Astronomy_News_20_06_2020
Astronomy_News_20_06_2020
This months research Papers 20_06_2020
RASNZ_20_06_2020
Further links and discussion can be found at the groups/links below
Astronomy in New Zealand - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5889909863/
Astronomy in New Zealand - Groups.io
https://groups.io/g/AstronomyNZ
Astronomy in Wellington
https://www.facebook.com/groups/11451597655/
Blogger Posts
http://laintal.blogspot.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research papers
Risks for Life on Proxima b from Sterilizing Asteroid Impacts
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.12503
The Breakthrough Listen Exotica Catalog
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.11304
An eccentric Neptune-mass planet near the inner edge of the BD-11 4672 habitable zone
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.14393
Spin-orbit alignment of the ß Pictoris planetary system
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.10784
A Mini-Neptune and a Venus-Zone Planet in the Radius Valley Orbiting the Nearby M2-dwarf TOI-1266
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.11180
Inferring the population properties of binary black holesfrom unresolved gravitational waves
https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.09700
Retrieving scattering clouds and disequilibrium chemistry in the atmosphere of HR 8799e
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.09394
Neptune-Size Exoplanet HD 106315 c
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.07444
The Astrobiological Copernican Weak and Strong Limits for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life
https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.03968
Lessons learned from (and since) the Voyager 2 flybys of Uranus and Neptune
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.08340
Planet formation and Volatile Delivery
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.07127
Astrochemistry During the Formation of Stars
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.07071
transit candidate in the habitable zone of Kepler-160
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.02123
Photometrically-corrected global infrared mosaics of Enceladus
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.00146
The Effect of Substellar Continent Size on Ocean Dynamics of Proxima Centauri b
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.14185
Implications of different stellar spectra for the climate of tidally-locked Earth-like exoplanets
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13002
Atmospheric Escape From TOI-700 d Venus vs Earth Analogs
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13190
Aquatic Biospheres On Temperate Planets Around Sun-like Stars And M-dwarfs
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.14387
Qualitative classification of extraterrestrial civilizations
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13221
A Long-lived Sharp Disruption on the Lower Clouds of Venus
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13540
Possible Interstellar meteoroids detected by the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.10896
Evidence that 1I/2017 U1 (`Oumuamua) was composed of molecular hydrogen ice
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.12932
https://www.wired.com/story/oumuamua-might-be-a-giant-interstellar-hydrogen-iceberg/
Revisiting Proxima with ESPRESSO
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.12114v1
High mantle seismic P-wave speeds as a signature for gravitational spreading of superplumes
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/22/eaba7118/tab-pdf
https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/300022439/new-zealand-sits-on-top-of-the-remains-of-a-giant-ancient-volcanic-plume
Exomoon habitability constrained by illumination and tidal heating
https://arxiv.org/abs/1209.5323
On-sky verification of Fast and Furious focal-plane wavefrontsensing
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.12097
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting News items
Super Earths
http://spaceref.com/exoplanets/super-earths-discovered-orbiting-nearby-red-dwarf-gliese-887.html
Nabta Playa
https://astronomy.com/news/2020/06/nabta-playa-the-worlds-first-astronomical-site-was-built-in-africa-and-is-older-than-stonehenge
LIfe in the Galaxy
http://astrobiology.com/2020/06/life-in-the-galaxy-is-this-as-good-as-it-gets.html
Interesting look at the night sky
https://telescopius.com
Why astronomers now doubt there is an undiscovered 9th planet in our solar system
https://theconversation.com/why-astronomers-now-doubt-there-is-an-undiscovered-9th-planet-in-our-solar-system-127598
Official Attempt for Measuring light pollution
Hi Everyone, RASNZ and the Dark Sky Section of RASNZ in NZ have this awesome project where we can measure light pollution.
On Sunday, even if the sky is covered. Hope you can make it. Every one of us can make the difference. Thank you
Hari
On Sunday 21 June 2020, On the darkest day of the year.... join us to measure light pollution even if it's raining.
Have you heard about light pollution?
Don't like that light shining in your bedroom window? Want to do something about it?
Join us to preserve the night by being part of a Guinness World Records ™ Official Attempt for Measuring light pollution!
https://worldrecordlight.thinkific.com/pages/coming_soon
---------------------------------------------------------------
Updates from Andrew B,
Venus.
Imaged: Friday 8th February 1974.
Venus seen here in ultraviolet light by the then receding historic Mercury bound Mariner 10 spacecraft.
Here the cloudtops are seen blowing to the west at about 320 KPH / 200 MPH taking four days to circle the planet, with relation to the main physical planet. At the surface, winds are very slow, but at the tropopause of Venus (boundary of Venus's troposphere and stratosphere), they are fast. Venus rotates very slowly from east to west (the opposite way to the Earth and most other planets, except Uranus and Pluto). Venus rotates at a speed of only 6.5 KPH / 4.0 MPH at the equator, where as Earth rotates at a speed of 1,674 KPH / 1,040 MPH at the equator.
The surface temperature on Venus averages 464 Celsius / 867 Fahrenheit, under a crushing atmosphere some 92 times denser than Earth's, composed of 96.5 % Carbon Dioxide and most of the rest is nitrogen. The sulphuric acid laden clouds are very high above the surface, in places their cloud bases are some 40 KM / 25 miles above the scorched, arid lava plains. From these cloud bases, the curvature of Venus would be clearly visible.
There is evidence, though not 100% confirmed that Venus has lightning. Radio whistler waves had been detected by various spacecraft that passed by like the Jupiter bound Galileo, Saturn bound Cassini and Mercury bound MESSENGER as well as the European Venus Express orbiter, but visual proof is lacking. Radio whistler waves are generally emitted by lightning (it's what temporarily ruins your radio and television reception when lightning is near, usually Summer thunderstorms). These could be from volcanic plumes and / or thunderstorms within Venus's clouds. There may also be sulphuric acid laden rain (there is evidence but also not 100% confirmed), which in places falls from the clouds, but it evaporates well before it gets anywhere near the surface, so not a drop of this poison rain ever touches solid ground.
It has been speculated that within the top half of the cloud decks where temperatures are about 21 Celsius / 71 Fahrenheit to 35 Celsius / 95 Fahrenheit there may be sulphuric acid feeding microbes, though I think that this is not the case as on Earth, life seems to need more than just clouds (our clouds contain bacteria, but that has originated on the surface and been swept up by winds and air currents. Venus's surface conditions would sterilize everything).
The very cloud tops themselves are quite cold at about minus 33 Celsius / minus 27 Fahrenheit with ice crystals. This make Venus highly refelctive in the visible part of the spectrum, hense from Earth, Venus appears so incredibly bright, sometimes before sunrise (morning star) or after sunset (evening star) and is often visible in full daylight.
Venus rotates from east to west once every 243 Earth days, the rotation period is longer than it takes for Venus to orbit the Sun once every 224 days, at an average distance of 108.2 million KM / 67.2 million miles from the Sun, (so New Year's Eve on Venus would be on 14th August, assuming we superimposed the orbital period of Venus on an Earth calendar, starting on 1st January).
Because of the very slow rotational period, retrograde (east to west) direction and short year on Venus, sunrise to sunrise is separated by 116 days & 18 hours, with the sun (appearing about twice as large and bright than from Earth, but from the surface, lighting and contrast levels are about the same as a dull, very overcast day with thick cloud in the UK) very slowly rising in the west, crawling across the sky and slowly setting in the east some 58 days & 9 hours later, followed by an equally long night. This however is a moot point as the skies are permanently overcast from the surface. Also surface temperatures do not drop during the long Cytherian nights, as that dense CO2 atmosphere and constant thick cloud cover acts like a giant thermos flask, trapping heat, in but also prevents extra heat from building up from the long Cytherian days.
Venus with a diameter of 12,104 KM / 7,521 miles, with a mass of 4,867.5 billion trillion tons (4,867.5 followed by twenty zeros) with a mean global density of 5.243 g/cm3 (grams per cubic centimetre) is really the Earth's twin in terms of planetary mass, size and density, suggesting Venus & Earth share a common origin. Our own Earth with a diameter of 12,742 KM / 7,917 miles, with a mass of 5,972.2 billion trillion tons (5,972.2 followed by twenty zeros) and a mean global density of 5.517 g/cm3.
Venus's surface consists of about 85% basaltic lava plains, there are mountains, the tallest of which within Maxwell Montes (a huge mountainous massif in the northern hemisphere on Venus) of which Skadi Mons is the tallest peak, towers some 10,700 metres / 35,105 feet above the general lava plains, somewhat taller than our own Mount Everest which rises to 8,848 metres / 29,029 feet above mean sea level.
The conditions at the summit of Skadi Mons are quite tame as compared to the general lowland lava plain surface, but still about 42 atmospheres pressure and a temperature of about 380 Celsius / 716 Fahrenheit!!!!
Venus has volcanoes, lots of them, there is evidence that some are active, though not 100% certain. There are very strange coronae, huge circular features some in excess of 500 KM / 311 miles wide within the lava plains with deep, narrow canyons surrounding some of them.
One of the strangest things is that Venus despite it's dense, crushing atmosphere, has impact craters. The general distribution and low density of them (that dense atmosphere will prevent many larger impactors from hitting the surface than Earth's atmosphere would) fairly evenly over the entire surface, suggeasts that Venus periodically 'resurfaces itself' with fresh lava in massive volcanic eruptions, totally covering the lava plains, that lasts for hundreds of thousands, if not over over a million years.
There is some doubt on this now (perhaps resurfacing goes on all the time at a more sedate pace), but it still remains a possibility, owing to the even distribution (more sedate eruptions would resurface locally first, then spread out, this would be hard to explain with the current distribution of craters). If the former scenario is correct, then Venus is currently going through a 'quiet phase' between massive episodes of mass volcanism with only minor eruptions during our time.
Text: Andrew R Brown.
NASA / JPL-Caltech. Mariner 10 spacecraft.
Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri C) and Wolf 359.
Imaged Proxima Centauri: Wednesday 22nd April 2020.
Imaged Wolf 359: Thursday 23rd April 2020.
The New Horizins spacecraft successfully carries out yet another first in space exploration, Parallax observations of two of the closest stars to our Solar System.
First on Tuesday 14th July 2015, New Horizons showed us the first close up views of the planet Pluto, it's large moon Charon and even resolved and imaged surface features on the four small moons, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra, the Hadean system seen for the first time in human history in close up and by default the first Kuiper Belt Objects seen up close.
Then on Tuesday 1st January 2019, New Horizons successfully carried out a close pass with the far more distant and more 'typical' Kuiper Belt Object 486958 Arrokoth (still by far the most distant object seen up close by a human built spacecraft), a 36 KM / 22 mile long double lobed icy body in a very distant location within the Kuiper Belt. High resolution imagery and much other data was successfuly gathered and returned.
On Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd April 2020, the New Horizons spacecraft was tasked with an interesting experiment. Use the LORRI / LOng Range Reconnaissance Imager camera to image the stars Proxima Centauri also known as Alpha Centauri C and Wolf 359.
The experiment was taking an image of each with the steller background of vastly more distant stars and taking identical images on Earth through telescopes in northern Spring / southern Autumn, April & May 2020 and then comparing those with the New Horizons spacecraft images which were obtained from a distance of about 7 billion KM / 4.3 billion miles from the Sun and comparing the positions of Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359 as seen from the central part of the Kuiper Belt to those from Earth.
A bit about the target stars used.
Both Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359 are small faint red dwarf stars. Proxima Centauri is the closest known star to our solar system at 4.244 Light years so the light New Horizons captured left Proxima Centauri in February 2016 or about 268,400 times the distance from the Sun to Earth. Proxima Centauri is the very distant companion to the star system Alpha Centauri A & B (which are G and K type main sequence stars) and Proxima Centauri orbits them about once every half a million years or so.
Proxima Centauri is a feeble M5 red dwarf within the southern constellation of Centaurus the Centaur, total luminosity is about 0.17% or just under 1/500th as luminous as our Sun, though 85% of that is in infrared light so only about 0.006% is in visible light. Proxima Centauri has a diameter of about 1.5 times that of Jupiter or about 214,500 KM / 133,300 miles wide and mass of about 129 times that of Jupiter or about 41,000 times that of Earth (the Sun has a mass of 332,946 times that of Earth and Jupiter about 317.8 times that of Earth). with a mean global density of about 47 g/cm3 (grams per cubic centimetre) so is quite dense as red dwarves are. Proxima Centauri rotates once every 82 days and 14 hours with a star spot (sun spot) cycle every 4 years, some of these star spot maxima produces huge flares that often emit powerful X-Rays.
Also two planets and a debris disk have been discovered orbiting Proxima Centauri with a possible third planet. The second planet may well have a ring system that is hundreds of times more extensive than Saturn's.
Wolf 359 is also a very faint red dwarf star, this time a single star within the northern ecliptical constellation of Leo the Lion about 7.86 light years away from our Solar System.
Wolf 359 has a specrum of M6 (very red) has a diameter of about 220,000 KM / 136,700 miles, a mass of about 9% that of the Sun or about 30,000 times that of Earth or about 94.3 times that of Jupiter (the Sun has a mass of 332,946 times that of Earth and Jupiter about 317.8 times that of Earth). Wolf 359 appears to have an irregular star spot (sun spot) cycle and does at times flare in X-Rays and Gamma Rays.
There are two planets known orbiting Wolf 359, one appears to be a small jovian type world an intermediate planet between Neptune and Saturn, about 44 times the mass of the Earth (Neptune 17 times and Saturn 95 times the mass of the Earth respectively), orbiting very close in.
Text Andrew R Brown.
Image Credit: Earth based: Las Cumbres Observatory / Siding Spring Observatory.
Image Credit Space based: NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Southwest Research Institute.
New Horizons spacecraft.
Triton.
Imaged: Friday 25th August 1989.
Closest views ever obtained of the possible former Kuiper Belt Object / Dwarf Planet rock & ice Neptune moon Triton.
Triton is large at 2,706 KM / 1,680 miles wide.
Triton is unusual in large solar system moons to orbit the parent planet backwards (east to west direction or clockwise from the north). Triton also orbits Neptune by a 23 degree tilt.
Triton orbits Neptune at a mean distance of 354,760 KM / 220,305 miles once every 5 days. 21 hours and 2 minutes at an average speed of 15,804 KPH / 9,814 MPH. The rotation period of Triton is the same so keeps the same face turned towards Neptune permanently.
Triton certainly did not form around Neptune, and data from the Voyager 2 spacecraft, suggest that Triton formed much further from the Sun, maybe was a former Kuiper Belt Object, a possible sibling of Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea, etc. In fact Triton is only a little larger than either Pluto or Eris. Orbital mechanics suggest that Triton must have had a reasonably large moon of its own prior to capture by Neptune, as forward momentum has to be lost, in this case a relatively large moon of Triton would have been ejected as energy would have been imparted into it. If such a moon existed, chances are it is back in the Kuiper Belt, and at least two objects may fit, KBOs Quaoar & Orcus. There are issues, as both these have small moons of their own, if either of these were Triton’s original companions, it would be difficult to see how they would have small moons of their own. A former Triton moon may well have been tidally heated during the ejection and Quaoar shows crystalline ice in its spectrum, ice that had melted then refroze slowly with larger ice crystals. However the presence of the moon since named Weywot orbiting Quaoar makes this scenario difficult.
During the capture of Triton by Neptune, would have resulted in an initial orbit that was very elliptical. As further orbital energy was robbed from Triton, internal heating would melt the original surface than when the orbit became circular, Triton would refreeze with a new surface. Some small moons of Neptune present would have been scattered, perhaps some ending up in the Kuiper Belt, some deorbiting into Neptune and some perhaps ending up as comets coming close to the Sun. Neptune does have some smaller moons much closer in, but compared to Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus, Neptune is short of moons, and Triton’s arrival would explain that.
Only about 40% of Triton has been seen well, well enough for high resolution geological mapping during the passage of the Voyager 2 spacecraft on: Friday 25th August 1989. This is on the leading, southern, Neptune facing side. However, Triton turned out to have a diverse and apparently geologically young surface, with average terrain being only about 50 million years old, some as young as only 6 million years old, with a few areas older, but no more than 500 million years. Triton is highly reflective, with an average albedo (reflectivity) of about 80%, Only the Saturn moon Enceladus and the KBO / dwarf planet Eris are brighter
Triton has only 179 recognized impact craters and the largest seen to date is only 27 KM / 17 miles wide since named Mazomba Crater. Some frozen ‘lakes’ like Ruach Planitia may well be larger impact craters that were flooded, then froze, but this is far from certain.
Triton also has ridges, pressure ridges, a pink frozen nitrogen ice cap, also ice blisters and what appear to be cryocalderas, pits that appear to have erupted slushy ices that then froze solid. Some nitrogen ice geysers were active on the pink nitrogen ice cap, the extremely weak sunlight, just about heating some subsurface nitrogen ice into liquid nitrogen, then bursting through overlying nitrogen ice forming nitrogen ice geysers. A large area known as the ‘Cantaloupe Terrain’ is covered by shallow circular depressions, terrain only seen on Triton. It is not clear what caused the terrain, but is appears to be collapses related to slushy ice eruptions. Two massive ridges were seen to cross this area in an X form, Slidr Sulci (north – south) and Tano Sulci (east – west). Triton has an extremely tenuous atmosphere, some 1/70,000th the density of Earth’s at sea level, however due to the extremely low temperatures hazes were detected in limb views and the nitrogen ice particles in the ice geysers are blown down wind at an altitude of around, 8,000 metres / 26,250 feet,
Triton is a very cold, ice & rock object, average surface temperature of minus 235 Celsius / minus 391 Fahrenheit or 38 Kelvin. This is colder than the average for Pluto and is the second coldest known large object in the solar system, only Eris at minus 257 Celsius / minus 431 Fahrenheit or 16 Kelvin is colder. If our own Earth cooled to the same temperatures, our oceans would freeze almost all the way down and our atmosphere would collapse and freeze into a layer of frozen gasses 11 metres / 35 feet thick.
The density is 2.01 grammes per cubic centimetre or just over twice that of regular water ice. Triton is composed of 70% rock and 30% ice. Gravity tracking of the passing Voyager 2 spacecraft suggested that Triton has a differentiated interior, a rocky core with an ice rich mantle and crust. The variety of geological features visible also support this.
Text: Andrew R Brown.
NASA/JPL-CalTech/Space Science Institute. Voyager 2 spacecraft.
---------------------------------------------------------------
RASNZ
Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
eNewsletter: No. 234, 20 June 2020
Affiliated Societies are welcome to reproduce any item in this email newsletter or on the RASNZ website www.rasnz.org.nz in their own newsletters provided an acknowledgement of the source is also included.
