texas

skywatchers report


Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday June 25th through Sunday July 1st.

The moon is at first quarter on Tuesday night so we will have a waxing gibbous moon for the remainder of the week.

Mercury is at its greatest elongation east on Saturday night, so this week will be a good time to look for the innermost planet low in the west after sunset. Mercury will set at 10:15 p.m. at midweek.

Mars is still visible as a pale orange dot in the southwest in the early evenings. Mars is setting at 1:00 a.m. at midweek. Saturn is still near the bright star Spica in the constellation Virgo and is setting at 2:20 a.m. at midweek. Look for the moon near Saturn and Spica on Wednesday and Thursday nights.

Jupiter and Venus make a nice pair in the morning skies, with the red star Aldebaran nearby. Jupiter rises at 4:15 a.m. followed by Venus at 4:45 a.m.

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. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 232-4265 for weather cancellation information, which is updated 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled start time when a viewing is cancelled.

Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.