Sun rises at 5:39am.
Sun sets at 6:35pm.
Moon phase: First Quarter, waxing
Moon rises 1:03pm.
Moon sets at 1:00am.
Early Evening
The first two celestial bodies to pop out into the sky after sunset are the slightly gibbous moon and the planet Jupiter. Look high overhead, once the sky begins to darken to observe these two impressive celestial bodies.
Jupiter is the fifth planet outward from the sun. Jupiter ranks as the fourth-brightest celestial body to light up the heavens, after the sun, moon and Venus. But Venus is now lost in the glare of the sun, so Jupiter reigns as the brightest ‘star-like object’ in the May and June 2016 nighttime sky.
The dancing couple will set about 1:25am – that’s about the time to turn your attention to the southeast, where a trio of bright “stars” will be rising. These are Saturn, Mars and Antares. Antares, sometimes called the heart of the scorpion, is the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius. Antares is a red supergiant star, almost 1,000 times bigger than our sun!
Seeking the Green Flash
Although Heineken Company might hope you believe otherwise, a green flash is a naturally occurring optical effect in the atmosphere. You can see it only if the sky conditions are just right. Your best chance is when the western horizon is flat, distant and very clear. Our ocean provides for most of those requirements, and it’s a good excuse to hit the beaches at sunset.
You want to watch for the last moment before the sun disappears below the horizon. But be careful! Don’t start watching too soon, as the brightness of the sun can damage your eyes. Wait until just the thinnest rim of the sun remains above the horizon.
People report different kinds of green flashes. Some say a streak of the colour green, almost like a green flame, will shoot up from the sunset horizon. The most common green flash, which many people describe, is a quick flash of the colour green, seen when the sun is nearly entirely below the horizon.
You need a distant horizon to see any of these phenomena, and you need a distinct edge to the horizon. So these green flashes, streaks, and rays are often seen over the ocean – but you can see them over land, too, if your horizon is far enough away.
If you’re interested in green flashes, Andrew Young’s green flash page is great. He also has a page of links to pictures of green flashes taken by people from around the globe.
If you are out later on in the week, each star rises about four minutes earlier each day than written here, and the moon rises 50 minutes later.
Researched and compiled by Lisa Davis-Burnett
