RFO

What's Up in the Night Sky

Here's a month-by-month listing of astronomical predictions for the year, compiled by
Jack Welch, RFO astronomy instructor.

 

Abbreviations

Astr Twi - Astronomical Twilight
Civ Twi - Civil Twilight
Cr - Crescent
Dbl Tr - Double Tansit
Ex - Exit
Gr El - Greatest Elongation
Jup - Jupiter
Mer - Mercury
Min - Minimum
Naut Twi - Nautical Twilight
Nr - Near
Occ - Occultation
Opp - Opposition
Reap - Reappear
Qtr - Quarter
Sat - Saturn
Sh - Shadow
Stat - Stationary
V Nr - Very Near
Ven - Venus
Zod Lt - Zodiacal Light

 

Observing

2013 Observing Highlights

May 2013
  • Thursday, 5/2/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 04:00
    • -
  • Saturday, 5/4/2013 - Occ of Situla - Time: 04:00
    • At about 4:19am the triple star Situla, or kappa Aquarii, will reappear from behind the dark limb of the 28% moon at axis able 281°, or 82° from the north cusp. Note that the moon's altitude will be 13° in the ESE. The primary is a very close (0.1") equal double with a 9th mag companion at 87". A double blink-on of the primary might be observable. (Calculated for the RFO site using Occult4.)
  • Thursday, 5/9/2013 - New Moon - Time: 17:30
    • -
  • Friday, 5/10/2013 - 1.2% Cr Mn - Time: 20:30
    • An ultrathin 1.2% crescent moon will be 4° high 21° north of due west at 8:40pm.
  • Saturday, 5/11/2013 - Cr Mn nr Jup - Time: 20:30
    • The crescent moon is near Jupiter low in the west. Begin looking around 8:30pm. Venus is nearby, lower than Jupiter and slightly north.
  • Sunday, 5/12/2013 - Cr Mn nr Jup - Time: 20:30
    • The crescent moon is near Jupiter low in the west. Begin looking around 8:30pm. Venus is nearby, lower than Jupiter and slightly north.
  • Friday, 5/17/2013 - 1st Qtr - Time: 21:30
    • -
  • Wednesday, 5/22/2013 - Mn v nr Spica - Time: 02:00
    • The moon is very near the bright star Spica in Virgo, and Saturn is nearby, higher and to the south.
  • Wednesday, 5/22/2013 - Mer in W thru 6/23 - Time: 21:00
    • This is a very good evening apparition of Mercury with lots of special events. Venus is near Mercury throughout, particularly close on 5/24, and Jupiter joins this pair until about 5/28. Initially low in the WNW, start looking around 9:05pm and use binoculars. (See 6/1 entry for June details.)
  • Thursday, 5/23/2013 - Mn nr Sat - Time: 02:00
    • -
  • Friday, 5/24/2013 - Lrg Tides thru 5/27 - Time: 00:00
    • The May full moon occurs just 22 hours before perigee, producing large tides.
  • Friday, 5/24/2013 - "Flower" Moon - Time: 21:30
  • Sunday, 5/26/2013 - Ven-Mer-Jup in W - Time: 21:00
    • The three planets form a triangle between the horn tips of Taurus the bull in the best planetary conjunction of 2013! Venus is brightest and lowest, Jupiter in between, and Mercury highest and dimmest. Start looking around 9:05pm and use binoculars. You'll need an unobstructed WNW horizon. If you watch every night before and after you can see them dance around each other.
  • Friday, 5/31/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 12:00
    • -
June 2013
  • Saturday, 6/1/2013 - Mer in W thru 6/23 - Time: 21:00
    • This very good evening apparition of Mercury continues. Venus is near Mercury throughout, particularly close on 6/19. Mercury reaches maximum altitude (over 10° 45 minutes after sunset) on 6/10. Greatest elongation east is 6/12. The bright stars Castor and Pollux are high above but draw nearer as the month progresses. Mercury is near the star Mebsuta on 6/5, followed by Venus on 6/10. The crescent moon joins in from 6/10 to 6/12. Mercury grows quite dim after about 6/15. Start looking in the WSW around 9:10pm and use binoculars. You'll want an unobstructed horizon.
  • Saturday, 6/1/2013 - M35 betw Ven & Mer - Time: 21:00
    • Those with scopes may want to try watching for the next couple of nights as Venus draws nearer to star cluster M35.
  • Tuesday, 6/4/2013 - Ven v nr M35 - Time: 21:00
