the west-southwest at sunset and is setting at 8:50 p.m. Saturn will be just above the very thin crescent moon on Friday evening.
Venus is shining brightly in the west-southwest in the early evenings and is setting at 9:35 p.m. Look for the crescent moon alongside Venus on Saturday evening.
Jupiter is very high in the southeast after sunset and is near the Hyades open cluster and the bright star Aldebaran. Jupiter is setting at 3:20 a.m. at midweek.
Mars is up in the east as the sky darkens after sunset and is setting at 6:30 a.m.
Mercury is sinking back towards the Sun as it heads towards its next solar conjunction at the end of next week and is rising about 15 minutes before the Sun.
Public viewing at the 16-inch reflector on top of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building is on Wednesday nights currently from 7 to 9 p.m. 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.
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.
