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This color image of Jupiter is a composite of photographs taken from the Cassini spacecraft at a distance of only six million miles. The smallest visible features are about 40 miles across. The planet Jupiter is “gas giant” planet completely enshrouded by clouds that look like artful finger painting. |
CELESTIAL LIGHTS—JUNE 2007
Venus, Saturn and Jupiter: Jewels of the evening sky
By Phyllis Burton Pitluga
Venus continues to dominate the evening sky as the very brightest object after the Sun and Moon. It will be farthest east of the Sun on June 8 and then will rapidly come closer to the Sun as Venus “turns the corner” to orbit between the Earth and Sun on August 17. During this time, in a telescope, you can see Venus gradually change shape as it gets closer and bigger but becomes a skinny crescent.
Saturn is near the Crescent Moon on June 18. This planet is a treat even in small telescopes because of its beautiful icy rings that encircle it. Look for some of its bright moons orbiting it as well.
Jupiter is rising in the eastern sky as darkness descends. This month Jupiter is opposite the Sun so that we see the planet with full sunlight shining upon it. Jupiter is the giant of the planets. In a telescope (or even binoculars), you can see four of its largest moons change position over an evening as they orbit Jupiter.
Phyllis Burton Pitluga is Astronomer Emerita at Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum, Chicago. She is now a resident of San Miguel.
SKY CALENDAR: JUNE 2007
By following the Moon as the biggest and brightest “pointer” in the sky, during the month, you can identify different planets and bright stars. On following nights you can relocate them but without the Moon—the Moon moves about 25 times its own diameter from one night to the next. The Moon is much closer than the planets of our Solar System and the stars are even farther. So, when the Moon appears close to a celestial light they are truly separated by millions, billions or trillions of miles.
June 8, Friday: Last Quarter Moon rises about 1am. Venus is farthest east of the Sun and will be rapidly getting closer to the setting Sun between now and mid August.
June 10, Sunday: The Moon passes 10 moon-diameters above the red planet, Mars.
June 12, Tuesday: Venus passes above the Beehive Star Cluster.
June 14, Thursday: The New Moon is not visible because it has no sunlight shining upon the side that always faces the Earth.
June 16, Saturday: The slender Waxing Crescent Moon passes above Mercury, the planet closest to the Sun.
June 18, Monday: The Crescent Moon passes just above the ringed planet, Saturn.
June 19, Tuesday: The Crescent Moon passes just above the bright star Regulus, in the constellation of Leo-the-Lion.
June 21, Thursday: The Summer Solstice is the time of year when the Sun shines high over the northern hemisphere and gives us our longest days and shortest nights.
June 22, Friday: At sunset, the First Quarter Moon is half way across the sky from west to east and will continue orbiting eastward each evening.
June 28, Thursday: The Waxing Gibbous Moon is passing below the largest planet, Jupiter.
June 30, Saturday: The Full Moon rises opposite the Sun and is up all night, crossing the sky due to the rotation of the Earth.