Contents
1. World Record Light
2. JJ Eldridge Honoured
3. Conference and AGM at Labour Weekend
4. Existing Registrations for 2020 Conference
5. Dark Sky Workshop - new date
6. Students with a Passion for Astronomy (SWAPA) - Applications
7. The Solar System in July
8. Comet C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)
9. Variable Star News
10. New Zealand Astrophotography Competition - Closes September 21
11. Stargazers Getaway September 18-20
12. Exoplanet Disappears
13. Population III Stars Not Found
14. New Study of Night Sky Pollution by Internet Satellites
15. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
16. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
17. How to Join the RASNZ
1. World Record Light
Astronomers! Participate in a World Record Event:
This is a free event where you will learn about reducing light pollution to improve environmental sustainability, contribute to citizen science and break a world record!
On Sunday, 21 June 2020, the shortest day of the year it being winter solstice, there is a great opportunity as a member of the astronomic community to participate in WORLD RECORD LIGHT.
You will first need to watch and complete a short lesson online about light pollution and answer multiple choice questions within a 24-hour period. If you go one step further and take a light reading outside (illustrated with a video) using the citizen science platform – Globe at Night - you will be in the running to win a prize.
The great news is that you can participate from any location, do it naked eye (you won’t need binoculars or a telescope) and do it no matter what the weather is on the day.
To break the world record, thousands of us (mainly from New Zealand and Australia) need to participate. The citizen science data you contribute through Globe at Night will be very valuable for environmental sustainability decisions to be made by regulators in New Zealand and Australia.
Astronz is this family friendly event’s ‘Gold Sponsor’, and is partnering the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance (ADSA) who are hosting WORLD RECORD LIGHT in order to:
* Raise awareness of light on the impacts on the environment;
* Contribute to a global map of light pollution; and
* Encourage everyone to reduce their light footprint.
For full details see: https://worldrecordlight.thinkific.com/pages/coming_soon
For practical questions on how to participate in WORLD RECORD LIGHT, contact AAS Member and Dark Sky Waiheke Island (a ‘Star Sponsor’ of this event) team member Kim Wesney at gammaray@xtra.co.nz
Don’t miss this opportunity to get in the record books and make a difference!
-- Nalayini Davies (nbrito@vinstar.co.nz)
2. JJ Eldridge Honoured
The Astronomical Society of Australia has awarded its Anne Green Prize for a significant advance or accomplishment by a mid-career scientist to JJ Eldridge, University of Auckland, for the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis BPASS code. This program is important, high-impact code applicable in diverse fields of research from high-redshift galaxies and reionisation to nearby galaxies and stellar evolution.
3. Conference and AGM at Labour Weekend
Dear RASNZ Members and 2020 Conference Delegates,
RASNZ Council has set the date for the 2020 AGM and Conference for Labour Weekend (23-25 October 2020). Please pencil these new dates into your calendar, noting that these new arrangements are themselves subject to further postponement depending on what restrictions remain on our activities at that time. Council will make further announcements relating to the AGM and Conference as developments arise.
Yours,
Nicholas Rattenbury, President, RASNZ
4. Existing Registrations for 2020 Conference
Those who paid their registration fees for the postponed conference but do not wish to attend the re-scheduled conference over Labour Weekend in October can request a full refund, by emailing the conference organisers (conference@rasnz.org.nz) and providing your bank account details.
Registrants wishing to attend the October Conference need take no action, your registration will remain on record for the rescheduled conference, there being no change to the registration fees.
-- Glen Rowe, Chair, Standing Conference Committee
5. Dark Sky Workshop - new date
A Dark Sky Workshop is planned to follow the re-scheduled RASNZ Conference as announced in the previous item. The workshop will be held, subject to any restrictions that may be in place at the time, on the morning of Monday 26 October2020 (Labour Day). Further details will be made available in due course.
-- Glen Rowe, Chair, Standing Conference Committee
6. Students with a Passion for Astronomy (SWAPA) - Applications
The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) offers 10 to 15 top secondary students who are NZ citizens and at secondary school anywhere in New Zealand scholarships to enable them to attend the RASNZ annual astronomy conference, which will take place this year in Wellington, Friday 23 (afternoon) to Sunday 25 October 2020 (about 4 pm) - provided Covid-19 doesn't affect our plans.
The scholarships comprise free registration for the conference (value $265), free travel from their home to Wellington*, free backpacker accommodation in Wellington for 23 and 24 October*, and a free banquet ticket for the conference banquet on Saturday 24 October (value $95). Students in years 13, 12 or 11 may apply.
*Accommodation and travel only if required for non-Wellington residents
To be considered, students should email a short statement of no more than 300 words explaining why they would like to attend the conference and why they are interested in astronomy. This statement should be sent to RASNZ Immediate-Past President, John Drummond ( kiwiastronomer@gmail.com ) by Friday 7th August 2020, 8 pm. Include your name, gender, age, school, year of study at school in 2020, city, email address, telephone contact and science teacher's name, phone and email. For more detail see the RASNZ webpage -
https://www.rasnz.org.nz/groups-news-events/events/conference/conf-swapa2020
-- John Drummond
7. The Solar System in July
Dates and times shown are NZST (UT + 12 hours). Rise and Set times are for Wellington. They will vary by a few minutes elsewhere in NZ. Data is adapted from that shown by GUIDE 9.1
THE SUN and PLANETS in July, Rise & Set, Magnitude & Constellation
July 1 NZST July 31 NZST
Mag Cons Rise Set Mag Cons Rise Set
SUN -26.7 Gem 7.44am 5.04pm -26.7 Cnc 7.27am 5.27pm
Merc 5.6 Gem 7.28am 5.19pm -0.8 Gem 6.32am 4.03pm
Venus -4.7 Tau 4.57am 3.01pm -4.6 Tau 4.21am 2.10pm
Mars -0.5 Psc 11.40pm 12.04pm -1.1 Psc 11.01pm 10.46am
Jupiter -2.7 Sgr 5.58pm 8.50am -2.7 Sgr 3.41pm 6.39am
Saturn 0.2 Cap 6.28pm 9.10am 0.1 Sgr 4.19pm 7.05am
Uranus 5.8 Ari 2.57am 1.26pm 5.8 Ari 1.02am 11.26am
Neptune 7.9 Aqr 10.48am 11.28am 7.8 Aqr 8.48pm 9.30am
Pluto 14.4 Sgr 5.56pm 8.54am 14.5 Sgr 3.54pm 6.54am
July 1 NZST July 31 NZST
Twilights morning evening morning evening
Civil: start 7.16am, end 5.33pm start 7.00am, end 5.55pm
Nautical: start 6.42am, end 6.08pm start 6.27am, end 6.28pm
Astro: start 6.08am, end 6.42pm start 5.54am, end 7.01pm
July PHASES OF THE MOON, times NZ & UT
Full Moon: July 5 at 4.44pm (04:44 UT)
Last quarter: July 13 at 11.29am (Jul 12, 23:29 UT)
New Moon: July 21 at 5.33am (Jul 20, 17:33 UT)
First quarter: July 28 at 12.33am (Jul 27, 12:33 UT)
A slight partial penumbral eclipse of the moon on July 5 is not visible from NZ.
PLANETS in JULY
MERCURY is at inferior conjunction with the Sun at about 3pm on July 1.
After conjunction Mercury becomes a morning object, rising shortly before the Sun. By mid-month Mercury will rise some 85 minutes earlier than the Sun, but the planet will be only 4.5° above the horizon 45 minutes before sunrise, making it a difficult object at magnitude 0.8. The planet is stationary on the 12th, as a result the interval between Mercury's rise and the Sun's diminishes during the rest of the month.
On the morning of the 19th, the moon, a very thin crescent, will be 6° to the left of Mercury.
VENUS will be a brilliant morning object to the northeast easily visible from well before dawn. On the morning of the 17th the crescent moon will be about 6° to the left of the planet.
MARS, in Pisces, rises shortly before midnight during June, brightening a little as the month progresses. The best time for observing Mars will be an hour or so before sunrise. On the morning of the 12th, Mars, magnitude -0.7, will be 1.5° from the moon.
JUPITER and SATURN continue to move in tandem during July. They are 6° apart on the 1st and just over 7.5° apart on the 31st, both at present moving in an apparent retrograde sense as the Earth overtakes them. Jupiter is at opposition on the 14th, Saturn on the 23rd.
By the end of July, the two planets rise an hour or two before sunset. Since they also set after sunrise, they will be easily visible all night.
On June 6, the moon, just past full, will be 2° from Jupiter shortly before dawn. Later, in the evening, the moon will be a similar distance from Saturn.
PLUTO starts July less than a degree from Jupiter but the latter pulls away from Pluto during the rest of July so they are 3° on the 31st.
URANUS moves further up into the morning sky during July, rising about 1am on the 31st.
NEPTUNE will be in the late evening sky, rising about 9pm on the 31st
POSSIBLE BINOCULAR ASTEROIDS in JULY
July 1 NZST July 30 NZST
Mag Cons transit Mag Cons transit
(1) Ceres 8.6 Aqr .4.59am 8.0 Aqr 2.59am
(4) Vesta 8.1 Gem 12.34pm 8.3 Gem 11.33pm
(7) Iris 8.9 Sgr 12.07am 9.6 Sgr 9.42pm
(532) Herculina 9.3 Sgr 12.30am 10.1 Sgr 10.07pm
CERES rises at 9.45 pm on the 1st and 7.34 pm on the 31st. So it becomes well placed for viewing mid to late evening during the month.
VESTA is in conjunction with the Sun early in July. It is behind the Sun, as "seen" from the Earth for just over 24 hours on the 5th and 6th NZ time. After conjunction Vesta becomes a morning object, but will be too close to the Sun for observation during the rest of July.
IRIS fades a little during July, following opposition at the end of June
HERCULINA is less than 6° from Iris at the beginning of July.
-- Brian Loader
8. Comet C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)
This comet was initially classed as an asteroid in a long-period orbit. It began showing comet characteristics at the beginning of the year and is now brightening much more than earlier predicted. It is visible in binoculars.
Below are daily positions of C/2019 U6 at 6:30 p.m. NZST. m1 is the total magnitude, the magnitude of a star defocused to the comet's size. The magnitudes have been added from Daniel Green's prediction in Electronic Telegram No. 4774, May 14. An m1 fainter than 3 is not easily seen by eye.
June/R.A.(2000)Dec. m1 July R.A.(2000)Dec. m1
July h m ° ' h m ° '
20 09 06.5 -10 44 5.8 05 10 55.9 +01 26 5.9
21 09 13.8 -10 01 06 11 02.9 +02 15
22 09 21.1 -09 17 07 11 09.7 +03 05
23 09 28.4 -08 32 08 11 16.5 +03 53
24 09 35.8 -07 45 09 11 23.2 +04 40
25 09 43.2 -06 58 5.7 10 11 29.7 +05 27 6.2
26 09 50.6 -06 09 11 11 36.2 +06 12
27 09 58.0 -05 20 12 11 42.5 +06 56
28 10 05.4 -04 30 13 11 48.7 +07 40
29 10 12.8 -03 39 14 11 54.9 +08 21
30 10 20.1 -02 49 5.8 15 12 00.9 +09 02 6.4
01 10 27.4 -01 57 16 12 06.7 +09 41
02 10 34.6 -01 06 17 12 12.5 +10 19
03 10 41.8 -00 15 18 12 18.2 +10 56
04 10 48.9 +00 35 19 12 23.8 +11 31
(To get the ephemeris columns to line up properly use Courier New typeface.)
The comet passed 0.9142 A.U., 137 million km, from the Sun, a bit less than Earth's distance, on June 18.8 UT. It will at its closest to Earth, 0.827 AU, 124 million km, on June 30. C/2019 U6 last visited the Sun 10,500 years ago. The tweaks to its orbit made by the gravitational pull of the planets have shortened the orbital period to 5300 years, according to calculations by Syuichi Nakano.
9. Variable Star News
Variable Stars South (VSS)
AAVSO arranged an internet video seminar (Zoom NZ Sunday 7th June 10:00 am) with Stan Walker of VSS presenting PowerPoint slides in a talk on “Miras from an Astrophysical Standpoint”. Mira stars are generally characterised as very red in colour, low in temperature (3000°K) and having very long periodic cycles of light variation. Stan focussed on two southern hemisphere Miras which are rather special in exhibiting dual maxima. The two stars featured were BH Crucis and R Carinae, both southern hemisphere variables which have been studied for a number of years. The first was discovered by Auckland astronomer Ronald Welch in October 1964 and the second has been monitored for many years and has a large data set of visual observations covering about 130 years.
After describing the behaviour of these two stars Stan outlined the observing techniques - colour measurements and spectroscopy - required to answer some outstanding questions on the mechanism of light variation. There was good discussion about these techniques and a number of people are proposing to use them to follow the stars through complete cycles. Mira have long periods, typically 200 to 550 days, so this is a relatively long term project.
The talk by Stan Walker was originally scheduled for the VSS Symposium 6 scheduled for Easter at Parkes. The Zoom seminar was attended by about 35 people from around the world and capably chaired by Richard Roberts, leader of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO} Long-Period Variable Star Section (LPV) who set up the meeting. Discussion on the talk is on the AAVSO LPV Section pages. Stan Walker’s talk is available on a You Tube post with this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f3V8MA__oQ
VSS is working on hosting some other speakers who were lined up for VSSS6 and sessions will be advised on the VSS Google group. More internet seminars are planned by AAVSO special interest groups on a weekly cycle. In addition AAVSO CHOICE courses for the rest of the year will be free.
-- Alan Baldwin
10. New Zealand Astrophotography Competition - Closes September 21
Entries are sought for the 2020 New Zealand Astrophotography competition.
The competition is fully endorsed by the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand and is the nation's largest astrophotography competition.
The competition cut-off date is the 21st of September and the competition awards will be announced at the annual Burbidge dinner which is the Auckland Astronomical Society's premier annual event, keep an eye out on the society website for details on the forthcoming Burbidge dinner.
You can find the rules and entry forms on the AAS website at https://www.astronomy.org.nz/new/public/default.aspx
-- From Jonathan Green's posting nnzastronomers Yahoo group
11. Stargazers Getaway September 18-20
Stargazers Getaway 2020 at Camp Iona on Friday September 18th to Sunday 20th. This is New Moon, so we are targeting this weekend for dark skies! Camp Iona is near Herbert, south of Oamaru.
For details see
https://www.facebook.com/events/943327669369996/
12. Exoplanet Disappears
What astronomers thought was a planet beyond our solar system, has now seemingly vanished from sight. Astronomers now suggest that a full-grown planet never existed in the first place. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope had instead observed an expanding cloud of very fine dust particles caused by a titanic collision between two icy asteroid-sized bodies orbiting the bright star Fomalhaut, about 25 light-years from Earth.
"The Fomalhaut system is the ultimate test lab for all of our ideas about how exoplanets and star systems evolve," said George Rieke of the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory. "We do have evidence of such collisions in other systems, but none of this magnitude has ever been observed. This is a blueprint for how planets destroy each other."
The object was previously believed to be a planet, called Fomalhaut b, and was first announced in 2008 based on data taken in 2004 and 2006. It was clearly visible in several years of Hubble observations that revealed it as a moving dot. Unlike other directly imaged exoplanets, nagging puzzles with Fomalhaut b arose early on. The object was unusually bright in visible light, but did not have any detectable infrared heat signature. Astronomers proposed that the added brightness came from a huge shell or ring of dust encircling the object that may have been collision-related. Also, early Hubble observations suggested the object might not be following an elliptical orbit, as planets usually do.
"These collisions are exceedingly rare and so this is a big deal that we actually get to see one," said András Gáspár of the University of Arizona. "We believe that we were at the right place at the right time to have witnessed such an unlikely event with the Hubble Space Telescope."
"Our study, which analysed all available archival Hubble data on Fomalhaut b, including the most recent images taken by Hubble, revealed several characteristics that together paint a picture that the planet-sized object may never have existed in the first place," said Gáspár.
Hubble images from 2014 showed the object had vanished, to the disbelief of the astronomers. Adding to the mystery, earlier images showed the object to continuously fade over time. "Clearly, Fomalhaut b was doing things a bona fide planet should not be doing," said Gáspár.
The resulting interpretation is that Fomalhaut b is not a planet, but a slowly expanding cloud blasted into space as a result of a collision between two large bodies. Researchers believe the collision occurred not too long prior to the first observations taken in 2004. By now the debris cloud, consisting of dust particles around 1 micron (1/50th the diameter of a human hair), is below Hubble's detection limit. The dust cloud is estimated to have expanded by now to a size larger than the orbit of Earth around our Sun.
Equally confounding is that the object is not on an elliptical orbit, as expected for planets, but on an escape trajectory, or hyperbolic path. "A recently created massive dust cloud, experiencing considerable radiative forces from the central star Fomalhaut, would be placed on such a trajectory" Gáspár said, "Our model is naturally able to explain all independent observable parameters of the system: its expansion rate, its fading and its trajectory."
Because Fomalhaut b is presently inside a vast ring of icy debris encircling the star, the colliding bodies were likely a mixture of ice and dust, like the cometary bodies that exist in the Kuiper belt on the outer fringe of our solar system. Gáspár and Rieke estimate that each of these comet-like bodies measured about 200 km across. The also suggest that the Fomalhaut system may experience one of these collision events only every 200 000 years.
Gáspár, Rieke, and other astronomers will also be observing the Fomalhaut system with the upcoming NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch in 2021.
----
The team's paper "New HST data and modelling reveal a massive planetesimal collision around Fomalhaut" was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on 20 April 2020. See https://www.pnas.org/content/117/18/9712
See the original HST press release with images at https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2020/news-2020-09
-- Forwarded by Karen Pollard.
13. Population III Stars Not Found
New results from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope suggest the formation of the first stars and galaxies in the early Universe took place sooner than previously thought. A European team of astronomers have found no evidence of the first generation of stars, known as Population III stars, as far back as when the Universe was just 500 million years old.
The exploration of the very first galaxies remains a significant challenge in modern astronomy. We do not know when or how the first stars and galaxies in the Universe formed. These questions can be addressed with the Hubble Space Telescope through deep imaging observations. Hubble allows astronomers to view the Universe back to within 500 million years of the Big Bang.
A team of European researchers, led by Rachana Bhatawdekar of the European Space Agency, set out to study the first generation of stars in the early Universe. Known as Population III stars, these stars were forged from the primordial material that emerged from the Big Bang. Population III stars must have been made solely out of hydrogen, helium and lithium, the only elements that existed before processes in the cores of these stars could create heavier elements, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and iron.
