Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday January 29 through Sunday February 4.
The moon is at third quarter on Friday the 2nd, so we’ll have a waning gibbous moon for the work week and a waning crescent moon in the early morning skies for the weekend.
Saturn is low in the west-southwest at sunset and is setting at 8:00 p.m. at midweek.
Jupiter is still shining brightly high in the south-southwest at sunset and is setting at 12:40 a.m.
Three planets are now grouped together low in the east-southeast before dawn. Venus rises first at 5:30 a.m., still almost two hours before sunrise. Mars follows next rising at 6:10 a.m. and then Mercury rounds out the bunch rising at 6:25 a.m.
In space anniversaries this week, Saturday February 3rd marks 40 years since the launch of space shuttle Challenger mission STS-41B, which included the first untethered spacewalk. On the fourth day of the mission, astronaut Bruce McCandless used the Manned Maneuvering Unit (or MMU) to go over 300 feet from Challenger in the first test of the unit on a spaceflight mission. The unit was used one other time on STS-41B, as well as on two other spaceflights in 1984, but was ultimately retired by NASA.
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.
