Here's the latest Night Sky column by Argus columnist Jon Powell:
MERCURY makes for an evening target soon after sunset, and its ‘night shining cloud’ season.
We are slowly losing magnificent Venus from our evening skies during June, the planet having kept us company for many months.
However, this gives us a chance to concentrate on Mercury soon after sunset.
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Watch for a small point of light low on the north-western horizon from around 9.45pm onwards.
You’ll have about an hour or so to catch the planet before it sets, so try and get yourself the best aspect of the horizon as possible.
During June, a phenomenon known as noctilucent cloud can be seen.
Meaning “night shining” in Latin, these clouds form about 50 miles above the Earth’s surface and are made up of ice crystals that attach themselves to particles of dust.
As the sun, (which has set), illuminates these particles from below the horizon, the result is high-altitude clouds which appear silvery blue in nature.
To try and catch them, wait until at 11.30pm, then settle yourself and look in a northerly direction.
Be patient, they may or may not appear, but June offers the very best chance of seeing them.
Also this month, watch for Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
After midnight on Tuesday, June 9, Jupiter and Saturn will appear close to the waning moon, Jupiter appearing as the brighter of the two planets.
On the morning of Friday, June 12, watch for Mars positioned near the moon above the southeast horizon.
Photographs and event information can be sent to at TheNightSky@themoon.co.uk
Moon phases:
- Full Moon: June 5
- Third Quarter: June 13
- New Moon: June 21
- First Quarter: June 28
Start of June: Sun rises at 4.59am, sets at 9.20pm.
End of June: Sun rises at 4.58am, sets at 9.32pm.
Copies of my books Cosmic Debris, Rare Astronomical Sights and Sounds, and From Cave Art to Hubble are available at www.springer.com
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