2019-06-01+Sky+and+Telescope

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OBSERVING


June 2019


pNoctilucent clouds are most often seen at
twilight during summer months at latitudes
between 50°° and 70° (in both hemispheres).
They lie very high up, at around 80 km, and
are composed of water-ice crystals.
P.-M. HEDÉN

DAWN: Look toward the east-
northeast before sunrise to see
Venus. Can you spot the slim sliver
of the waning lunar crescent som e 6°
right of the planet?


DUSK: As twilight deepens, the
Moon, one day past new, sets in the
west-northwest with Mercury 6° to
its right. Find Mars upper left of the
Moon, deep in Gemini.


DUSK: A thicker waxing lunar
crescent, Mars, and tiny Mercury are
all in Gemini and form a line 17° long
before sunset.


EVENING: The Moon is now in
Cancer. Wait for it to get dark enough
to spot the Beehive Cluster (M44)
some 4° from the fattening crescent.


ALL NIGHT: Jupiter arrives at
opposition. Throughout the month,
the majestic planet will be somewhat
bigger and brighter than it has been in
the past fi ve years.

NIGHT: The waxing gibbous
Moon, Jupiter, and Antares form a
triangle in the southeast shortly after
sunset. The following evening, the
almost-full Moon has moved to the
other side of Jupiter, and the trio is
now arranged in a shallow arc some
14 ° from tip to tip. You can follow them
as they wheel across the sky and set
in the southwest at dawn.

DUSK: Look toward the west-
northwest after sunset and tease
Mercury and Mars out of the gloaming
— they’ll be a mere ½° apart. The two
planets are less than 2° from each
other for a couple of evenings prior
and several evenings after.

EVENING: After Mercury and
Mars have set, turn to the southeast
to see the Moon, one day past full,
and Saturn rise in tandem 1° apart.

THE SHORTEST NIGHT OF THE
YEAR in the Northern Hemisphere.
Summer begins at the solstice, 15:54
UT (11:54 a.m. EDT).

DAWN: Taurus rises in the east
shortly before sunrise, cradling the
Moon in the Hyades, directly below
the Pleiades. See if you can spot
Aldebaran some 3° from the waxing
lunar crescent.
— DIANA HANNIKAINEN

skyandtelescope.com • JUNE 2019 41


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