Astronomy

LUNAR PHASES

New First Quarter Full Last Quarter

Jan. 1 Jan. 8

Jan. 16 Jan. 24 Jan. 31 Feb. 7

Feb. 15 Feb. 23 March 1 March 9

March 17 March 24 March 31 April 8

April 15 April 22 April 29 May 7

May 15 May 21 May 29 June 6

June 13 June 20 June 28 July 6

July 12 July 19 July 27 Aug. 4

Aug. 11 Aug. 18 Aug. 26 Sept. 2

Sept. 9 Sept. 16 Sept. 24 Oct. 2

Oct. 8 Oct. 16 Oct. 24 Oct. 31

Nov. 7 Nov. 15 Nov. 23 Nov. 29

Dec. 7 Dec. 15 Dec. 22 Dec. 29

All dates are for the Eastern time zone. A Full Moon rises at sunset

and remains visible all night; a New Moon crosses the sky with the

Sun and can’t be seen.

MARS remains visible for all of 2018, though it

appears most conspicuously from April through

November. The Red Planet rises around 2 A.M.

in mid-April, but comes up earlier with each

passing day. It peaks at opposition in late July,

when it shines at magnitude –2.8, swells to an

apparent diameter of 24", and remains on view

all night. Mars hasn’t appeared this bright and big

since 2003. A telescopic view reveals subtle features that show up

as contrasting shades of orange and brown. NASA/JPL-CALTECH/USGS

JUPITER always shows a dramatic face. Its

atmosphere displays an alternating series

of bright zones and darker belts pocked

by the Great Red Spot. Even through

a small telescope, the planet’s four

big moons appear prominent.

You often will see them change

positions noticeably during the

course of a single night. Jupiter

reaches its peak in early May, when it

shines brightest (magnitude –2.5) and

looms largest (45" across), though it’s a fine

sight through September and again in late

December. NASA/JPL/USGS

SATURN and its rings provide a spectacular attraction for

telescope owners during most of 2018. The ringed planet is

on display from late January through November, but it

appears best around the time of

opposition in late June. Saturn

then shines at magnitude 0.0,

and its disk measures 18"

across while the rings span 42"

and angle 26° to our line of sight.

Even a small telescope reveals the

dark, broad Cassini Division that separates

the outer A ring from the brighter B ring.

NASA/ESA/E. KARKOSCHKA (UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA)

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THE MOON is Earth’s nearest neighbor and the

only celestial object humans have visited.

Because of its changing position relative to

the Sun and Earth, the Moon appears to

go through phases, from a slender crescent

to Full Moon and back. The best times to

observe our satellite through a telescope

come a few days on either side of its two

Quarter phases. For the best detail, look along

the terminator — the line separating the sunlit

and dark parts. NASA/GSFC/ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

618365

Astronomy’s

2018

Guide to

the Night Sky

A supplement to Astronomy magazine

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