    • Venus will be very near M35, practically part of the cluster.
  • Wednesday, 6/5/2013 - Mer nr Mebsuta - Time: 21:00
    • Mercury will be just below the star Mebsuta.
  • Saturday, 6/8/2013 - New Moon - Time: 09:00
    • -
  • Saturday, 6/8/2013 - Mebsuta betw Mer & Ven - Time: 21:00
    • The star Mebsuta is between Mercury (above) and Venus (below). The star Tejat Posterior is below Venus.
  • Sunday, 6/9/2013 - 2.1% Cr Mn - Time: 21:00
    • A thin 2.1% crescent moon will be 4° high 21° north of due west at 9:00pm, with the Mercury-Venus planetary pair directly above the moon.
  • Monday, 6/10/2013 - Cr Mn nr Mer, Ven v nr Mebsuta - Time: 21:00
    • The crescent moon is near Mercury, which is near Venus, which is very near the star Mebsuta. The star Mekbuda is between the moon and the planetary pair.
  • Sunday, 6/16/2013 - 1st Qtr - Time: 10:30
    • -
  • Monday, 6/17/2013 - Occ of psi Vir - Time: 24:00
    • At about 12:01am on 6/18 the mag 4.8 star psi Virginis will disappear behind the dark limb of the 66% moon 86° from the south cusp. Psi Vir is a very close (0.04") double with an 8th mag companion so a double blink-out might be observable in larger scopes. (Calculated for the RFO site using Occult4.)
  • Tuesday, 6/18/2013 - Ven nr Mer - Time: 21:00
    • Venus and Mercury are at their closest this evening. Dimmer Mercury is slightly below and south of Venus.
  • Tuesday, 6/18/2013 - Mn v nr Spica - Time: 22:00
    • The moon is very near the bright star Spica in Virgo.
  • Thursday, 6/20/2013 - Solstice - Time: 22:00
    • The Summer Solstice occurs at 10:04pm.
  • Saturday, 6/22/2013 - Lrg Tides thru 6/25 - Time: 09:00
    • Full moon occurs at perigee.
  • Sunday, 6/23/2013 - "Strawberry" Moon - Time: 04:30
    • Occurring less than 1 hour from perigee, this is the largest full moon of 2013 and will produce very large tides.
  • Saturday, 6/29/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 22:00
    • -
July 2013
  • Monday, 7/8/2013 - New Moon - Time: 00:30
    • -
  • Monday, 7/15/2013 - 1st Qtr - Time: 20:30
    • -
  • Monday, 7/22/2013 - "Buck" Moon - Time: 11:30
  • Monday, 7/29/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 10:30
    • -
August 2013
  • Tuesday, 8/6/2013 - New Moon - Time: 15:00
    • -
  • Wednesday, 8/14/2013 - 1st Qtr - Time: 04:00
    • -
  • Tuesday, 8/20/2013 - "Sturgeon" Moon - Time: 18:30
  • Wednesday, 8/28/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 02:30
    • -
September 2013
  • Thursday, 9/5/2013 - New Moon - Time: 04:30
    • -
  • Thursday, 9/12/2013 - 1st Qtr - Time: 10:00
    • -
  • Thursday, 9/19/2013 - "Harvest" Moon - Time: 04:00
  • Sunday, 9/22/2013 - Equinox - Time: 13:30
    • The Autumnal Equinox occurs at 1:44pm PDT.
  • Thursday, 9/26/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 21:00
    • -
October 2013
  • Friday, 10/4/2013 - New Moon - Time: 17:30
    • -
  • Friday, 10/11/2013 - 1st Qtr - Time: 16:00
    • -
  • Friday, 10/18/2013 - "Hunter's" Moon - Time: 16:30
  • Saturday, 10/26/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 16:30
    • -
November 2013
  • Sunday, 11/3/2013 - DST Ends - Time: 02:00
    • -
  • Sunday, 11/3/2013 - New Moon - Time: 05:00
    • -
  • Saturday, 11/9/2013 - 1st Qtr - Time: 22:00
    • -
  • Sunday, 11/17/2013 - "Beaver" Moon - Time: 07:30
  • Monday, 11/25/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 11:30
    • -
December 2013
  • Monday, 12/2/2013 - New Moon - Time: 16:30
    • -
  • Tuesday, 12/3/2013 - 1.7% Cr Mn - Time: 17:00
    • An ultrathin 1.7% crescent moon will be 6° high 13° north of due west at 5:20pm.
  • Monday, 12/9/2013 - 1st Qtr - Time: 07:00
    • -
  • Tuesday, 12/17/2013 - "Cold" Moon - Time: 01:30
  • Saturday, 12/21/2013 - Solstice - Time: 09:00
    • The Winter Solstice occurs at 9:11am.
  • Wednesday, 12/25/2013 - Last Qtr - Time: 06:00
    • -

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