Bhatawdekar and her team probed the early Universe from about 500 million to 1 billion years after the Big Bang by studying the cluster MACSJ0416 and its parallel field with the Hubble Space Telescope (with supporting data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope and the ground-based Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory). "We found no evidence of these first-generation Population III stars in this cosmic time interval" said Bhatawdekar of the new results.
The result was achieved using the Hubble’s Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys, as part of the Hubble Frontier Fields programme. This programme (which observed six distant galaxy clusters from 2012 to 2017) produced the deepest observations ever made of galaxy clusters and the galaxies located behind them which were magnified by the gravitational lensing effect, thereby revealing galaxies 10 to 100 times fainter than any previously observed. The masses of foreground galaxy clusters are large enough to bend and magnify the light from the more distant objects behind them. This allows Hubble to use these cosmic magnifying glasses to study objects that are beyond its nominal operational capabilities.
Bhatawdekar and her team developed a new technique that removes the light from the bright foreground galaxies that constitute these gravitational lenses. This allowed them to discover galaxies with lower masses than ever previously observed with Hubble, at a distance corresponding to when the Universe was less than a billion years old. At this point in cosmic time, the lack of evidence for exotic stellar populations and the identification of many low-mass galaxies supports the suggestion that these galaxies are the most likely candidates for the reionisation of the Universe. This period of reionisation in the early Universe is when the neutral intergalactic medium was ionised by the first stars and galaxies.
“These results have profound astrophysical consequences as they show that galaxies must have formed much earlier than we thought,” said Bhatawdekar. “This also strongly supports the idea that low-mass/faint galaxies in the early Universe are responsible for reionisation.”
These results also suggest that the earliest formation of stars and galaxies occurred much earlier than can be probed with the Hubble Space Telescope. This leaves an exciting area of further research for the upcoming NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope — to study the Universe’s earliest galaxies.
These results are based on a previous 2019 paper by Bhatawdekar et al., and a paper that will appear in an upcoming issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS). These results are also being presented at a press conference during the 236th meeting of American Astronomical Society.
----
The name Population III arose because astronomers had already classified the stars of the Milky Way as Population I (stars like the Sun, which are rich in heavier elements) and Population II (older stars with a low heavy-element content, found in the Milky Way bulge and halo, and in globular star clusters).
See the original press release at https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2020/news-2020-34
See also http://www.spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2020/cosmic-paleontology/
-- From the HST press release forwarded by Karen Pollard.
14. New Study of Night Sky Pollution by Internet Satellites
Astronomers have recently raised concerns about the impact of satellite mega-constellations on scientific research. To better understand the effect these constellations could have on astronomical observations, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) commissioned a scientific study of their impact, focusing on observations with ESO telescopes in the visible and infrared but also considering other observatories. The study, which considers a total of 18 representative satellite constellations under development by SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb and others, together amounting to over 26 thousand satellites, has now been accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics.
The study finds that large telescopes like ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) and ESO's upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) will be "moderately affected" by the constellations under development. The effect is more pronounced for long exposures (of about 1000 s), up to 3% of which could be ruined during twilight, the time between dawn and sunrise and between sunset and dusk. Shorter exposures would be less impacted, with fewer than 0.5% of observations of this type affected. Observations conducted at other times during the night would also be less affected, as the satellites would be in the shadow of the Earth and therefore not illuminated. Depending on the science case, the impacts could be lessened by making changes to the operating schedules of ESO telescopes, though these changes come at a cost. On the industry side, an effective step to mitigate impacts would be to darken the satellites.
The study also finds that the greatest impact could be on wide-field surveys, in particular those done with large telescopes. For example, up to 30% to 50% of exposures with the US National Science Foundation's Vera C. Rubin Observatory (not an ESO facility) would be "severely affected”, depending on the time of year, the time of night, and the simplifying assumptions of the study. Mitigation techniques that could be applied on ESO telescopes would not work for this observatory although other strategies are being actively explored. Further studies are required to fully understand the scientific implications of this loss of observational data and complexities in their analysis. Wide-field survey telescopes like the Rubin Observatory can scan large parts of the sky quickly, making them crucial to spot short-lived phenomena like supernovae or potentially dangerous asteroids. Because of their unique capability to generate very large data sets and to find observation targets for many other observatories, astronomy communities and funding agencies in Europe and elsewhere have ranked wide-field survey telescopes as a top priority for future developments in astronomy.
Professional and amateur astronomers alike have also raised concerns about how satellite mega-constellations could impact the pristine views of the night sky. The study shows that about 1600 satellites from the constellations will be above the horizon of an observatory at mid-latitude, most of which will be low in the sky — within 30 degrees of the horizon. Above this — the part of the sky where most astronomical observations take place — there will be about 250 constellation satellites at any given time. While they are all illuminated by the Sun at sunset and sunrise, more and more get into the shadow of the Earth toward the middle of the night. The ESO study assumes a brightness for all of these satellites. With this assumption, up to about 100 satellites could be bright enough to be visible with the naked eye during twilight hours, about 10 of which would be higher than 30 degrees of elevation. All these numbers plummet as the night gets darker and the satellites fall into the shadow of the Earth. Overall, these new satellite constellations would about double the number of satellites visible in the night sky to the naked eye above 30 degrees.
These numbers do not include the trains of satellites visible immediately after launch. Whilst spectacular and bright, they are short lived and visible only briefly after sunset or before sunrise, and — at any given time — only from a very limited area on Earth.
The ESO study uses simplifications and assumptions to obtain conservative estimates of the effects, which may be smaller in reality than calculated in the paper. More sophisticated modelling will be necessary to more precisely quantify the actual impacts. While the focus is on ESO telescopes, the results apply to similar non-ESO telescopes that also operate in the visible and infrared, with similar instrumentation and science cases.
Satellite constellations will also have an impact on radio, millimetre and submillimetre observatories, including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX). This impact will be considered in further studies.
ESO, together with other observatories, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the American Astronomical Society (AAS), the UK Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), and other societies, is taking measures to raise the awareness of this issue in global fora such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the European Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies (CRAF). This is being done while exploring with the space companies practical solutions that can safeguard the large-scale investments made in cutting-edge ground-based astronomy facilities. ESO supports the development of regulatory frameworks that will ultimately ensure the harmonious coexistence of highly promising technological advancements in low Earth orbit with the conditions that enable humankind to continue its observation and understanding of the Universe.
See the original press release at https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2004/
For the scientific paper see
https://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso2004/eso2004a.pdf
-- From the above press release forwarded by Karen Pollard.
15. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
The RASNZ administers the Gifford-Eiby Memorial Lectureship Fund to
assist Affiliated Societies with travel costs of getting a lecturer
or instructor to their meetings. Details are in RASNZ By-Laws Section
H and at http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/ge-fund
The application form is at
http://rasnz.org.nz/Downloadable/RASNZ/GE_Application2019.pdf
17. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
The RASNZ is responsible for recommending to the trustees of the Kingdon
Tomlinson Fund that grants be made for astronomical projects. The grants may be to any person or persons, or organisations, requiring funding for any projects or ventures that promote the progress of astronomy in New Zealand. The deadline for this round of the Kingdon-Tomlinson Grants is 1st November 2020. Full details are set down in the RASNZ By-Laws, Section J. Information on the K-T Fund is at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/kt-fund
Send applications to the RASNZ Executive Secretary at rasnz.secretary@gmail.com.
The application form at
http://rasnz.org.nz/Downloadable/RASNZ/KT_Application2019.pdf
17. How to Join the RASNZ
RASNZ membership is open to all individuals with an interest in
astronomy in New Zealand. Information about the society and its
objects can be found at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/membership-benefits
A membership form can be either obtained from treasurer@rasnz.co.nz or
by completing the online application form found at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/membership-application
Basic membership for the 2020 year starts at $40 for an ordinary
member, which includes an electronic subscription to our journal
'Southern Stars'.
=============== Alan Gilmore Phone: 03 680 6817
P.O. Box 57 alan.gilmore@canterbury.ac.nz
Lake Tekapo 7945
New Zealand
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June Celestial Calendar by Dave Mitsky
All times, unless otherwise noted, are UT (subtract four hours and, when appropriate, one calendar day for EDT)
6/1 Mars and Saturn are at heliocentric conjunction (longitude 297.1 degrees) at 18:00
6/2 The Moon is 6.8 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 8:00
6/3 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 32' 48" from a distance of 364,366 kilometers (226,406 miles), at 3:38; Venus is at inferior conjunction with the Sun (0.289 astronomical units from the Earth and latitude 0.19 degrees) at 18:00
6/4 A double Galilean satellite shadow transit (Ganymede’s shadow precedes Europa’s) begins at 11:21; Mercury is at its greatest eastern elongation (24 degrees) at 13:00
6/5 The Moon is 6.3 degrees north-northeast of Antares at 12:00; a penumbral lunar eclipse visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia begins at 17:45; Venus is at the descending node through the ecliptic plane at 19:00; Full Moon, known as the Rose or Strawberry Moon, occurs at 19:12
6/6 The Moon is at the descending node (longitude 269.1 degrees) at 18:00; Mars is at western quadrature (90 degrees from the Sun) at 19:00
6/8 The Moon is 2.2 degrees southeast of Jupiter at 19:00; the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn lie within a circle with a diameter of 5.1 degrees at 22:00
6/9 The Moon is 2.7 degrees southeast of Saturn at 4:00
6/11 A double Galilean satellite shadow transit (Europa’s shadow precedes Ganymede’s) begins at 14:33
6/12 The equation of time, which yields the difference between mean solar time and apparent solar time, equals 0 at 15:00; Mercury is at the descending node through the ecliptic plane at 19:00; Venus is 4.2 degrees north-northwest of the first-magnitude star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) at 21:00
6/13 The earliest sunrise of the year at latitude 40 degrees north occurs today; the Moon, Mars, and Neptune lie within a circle with a diameter of 4.2 degrees at 2:00; the Moon is 2.5 degrees southeast of Mars at 3:00; the Moon is 4.2 degrees southeast of Neptune at 4:00; Last Quarter Moon occurs at 6:24; Mars (magnitude -0.2) is 1.6 degrees southeast of Neptune (magnitude +7.9) at 13:00
6/14 The Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to be visible at 15:02
6/15 The Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 32" from a distance of 404,595 kilometers (251,404 miles), at 00:57
6/17 The earliest morning twilight of the year at latitude 40 degrees north occurs today; the Moon is 3.6 degrees southeast of Uranus at 5:00; Mercury is stationary, with retrograde (western) motion to begin, at 20:00
6/18 A double Galilean satellite shadow transit (Ganymede’s shadow precedes Europa’s) begins at 18:33; the Moon is 6.6 degrees southeast of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades or Subaru) in Taurus at 23:00
6/19 The Moon is 0.7 degrees north of Venus, with an occultation taking place in northern Mongolia, northern and central Russia, northwestern Europe, Greenland, northern and eastern Canada, the Canary Islands, and the Azores, at 9:00; the Moon, Venus, and Aldebaran lie within a circle with a diameter of 4.9 degrees at 11:00; the Moon is 3.7 degrees north of Aldebaran at 17:00
6/20 The middle of the eclipse season (i.e., the Sun is at same longitude as the Moon’s ascending node of 89.2 degrees) occurs at 1:00; Venus is 8.9 degrees southeast of M45 at 12:00; the northern hemisphere summer solstice occurs at 21:44; the Sun’s longitude is 90 degrees at 21:44
6/21 The Moon is at the ascending node (longitude 89.1 degrees) at 4:00; an annular solar eclipse visible from parts of Africa, Asia, and the western Pacific begins at 3:46; New Moon (lunation 1206) occurs at 6:41; the Sun enters the constellation of Gemini, at longitude 90.4 degrees on the ecliptic, at 9:00; the Moon is 0.7 degrees southeast of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 11:00
6/22 The Moon is 3.9 degrees north of Mercury at 8:00; the Moon is 8.1 degrees south of the first-magnitude star Castor (Alpha Geminorum) at 22:00
6/23 The Moon is 4.5 degrees south of the first-magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 2:00; Mercury is at aphelion (0.4667 astronomical units from the Sun) at 4:00; Neptune is stationary at 18:00
6/24 The latest evening twilight of the year at latitude 40 degrees north occurs today; the Moon is 2.0 degrees north-northeast of the bright open cluster M44 (the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe) in Cancer at 3:00; Venus is stationary, with prograde (eastern) motion to begin, at 18:00
6/25 The Moon is 4.2 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) at 18:00
6/27 The latest sunset of the year at latitude 40 degrees north occurs today
6/28 The Purbach Cross or Lunar X, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect involving various rims and ridges between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to be fully formed at 1:52; asteroid 7 Iris (magnitude +7.9) is at opposition at 2:00; First Quarter Moon occurs at 8:16
6/29 The Moon is 6.8 degrees north-northeast of Spica at 14:00
6/30 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 32' 23" from a distance of 368,958 kilometers (229,260 miles), at 2:13
Giovanni Cassini (1625-1712), John Dollond (1706-1761), Charles Messier (1730-1817), William Lassell (1799-1880), George Ellery Hale (1868-1938), and Carolyn Shoemaker (1929) were born this month.
The British astronomer Edmund Halley discovered M13 on June 1, 1714. The French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille discovered the globular cluster M55 on June 16, 1752. A transit of the Sun by Venus was observed by Austrian, British, and French astronomers from various parts of the world on June 6, 1761. The French astronomer Charles Messier discovered the globular cluster M14 on June 1st, 1764, the emission and reflection nebula M20 (the Trifid Nebula) on June 5, 1764, and the open cluster M23 on June 20, 1764. The globular cluster M62 was discovered by Charles Messier on June 7, 1771. The French astronomer Pierre Méchain discovered his first deep-sky object, the spiral galaxy M63 (the Sunflower Galaxy), on June 14, 1779. The German/English astronomer William Herschel discovered the globular cluster NGC 6288 on June 24, 1784. Neptune was independently discovered by the British astronomer John Couch Adams on June 5, 1846. The Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Donati discovered Comet C/1858 L1 (Donati), the first comet to be photographed, on June 2, 1858. A large storm on Saturn was observed by the American astronomer E. E. Barnard. The Tunguska event occurred on June 30, 1908. The largest known solar flare was recorded on June 27, 1984. The Georgian astronomer Givi Kimeridze discovered a Type Ia supernova in the spiral galaxy M58 on June 28, 1989. Namaka, a satellite of the dwarf planet Haumea, was discovered on June 30, 2005. Kerberos, Pluto’s fourth satellite, was discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope team on June 28, 2011.
The minor Boötid meteor shower (5 per hour) peaks on the morning of June 27th. The source of Boötid meteors is the periodic comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke. The radiant lies in northern Boötes at right ascension 14 hours 56 minutes, declination 48 degrees. Browse https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20200627_10_100 for additional information.
Information on passes of the ISS, the USAF’s X-37B, the HST, Starlink, and other satellites can be found at http://www.heavens-above.com/
The Moon is 9.1 days old, is illuminated 69.2%, subtends 32.9 arc minutes, and is located in Virgo on June 1st at 0:00 UT. The Moon is at its greatest northern declination of +24.1 degrees on June 22nd and at its greatest southern declination of -24.0 degrees on June 8th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +5.9 degrees on June 9th and a minimum of -5.1 degrees on June 22nd. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.9 degrees on June 14th and a minimum of -6.7 degrees on June 1st and -6.8 degrees on June 28th. Favorable librations for the following craters occur on the indicated dates: Scott on June 3rd, Helmholtz on June 4th, Gibbs on June 6th, and Desargues on June 17th. A penumbral lunar eclipse, the 67th of 71 in saros series 111, is visible from Australia, the Indian Ocean, Antarctica, Asia, Africa, Europe, the southern Atlantic Ocean, eastern South America, and the western Pacific Ocean begins at 17:45:51 UT1, reaches greatest eclipse at 19:25:05 UT1, and ends at 21:04:09 UT1 on June 5th. Click on http://www.eclipsewise.com/oh/oh-figures/ec2020-Fig02.pdf for additional information on this eclipse. The Moon is at perigee (a distance of 57.13 Earth-radii) on June 3rd and (a distance of 57.85 Earth-radii) on June 30th and at apogee (a distance of 63.44 Earth-radii) on June 15th. New Moon occurs on June 21st. The Moon occults Venus on June 19th from certain parts of the world. Browse http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm for information on occultation events. Visit https://saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/…/saber-does-the-s…/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons and http://www.curtrenz.com/moon06.html for Full Moon data. Consult http://time.unitarium.com/moon/where.html or download http://www.ap-i.net/avl/en/start for current information on the Moon. See https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4768 for a lunar phase and libration calculator and https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4768 for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Quickmap. Click on https://www.calendar-12.com/moon_calendar/2020/june for a lunar phase calendar for this month. Times and dates for the lunar crater light rays predicted to occur this month are available at http://www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
The Sun is located in Taurus on June 1st. It enters Gemini on June 21st. The Sun reaches its farthest position north for the year on June 20th. There are 15 hours and one minute of daylight at latitude 40 degrees north on June 20th, the day of the summer solstice. An annular solar eclipse takes place on June 21st. The eclipse, the 36th of 70 in saros series 137, is visible from Africa, eastern Europe, Asia, extreme northern Australia, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Greatest eclipse occurs in Pakistan and northern India at 6:40:05 UT1. See http://www.eclipsewise.com/oh/oh-figures/ec2020-Fig03.pdf for more on this event. At latitude 40 degrees north, the earliest sunrise occurs on June 13th and the latest sunset on June 27th. For an explanation of why this occurs, click on https://earthsky.org/?p=4027
Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on June 1st: Mercury (+0.1, 7.6", 45% illuminated, 0.89 a.u., Gemini), Venus (not visible, 57.6", 0% illuminated, 0.29 a.u., Taurus), Mars (magnitude 0.0, 9.3", 85% illuminated, 1.01 a.u., Aquarius), Jupiter (magnitude -2.6, 44.7", 100% illuminated, 4.41 a.u., Sagittarius), Saturn (magnitude +0.4, 17.8", 100% illuminated, 9.34 a.u., Capricornus), Uranus on June 16th (magnitude +5.9, 3.4", 100% illuminated, 20.49 a.u., Aries), Neptune on June 16th (magnitude +7.9, 2.3", 100% illuminated, 29.84 a.u., Aquarius), and Pluto on June 16th (magnitude +14.3, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 33.31 a.u., Sagittarius).
Mercury is in the west in the evening sky. Venus and Uranus can be found in the east, Mars and Neptune in the southeast, and Jupiter and Saturn can be found in the south in the morning sky.
The Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn lie within a circle with a diameter of 5.1 degrees on June 8th. On June 13th, the Moon, Mars, and Neptune lie within a circle with a diameter of 4.2 degrees. The Moon, Venus, and Aldebaran lie within a circle with a diameter of 4.9 degrees on June 19th.
