Saturday, June 26
The early-morning Saturday sky features a close encounter between Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke and the bright southern star Fomalhaut, alpha star of Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish. Rising after 1:30 A.M. local time, the comet floats just 1.7° east-northeast of the bright magnitude 1.1 star.
Just two weeks past its closest approach to Earth, Pons-Winnecke is roughly magnitude 11 and will require a larger telescope of 6 inches or more to enjoy. The Moon is also in the area, which may wash out the comet’s more feeble light. Pons-Winnecke will continue traveling southeast against the background, so you can try returning to the area in a few days, when your prospects for spotting it will have improved.
If you’re looking for a brighter but still challenging target, try for Neptune, which sits north of the comet in the corner of Aquarius. Now 5.7° east-northeast of Phi (Ï•) Aquarii, Neptune is stationary against the background stars at 6 A.M. EDT. The planet, which shines at magnitude 5.8 and is within easy reach of most binoculars, is just 7′ east of a magnitude 7.2 field star. The pair might almost appear like a double star, but spend a few moments looking and you’ll likely notice Neptune’s “flatter,” more disklike appearance.
Sunrise: 5:33 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 10:47 P.M.
Moonset: 7:19 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (95%)
Sunday, June 27
The Moon passes 4° south of Saturn at 5 A.M. EDT — although by that time, the sky is likely already growing bright with the coming dawn. A few hours earlier, however, you can catch the pair just over 5° apart in Capricornus the Sea Goat. By 4:30 A.M. EDT, they’re sitting due south and form a nice triangle with Deneb Algedi, Capricornus’ magnitude 2.9 delta star, about 12° to their northeast.
Zoom in on Saturn with a telescope and, despite the bright background, you’ll still be able to make out its stunning rings, which stretch nearly 42″ across. Thanks to their angle of 17°, the planet’s southern polar region is becoming visible. Although many of Saturn’s dimmer moons will likely be washed out, brighter Titan (magnitude 8.6) sits 2.7′ west of the planet and should still be visible.
Sunrise: 5:34 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:27 P.M.
Moonset: 8:30 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (88%)
Monday, June 28
Since yesterday, the Moon has shifted east and will pass 4° south of Jupiter at 3 P.M. EDT. Early this morning around 4:30 A.M. EDT, our satellite is still nearly 9° southwest of the solar system’s largest planet.
Jupiter is located in Aquarius, nearly 12° directly below (south) of Sadalmelik, the Water-bearer’s 3rd-magnitude alpha star. At magnitude –2.6, the planet vastly outshines the constellation’s stars. All four Galilean moons sit to Jupiter’s west this morning; from east to west, you’ll see Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. They’re easy to see even with a small telescope. The planet itself spans 45″ and, just two months from opposition, is an excellent telescope target. Look for bands of color and subtler features such as spots and swirls that move quickly as the planet rotates every 10 hours or so.
Sunrise: 5:34 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 11:59 P.M.
Moonset: 9:42 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (81%)
Tuesday, June 29
An hour or two after sunset, Ursa Major is balanced on her front paws and above her head is a pair of galaxies not to be missed. M81 and M82 are two relatively nearby spirals with a history — following a close pass several hundred million years ago, both galaxies underwent gravitational effects that caused them to begin forming vast quantities of stars. Today, the two appear about 35′ apart on the sky (slightly greater than the diameter of the Full Moon) and you can capture both in a low-power eyepiece or perhaps even your finder scope.
M81, also called Bode’s Galaxy after its discoverer, Johann Bode, is a tightly wound spiral galaxy. M82, also called the Cigar Galaxy, appears long and thin (like its namesake) because we are seeing it edge-on. Despite the fact that M81 is brighter, M82 is often easier to see because its light is more concentrated, meaning it has a higher surface brightness.
Sunrise: 5:34 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: —
Moonset: 10:49 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (71%)
Wednesday, June 30
The planet Uranus stands about 14° high two hours before sunrise. You’ll find it in the east, glowing a faint magnitude 5.9 in a sparse region of Aries the Ram. This morning, use binoculars to home in Uranus and you’ll see it’s sitting just 11′ due north of Omicron (ο) Arietis, which shines at roughly the same magnitude as the planet.
Once you’ve looked your fill, consider swinging your gaze to nearby Taurus, where the Pleiades (M45) are rising. This famous grouping of young stars is often mistaken for the Little Dipper because of its dipperlike shape — but the actual Little Dipper is much larger and lies upside-down in the north this morning, stretching outward from the end of its handle, which is marked by Polaris.
The Moon passes 4° south of Neptune at 5 A.M. EDT this morning. Before sunrise, you’ll find them in Aquarius, which sits above the southeastern horizon.
Sunrise: 5:35 A.M.
Sunset: 8:33 P.M.
Moonrise: 12:26 A.M.
Moonset: 11:54 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (62%)
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