The brand new moon happens on June 25. A day later, Mercury reaches its highest level within the night sky, and on June 27, the younger moon will make an in depth move to the planet.
The precise second of the brand new moon phase happens at 6:31 a.m. Japanese Daylight Time (1031 UTC), in New York, based on the U.S. Naval Observatory. A brand new moon describes the second when the sun and moon share a celestial longitude (known as proper ascension by astronomers), a projection of Earth’s longitude strains on the sky measured eastward from the purpose the place the solar crosses the celestial equator.
This place can be known as a conjunction, and it might probably solely occur when the moon is immediately between Earth and the solar.
Typically the solar, moon and Earth line up completely, and the result’s a photo voltaic eclipse. No eclipse is scheduled for this new moon, although – the following one is due on Sept. 21. Outdoors of solar eclipses, new moons usually are not seen.
Lunar phases are decided by the moon’s place in its orbit round Earth, so that they happen on the identical time in all places; the distinction within the hour is solely because of one’s time zone. The brand new moon thus happens at 3:31 a.m. in Los Angeles, 11:31 a.m. in Paris, and seven:31 p.m. native time in Tokyo.
Seen planets
On June 25 the solar units at 8:31 p.m. in New York, based on the U.S. Naval Observatory; simply 5 days after the solstice (June 20), so within the Northern Hemisphere days are nonetheless fairly lengthy. The sky begins to get darkish sufficient to see shiny objects by about 9:15 p.m. At that time, one can see Mercury if there’s a clear horizon. From New York Metropolis the planet shall be about 8 levels above the horizon; difficult to identify, however nonetheless attainable if circumstances are proper.
On June 26, Mercury reaches its highest elevation for Northern Hemisphere observers; at 9:15 it’s nonetheless about 8 levels excessive; that day the moon shall be a skinny crescent on the precise facet of the planet. On June 27, within the wee hours of the morning in New York (2:03 a.m.), the moon passes inside 3 levels of Mercury; whereas the conjunction itself will not be seen (each the moon and Mercury are beneath the horizon) by the night the moon will seem to the left of the planet and above it.
Mars, in the meantime, shall be low within the west, because the planet sinks a bit every day in direction of the night solar; by August, Mars shall be misplaced within the photo voltaic glare. One can spot it simply by its reddish colour; whereas the planet just isn’t as shiny as it may be (it’s at some extent in its orbit the place it’s farther from Earth) the colour stays distinct.
Saturn rises after midnight at 12:48 a.m. EDT, (June 26) adopted by Venus at 2:56 a.m. By dawn at 4:53 a.m. Saturn is at 40 levels and Venus at about 23 levels; a superb train is to see how near dawn one can nonetheless spot the 2 planets.
For these positioned nearer to the equator, Mercury is a bit greater; from Bridgetown, Barbados, it’s at 22 levels at sundown (6:28 p.m.) and will not be seen till a couple of half hour later. The planet units at 8:10 p.m. June 25. The June 27 conjunction with the moon is extra seen as one goes far westwards from New York; in Honolulu, Hawaii, the conjunction is at 8:03 p.m. and Mercury will nonetheless be 12 levels above the western horizon with the skinny crescent moon above it at about 22 levels. Within the tropics, the impact of seasons on day size is far much less pronounced – sundown on June 25 in Honolulu is at 7:17 p.m., slightly sooner than in New York.
From the Southern Hemisphere, Mars shall be within the northwest after sundown. As it’s the austral winter, sunsets are early. In Santiago, Chile, for instance, sundown is at 5:43 p.m. native time on June 25. By 6:30 p.m. native time Mars is 40 levels above the northwestern horizon within the constellation Leo.
Nearer to the horizon is Mercury which, as within the Northern Hemisphere, is a problem to look at, however it’s barely greater for austral sky watchers; about 10 levels excessive, so with a transparent horizon and no bushes or buildings one can catch it. Mercury units in Santiago by 7:33 p.m. native time.
In Santiago, Saturn rises on June 26 at 12:48 a.m. Venus rises at 4:20 a.m.; by 6 a.m. Saturn is about 53 levels excessive within the north-northeast and Venus is at 20 levels within the northeast. Dawn is not till 7:47 a.m., by 7 a.m. because the sky is getting mild one can see Venus within the northeast and Saturn simply west of north.
Constellations
In June within the Northern Hemisphere, the sky does not get absolutely darkish till about 10 p.m. on the latitude of New York, Denver, San Francisco or Tokyo. In New York Metropolis, astronomical twilight, when the solar is between 12 and 18 levels beneath the horizon and the final of the daylight disappears, is between 9:47 and 10:37 p.m. on June 25.