Mercury increases in apparent size from 7.6 to 12.0 arc seconds but dims in brightness from magnitude +0.1 to +3.0. It attains a greatest eastern elongation of 24 degrees on June 4th. On that date, the speediest planet will shine at magnitude +0.4, subtend 8 arc seconds, will be illuminated 36%, and will set nearly two hours after sunset. By June 13th, it will be illuminated only 19%. Mercury will be visible in the evening sky until the middle of June.
Venus is at inferior conjunction on June 3rd. It will pass just 0.2 degrees from the Sun. Afterwards, Venus enters the morning sky. The 51-arc-second-in-diameter, 8%-illuminated planet will be occulted by a waning crescent Moon from certain parts of the world on the morning of June 19th. Venus lies near Melotte 25 (the Hyades) and is eight degrees in altitude one hour before sunrise on June 30th.
During June, Mars brightens from magnitude 0.0 to magnitude -0.5 and grows in apparent size from 9.3 to 11.4 arc seconds. Its altitude increases from 28 degrees on June 1st to 39 degrees on June 30th for mid-northern hemisphere observers. By month’s end, it rises not long after 12:30 a.m. DST. Mars and Saturn are at heliocentric conjunction on June 1st. Mars is at western quadrature on June 6th. As a result, the planet is illuminated only 84% and appears distinctly gibbous. On June 10th, Mars subtends 10 arc seconds, a bit less than one half of its maximum angular size at opposition on October 6th. The Last Quarter Moon passes 2.5 degrees southeast of Mars on June 13th. On June 24th, the Red Planet departs Aquarius and enters southern Pisces. Syrtis Major, a dark triangular region on the surface of Mars, will be visible by late June. An article on observing Mars appears on pages 48 and 49 of the June 2020 issue of Sky & Telescope. Consult the Mars Profiler at https://skyandtelescope.org/obs…/mars-which-side-is-visible/ to identify Martian surface features.
Jupiter rises before midnight local DST. It brightens marginally to magnitude -2.7 and gains 2.5 arc seconds in angular size during June. Saturn lies 4.8 degrees east of Jupiter on June 1st. The two retrograding gas giants are in quasi-conjunction throughout June. The gap between Saturn and Jupiter increases to six degrees by the end of the month. The nearly Full Moon passes two degrees southeast of Jupiter on June 8th. As Io's shadow begins to transit Jupiter on June 14th, Callisto is eclipsed by the planet's shadow beginning at 5:17 UT. On June 15th, Ganymede goes into eclipse at 0:40 UT, as Io and its shadow are transiting Jupiter. Browse http://www.skyandtelescope.com/…/interactive-sky-watching-…/ or http://www.projectpluto.com/jeve_grs.htm in order to determine transit times of Jupiter’s central meridian by the Great Red Spot. GRS transit times are also available on pages 50 and 51 of the June 2020 issue of Sky & Telescope. Javascript Jupiter at http://www.shallowsky.com/jupiter/ shows Galilean satellite events. Data on the Galilean satellite events can also be found on page 51 of the June 2020 issue of Sky & Telescope and at https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm#jun and http://www.skyandtelescope.com/…/interactive-sky-watching-…/
This month Saturn increases in brightness from magnitude +0.4 to magnitude +0.2 and in apparent size from 17.8 arc seconds to 18.3 arc seconds, while its rings span 41 arc seconds and are inclined more than 20 degrees. It rises about 15 minutes after Jupiter rises. Saturn and Mars are at heliocentric conjunction on June 1st. The waxing crescent Moon passes south of Saturn on June 9th. Eighth-magnitude Titan passes due north of Saturn on June 14th and June 30th and due south of the planet on June 6th and June 22nd. Iapetus shines at magnitude 10.9 when it is 10.2 arc minutes due west of the planet. This peculiar satellite is located 54 arc minutes north of Saturn when it reaches superior conjunction on June 20th. For information on Saturn’s satellites, browse http://www.skyandtelescope.com/…/interactive-sky-watching-…/
Uranus emerges from morning twilight but remains a difficult target. The waning crescent Moon passes five degrees south of Uranus on June 17th. A finder chart is available at http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm#finderchart
Neptune lies 3.5 degree east-northeast of the fourth-magnitude star Phi Aquarii this month and close to a sixth-magnitude field star. Mars passes less than two degrees southeast of Neptune on the morning of June 13th. The Last Quarter Moon passes four degrees south of Neptune on June 13th. Neptune reaches a stationary point on June 23rd. See http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm#finderchart for a finder chart.
Pluto lies four arc minutes south of HIP 97251, a ninth-magnitude field star, on June 1st. The dwarf planet is located 41.3 arc minutes due south of Jupiter on June 29th. A finder chart can be found at page 243 of the RASC Observer’s Handbook 2020.
Comet C/2017 T2 (PanSTARRS) travels southeastward through Ursa Major and Canes Venatici this month. It passes less than a degree to the west of the spiral galaxy M109 in Ursa Major on June 16th. On June 23rd, the comet is located less than a degree west of the spiral galaxy M106 in Canes Venatici. Comet PanSTARRS T2 passes less than one degree west of a third spiral galaxy, NGC 4449, on June 27th. Visit http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and http://www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html for information on comets visible this month.
Shining at tenth magnitude, asteroid 2 Pallas glides northwestward through Vulpecula this month. It passes less than two degrees north of Collinder 399 (the Coathanger asterism) during the second week of June. Asteroid 7 Iris shines at magnitude +8.9 when it reaches opposition in Sagittarius on June 28th. Asteroids brighter than magnitude +11.0 that reach opposition this month include 85 Io (magnitude +8.9) on June 12th and 56 Melete (magnitude +10.6) on June 28th. Information on asteroid occultations taking place this month is available at http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/2020_06_si.htm
An article on the June morning planets can be seen at https://drive.google.com/…/1Oua_TdAa_KAbG4YEDFHNn-W_FT…/view
For more on the planets and how to locate them, browse http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/
A wealth of current information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html and http://nineplanets.org/
Information on the celestial events transpiring each week can be found at https://stardate.org/nightsky and http://astronomy.com/skythisweek and http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/
Free star maps for June can be downloaded at http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and https://www.telescope.com/content.jsp…
Data on current supernovae can be found at http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/
Finder charts for the Messier objects and other deep-sky objects are posted at https://freestarcharts.com/messier and https://freestarcharts.com/ngc-ic and http://www.cambridge.org/…/tu…/seasonal_skies_april-june.htm
Telrad finder charts for the Messier Catalog and the SAC’s 110 Best of the NGC are posted at http://www.custerobservatory.org/docs/messier2.pdf and http://www.saguaroastro.org/content/db/Book110BestNGC.pdf respectively.
Information pertaining to observing some of the more prominent Messier galaxies can be found at http://www.cloudynights.com/…/358295-how-to-locate-some-of…/
Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel are two excellent freeware planetarium programs that are available at http://stellarium.org/ and https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start
Deep-sky object list generators can be found at http://www.virtualcolony.com/sac/ and http://tonightssky.com/MainPage.php and https://dso-browser.com/
Freeware sky atlases can be downloaded at http://www.deepskywatch.com/…/Deep-Sky-Hunter-atlas-full.pdf and http://astro.mxd120.com/free-star-atlases
Forty binary and multiple stars for June: Struve 1812, Kappa Bootis, Otto Struve 279, Iota Bootis, Struve 1825, Struve 1835, Pi Bootis, Epsilon Bootis, Struve 1889, 39 Bootis, Xi Bootis, Struve 1910, Delta Bootis, Mu Bootis (Bootes); Struve 1803 (Canes Venatici); Struve 1932, Struve 1964, Zeta Coronae Borealis, Struve 1973, Otto Struve 302 (Corona Borealis); Struve 1927, Struve 1984, Struve 2054, Eta Draconis, 17-16 Draconis, 17 Draconis (Draco); 54 Hydrae (Hydra); Struve 1919, 5 Serpentis, 6 Serpentis, Struve 1950, Delta Serpentis, Otto Struve 300, Beta Serpentis, Struve 1985 (Serpens Caput); Struve 1831 (Ursa Major); Pi-1 Ursae Minoris (Ursa Minor); Struve 1802, Struve 1833, Phi Virginis (Virgo)
Notable carbon star for June: V Coronae Borealis
Fifty deep-sky objects for June: NGC 5466, NGC 5676, NGC 5689 (Bootes); M102 (NGC 5866), NGC 5678, NGC 5879, NGC 5905, NGC 5907, NGC 5908, NGC 5949, NGC 5963, NGC 5965, NGC 5982, NGC 5985, NGC 6015 (Draco); NGC 5694 (Hydra); NGC 5728, NGC 5791, NGC 5796, NGC 5812, NGC 5861, NGC 5878, NGC 5897 (Libra); M5, NGC 5921, NGC 5957, NGC 5962, NGC 5970, NGC 5984 (Serpens Caput); M101, NGC 5473, NGC 5474, NGC 5485, NGC 5585, NGC 5631 (Ursa Major); NGC 5566, NGC 5634, NGC 5701, NGC 5713, NGC 5746, NGC 5750, NGC 5775, NGC 5806, NGC 5813, NGC 5831, NGC 5838, NGC 5846, NGC 5850, NGC 5854, NGC 5864 (Virgo)
Top ten deep-sky objects for June: M5, M101, M102, NGC 5566, NGC 5585, NGC 5689, NGC 5746, NGC 5813, NGC 5838, NGC 5907
Top five deep-sky binocular objects for June: M5, M101, M102, NGC 5466, NGC 5907
Challenge deep-sky object for June: Abell 2065
The objects listed above are located between 14:00 and 16:00 hours of right ascension.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor Planet Occultation Updates:
This email describes updates for minor planet occultations for June 2020.
If you do not wish to receive these updates please advise
the Occultation Section.
You can view updated paths and other details at:
http://www.occultations.org.nz/
Minor Planet Occultation Updates:
================================
Events of particular ease or importance below are marked: *****
***** Jun 2 (1294) ANTWERPIA: Star Mag 9.3, Max dur 2.5 sec, Mag Drop 5.6
Somewhat uncertain path across Queensland, beginning near Rockhampton, then across central Australia and central West Australia, leaving near Carnarvon.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200602_1294_67180_u.htm
Jun 2 (532) HERCULINA: Star Mag 12.0, Max dur 25.3 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
Wide path across south-eastern New South Wales, north-central and western Victoria and extreme southern South Australia.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200602_532_65084_u.htm
Jun 2 (803) PICKA: Star Mag 11.3, Max dur 10.7 sec, Mag Drop 3.3
Slightly uncertain path across New South Wales, central Australia and northern West Australia, passing over Ulladulla, Goulburn, Canberra and Derby.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200602_803_65086_u.htm
Jun 3 (241) GERMANIA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 8.3 sec, Mag Drop 2.5
South-eastern Queensland, passing over Brisbane.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200603_241_65092_u.htm
Jun 3 (1297) QUADEA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 7.0 sec, Mag Drop 4.3
Significantly uncertain path across New Zealand and northern New South Wales, passing over Westport, Newcastle, Coonabarrabran and Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200603_1297_65094_u.htm
Jun 4 (1702) KALAHARI: Star Mag 10.9, Max dur 2.9 sec, Mag Drop 4.4
Somewhat uncertain path across New Zealand, southern New South Wales, southern Australia and southern West Australia, passing over Wollongong, Goulburn, Mildura and Point Dover.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200604_1702_68148_u.htm
Jun 4 (7) IRIS: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 36.0 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
Wide path across the southern end of the south island of New Zealand, passing over Invercargill and Dunedin.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200604_7_65100_u.htm
***** Jun 4 (355) GABRIELLA: Star Mag 10.4, Max dur 9.4 sec, Mag Drop 4.4
Somewhat uncertain path across south-eastern New South Wales, passing over Batemans Bay and across Victoria passing over Belgrave, Frankston and Cape Otway.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200604_355_67182_u.htm
Jun 5 (626) NOTBURGA: Star Mag 11.3, Max dur 7.8 sec, Mag Drop 2.4
New Zealand and eastern Victoria, southern and western New South Wales and central Australia, passing over Invercargill, Cann River, Albury-Wodonga, Broken Hill and Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200605_626_65102_u.htm
Jun 5 (110) LYDIA: Star Mag 11.7, Max dur 9.3 sec, Mag Drop 0.7
Southern Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, passing over Maryborough, Childers and Broome.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200605_110_65104_u.htm
Jun 5 (110) LYDIA: No update for this event.
Jun 5 (488) KREUSA: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 11.6 sec, Mag Drop 0.7
Queensland, central Australia and southern West Australia, passing over Mackay, Kalgoorlie and Perth.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200605_488_65106_u.htm
Jun 5 (64) ANGELINA: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 10.7 sec, Mag Drop 0.5
Central-western West Australia, passing over Cervantes.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200605_64_65108_u.htm
Jun 6 (1977) SHURA: Star Mag 11.0, Max dur 5.9 sec, Mag Drop 4.0
Significantly uncertain path across New Zealand, passing over Oamaru, then across Victoria and southern South Australia, passing near Bairnsdale and over Bendigo.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200606_1977_65116_u.htm
Jun 6 2009KN30: No update for this low-probability, close double-star Centaur event
Jun 6 (1424) SUNDMANIA: Star Mag 10.2, Max dur 2.5 sec, Mag Drop 5.6
Northern New South Wales, southern South Australia and south-western West Australia, passing over Grafton, Broken Hill, Whyalla and Albany.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200606_1424_67186_u.htm
Jun 7 (976) BENJAMINA: Star Mag 9.9, Max dur 7.2 sec, Mag Drop 3.3
New Zealand, passing over Wanganui and New Plymouth.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200607_976_65128_u.htm
Jun 7 2013JW65: No update for this low-probability Centaur.
Jun 8 (453) TEA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 3.9 sec, Mag Drop 1.6
Slightly uncertain path across New South Wales, northern South Australia and central West Australia, passing over Newcastle and Broken Hill.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_453_68160_u.htm
Jun 8 (1625) THENORC: Star Mag 10.2, Max dur 3.5 sec, Mag Drop 5.4
Central West Australia and northern South Australia, passing over Shark Bay.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_1625_67188_u.htm
Jun 8 (642) CLARA: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 8.5 sec, Mag Drop 3.7
Somewhat uncertain path across south-western West Australia, northern Tasmania, and southern New Zealand, passing over Perth, Launceston and Dunedin.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_642_65132_u.htm
Jun 8 Mars: Mars occults 8th mag star in Aquarius for locations north of line running across Tasmania and near Auckland.
