texas

skywatchers report


Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday June 20th through Sunday June 26th.

The full moon for the month of June is on 20th and we'll have a waning gibbous moon for the remainder of the week. This full moon is known as the Flower Moon, the Strawberry Moon, the Rose Moon, and the Honey Moon.

Monday the 20th is also the summer solstice for the northern hemisphere and the winter solstice for the southern hemisphere. This is the point where the sun hits its farthest point north of the celestial equator and cuts the largest arc across our skies, giving us a maximum amount of daylight. For the southern hemisphere, it cuts the shortest arc and is the minimum amount of daylight.

Jupiter is moving farther to the west, but is still visible for several hours after sunset, setting at 12:50 a.m.

Mars is still shining brightly in the south-southeast at nightfall and is setting at 3:55 a.m., so there is still a lot of nighttime to observe it.

Saturn is up in the southeast and is setting at 5:15 a.m.

Mercury is sinking back towards the sun but is still rising an hour before sunrise. Venus is still obscured by the sun's glare.

Public viewing at the 16-inch reflector on top of Robert Lee Moore Hall is on Wednesday nights from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m. this summer. 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 nights from 9:00 to 10:30 p.m. this summer. 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.

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.