At 10 p.m., as one can look south and see the crimson star Antares, about 21 levels excessive; one can distinguish it from Mars as a result of the planet shall be within the west (to the precise). One other technique to know the distinction instantly is that on nights when stars visibly twinkle planets shine with a gradual mild. At the moment of yr one can see everything of Scorpius, the Scorpion, from mid-northern latitudes, although the very finish of the Scorpion’s tail is brushing the horizon and is simply seen if there’s nothing in the best way. That stated, one can simply catch the three stars to the precise of Antares that mark the claws.
Turning eastwards (left) and even nearer to the horizon one can see the “teapot” form of Sagittarius the Archer rising; it will get extra seen because the evening progresses and will get to its highest altitude (about 20 levels) by about 1 a.m. June 26.
Additional left, virtually due east at 10 p.m. and about 23 levels excessive is Altair, the attention of Aquila the Eagle, which is the southernmost level of the Summer time Triangle. The opposite two are Vega, or Alpha Lyrae, which is upwards and to the left of Altair, greater than midway to the zenith within the east-northeast. The third star is Deneb, the brightest star in Cygnus, the Swan, positioned a bit greater than Altair and in direction of the northeast. All three stars kind a proper triangle form with the 90-degree nook at Deneb and are shiny sufficient that they’re seen even in light-polluted areas.
The Big Dipper, which is a typical orientation level for Northern Hemisphere sky watchers, is within the northeast, about two thirds of the best way to the zenith from the horizon. At 10 p.m. it is going to be to the left as one faces north, virtually vertical with the bowl on the downward facet. On the underside facet of the bowl on this orientation are the celebrities known as Dubhe and Merak that time to Polaris. Dubhe shall be on the precise; one finds Polaris, the Pole Star, by making a line between the 2 and persevering with till one reaches it. The Large Dipper just isn’t a constellation in itself; it’s a part of the bigger group that’s the constellation Ursa Major, the Nice Bear. Polaris is the top of the deal with of the Little Dipper, the asterism that makes up most of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear.
Following the deal with of the Dipper one can “arc to Arcturus” –a sweeping movement alongside the curve of the deal with will get you there, to the brightest star in Boötes, the Herdsman. Persevering with that arc one hits Spica, the brightest star in Virgo. If one attracts a line between Dubhe and Merak away from Polaris one reaches Leo, the Lion.
Arcturus is excessive at 10 p.m. – 62 levels above the southwestern horizon. Wanting a bit to the left, one can see an arc of stars with a brighter one on the midway level of the arc; that is Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. The brilliant star Alpha Corona Borealis is known as Alphecca; at this level one is trying virtually immediately overhead.
Additional left (east) from Corona Borealis is a sq. of fainter stars that makes up the central a part of Hercules. The sq. is usually known as the Keystone. If one strikes south (towards the horizon) one meets Ophiuchus, the Serpent Holder, a big and faint constellation above Scorpius. Ophiuchus makes a big, slender, five-sided form – slightly like a tall A-frame home.
Beginning with Antares, if one seems to be up and to the left of it, there’s a star known as Pi Ophiuchi, or Sabik, that’s the backside left nook of the primary physique of Ophiuchus, and to the precise and above that’s Zeta Ophiuchi. Look barely to the left and upwards and one sees Kappa Ophiuchi, the precise higher nook of the “field” that’s Ophiuchus’ physique (consider it as his shoulder). Look leftward and one sees the marginally brighter star Ras Alhague, Alpha Ophiuchi, the top, and to the left and downward is the opposite shoulder, Beta Ophiuchi or Cebalrai (pronounced with a tough C).
Within the Southern Hemisphere, the sky will get darkish sufficient to see stars by 7:00 p.m. Observers in mid-southern latitudes can see Scorpius 40 levels excessive within the east; by 11 p.m. the constellation is nearly immediately overhead. Wanting due south and upwards – two thirds of the best way to the zenith – is Crux, the Southern Cross. The cross shall be upright, so the underside star is Acrux (Alpha Crucis), whereas on the left is Mimosa (Beta Crucis), the highest is Gacrux (Gamma Crucis) and the precise level is Imai (Delta Crucis).
Draw a line between Imai and Mimosa to the left and one hits Hadar, the second brightest star in Cetaurus, the Centaur. To the left of that and barely downward is Alpha Centauri, additionally known as Rigil Kentaurus, our nearest stellar neighbor.
Turning proper in direction of the southwest, one can see Canopus at about 25 levels excessive; it is the brightest star in Carina, the Ship’s Keel. Above Canopus is a big ring of about seven stars (9 from a darker sky location) that’s Vela, the Sail.