Jun 8 (110) LYDIA: Star Mag 9.2, Max dur 8.9 sec, Mag Drop 2.4
Queensland, central Australia and southern West Australia, passing over Kalgoorlie and Bunbury.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_110_65134_u.htm
Jun 8 (5337) AOKI: Star Mag 9.2, Max dur 3.6 sec, Mag Drop 6.8
Significantly uncertain path across northern Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, passing over Townville and Tennant Creek.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_5337_67190_u.htm
Jun 8 (1351) UZBEKISTANIA: Star Mag 9.3, Max dur 1.9 sec, Mag Drop 6.7
Central South Australia.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_1351_67192_u.htm
Jun 9 (338) BUDROSA: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 5.0 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
New Zealand, southern New South Wales and northern South Australia, passing over Eden, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Karratha.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200609_338_65138_u.htm
Jun 9 2005LB54: No update for this event
***** Jun 11 (1484) POSTREMA: Star Mag 10.4, Max dur 4.1 sec, Mag Drop 4.0
Somewhat uncertain path across New Zealand, Victoria and far southern South Australia, passing near Hamilton, Melbourne, Ballarat and Kangaroo Island.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200611_1484_65156_u.htm
Jun 11 (50000) QUAOAR: Star Mag 12.7, Max dur 46.3 sec, Mag Drop 6.1
Large uncertainty path may cross southern Australia or New Zealand
Jun 12 (151) ABUNDANTIA: Star Mag 12.0, Max dur 9.0 sec, Mag Drop 1.7
Slightly uncertain path across New South Wales, western Victoria and far southern South Australia, passing over Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Echuca and Kingston SE.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200612_151_65172_u.htm
Jun 13 (56) MELETE: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 17.2 sec, Mag Drop 0.2
New Zealand, passing over Oamaru and Dunedin.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200613_56_65178_u.htm
Jun 13 (155) SCYLLA: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 3.1 sec, Mag Drop 4.3
Somewhat uncertain path across south-eastern Queensland, north-western New South Wales and southern South Australia, running from Bundaberg to Port Lincoln.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200613_155_65180_u.htm
Jun 14 (4867) POLITES: Star Mag 11.8, Max dur 3.9 sec, Mag Drop 4.8
Significantly uncertain path across New Zealand, passing over Taupo, Hamilton and Auckland.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200614_4867_65182_u.htm
Jun 14 (363401) 2003LB7: No update for this event
Jun 14 (466) TISIPHONE: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 8.6 sec, Mag Drop 1.2
Northern Queensland, Northern Territory and central West Australia, passing over Cooktown, Tennant Creek and Exmouth.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200614_466_65190_u.htm
Jun 14 (2759) IDOMENEUS: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 3.3 sec, Mag Drop 5.6
Significantly uncertain path across southern West Australia, northern South Australia and southern Queensland, passing over Perth and Kalgoorlie.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200614_2759_65192_u.htm
Jun 15 (488) KREUSA: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 11.9 sec, Mag Drop 0.7
New Zealand, passing over Whangarei.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200615_488_65200_u.htm
Jun 16 (532) HERCULINA: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 18.3 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
Northern Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, passing over Cardwell, Ingham, Tennant Creek, Port Hedland and Karratha.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200616_532_65204_u.htm
Jun 16 (28978) IXION: No update for this TNO event
Jun 17 (751) FAINA: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 12.5 sec, Mag Drop 1.3
Path across northern Queensland.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200617_751_65210_u.htm
Jun 17 (110) LYDIA: No update for this event
***** Jun 18 (110) LYDIA: Star Mag 11.2, Max dur 8.2 sec, Mag Drop 0.8
New Zealand, north-western New South Wales and southern Queensland, passing over Coromandel, Auckland and Coffs Harbour.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200618_110_65214_u.htm
Jun 18 (696) LEONORA: Star Mag 10.5, Max dur 7.7 sec, Mag Drop 4.7
North-eastern New South Wales and Queensland, passing over Newcastle.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200618_696_65216_u.htm
***** Jun 18 (484) PITTSBURGHIA: Star Mag 10.9, Max dur 4.1 sec, Mag Drop 2.7
Somewhat uncertain path across New Zealand, passing over Wellington.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200618_484_65218_u.htm
***** Jun 19 (344) DESIDERATA: Star Mag 6.5, Max dur 4.7 sec, Mag Drop 7.2
Northern West Australia, central Australia and New South Wales, passing over Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200619_344_67000_u.htm
***** Jun 19 (27) EUTERPE: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 6.4 sec, Mag Drop 1.0
Northern West Australia, Northern Territory and southern Queensland, passing over Alice Springs and Brisbane.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200619_27_65228_u.htm
***** Jun 20 (700) AURAVICTRIX: Star Mag 9.8, Max dur 1.8 sec, Mag Drop 3.6
Somewhat uncertain path across south-eastern New South Wales and Victoria, passing over Sydney, Goulburn, Albury, Ballarat and Portland.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200620_700_68172_u.htm
Jun 21 (361) BONONIA: Star Mag 11.5, Max dur 11.8 sec, Mag Drop 3.6
Northern Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, running from Cooktown to Wyndham.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_361_65240_u.htm
Jun 21 (2494) INGE: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 4.3 sec, Mag Drop 3.2
Somewhat uncertain path across New South Wales, South Australia and southern West Australia, passing over Newcastle, Parkes, Port Augusta, Kalgoorlie and Geraldton.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_2494_65242_u.htm
Jun 21 (6634) 1987KB: Star Mag 11.6, Max dur 1.8 sec, Mag Drop 2.6
Very large uncertainty path grazing the southern tip of New Zealand, then north-eastern Tasmania, south-western Victoria, southern South Australia and central West Australia, passing near Invercargill, Launceston, Apollo Bay, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln and Karratha.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_6634_68174_u.htm
Jun 21 (772) TANETE: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 8.4 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
Eastern Northern Territory and central South Australia, passing near Whyalla and over Kangaroo Island.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_772_65244_u.htm
Jun 21 (551) ORTRUD: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 7.2 sec, Mag Drop 2.2
Northern Territory and central West Australia.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_551_65246_u.htm
Jun 22 (1113) KATJA: Star Mag 12.0, Max dur 3.5 sec, Mag Drop 2.9
Slightly uncertain path across New Zealand, passing over Christchurch and then across northern Victoria, south-western New South Wales, South Australia and West Australia, passing over Mallacoota, Mildura and Port Augusta.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_1113_65252_u.htm
Jun 22 (3939) HURUHATA: Star Mag 9.3, Max dur 3.6 sec, Mag Drop 1.9
Large uncertainty path across eastern Northern Territory and western South Australia, passing near Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_3939_67200_u.htm
Jun 22 (2932) KEMPCHINSKY: Star Mag 9.9, Max dur 3.5 sec, Mag Drop 6.8
Large uncertainty path across Queensland, central Australia and West Australia, running from Sarina to Geraldton.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_2932_65254_u.htm
Jun 22 (338) BUDROSA: Star Mag 10.1, Max dur 5.4 sec, Mag Drop 2.8
South-eastern Queensland, north-western New South Wales and central South Australia, running from Gympie to Whyalla.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_338_67202_u.htm
Jun 22 (521) BRIXIA: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 7.2 sec, Mag Drop 0.9
Queensland and South Australia, passing over Mackay.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_521_65258_u.htm
Jun 23 (167) URDA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 3.9 sec, Mag Drop 1.9
Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, passing over Sarina and Cloncurry and near Derby.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200623_167_65266_u.htm
Jun 24 (7) IRIS: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 26.6 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
New Zealand, passing over Dunedin and Invercargill.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200624_7_65276_u.htm
Jun 25 (1524) JOENSUU: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 5.3 sec, Mag Drop 4.4
Somewhat uncertain path across eastern Victoria, New South Wales, north-eastern South Australia and Northern Territory, passing over Cann River, Albury-Wodonga and near Wyndham.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200625_1524_65278_u.htm
***** Jun 25 (2193) JACKSON: Star Mag 10.4, Max dur 10.6 sec, Mag Drop 5.0
Somewhat uncertain path across Northern Territory, western Queensland and New South Wales, passing near Darwin, Mount Isa, Parkes and over Forbes, Canberra and Bega.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200625_2193_65282_u.htm
Jun 26 (302) CLARISSA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 4.4 sec, Mag Drop 3.1
Southern Queensland, southern Northern Territory and central West Australia, passing over Harvey Bay and near Birdsville.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200626_302_65284_u.htm
Jun 26 (388) CHARYBDIS: Star Mag 11.5, Max dur 38.5 sec, Mag Drop 2.2
North-eastern New South Wales, south-western Queensland, central Australia and north-eastern West Australia, running from Coffs Harbour to Broome.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200626_388_65286_u.htm
Jun 27 (7) IRIS: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 26.4 sec, Mag Drop 0.0
Path across Queensland, southern Northern Territory and central West Australia, passing over Marlborough and Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200627_7_65290_u.htm
Jun 28 (110) LYDIA: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 8.4 sec, Mag Drop 0.3
Northern New South Wales, central South Australia and south-western West Australia, running from Coffs Harbour to Albany.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200628_110_65306_u.htm
***** Jun 29 (793) ARIZONA: Star Mag 10.7, Max dur 2.6 sec, Mag Drop 3.4
Extremely large uncertainty path across south-eastern Australia, passing near Sydney, Canberra and Bendigo.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200629_793_68186_u.htm
Jun 30 (117) LOMIA: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 13.0 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
New Zealand, passing over Invercargill, then across north-eastern New South Wales, passing near Forster during late evening twilight.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200630_117_65318_u.htm
***** Jun 30 (552) SIGELINDE: Star Mag 9.8, Max dur 15.4 sec, Mag Drop 4.4
New Zealand, passing over Christchurch, then across northern New South Wales, central Australia and northern West Australia, passing over Newcastle, Coonabarrabran, Birdsville and Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200630_552_65320_u.htm
Note: for some events there will be an additional last minute update so check
for one, if you can, on the day of the event or in the days leading up to it.
You may need to click "Reload" or "Refresh" in your browser to see the updated page.
Please report all attempts at observation to the address below.
(PLEASE report observations on a copy of the report available from our website).
Peter Litwiniuk
---------------------------------------------
RASNZ Occultation Section
P.O.Box 3181 / Wellington, 6140 / New Zealand
---------------------------------------------
WEBSITE: http://www.occultations.org.nz/
Email: Director@occultations.org.nz
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
Further links and discussion can be found at the groups/links below
Astronomy in New Zealand - Groups.io
https://groups.io/g/AstronomyNZ
Astronomy in New Zealand - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5889909863/
Astronomy in Wellington
https://www.facebook.com/groups/11451597655/
Blogger Posts
http://laintal.blogspot.com/
Twitter
https://twitter.com/Laintal
Groups.io
Astronomy in New Zealand
https://groups.io/g/AstronomyNZ
AstronomyNZ@groups.io
Wellington Astronomers
https://groups.io/g/WellingtonAstronomers
WellingtonAstronomers@groups.io
AucklandAstronomers
https://groups.io/g/AucklandAstronomers
AucklandAstronomers@groups.io
North Island Astronomers
https://groups.io/g/NorthIslandAstronomers
NorthIslandAstronomers@groups.io
South Island Astronomers
https://groups.io/g/SouthIslandAstronomers
SouthIslandAstronomers@groups.io
NZAstrochat
https://groups.io/g/NZAstrochat
NZAstrochat@groups.io
NZ Photographers And Observers
https://groups.io/g/NZPhotographers
NZPhotographers@groups.io
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note:
My standard caveat that these are the views of a learned amateur, not a professional in the sector, applies as always.
The above post/email/update represents my own words, views, research and opinions, unless stated otherwise the above work
represents my own writing. I’ll give credit or thanks if I have used or represented other people’s words and/or opinions.
The links and references listed below represent the work and research of the respective author’s.
Questions and constructive criticism are always welcome, however I don’t believe anything written here by myself is any reason for impolite behaviour.
Thanks for your time and I hope you have enjoyed reading.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This months research Papers 20_06_2020
RASNZ_20_06_2020
Further links and discussion can be found at the groups/links below
Astronomy in New Zealand - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5889909863/
Astronomy in New Zealand - Groups.io
https://groups.io/g/AstronomyNZ
Astronomy in Wellington
https://www.facebook.com/groups/11451597655/
Blogger Posts
http://laintal.blogspot.com/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research papers
Risks for Life on Proxima b from Sterilizing Asteroid Impacts
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.12503
The Breakthrough Listen Exotica Catalog
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.11304
An eccentric Neptune-mass planet near the inner edge of the BD-11 4672 habitable zone
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.14393
Spin-orbit alignment of the ß Pictoris planetary system
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.10784
A Mini-Neptune and a Venus-Zone Planet in the Radius Valley Orbiting the Nearby M2-dwarf TOI-1266
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.11180
Inferring the population properties of binary black holesfrom unresolved gravitational waves
https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.09700
Retrieving scattering clouds and disequilibrium chemistry in the atmosphere of HR 8799e
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.09394
Neptune-Size Exoplanet HD 106315 c
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.07444
The Astrobiological Copernican Weak and Strong Limits for Extraterrestrial Intelligent Life
https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.03968
Lessons learned from (and since) the Voyager 2 flybys of Uranus and Neptune
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.08340
Planet formation and Volatile Delivery
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.07127
Astrochemistry During the Formation of Stars
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.07071
transit candidate in the habitable zone of Kepler-160
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.02123
Photometrically-corrected global infrared mosaics of Enceladus
https://arxiv.org/abs/2006.00146
The Effect of Substellar Continent Size on Ocean Dynamics of Proxima Centauri b
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.14185
Implications of different stellar spectra for the climate of tidally-locked Earth-like exoplanets
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13002
Atmospheric Escape From TOI-700 d Venus vs Earth Analogs
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13190
Aquatic Biospheres On Temperate Planets Around Sun-like Stars And M-dwarfs
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.14387
Qualitative classification of extraterrestrial civilizations
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13221
A Long-lived Sharp Disruption on the Lower Clouds of Venus
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.13540
Possible Interstellar meteoroids detected by the Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.10896
Evidence that 1I/2017 U1 (`Oumuamua) was composed of molecular hydrogen ice
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.12932
https://www.wired.com/story/oumuamua-might-be-a-giant-interstellar-hydrogen-iceberg/
Revisiting Proxima with ESPRESSO
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.12114v1
High mantle seismic P-wave speeds as a signature for gravitational spreading of superplumes
https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/22/eaba7118/tab-pdf
https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/300022439/new-zealand-sits-on-top-of-the-remains-of-a-giant-ancient-volcanic-plume
Exomoon habitability constrained by illumination and tidal heating
https://arxiv.org/abs/1209.5323
On-sky verification of Fast and Furious focal-plane wavefrontsensing
https://arxiv.org/abs/2005.12097
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting News items
Super Earths
http://spaceref.com/exoplanets/super-earths-discovered-orbiting-nearby-red-dwarf-gliese-887.html
Nabta Playa
https://astronomy.com/news/2020/06/nabta-playa-the-worlds-first-astronomical-site-was-built-in-africa-and-is-older-than-stonehenge
LIfe in the Galaxy
http://astrobiology.com/2020/06/life-in-the-galaxy-is-this-as-good-as-it-gets.html
Interesting look at the night sky
https://telescopius.com
Why astronomers now doubt there is an undiscovered 9th planet in our solar system
https://theconversation.com/why-astronomers-now-doubt-there-is-an-undiscovered-9th-planet-in-our-solar-system-127598
Official Attempt for Measuring light pollution
Hi Everyone, RASNZ and the Dark Sky Section of RASNZ in NZ have this awesome project where we can measure light pollution.
On Sunday, even if the sky is covered. Hope you can make it. Every one of us can make the difference. Thank you
Hari
On Sunday 21 June 2020, On the darkest day of the year.... join us to measure light pollution even if it's raining.
Have you heard about light pollution?
Don't like that light shining in your bedroom window? Want to do something about it?
Join us to preserve the night by being part of a Guinness World Records ™ Official Attempt for Measuring light pollution!
https://worldrecordlight.thinkific.com/pages/coming_soon
---------------------------------------------------------------
Updates from Andrew B,
Venus.
Imaged: Friday 8th February 1974.
Venus seen here in ultraviolet light by the then receding historic Mercury bound Mariner 10 spacecraft.
Here the cloudtops are seen blowing to the west at about 320 KPH / 200 MPH taking four days to circle the planet, with relation to the main physical planet. At the surface, winds are very slow, but at the tropopause of Venus (boundary of Venus's troposphere and stratosphere), they are fast. Venus rotates very slowly from east to west (the opposite way to the Earth and most other planets, except Uranus and Pluto). Venus rotates at a speed of only 6.5 KPH / 4.0 MPH at the equator, where as Earth rotates at a speed of 1,674 KPH / 1,040 MPH at the equator.
The surface temperature on Venus averages 464 Celsius / 867 Fahrenheit, under a crushing atmosphere some 92 times denser than Earth's, composed of 96.5 % Carbon Dioxide and most of the rest is nitrogen. The sulphuric acid laden clouds are very high above the surface, in places their cloud bases are some 40 KM / 25 miles above the scorched, arid lava plains. From these cloud bases, the curvature of Venus would be clearly visible.
There is evidence, though not 100% confirmed that Venus has lightning. Radio whistler waves had been detected by various spacecraft that passed by like the Jupiter bound Galileo, Saturn bound Cassini and Mercury bound MESSENGER as well as the European Venus Express orbiter, but visual proof is lacking. Radio whistler waves are generally emitted by lightning (it's what temporarily ruins your radio and television reception when lightning is near, usually Summer thunderstorms). These could be from volcanic plumes and / or thunderstorms within Venus's clouds. There may also be sulphuric acid laden rain (there is evidence but also not 100% confirmed), which in places falls from the clouds, but it evaporates well before it gets anywhere near the surface, so not a drop of this poison rain ever touches solid ground.
It has been speculated that within the top half of the cloud decks where temperatures are about 21 Celsius / 71 Fahrenheit to 35 Celsius / 95 Fahrenheit there may be sulphuric acid feeding microbes, though I think that this is not the case as on Earth, life seems to need more than just clouds (our clouds contain bacteria, but that has originated on the surface and been swept up by winds and air currents. Venus's surface conditions would sterilize everything).
The very cloud tops themselves are quite cold at about minus 33 Celsius / minus 27 Fahrenheit with ice crystals. This make Venus highly refelctive in the visible part of the spectrum, hense from Earth, Venus appears so incredibly bright, sometimes before sunrise (morning star) or after sunset (evening star) and is often visible in full daylight.
Venus rotates from east to west once every 243 Earth days, the rotation period is longer than it takes for Venus to orbit the Sun once every 224 days, at an average distance of 108.2 million KM / 67.2 million miles from the Sun, (so New Year's Eve on Venus would be on 14th August, assuming we superimposed the orbital period of Venus on an Earth calendar, starting on 1st January).
Because of the very slow rotational period, retrograde (east to west) direction and short year on Venus, sunrise to sunrise is separated by 116 days & 18 hours, with the sun (appearing about twice as large and bright than from Earth, but from the surface, lighting and contrast levels are about the same as a dull, very overcast day with thick cloud in the UK) very slowly rising in the west, crawling across the sky and slowly setting in the east some 58 days & 9 hours later, followed by an equally long night. This however is a moot point as the skies are permanently overcast from the surface. Also surface temperatures do not drop during the long Cytherian nights, as that dense CO2 atmosphere and constant thick cloud cover acts like a giant thermos flask, trapping heat, in but also prevents extra heat from building up from the long Cytherian days.
Venus with a diameter of 12,104 KM / 7,521 miles, with a mass of 4,867.5 billion trillion tons (4,867.5 followed by twenty zeros) with a mean global density of 5.243 g/cm3 (grams per cubic centimetre) is really the Earth's twin in terms of planetary mass, size and density, suggesting Venus & Earth share a common origin. Our own Earth with a diameter of 12,742 KM / 7,917 miles, with a mass of 5,972.2 billion trillion tons (5,972.2 followed by twenty zeros) and a mean global density of 5.517 g/cm3.
Venus's surface consists of about 85% basaltic lava plains, there are mountains, the tallest of which within Maxwell Montes (a huge mountainous massif in the northern hemisphere on Venus) of which Skadi Mons is the tallest peak, towers some 10,700 metres / 35,105 feet above the general lava plains, somewhat taller than our own Mount Everest which rises to 8,848 metres / 29,029 feet above mean sea level.
The conditions at the summit of Skadi Mons are quite tame as compared to the general lowland lava plain surface, but still about 42 atmospheres pressure and a temperature of about 380 Celsius / 716 Fahrenheit!!!!
Venus has volcanoes, lots of them, there is evidence that some are active, though not 100% certain. There are very strange coronae, huge circular features some in excess of 500 KM / 311 miles wide within the lava plains with deep, narrow canyons surrounding some of them.
One of the strangest things is that Venus despite it's dense, crushing atmosphere, has impact craters. The general distribution and low density of them (that dense atmosphere will prevent many larger impactors from hitting the surface than Earth's atmosphere would) fairly evenly over the entire surface, suggeasts that Venus periodically 'resurfaces itself' with fresh lava in massive volcanic eruptions, totally covering the lava plains, that lasts for hundreds of thousands, if not over over a million years.
There is some doubt on this now (perhaps resurfacing goes on all the time at a more sedate pace), but it still remains a possibility, owing to the even distribution (more sedate eruptions would resurface locally first, then spread out, this would be hard to explain with the current distribution of craters). If the former scenario is correct, then Venus is currently going through a 'quiet phase' between massive episodes of mass volcanism with only minor eruptions during our time.
Text: Andrew R Brown.
NASA / JPL-Caltech. Mariner 10 spacecraft.
Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri C) and Wolf 359.
Imaged Proxima Centauri: Wednesday 22nd April 2020.
Imaged Wolf 359: Thursday 23rd April 2020.
The New Horizins spacecraft successfully carries out yet another first in space exploration, Parallax observations of two of the closest stars to our Solar System.
First on Tuesday 14th July 2015, New Horizons showed us the first close up views of the planet Pluto, it's large moon Charon and even resolved and imaged surface features on the four small moons, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra, the Hadean system seen for the first time in human history in close up and by default the first Kuiper Belt Objects seen up close.
Then on Tuesday 1st January 2019, New Horizons successfully carried out a close pass with the far more distant and more 'typical' Kuiper Belt Object 486958 Arrokoth (still by far the most distant object seen up close by a human built spacecraft), a 36 KM / 22 mile long double lobed icy body in a very distant location within the Kuiper Belt. High resolution imagery and much other data was successfuly gathered and returned.
On Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd April 2020, the New Horizons spacecraft was tasked with an interesting experiment. Use the LORRI / LOng Range Reconnaissance Imager camera to image the stars Proxima Centauri also known as Alpha Centauri C and Wolf 359.
