Presents

All of The Above

The Month of Saturn

You are Here

The Summer Solstice!June 21, 2017 – 12:24 AM EDT

The Summer Solstice!June 21, 2017 – 12:24 AM EDT

What the Solstice means to us:• Late sunsets• Short nights• Less sleep• Grumpy observers• Summer• Bugs • Humidity

Twilight

Twilight

May 27, 2017

• Sunset: 8:40 PM

• Astronomical Twilight: 10:20 PM

• Latest Astronomical Twilight in Atlanta for 2017?

• 10:35 PM from June 19 – July 2

Current Conditions at Jon Wood Field

Current Conditions at Jon Wood Field(visible satellite: http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/east/eaus/flash-vis.html)

Current Conditions at Jon Wood Field(Weather forecast data by www.wunderground.com)

Current Conditions at Jon Wood Field(Jet Stream data by www.weatherstreet.com)

You are Here

The Solar System: May 27, 2017Body Constellation Rise Set When to View

Sun Taurus 6:28 AM 8:39 PM When you should be at work

Moon Gemini 8:25 AM 10:47 PM Early evening

Mercury Aries 5:23 AM 6:41 PM Next month

Venus Pisces 4:15 AM 4:55 PM Early morning

Mars Taurus 7:38 AM 10:04 PM Next year

Jupiter Virgo 4:13 PM 4:00AM All night

Saturn Ophiuchus 9:55 PM 7:58 AM Most of the night

Uranus Pisces 4:27 AM 5:23 PM In the Fall

Neptune Aquarius 2:35 AM 2:01 PM In late summer

Pluto Sagittarius 11:32 PM 9:40 AM In July

The Solar Update

The Sun: May 27, 2017Solar image by www.spaceweather.com

The Sun-Hα: May 27, 2017Image by www.gong2.nso.edu – El Teide, Spain

The Sun: May 27, 2017

Sunspot Report

The Lunar Update

The Moon: May 27, 2017

Lunation: 2 Day

Illumination: 7.6%

Mag: -4.7

Distance: 224,084 mi360,629 km1.20 Light Second

Apparent Diameter: 33.1’

Location: Gemini

Lunar Events for

May/June

• May 25th - New Moon

• May 25th - Perigee

• May 31st – 0.3° conjunction with Regulus

• June 1st – First Quarter

• June 9th – Full Moon

• June 17th – Last Quarter

• June 23rd – New Moon

Solar System Update

Image credit: Mike Shaw

IMAGE OF THE MONTH

Venus reaches greatest western elongation - June 3rd

Jupiter “The King” still an amazing all-night show

Saturn: Planet of the Month

June 15th Opposition

Best views for 2017, Mag 0.0

Rings tilted an impressive 27°

75.21 Light minutes away

29 year orbit, 10 hour day

Volume: 763 Earth

Mass: 95 Earth

62 Moons

Saturn at Oppostion June 15th

Constellation Update

HydraSextansCrater

Antlia

CentaurusLupusLibraVirgo

BootesUrsa MinorCorona BorealisDraco

OphiuchusHerculesLyra

ScorpiusSerpens Cauda

Stale in the West:

Meridian Crossing:

Fresh from the East:

Valorie’s Constellations of the Month:

•Bootes•Corona Borealis•Draco•Ursa Minor

May/June Target Lists

May/June Target List: RelaxingPiece of cake

Target Type Constellation Notes Image

Saturn P OphiuchusExceptional planet reaching opposition on June 15th

M92 GC HerculesThe other Globular Cluster in Hercules. 14’, Mag +6.3, Class IV

ε Lyrae DS Lyrae

Double-Double. (ε1 +5.6, +6.1 @ 2.2”), (ε2 +5.2, +5.3 @ 2.4”) ε1 – ε2 = 208”

δ Lyrae DS LyraeColorful Double: δ1 - +5.6 Blue, δ2 - +4.28 Yellow, 175”

Alpha Librae DS Libra

Zubenelgenubi – Voted to be the coolest name in the sky! +2.75, +5.19 @ 231"

May/June Target List: IntriguingSmall to medium telescopes

Target Type Constellation Notes Image

NGC 6210 PN HerculesCompact planetary nebula in Hercules. 0.3’ x 0.2’, Mag +8.8

NGC 6229 GC HerculesDense little GC in Hercules. 4.5’ Mag +9.8

M101 GX Ursa Major

“The Pinwheel Galaxy”-very large face on galaxy with noted nebulosity. 28.8’ x 26.9’, Mag +7.8

M102 GX DracoAKA: NGC 5866 -“The Spindle Galaxy” 4.7’ x 1.9’, Mag +10.7

May/June Target List: TaxingLight Buckets

Target Type Constellation Notes Image

NGC 6543 PN Draco“The Cat’s Eye Nebula” – Classic planetary nebula. Mag +9.8

NGC 5634 GC VirgoGlobular Cluster, 2.5’ x 2.5’Mag +10

IC 3568 PN Camelopardalis“The Lemon Slice Nebula” Mag +12.3, but seems much brighter

NGC 4244 GX Canes Venatici

“Silver Needle Galaxy” (AKA Caldwell 26) 16.2’ x 1.8’, Mag +10.2

NGC 5529 GX BootesSweeeet Edge-on galaxy!5.8’ x 0.7’, Mag +11.9

May/June Observing Challenge:

NGC 5449, 5447/50, 5461, 5462

“Bright” nebula inside M101

Mag +13.5 - +14.0

Knots of stars

Star forming regions

NGC 5449

NGC 5447/5450

NGC 5462

NGC 5461

Celestial Events to Note:

• May 28th – DAV Memorial Day Picnic

• June 3rd – Venus at greatest western elongation

• June 15th – Saturn is at Opposition

• June 16th – Asteroid Hebe at Opposition

• June 21st – Summer Solstice

• June 21st – Mercury at superior conjunction with the Sun

• June 23rd – Asteroid Harmonia at opposition

Clear Skies!