Today Mercury passes through superior conjunction, passing behind the Sun as seen from the Earth. It will appear in the sunset later in the month, reaching maximum elongation on October 26th.
Category: Astronomy
Exploring the cosmos
Postcard from the Summit – Segment Exchange
The Moon and Jupiter
Tonight will see the Moon and Jupiter rise together around midnight. The pair will be just under 1° apart. The 51% illuminated Moon competing with Jupiter shining at -2.4 magnitude.
Full Moon
Control
Postcard from the Summit – Interferometer Cabling
Mercury Exits the Dawn
This week Mercury will be exiting the dawn sky, sliding closer to the Sun in our sky each day. It will pass through superior conjunction on September 10th, heading for an evening apparition beginning in the final days of September.
Neptune at Opposition
Neptune will pass through opposition at 00:54HST today. Observers will know that opposition places a planet nicely for convenient observation, rising at sunset, transiting near midnight, and setting at dawn.
Postcard from the Summit – Secondary Lift
The Moon, Mars, Saturn and Spica
A nice conjunction of a crescent Moon, Mars, Saturn and the bright star Spica will grace the evening sky tonight. The quartet will be arranged in a rough square about 4° on side. The two planets and the star will all be about 1st magnitude, with the Moon showing about 25% illuminated.