The experiment was taking an image of each with the steller background of vastly more distant stars and taking identical images on Earth through telescopes in northern Spring / southern Autumn, April & May 2020 and then comparing those with the New Horizons spacecraft images which were obtained from a distance of about 7 billion KM / 4.3 billion miles from the Sun and comparing the positions of Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359 as seen from the central part of the Kuiper Belt to those from Earth.
A bit about the target stars used.
Both Proxima Centauri and Wolf 359 are small faint red dwarf stars. Proxima Centauri is the closest known star to our solar system at 4.244 Light years so the light New Horizons captured left Proxima Centauri in February 2016 or about 268,400 times the distance from the Sun to Earth. Proxima Centauri is the very distant companion to the star system Alpha Centauri A & B (which are G and K type main sequence stars) and Proxima Centauri orbits them about once every half a million years or so.
Proxima Centauri is a feeble M5 red dwarf within the southern constellation of Centaurus the Centaur, total luminosity is about 0.17% or just under 1/500th as luminous as our Sun, though 85% of that is in infrared light so only about 0.006% is in visible light. Proxima Centauri has a diameter of about 1.5 times that of Jupiter or about 214,500 KM / 133,300 miles wide and mass of about 129 times that of Jupiter or about 41,000 times that of Earth (the Sun has a mass of 332,946 times that of Earth and Jupiter about 317.8 times that of Earth). with a mean global density of about 47 g/cm3 (grams per cubic centimetre) so is quite dense as red dwarves are. Proxima Centauri rotates once every 82 days and 14 hours with a star spot (sun spot) cycle every 4 years, some of these star spot maxima produces huge flares that often emit powerful X-Rays.
Also two planets and a debris disk have been discovered orbiting Proxima Centauri with a possible third planet. The second planet may well have a ring system that is hundreds of times more extensive than Saturn's.
Wolf 359 is also a very faint red dwarf star, this time a single star within the northern ecliptical constellation of Leo the Lion about 7.86 light years away from our Solar System.
Wolf 359 has a specrum of M6 (very red) has a diameter of about 220,000 KM / 136,700 miles, a mass of about 9% that of the Sun or about 30,000 times that of Earth or about 94.3 times that of Jupiter (the Sun has a mass of 332,946 times that of Earth and Jupiter about 317.8 times that of Earth). Wolf 359 appears to have an irregular star spot (sun spot) cycle and does at times flare in X-Rays and Gamma Rays.
There are two planets known orbiting Wolf 359, one appears to be a small jovian type world an intermediate planet between Neptune and Saturn, about 44 times the mass of the Earth (Neptune 17 times and Saturn 95 times the mass of the Earth respectively), orbiting very close in.
Text Andrew R Brown.
Image Credit: Earth based: Las Cumbres Observatory / Siding Spring Observatory.
Image Credit Space based: NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Southwest Research Institute.
New Horizons spacecraft.
Triton.
Imaged: Friday 25th August 1989.
Closest views ever obtained of the possible former Kuiper Belt Object / Dwarf Planet rock & ice Neptune moon Triton.
Triton is large at 2,706 KM / 1,680 miles wide.
Triton is unusual in large solar system moons to orbit the parent planet backwards (east to west direction or clockwise from the north). Triton also orbits Neptune by a 23 degree tilt.
Triton orbits Neptune at a mean distance of 354,760 KM / 220,305 miles once every 5 days. 21 hours and 2 minutes at an average speed of 15,804 KPH / 9,814 MPH. The rotation period of Triton is the same so keeps the same face turned towards Neptune permanently.
Triton certainly did not form around Neptune, and data from the Voyager 2 spacecraft, suggest that Triton formed much further from the Sun, maybe was a former Kuiper Belt Object, a possible sibling of Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea, etc. In fact Triton is only a little larger than either Pluto or Eris. Orbital mechanics suggest that Triton must have had a reasonably large moon of its own prior to capture by Neptune, as forward momentum has to be lost, in this case a relatively large moon of Triton would have been ejected as energy would have been imparted into it. If such a moon existed, chances are it is back in the Kuiper Belt, and at least two objects may fit, KBOs Quaoar & Orcus. There are issues, as both these have small moons of their own, if either of these were Triton’s original companions, it would be difficult to see how they would have small moons of their own. A former Triton moon may well have been tidally heated during the ejection and Quaoar shows crystalline ice in its spectrum, ice that had melted then refroze slowly with larger ice crystals. However the presence of the moon since named Weywot orbiting Quaoar makes this scenario difficult.
During the capture of Triton by Neptune, would have resulted in an initial orbit that was very elliptical. As further orbital energy was robbed from Triton, internal heating would melt the original surface than when the orbit became circular, Triton would refreeze with a new surface. Some small moons of Neptune present would have been scattered, perhaps some ending up in the Kuiper Belt, some deorbiting into Neptune and some perhaps ending up as comets coming close to the Sun. Neptune does have some smaller moons much closer in, but compared to Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus, Neptune is short of moons, and Triton’s arrival would explain that.
Only about 40% of Triton has been seen well, well enough for high resolution geological mapping during the passage of the Voyager 2 spacecraft on: Friday 25th August 1989. This is on the leading, southern, Neptune facing side. However, Triton turned out to have a diverse and apparently geologically young surface, with average terrain being only about 50 million years old, some as young as only 6 million years old, with a few areas older, but no more than 500 million years. Triton is highly reflective, with an average albedo (reflectivity) of about 80%, Only the Saturn moon Enceladus and the KBO / dwarf planet Eris are brighter
Triton has only 179 recognized impact craters and the largest seen to date is only 27 KM / 17 miles wide since named Mazomba Crater. Some frozen ‘lakes’ like Ruach Planitia may well be larger impact craters that were flooded, then froze, but this is far from certain.
Triton also has ridges, pressure ridges, a pink frozen nitrogen ice cap, also ice blisters and what appear to be cryocalderas, pits that appear to have erupted slushy ices that then froze solid. Some nitrogen ice geysers were active on the pink nitrogen ice cap, the extremely weak sunlight, just about heating some subsurface nitrogen ice into liquid nitrogen, then bursting through overlying nitrogen ice forming nitrogen ice geysers. A large area known as the ‘Cantaloupe Terrain’ is covered by shallow circular depressions, terrain only seen on Triton. It is not clear what caused the terrain, but is appears to be collapses related to slushy ice eruptions. Two massive ridges were seen to cross this area in an X form, Slidr Sulci (north – south) and Tano Sulci (east – west). Triton has an extremely tenuous atmosphere, some 1/70,000th the density of Earth’s at sea level, however due to the extremely low temperatures hazes were detected in limb views and the nitrogen ice particles in the ice geysers are blown down wind at an altitude of around, 8,000 metres / 26,250 feet,
Triton is a very cold, ice & rock object, average surface temperature of minus 235 Celsius / minus 391 Fahrenheit or 38 Kelvin. This is colder than the average for Pluto and is the second coldest known large object in the solar system, only Eris at minus 257 Celsius / minus 431 Fahrenheit or 16 Kelvin is colder. If our own Earth cooled to the same temperatures, our oceans would freeze almost all the way down and our atmosphere would collapse and freeze into a layer of frozen gasses 11 metres / 35 feet thick.
The density is 2.01 grammes per cubic centimetre or just over twice that of regular water ice. Triton is composed of 70% rock and 30% ice. Gravity tracking of the passing Voyager 2 spacecraft suggested that Triton has a differentiated interior, a rocky core with an ice rich mantle and crust. The variety of geological features visible also support this.
Text: Andrew R Brown.
NASA/JPL-CalTech/Space Science Institute. Voyager 2 spacecraft.
---------------------------------------------------------------
RASNZ
Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand
eNewsletter: No. 234, 20 June 2020
Affiliated Societies are welcome to reproduce any item in this email newsletter or on the RASNZ website www.rasnz.org.nz in their own newsletters provided an acknowledgement of the source is also included.
Contents
1. World Record Light
2. JJ Eldridge Honoured
3. Conference and AGM at Labour Weekend
4. Existing Registrations for 2020 Conference
5. Dark Sky Workshop - new date
6. Students with a Passion for Astronomy (SWAPA) - Applications
7. The Solar System in July
8. Comet C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)
9. Variable Star News
10. New Zealand Astrophotography Competition - Closes September 21
11. Stargazers Getaway September 18-20
12. Exoplanet Disappears
13. Population III Stars Not Found
14. New Study of Night Sky Pollution by Internet Satellites
15. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
16. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
17. How to Join the RASNZ
1. World Record Light
Astronomers! Participate in a World Record Event:
This is a free event where you will learn about reducing light pollution to improve environmental sustainability, contribute to citizen science and break a world record!
On Sunday, 21 June 2020, the shortest day of the year it being winter solstice, there is a great opportunity as a member of the astronomic community to participate in WORLD RECORD LIGHT.
You will first need to watch and complete a short lesson online about light pollution and answer multiple choice questions within a 24-hour period. If you go one step further and take a light reading outside (illustrated with a video) using the citizen science platform – Globe at Night - you will be in the running to win a prize.
The great news is that you can participate from any location, do it naked eye (you won’t need binoculars or a telescope) and do it no matter what the weather is on the day.
To break the world record, thousands of us (mainly from New Zealand and Australia) need to participate. The citizen science data you contribute through Globe at Night will be very valuable for environmental sustainability decisions to be made by regulators in New Zealand and Australia.
Astronz is this family friendly event’s ‘Gold Sponsor’, and is partnering the Australasian Dark Sky Alliance (ADSA) who are hosting WORLD RECORD LIGHT in order to:
* Raise awareness of light on the impacts on the environment;
* Contribute to a global map of light pollution; and
* Encourage everyone to reduce their light footprint.
For full details see: https://worldrecordlight.thinkific.com/pages/coming_soon
For practical questions on how to participate in WORLD RECORD LIGHT, contact AAS Member and Dark Sky Waiheke Island (a ‘Star Sponsor’ of this event) team member Kim Wesney at gammaray@xtra.co.nz
Don’t miss this opportunity to get in the record books and make a difference!
-- Nalayini Davies (nbrito@vinstar.co.nz)
2. JJ Eldridge Honoured
The Astronomical Society of Australia has awarded its Anne Green Prize for a significant advance or accomplishment by a mid-career scientist to JJ Eldridge, University of Auckland, for the Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis BPASS code. This program is important, high-impact code applicable in diverse fields of research from high-redshift galaxies and reionisation to nearby galaxies and stellar evolution.
3. Conference and AGM at Labour Weekend
Dear RASNZ Members and 2020 Conference Delegates,
RASNZ Council has set the date for the 2020 AGM and Conference for Labour Weekend (23-25 October 2020). Please pencil these new dates into your calendar, noting that these new arrangements are themselves subject to further postponement depending on what restrictions remain on our activities at that time. Council will make further announcements relating to the AGM and Conference as developments arise.
Yours,
Nicholas Rattenbury, President, RASNZ
4. Existing Registrations for 2020 Conference
Those who paid their registration fees for the postponed conference but do not wish to attend the re-scheduled conference over Labour Weekend in October can request a full refund, by emailing the conference organisers (conference@rasnz.org.nz) and providing your bank account details.
Registrants wishing to attend the October Conference need take no action, your registration will remain on record for the rescheduled conference, there being no change to the registration fees.
-- Glen Rowe, Chair, Standing Conference Committee
5. Dark Sky Workshop - new date
A Dark Sky Workshop is planned to follow the re-scheduled RASNZ Conference as announced in the previous item. The workshop will be held, subject to any restrictions that may be in place at the time, on the morning of Monday 26 October2020 (Labour Day). Further details will be made available in due course.
-- Glen Rowe, Chair, Standing Conference Committee
6. Students with a Passion for Astronomy (SWAPA) - Applications
The Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) offers 10 to 15 top secondary students who are NZ citizens and at secondary school anywhere in New Zealand scholarships to enable them to attend the RASNZ annual astronomy conference, which will take place this year in Wellington, Friday 23 (afternoon) to Sunday 25 October 2020 (about 4 pm) - provided Covid-19 doesn't affect our plans.
The scholarships comprise free registration for the conference (value $265), free travel from their home to Wellington*, free backpacker accommodation in Wellington for 23 and 24 October*, and a free banquet ticket for the conference banquet on Saturday 24 October (value $95). Students in years 13, 12 or 11 may apply.
*Accommodation and travel only if required for non-Wellington residents
To be considered, students should email a short statement of no more than 300 words explaining why they would like to attend the conference and why they are interested in astronomy. This statement should be sent to RASNZ Immediate-Past President, John Drummond ( kiwiastronomer@gmail.com ) by Friday 7th August 2020, 8 pm. Include your name, gender, age, school, year of study at school in 2020, city, email address, telephone contact and science teacher's name, phone and email. For more detail see the RASNZ webpage -
https://www.rasnz.org.nz/groups-news-events/events/conference/conf-swapa2020
-- John Drummond
7. The Solar System in July
Dates and times shown are NZST (UT + 12 hours). Rise and Set times are for Wellington. They will vary by a few minutes elsewhere in NZ. Data is adapted from that shown by GUIDE 9.1
THE SUN and PLANETS in July, Rise & Set, Magnitude & Constellation
July 1 NZST July 31 NZST
Mag Cons Rise Set Mag Cons Rise Set
SUN -26.7 Gem 7.44am 5.04pm -26.7 Cnc 7.27am 5.27pm
Merc 5.6 Gem 7.28am 5.19pm -0.8 Gem 6.32am 4.03pm
Venus -4.7 Tau 4.57am 3.01pm -4.6 Tau 4.21am 2.10pm
Mars -0.5 Psc 11.40pm 12.04pm -1.1 Psc 11.01pm 10.46am
Jupiter -2.7 Sgr 5.58pm 8.50am -2.7 Sgr 3.41pm 6.39am
Saturn 0.2 Cap 6.28pm 9.10am 0.1 Sgr 4.19pm 7.05am
Uranus 5.8 Ari 2.57am 1.26pm 5.8 Ari 1.02am 11.26am
Neptune 7.9 Aqr 10.48am 11.28am 7.8 Aqr 8.48pm 9.30am
Pluto 14.4 Sgr 5.56pm 8.54am 14.5 Sgr 3.54pm 6.54am
July 1 NZST July 31 NZST
Twilights morning evening morning evening
Civil: start 7.16am, end 5.33pm start 7.00am, end 5.55pm
Nautical: start 6.42am, end 6.08pm start 6.27am, end 6.28pm
Astro: start 6.08am, end 6.42pm start 5.54am, end 7.01pm
July PHASES OF THE MOON, times NZ & UT
Full Moon: July 5 at 4.44pm (04:44 UT)
Last quarter: July 13 at 11.29am (Jul 12, 23:29 UT)
New Moon: July 21 at 5.33am (Jul 20, 17:33 UT)
First quarter: July 28 at 12.33am (Jul 27, 12:33 UT)
A slight partial penumbral eclipse of the moon on July 5 is not visible from NZ.
PLANETS in JULY
MERCURY is at inferior conjunction with the Sun at about 3pm on July 1.
After conjunction Mercury becomes a morning object, rising shortly before the Sun. By mid-month Mercury will rise some 85 minutes earlier than the Sun, but the planet will be only 4.5° above the horizon 45 minutes before sunrise, making it a difficult object at magnitude 0.8. The planet is stationary on the 12th, as a result the interval between Mercury's rise and the Sun's diminishes during the rest of the month.
On the morning of the 19th, the moon, a very thin crescent, will be 6° to the left of Mercury.
VENUS will be a brilliant morning object to the northeast easily visible from well before dawn. On the morning of the 17th the crescent moon will be about 6° to the left of the planet.
MARS, in Pisces, rises shortly before midnight during June, brightening a little as the month progresses. The best time for observing Mars will be an hour or so before sunrise. On the morning of the 12th, Mars, magnitude -0.7, will be 1.5° from the moon.
JUPITER and SATURN continue to move in tandem during July. They are 6° apart on the 1st and just over 7.5° apart on the 31st, both at present moving in an apparent retrograde sense as the Earth overtakes them. Jupiter is at opposition on the 14th, Saturn on the 23rd.
By the end of July, the two planets rise an hour or two before sunset. Since they also set after sunrise, they will be easily visible all night.
On June 6, the moon, just past full, will be 2° from Jupiter shortly before dawn. Later, in the evening, the moon will be a similar distance from Saturn.
PLUTO starts July less than a degree from Jupiter but the latter pulls away from Pluto during the rest of July so they are 3° on the 31st.
URANUS moves further up into the morning sky during July, rising about 1am on the 31st.
NEPTUNE will be in the late evening sky, rising about 9pm on the 31st
POSSIBLE BINOCULAR ASTEROIDS in JULY
July 1 NZST July 30 NZST
Mag Cons transit Mag Cons transit
(1) Ceres 8.6 Aqr .4.59am 8.0 Aqr 2.59am
(4) Vesta 8.1 Gem 12.34pm 8.3 Gem 11.33pm
(7) Iris 8.9 Sgr 12.07am 9.6 Sgr 9.42pm
(532) Herculina 9.3 Sgr 12.30am 10.1 Sgr 10.07pm
CERES rises at 9.45 pm on the 1st and 7.34 pm on the 31st. So it becomes well placed for viewing mid to late evening during the month.
VESTA is in conjunction with the Sun early in July. It is behind the Sun, as "seen" from the Earth for just over 24 hours on the 5th and 6th NZ time. After conjunction Vesta becomes a morning object, but will be too close to the Sun for observation during the rest of July.
IRIS fades a little during July, following opposition at the end of June
HERCULINA is less than 6° from Iris at the beginning of July.
-- Brian Loader
8. Comet C/2019 U6 (Lemmon)
This comet was initially classed as an asteroid in a long-period orbit. It began showing comet characteristics at the beginning of the year and is now brightening much more than earlier predicted. It is visible in binoculars.
Below are daily positions of C/2019 U6 at 6:30 p.m. NZST. m1 is the total magnitude, the magnitude of a star defocused to the comet's size. The magnitudes have been added from Daniel Green's prediction in Electronic Telegram No. 4774, May 14. An m1 fainter than 3 is not easily seen by eye.
