Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday April 23rd through Sunday April 29th.
The moon is at first quarter early in the hours of Sunday the 29th so we will have a waxing crescent moon in our early evening skies all week.
Jupiter is now very low in the west after sunset and is setting at 9:00 p.m. at midweek. Venus is high in the west-northwest at sunset and sets 11:30 p.m. Look for the very thin crescent moon below and to the left of Venus on Tuesday night and a slightly larger crescent moon above and to the left of Venus on Wednesday.
Mars is now high in the south at nightfall and is setting at 4:10 a.m. at midweek. Saturn rises at 7 p.m. so it is well up in the east as the sky darkens and is visible for the rest of the night. Over in the morning skies Mercury is starting to sink back towards the sun after greatest elongation last week and is rising at 5:45 a.m.
Public viewing at the 16-inch reflector on top of Robert Lee Moore Hall is on Wednesday night now from 8:30 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.
Public viewing at the 9 inch refractor at Painter Hall is on Friday and Saturday night now from 8:30 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.
Next week will be the final star parties for the spring semester. Summer viewing will start in early June.
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 viewing start time when a viewing is cancelled.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.