Sun rises ~ 6:29am
Sun sets ~ 5:35pm
Moon phase: last quarter, waning crescent
Moon rises ~ 2:22am
Moon sets ~ 2:23pm
Early evening
Good opportunity for star-gazing this weekend as the moon doesn’t rise until after 2:00am and even then it’s a dim sliver, not bright enough to wash out any fainter stars. One of the faintest celestial objects is the planet Mercury which can only be viewed when its distance from the Sun is maximized from our perspective on Earth, and that will occur this weekend. For a view of this elusive planet, look a little left of due West after the sun sets and you should be able to discern Mercury for about 20 minutes – it drops below the horizon by 6:10pm.
As the evening sky darkens, you should recognize the now familiar half-circlet of Corona Australis and just to its right the “tipped teapot” of Sagittarius. These constellations both set by 7:00pm.
Looking south, some now familiar bright stars continue to catch the eye: Achernar, Formalhaut, Canopus and Sirius. We discussed Fomalhaut a few weeks ago and Achernar last weekend. Canopus and Sirius are the two beacons of the southern sky, the two brightest stars visible to humans on earth. They rise from the South-south-eastern horizon, Sirius at about 8:30 and Canopus around 9:50. As the night deepens, Sirius climbs high, while Canopus traces a low arch, setting by 2:00am.
Late night - early morning
Jupiter, Venus and Mars keep company with the crescent Moon in the early hours of our Saturday and Sunday mornings. Jupiter rises first, around 12:30am. Mars and the Moon follow Jupiter about an hour and a half later. The Moon’s shape is like a cup, into which Mars seems to be falling. Venus crosses the horizon at 3:30. The moon and three planets are all visible together by 4:00am and they remain close together as the sky lightens at dawn.
The planets look a lot like brilliant stars, so good binoculars can help you see the difference. You should be able to make out the circular disk-shape of Venus and Mars, while Jupiter will even show you three or four of its tiny moons. Our own Moon will also be lovely to see with binoculars.
Still star-gazing at 4:00am? Check out the constellation of the Southern Cross, or Crux. This simple four-star constellation (plus an extra star on the side...for good luck) has guided sailors for centuries, serving a similar function as the North Star (Polaris) in our hemisphere. The Southern Cross is a powerful image, appearing on many national insignias and flags, including Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Samoa. It has inspired poets and song writers for generations, including Crosby, Stills, Nash and our own Father Kemp, when he penned our Country’s song: “Saint Martin I love thy name / in which Columbus fame / and memories of old are closed / For me a great delight / Thy Southern Cross the night / May God the Lord protect thy coast!”
If you are star-gazing later on in the week, each star rises about four minutes earlier each day than written here, and the moon rises 50 minutes later. The planets may wander, but not too far in a week’s time. Enjoy!