June/R.A.(2000)Dec. m1 July R.A.(2000)Dec. m1
July h m ° ' h m ° '
20 09 06.5 -10 44 5.8 05 10 55.9 +01 26 5.9
21 09 13.8 -10 01 06 11 02.9 +02 15
22 09 21.1 -09 17 07 11 09.7 +03 05
23 09 28.4 -08 32 08 11 16.5 +03 53
24 09 35.8 -07 45 09 11 23.2 +04 40
25 09 43.2 -06 58 5.7 10 11 29.7 +05 27 6.2
26 09 50.6 -06 09 11 11 36.2 +06 12
27 09 58.0 -05 20 12 11 42.5 +06 56
28 10 05.4 -04 30 13 11 48.7 +07 40
29 10 12.8 -03 39 14 11 54.9 +08 21
30 10 20.1 -02 49 5.8 15 12 00.9 +09 02 6.4
01 10 27.4 -01 57 16 12 06.7 +09 41
02 10 34.6 -01 06 17 12 12.5 +10 19
03 10 41.8 -00 15 18 12 18.2 +10 56
04 10 48.9 +00 35 19 12 23.8 +11 31
(To get the ephemeris columns to line up properly use Courier New typeface.)
The comet passed 0.9142 A.U., 137 million km, from the Sun, a bit less than Earth's distance, on June 18.8 UT. It will at its closest to Earth, 0.827 AU, 124 million km, on June 30. C/2019 U6 last visited the Sun 10,500 years ago. The tweaks to its orbit made by the gravitational pull of the planets have shortened the orbital period to 5300 years, according to calculations by Syuichi Nakano.
9. Variable Star News
Variable Stars South (VSS)
AAVSO arranged an internet video seminar (Zoom NZ Sunday 7th June 10:00 am) with Stan Walker of VSS presenting PowerPoint slides in a talk on “Miras from an Astrophysical Standpoint”. Mira stars are generally characterised as very red in colour, low in temperature (3000°K) and having very long periodic cycles of light variation. Stan focussed on two southern hemisphere Miras which are rather special in exhibiting dual maxima. The two stars featured were BH Crucis and R Carinae, both southern hemisphere variables which have been studied for a number of years. The first was discovered by Auckland astronomer Ronald Welch in October 1964 and the second has been monitored for many years and has a large data set of visual observations covering about 130 years.
After describing the behaviour of these two stars Stan outlined the observing techniques - colour measurements and spectroscopy - required to answer some outstanding questions on the mechanism of light variation. There was good discussion about these techniques and a number of people are proposing to use them to follow the stars through complete cycles. Mira have long periods, typically 200 to 550 days, so this is a relatively long term project.
The talk by Stan Walker was originally scheduled for the VSS Symposium 6 scheduled for Easter at Parkes. The Zoom seminar was attended by about 35 people from around the world and capably chaired by Richard Roberts, leader of the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO} Long-Period Variable Star Section (LPV) who set up the meeting. Discussion on the talk is on the AAVSO LPV Section pages. Stan Walker’s talk is available on a You Tube post with this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f3V8MA__oQ
VSS is working on hosting some other speakers who were lined up for VSSS6 and sessions will be advised on the VSS Google group. More internet seminars are planned by AAVSO special interest groups on a weekly cycle. In addition AAVSO CHOICE courses for the rest of the year will be free.
-- Alan Baldwin
10. New Zealand Astrophotography Competition - Closes September 21
Entries are sought for the 2020 New Zealand Astrophotography competition.
The competition is fully endorsed by the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand and is the nation's largest astrophotography competition.
The competition cut-off date is the 21st of September and the competition awards will be announced at the annual Burbidge dinner which is the Auckland Astronomical Society's premier annual event, keep an eye out on the society website for details on the forthcoming Burbidge dinner.
You can find the rules and entry forms on the AAS website at https://www.astronomy.org.nz/new/public/default.aspx
-- From Jonathan Green's posting nnzastronomers Yahoo group
11. Stargazers Getaway September 18-20
Stargazers Getaway 2020 at Camp Iona on Friday September 18th to Sunday 20th. This is New Moon, so we are targeting this weekend for dark skies! Camp Iona is near Herbert, south of Oamaru.
For details see
https://www.facebook.com/events/943327669369996/
12. Exoplanet Disappears
What astronomers thought was a planet beyond our solar system, has now seemingly vanished from sight. Astronomers now suggest that a full-grown planet never existed in the first place. The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope had instead observed an expanding cloud of very fine dust particles caused by a titanic collision between two icy asteroid-sized bodies orbiting the bright star Fomalhaut, about 25 light-years from Earth.
"The Fomalhaut system is the ultimate test lab for all of our ideas about how exoplanets and star systems evolve," said George Rieke of the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory. "We do have evidence of such collisions in other systems, but none of this magnitude has ever been observed. This is a blueprint for how planets destroy each other."
The object was previously believed to be a planet, called Fomalhaut b, and was first announced in 2008 based on data taken in 2004 and 2006. It was clearly visible in several years of Hubble observations that revealed it as a moving dot. Unlike other directly imaged exoplanets, nagging puzzles with Fomalhaut b arose early on. The object was unusually bright in visible light, but did not have any detectable infrared heat signature. Astronomers proposed that the added brightness came from a huge shell or ring of dust encircling the object that may have been collision-related. Also, early Hubble observations suggested the object might not be following an elliptical orbit, as planets usually do.
"These collisions are exceedingly rare and so this is a big deal that we actually get to see one," said András Gáspár of the University of Arizona. "We believe that we were at the right place at the right time to have witnessed such an unlikely event with the Hubble Space Telescope."
"Our study, which analysed all available archival Hubble data on Fomalhaut b, including the most recent images taken by Hubble, revealed several characteristics that together paint a picture that the planet-sized object may never have existed in the first place," said Gáspár.
Hubble images from 2014 showed the object had vanished, to the disbelief of the astronomers. Adding to the mystery, earlier images showed the object to continuously fade over time. "Clearly, Fomalhaut b was doing things a bona fide planet should not be doing," said Gáspár.
The resulting interpretation is that Fomalhaut b is not a planet, but a slowly expanding cloud blasted into space as a result of a collision between two large bodies. Researchers believe the collision occurred not too long prior to the first observations taken in 2004. By now the debris cloud, consisting of dust particles around 1 micron (1/50th the diameter of a human hair), is below Hubble's detection limit. The dust cloud is estimated to have expanded by now to a size larger than the orbit of Earth around our Sun.
Equally confounding is that the object is not on an elliptical orbit, as expected for planets, but on an escape trajectory, or hyperbolic path. "A recently created massive dust cloud, experiencing considerable radiative forces from the central star Fomalhaut, would be placed on such a trajectory" Gáspár said, "Our model is naturally able to explain all independent observable parameters of the system: its expansion rate, its fading and its trajectory."
Because Fomalhaut b is presently inside a vast ring of icy debris encircling the star, the colliding bodies were likely a mixture of ice and dust, like the cometary bodies that exist in the Kuiper belt on the outer fringe of our solar system. Gáspár and Rieke estimate that each of these comet-like bodies measured about 200 km across. The also suggest that the Fomalhaut system may experience one of these collision events only every 200 000 years.
Gáspár, Rieke, and other astronomers will also be observing the Fomalhaut system with the upcoming NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch in 2021.
----
The team's paper "New HST data and modelling reveal a massive planetesimal collision around Fomalhaut" was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on 20 April 2020. See https://www.pnas.org/content/117/18/9712
See the original HST press release with images at https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2020/news-2020-09
-- Forwarded by Karen Pollard.
13. Population III Stars Not Found
New results from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope suggest the formation of the first stars and galaxies in the early Universe took place sooner than previously thought. A European team of astronomers have found no evidence of the first generation of stars, known as Population III stars, as far back as when the Universe was just 500 million years old.
The exploration of the very first galaxies remains a significant challenge in modern astronomy. We do not know when or how the first stars and galaxies in the Universe formed. These questions can be addressed with the Hubble Space Telescope through deep imaging observations. Hubble allows astronomers to view the Universe back to within 500 million years of the Big Bang.
A team of European researchers, led by Rachana Bhatawdekar of the European Space Agency, set out to study the first generation of stars in the early Universe. Known as Population III stars, these stars were forged from the primordial material that emerged from the Big Bang. Population III stars must have been made solely out of hydrogen, helium and lithium, the only elements that existed before processes in the cores of these stars could create heavier elements, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and iron.
Bhatawdekar and her team probed the early Universe from about 500 million to 1 billion years after the Big Bang by studying the cluster MACSJ0416 and its parallel field with the Hubble Space Telescope (with supporting data from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope and the ground-based Very Large Telescope of the European Southern Observatory). "We found no evidence of these first-generation Population III stars in this cosmic time interval" said Bhatawdekar of the new results.
The result was achieved using the Hubble’s Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 and Advanced Camera for Surveys, as part of the Hubble Frontier Fields programme. This programme (which observed six distant galaxy clusters from 2012 to 2017) produced the deepest observations ever made of galaxy clusters and the galaxies located behind them which were magnified by the gravitational lensing effect, thereby revealing galaxies 10 to 100 times fainter than any previously observed. The masses of foreground galaxy clusters are large enough to bend and magnify the light from the more distant objects behind them. This allows Hubble to use these cosmic magnifying glasses to study objects that are beyond its nominal operational capabilities.
Bhatawdekar and her team developed a new technique that removes the light from the bright foreground galaxies that constitute these gravitational lenses. This allowed them to discover galaxies with lower masses than ever previously observed with Hubble, at a distance corresponding to when the Universe was less than a billion years old. At this point in cosmic time, the lack of evidence for exotic stellar populations and the identification of many low-mass galaxies supports the suggestion that these galaxies are the most likely candidates for the reionisation of the Universe. This period of reionisation in the early Universe is when the neutral intergalactic medium was ionised by the first stars and galaxies.
“These results have profound astrophysical consequences as they show that galaxies must have formed much earlier than we thought,” said Bhatawdekar. “This also strongly supports the idea that low-mass/faint galaxies in the early Universe are responsible for reionisation.”
These results also suggest that the earliest formation of stars and galaxies occurred much earlier than can be probed with the Hubble Space Telescope. This leaves an exciting area of further research for the upcoming NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope — to study the Universe’s earliest galaxies.
These results are based on a previous 2019 paper by Bhatawdekar et al., and a paper that will appear in an upcoming issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS). These results are also being presented at a press conference during the 236th meeting of American Astronomical Society.
----
The name Population III arose because astronomers had already classified the stars of the Milky Way as Population I (stars like the Sun, which are rich in heavier elements) and Population II (older stars with a low heavy-element content, found in the Milky Way bulge and halo, and in globular star clusters).
See the original press release at https://hubblesite.org/contents/news-releases/2020/news-2020-34
See also http://www.spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2020/cosmic-paleontology/
-- From the HST press release forwarded by Karen Pollard.
14. New Study of Night Sky Pollution by Internet Satellites
Astronomers have recently raised concerns about the impact of satellite mega-constellations on scientific research. To better understand the effect these constellations could have on astronomical observations, the European Southern Observatory (ESO) commissioned a scientific study of their impact, focusing on observations with ESO telescopes in the visible and infrared but also considering other observatories. The study, which considers a total of 18 representative satellite constellations under development by SpaceX, Amazon, OneWeb and others, together amounting to over 26 thousand satellites, has now been accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics.
The study finds that large telescopes like ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) and ESO's upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) will be "moderately affected" by the constellations under development. The effect is more pronounced for long exposures (of about 1000 s), up to 3% of which could be ruined during twilight, the time between dawn and sunrise and between sunset and dusk. Shorter exposures would be less impacted, with fewer than 0.5% of observations of this type affected. Observations conducted at other times during the night would also be less affected, as the satellites would be in the shadow of the Earth and therefore not illuminated. Depending on the science case, the impacts could be lessened by making changes to the operating schedules of ESO telescopes, though these changes come at a cost. On the industry side, an effective step to mitigate impacts would be to darken the satellites.
The study also finds that the greatest impact could be on wide-field surveys, in particular those done with large telescopes. For example, up to 30% to 50% of exposures with the US National Science Foundation's Vera C. Rubin Observatory (not an ESO facility) would be "severely affected”, depending on the time of year, the time of night, and the simplifying assumptions of the study. Mitigation techniques that could be applied on ESO telescopes would not work for this observatory although other strategies are being actively explored. Further studies are required to fully understand the scientific implications of this loss of observational data and complexities in their analysis. Wide-field survey telescopes like the Rubin Observatory can scan large parts of the sky quickly, making them crucial to spot short-lived phenomena like supernovae or potentially dangerous asteroids. Because of their unique capability to generate very large data sets and to find observation targets for many other observatories, astronomy communities and funding agencies in Europe and elsewhere have ranked wide-field survey telescopes as a top priority for future developments in astronomy.
Professional and amateur astronomers alike have also raised concerns about how satellite mega-constellations could impact the pristine views of the night sky. The study shows that about 1600 satellites from the constellations will be above the horizon of an observatory at mid-latitude, most of which will be low in the sky — within 30 degrees of the horizon. Above this — the part of the sky where most astronomical observations take place — there will be about 250 constellation satellites at any given time. While they are all illuminated by the Sun at sunset and sunrise, more and more get into the shadow of the Earth toward the middle of the night. The ESO study assumes a brightness for all of these satellites. With this assumption, up to about 100 satellites could be bright enough to be visible with the naked eye during twilight hours, about 10 of which would be higher than 30 degrees of elevation. All these numbers plummet as the night gets darker and the satellites fall into the shadow of the Earth. Overall, these new satellite constellations would about double the number of satellites visible in the night sky to the naked eye above 30 degrees.
These numbers do not include the trains of satellites visible immediately after launch. Whilst spectacular and bright, they are short lived and visible only briefly after sunset or before sunrise, and — at any given time — only from a very limited area on Earth.
The ESO study uses simplifications and assumptions to obtain conservative estimates of the effects, which may be smaller in reality than calculated in the paper. More sophisticated modelling will be necessary to more precisely quantify the actual impacts. While the focus is on ESO telescopes, the results apply to similar non-ESO telescopes that also operate in the visible and infrared, with similar instrumentation and science cases.
Satellite constellations will also have an impact on radio, millimetre and submillimetre observatories, including the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) and the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX). This impact will be considered in further studies.
ESO, together with other observatories, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the American Astronomical Society (AAS), the UK Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), and other societies, is taking measures to raise the awareness of this issue in global fora such as the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the European Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies (CRAF). This is being done while exploring with the space companies practical solutions that can safeguard the large-scale investments made in cutting-edge ground-based astronomy facilities. ESO supports the development of regulatory frameworks that will ultimately ensure the harmonious coexistence of highly promising technological advancements in low Earth orbit with the conditions that enable humankind to continue its observation and understanding of the Universe.
See the original press release at https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2004/
For the scientific paper see
https://www.eso.org/public/archives/releases/sciencepapers/eso2004/eso2004a.pdf
-- From the above press release forwarded by Karen Pollard.
15. Gifford-Eiby Lecture Fund
The RASNZ administers the Gifford-Eiby Memorial Lectureship Fund to
assist Affiliated Societies with travel costs of getting a lecturer
or instructor to their meetings. Details are in RASNZ By-Laws Section
H and at http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/ge-fund
The application form is at
http://rasnz.org.nz/Downloadable/RASNZ/GE_Application2019.pdf
17. Kingdon-Tomlinson Fund
The RASNZ is responsible for recommending to the trustees of the Kingdon
Tomlinson Fund that grants be made for astronomical projects. The grants may be to any person or persons, or organisations, requiring funding for any projects or ventures that promote the progress of astronomy in New Zealand. The deadline for this round of the Kingdon-Tomlinson Grants is 1st November 2020. Full details are set down in the RASNZ By-Laws, Section J. Information on the K-T Fund is at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/kt-fund
Send applications to the RASNZ Executive Secretary at rasnz.secretary@gmail.com.
The application form at
http://rasnz.org.nz/Downloadable/RASNZ/KT_Application2019.pdf
17. How to Join the RASNZ
RASNZ membership is open to all individuals with an interest in
astronomy in New Zealand. Information about the society and its
objects can be found at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/membership-benefits
A membership form can be either obtained from treasurer@rasnz.co.nz or
by completing the online application form found at
http://rasnz.org.nz/rasnz/membership-application
Basic membership for the 2020 year starts at $40 for an ordinary
member, which includes an electronic subscription to our journal
'Southern Stars'.
=============== Alan Gilmore Phone: 03 680 6817
P.O. Box 57 alan.gilmore@canterbury.ac.nz
Lake Tekapo 7945
New Zealand
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June Celestial Calendar by Dave Mitsky
All times, unless otherwise noted, are UT (subtract four hours and, when appropriate, one calendar day for EDT)
6/1 Mars and Saturn are at heliocentric conjunction (longitude 297.1 degrees) at 18:00
6/2 The Moon is 6.8 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Spica (Alpha Virginis) at 8:00
6/3 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 32' 48" from a distance of 364,366 kilometers (226,406 miles), at 3:38; Venus is at inferior conjunction with the Sun (0.289 astronomical units from the Earth and latitude 0.19 degrees) at 18:00
6/4 A double Galilean satellite shadow transit (Ganymede’s shadow precedes Europa’s) begins at 11:21; Mercury is at its greatest eastern elongation (24 degrees) at 13:00
6/5 The Moon is 6.3 degrees north-northeast of Antares at 12:00; a penumbral lunar eclipse visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia begins at 17:45; Venus is at the descending node through the ecliptic plane at 19:00; Full Moon, known as the Rose or Strawberry Moon, occurs at 19:12
6/6 The Moon is at the descending node (longitude 269.1 degrees) at 18:00; Mars is at western quadrature (90 degrees from the Sun) at 19:00
6/8 The Moon is 2.2 degrees southeast of Jupiter at 19:00; the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn lie within a circle with a diameter of 5.1 degrees at 22:00
6/9 The Moon is 2.7 degrees southeast of Saturn at 4:00
6/11 A double Galilean satellite shadow transit (Europa’s shadow precedes Ganymede’s) begins at 14:33
6/12 The equation of time, which yields the difference between mean solar time and apparent solar time, equals 0 at 15:00; Mercury is at the descending node through the ecliptic plane at 19:00; Venus is 4.2 degrees north-northwest of the first-magnitude star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) at 21:00
6/13 The earliest sunrise of the year at latitude 40 degrees north occurs today; the Moon, Mars, and Neptune lie within a circle with a diameter of 4.2 degrees at 2:00; the Moon is 2.5 degrees southeast of Mars at 3:00; the Moon is 4.2 degrees southeast of Neptune at 4:00; Last Quarter Moon occurs at 6:24; Mars (magnitude -0.2) is 1.6 degrees southeast of Neptune (magnitude +7.9) at 13:00
6/14 The Curtiss Cross, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect located between the craters Parry and Gambart, is predicted to be visible at 15:02
6/15 The Moon is at apogee, subtending 29' 32" from a distance of 404,595 kilometers (251,404 miles), at 00:57
6/17 The earliest morning twilight of the year at latitude 40 degrees north occurs today; the Moon is 3.6 degrees southeast of Uranus at 5:00; Mercury is stationary, with retrograde (western) motion to begin, at 20:00
6/18 A double Galilean satellite shadow transit (Ganymede’s shadow precedes Europa’s) begins at 18:33; the Moon is 6.6 degrees southeast of the bright open cluster M45 (the Pleiades or Subaru) in Taurus at 23:00
6/19 The Moon is 0.7 degrees north of Venus, with an occultation taking place in northern Mongolia, northern and central Russia, northwestern Europe, Greenland, northern and eastern Canada, the Canary Islands, and the Azores, at 9:00; the Moon, Venus, and Aldebaran lie within a circle with a diameter of 4.9 degrees at 11:00; the Moon is 3.7 degrees north of Aldebaran at 17:00
6/20 The middle of the eclipse season (i.e., the Sun is at same longitude as the Moon’s ascending node of 89.2 degrees) occurs at 1:00; Venus is 8.9 degrees southeast of M45 at 12:00; the northern hemisphere summer solstice occurs at 21:44; the Sun’s longitude is 90 degrees at 21:44
6/21 The Moon is at the ascending node (longitude 89.1 degrees) at 4:00; an annular solar eclipse visible from parts of Africa, Asia, and the western Pacific begins at 3:46; New Moon (lunation 1206) occurs at 6:41; the Sun enters the constellation of Gemini, at longitude 90.4 degrees on the ecliptic, at 9:00; the Moon is 0.7 degrees southeast of the bright open cluster M35 in Gemini at 11:00
6/22 The Moon is 3.9 degrees north of Mercury at 8:00; the Moon is 8.1 degrees south of the first-magnitude star Castor (Alpha Geminorum) at 22:00
6/23 The Moon is 4.5 degrees south of the first-magnitude star Pollux (Beta Geminorum) at 2:00; Mercury is at aphelion (0.4667 astronomical units from the Sun) at 4:00; Neptune is stationary at 18:00
6/24 The latest evening twilight of the year at latitude 40 degrees north occurs today; the Moon is 2.0 degrees north-northeast of the bright open cluster M44 (the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe) in Cancer at 3:00; Venus is stationary, with prograde (eastern) motion to begin, at 18:00
6/25 The Moon is 4.2 degrees north-northeast of the first-magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) at 18:00
6/27 The latest sunset of the year at latitude 40 degrees north occurs today
6/28 The Purbach Cross or Lunar X, an X-shaped clair-obscure illumination effect involving various rims and ridges between the craters La Caille, Blanchinus, and Purbach, is predicted to be fully formed at 1:52; asteroid 7 Iris (magnitude +7.9) is at opposition at 2:00; First Quarter Moon occurs at 8:16
6/29 The Moon is 6.8 degrees north-northeast of Spica at 14:00
6/30 The Moon is at perigee, subtending 32' 23" from a distance of 368,958 kilometers (229,260 miles), at 2:13
Giovanni Cassini (1625-1712), John Dollond (1706-1761), Charles Messier (1730-1817), William Lassell (1799-1880), George Ellery Hale (1868-1938), and Carolyn Shoemaker (1929) were born this month.
The British astronomer Edmund Halley discovered M13 on June 1, 1714. The French astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille discovered the globular cluster M55 on June 16, 1752. A transit of the Sun by Venus was observed by Austrian, British, and French astronomers from various parts of the world on June 6, 1761. The French astronomer Charles Messier discovered the globular cluster M14 on June 1st, 1764, the emission and reflection nebula M20 (the Trifid Nebula) on June 5, 1764, and the open cluster M23 on June 20, 1764. The globular cluster M62 was discovered by Charles Messier on June 7, 1771. The French astronomer Pierre Méchain discovered his first deep-sky object, the spiral galaxy M63 (the Sunflower Galaxy), on June 14, 1779. The German/English astronomer William Herschel discovered the globular cluster NGC 6288 on June 24, 1784. Neptune was independently discovered by the British astronomer John Couch Adams on June 5, 1846. The Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Donati discovered Comet C/1858 L1 (Donati), the first comet to be photographed, on June 2, 1858. A large storm on Saturn was observed by the American astronomer E. E. Barnard. The Tunguska event occurred on June 30, 1908. The largest known solar flare was recorded on June 27, 1984. The Georgian astronomer Givi Kimeridze discovered a Type Ia supernova in the spiral galaxy M58 on June 28, 1989. Namaka, a satellite of the dwarf planet Haumea, was discovered on June 30, 2005. Kerberos, Pluto’s fourth satellite, was discovered by the Hubble Space Telescope team on June 28, 2011.
The minor Boötid meteor shower (5 per hour) peaks on the morning of June 27th. The source of Boötid meteors is the periodic comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke. The radiant lies in northern Boötes at right ascension 14 hours 56 minutes, declination 48 degrees. Browse https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20200627_10_100 for additional information.
Information on passes of the ISS, the USAF’s X-37B, the HST, Starlink, and other satellites can be found at http://www.heavens-above.com/
The Moon is 9.1 days old, is illuminated 69.2%, subtends 32.9 arc minutes, and is located in Virgo on June 1st at 0:00 UT. The Moon is at its greatest northern declination of +24.1 degrees on June 22nd and at its greatest southern declination of -24.0 degrees on June 8th. Longitudinal libration is at a maximum of +5.9 degrees on June 9th and a minimum of -5.1 degrees on June 22nd. Latitudinal libration is at a maximum of +6.9 degrees on June 14th and a minimum of -6.7 degrees on June 1st and -6.8 degrees on June 28th. Favorable librations for the following craters occur on the indicated dates: Scott on June 3rd, Helmholtz on June 4th, Gibbs on June 6th, and Desargues on June 17th. A penumbral lunar eclipse, the 67th of 71 in saros series 111, is visible from Australia, the Indian Ocean, Antarctica, Asia, Africa, Europe, the southern Atlantic Ocean, eastern South America, and the western Pacific Ocean begins at 17:45:51 UT1, reaches greatest eclipse at 19:25:05 UT1, and ends at 21:04:09 UT1 on June 5th. Click on http://www.eclipsewise.com/oh/oh-figures/ec2020-Fig02.pdf for additional information on this eclipse. The Moon is at perigee (a distance of 57.13 Earth-radii) on June 3rd and (a distance of 57.85 Earth-radii) on June 30th and at apogee (a distance of 63.44 Earth-radii) on June 15th. New Moon occurs on June 21st. The Moon occults Venus on June 19th from certain parts of the world. Browse http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm for information on occultation events. Visit https://saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/…/saber-does-the-s…/ for tips on spotting extreme crescent Moons and http://www.curtrenz.com/moon06.html for Full Moon data. Consult http://time.unitarium.com/moon/where.html or download http://www.ap-i.net/avl/en/start for current information on the Moon. See https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4768 for a lunar phase and libration calculator and https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4768 for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Quickmap. Click on https://www.calendar-12.com/moon_calendar/2020/june for a lunar phase calendar for this month. Times and dates for the lunar crater light rays predicted to occur this month are available at http://www.lunar-occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm
The Sun is located in Taurus on June 1st. It enters Gemini on June 21st. The Sun reaches its farthest position north for the year on June 20th. There are 15 hours and one minute of daylight at latitude 40 degrees north on June 20th, the day of the summer solstice. An annular solar eclipse takes place on June 21st. The eclipse, the 36th of 70 in saros series 137, is visible from Africa, eastern Europe, Asia, extreme northern Australia, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Greatest eclipse occurs in Pakistan and northern India at 6:40:05 UT1. See http://www.eclipsewise.com/oh/oh-figures/ec2020-Fig03.pdf for more on this event. At latitude 40 degrees north, the earliest sunrise occurs on June 13th and the latest sunset on June 27th. For an explanation of why this occurs, click on https://earthsky.org/?p=4027
Brightness, apparent size, illumination, distance from the Earth in astronomical units, and location data for the planets and Pluto on June 1st: Mercury (+0.1, 7.6", 45% illuminated, 0.89 a.u., Gemini), Venus (not visible, 57.6", 0% illuminated, 0.29 a.u., Taurus), Mars (magnitude 0.0, 9.3", 85% illuminated, 1.01 a.u., Aquarius), Jupiter (magnitude -2.6, 44.7", 100% illuminated, 4.41 a.u., Sagittarius), Saturn (magnitude +0.4, 17.8", 100% illuminated, 9.34 a.u., Capricornus), Uranus on June 16th (magnitude +5.9, 3.4", 100% illuminated, 20.49 a.u., Aries), Neptune on June 16th (magnitude +7.9, 2.3", 100% illuminated, 29.84 a.u., Aquarius), and Pluto on June 16th (magnitude +14.3, 0.1", 100% illuminated, 33.31 a.u., Sagittarius).
Mercury is in the west in the evening sky. Venus and Uranus can be found in the east, Mars and Neptune in the southeast, and Jupiter and Saturn can be found in the south in the morning sky.
The Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn lie within a circle with a diameter of 5.1 degrees on June 8th. On June 13th, the Moon, Mars, and Neptune lie within a circle with a diameter of 4.2 degrees. The Moon, Venus, and Aldebaran lie within a circle with a diameter of 4.9 degrees on June 19th.
Mercury increases in apparent size from 7.6 to 12.0 arc seconds but dims in brightness from magnitude +0.1 to +3.0. It attains a greatest eastern elongation of 24 degrees on June 4th. On that date, the speediest planet will shine at magnitude +0.4, subtend 8 arc seconds, will be illuminated 36%, and will set nearly two hours after sunset. By June 13th, it will be illuminated only 19%. Mercury will be visible in the evening sky until the middle of June.
Venus is at inferior conjunction on June 3rd. It will pass just 0.2 degrees from the Sun. Afterwards, Venus enters the morning sky. The 51-arc-second-in-diameter, 8%-illuminated planet will be occulted by a waning crescent Moon from certain parts of the world on the morning of June 19th. Venus lies near Melotte 25 (the Hyades) and is eight degrees in altitude one hour before sunrise on June 30th.
During June, Mars brightens from magnitude 0.0 to magnitude -0.5 and grows in apparent size from 9.3 to 11.4 arc seconds. Its altitude increases from 28 degrees on June 1st to 39 degrees on June 30th for mid-northern hemisphere observers. By month’s end, it rises not long after 12:30 a.m. DST. Mars and Saturn are at heliocentric conjunction on June 1st. Mars is at western quadrature on June 6th. As a result, the planet is illuminated only 84% and appears distinctly gibbous. On June 10th, Mars subtends 10 arc seconds, a bit less than one half of its maximum angular size at opposition on October 6th. The Last Quarter Moon passes 2.5 degrees southeast of Mars on June 13th. On June 24th, the Red Planet departs Aquarius and enters southern Pisces. Syrtis Major, a dark triangular region on the surface of Mars, will be visible by late June. An article on observing Mars appears on pages 48 and 49 of the June 2020 issue of Sky & Telescope. Consult the Mars Profiler at https://skyandtelescope.org/obs…/mars-which-side-is-visible/ to identify Martian surface features.
Jupiter rises before midnight local DST. It brightens marginally to magnitude -2.7 and gains 2.5 arc seconds in angular size during June. Saturn lies 4.8 degrees east of Jupiter on June 1st. The two retrograding gas giants are in quasi-conjunction throughout June. The gap between Saturn and Jupiter increases to six degrees by the end of the month. The nearly Full Moon passes two degrees southeast of Jupiter on June 8th. As Io's shadow begins to transit Jupiter on June 14th, Callisto is eclipsed by the planet's shadow beginning at 5:17 UT. On June 15th, Ganymede goes into eclipse at 0:40 UT, as Io and its shadow are transiting Jupiter. Browse http://www.skyandtelescope.com/…/interactive-sky-watching-…/ or http://www.projectpluto.com/jeve_grs.htm in order to determine transit times of Jupiter’s central meridian by the Great Red Spot. GRS transit times are also available on pages 50 and 51 of the June 2020 issue of Sky & Telescope. Javascript Jupiter at http://www.shallowsky.com/jupiter/ shows Galilean satellite events. Data on the Galilean satellite events can also be found on page 51 of the June 2020 issue of Sky & Telescope and at https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm#jun and http://www.skyandtelescope.com/…/interactive-sky-watching-…/
This month Saturn increases in brightness from magnitude +0.4 to magnitude +0.2 and in apparent size from 17.8 arc seconds to 18.3 arc seconds, while its rings span 41 arc seconds and are inclined more than 20 degrees. It rises about 15 minutes after Jupiter rises. Saturn and Mars are at heliocentric conjunction on June 1st. The waxing crescent Moon passes south of Saturn on June 9th. Eighth-magnitude Titan passes due north of Saturn on June 14th and June 30th and due south of the planet on June 6th and June 22nd. Iapetus shines at magnitude 10.9 when it is 10.2 arc minutes due west of the planet. This peculiar satellite is located 54 arc minutes north of Saturn when it reaches superior conjunction on June 20th. For information on Saturn’s satellites, browse http://www.skyandtelescope.com/…/interactive-sky-watching-…/
Uranus emerges from morning twilight but remains a difficult target. The waning crescent Moon passes five degrees south of Uranus on June 17th. A finder chart is available at http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/uranus.htm#finderchart
Neptune lies 3.5 degree east-northeast of the fourth-magnitude star Phi Aquarii this month and close to a sixth-magnitude field star. Mars passes less than two degrees southeast of Neptune on the morning of June 13th. The Last Quarter Moon passes four degrees south of Neptune on June 13th. Neptune reaches a stationary point on June 23rd. See http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/neptune.htm#finderchart for a finder chart.
Pluto lies four arc minutes south of HIP 97251, a ninth-magnitude field star, on June 1st. The dwarf planet is located 41.3 arc minutes due south of Jupiter on June 29th. A finder chart can be found at page 243 of the RASC Observer’s Handbook 2020.
Comet C/2017 T2 (PanSTARRS) travels southeastward through Ursa Major and Canes Venatici this month. It passes less than a degree to the west of the spiral galaxy M109 in Ursa Major on June 16th. On June 23rd, the comet is located less than a degree west of the spiral galaxy M106 in Canes Venatici. Comet PanSTARRS T2 passes less than one degree west of a third spiral galaxy, NGC 4449, on June 27th. Visit http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/ and http://www.aerith.net/comet/future-n.html for information on comets visible this month.
Shining at tenth magnitude, asteroid 2 Pallas glides northwestward through Vulpecula this month. It passes less than two degrees north of Collinder 399 (the Coathanger asterism) during the second week of June. Asteroid 7 Iris shines at magnitude +8.9 when it reaches opposition in Sagittarius on June 28th. Asteroids brighter than magnitude +11.0 that reach opposition this month include 85 Io (magnitude +8.9) on June 12th and 56 Melete (magnitude +10.6) on June 28th. Information on asteroid occultations taking place this month is available at http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/2020_06_si.htm
An article on the June morning planets can be seen at https://drive.google.com/…/1Oua_TdAa_KAbG4YEDFHNn-W_FT…/view
For more on the planets and how to locate them, browse http://www.nakedeyeplanets.com/
A wealth of current information on solar system celestial bodies is posted at http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomy.html and http://nineplanets.org/
Information on the celestial events transpiring each week can be found at https://stardate.org/nightsky and http://astronomy.com/skythisweek and http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/sky-at-a-glance/
Free star maps for June can be downloaded at http://www.skymaps.com/downloads.html and https://www.telescope.com/content.jsp…
Data on current supernovae can be found at http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/snimages/
Finder charts for the Messier objects and other deep-sky objects are posted at https://freestarcharts.com/messier and https://freestarcharts.com/ngc-ic and http://www.cambridge.org/…/tu…/seasonal_skies_april-june.htm
Telrad finder charts for the Messier Catalog and the SAC’s 110 Best of the NGC are posted at http://www.custerobservatory.org/docs/messier2.pdf and http://www.saguaroastro.org/content/db/Book110BestNGC.pdf respectively.
Information pertaining to observing some of the more prominent Messier galaxies can be found at http://www.cloudynights.com/…/358295-how-to-locate-some-of…/
Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel are two excellent freeware planetarium programs that are available at http://stellarium.org/ and https://www.ap-i.net/skychart/en/start
Deep-sky object list generators can be found at http://www.virtualcolony.com/sac/ and http://tonightssky.com/MainPage.php and https://dso-browser.com/
Freeware sky atlases can be downloaded at http://www.deepskywatch.com/…/Deep-Sky-Hunter-atlas-full.pdf and http://astro.mxd120.com/free-star-atlases
Forty binary and multiple stars for June: Struve 1812, Kappa Bootis, Otto Struve 279, Iota Bootis, Struve 1825, Struve 1835, Pi Bootis, Epsilon Bootis, Struve 1889, 39 Bootis, Xi Bootis, Struve 1910, Delta Bootis, Mu Bootis (Bootes); Struve 1803 (Canes Venatici); Struve 1932, Struve 1964, Zeta Coronae Borealis, Struve 1973, Otto Struve 302 (Corona Borealis); Struve 1927, Struve 1984, Struve 2054, Eta Draconis, 17-16 Draconis, 17 Draconis (Draco); 54 Hydrae (Hydra); Struve 1919, 5 Serpentis, 6 Serpentis, Struve 1950, Delta Serpentis, Otto Struve 300, Beta Serpentis, Struve 1985 (Serpens Caput); Struve 1831 (Ursa Major); Pi-1 Ursae Minoris (Ursa Minor); Struve 1802, Struve 1833, Phi Virginis (Virgo)
Notable carbon star for June: V Coronae Borealis
Fifty deep-sky objects for June: NGC 5466, NGC 5676, NGC 5689 (Bootes); M102 (NGC 5866), NGC 5678, NGC 5879, NGC 5905, NGC 5907, NGC 5908, NGC 5949, NGC 5963, NGC 5965, NGC 5982, NGC 5985, NGC 6015 (Draco); NGC 5694 (Hydra); NGC 5728, NGC 5791, NGC 5796, NGC 5812, NGC 5861, NGC 5878, NGC 5897 (Libra); M5, NGC 5921, NGC 5957, NGC 5962, NGC 5970, NGC 5984 (Serpens Caput); M101, NGC 5473, NGC 5474, NGC 5485, NGC 5585, NGC 5631 (Ursa Major); NGC 5566, NGC 5634, NGC 5701, NGC 5713, NGC 5746, NGC 5750, NGC 5775, NGC 5806, NGC 5813, NGC 5831, NGC 5838, NGC 5846, NGC 5850, NGC 5854, NGC 5864 (Virgo)
Top ten deep-sky objects for June: M5, M101, M102, NGC 5566, NGC 5585, NGC 5689, NGC 5746, NGC 5813, NGC 5838, NGC 5907
Top five deep-sky binocular objects for June: M5, M101, M102, NGC 5466, NGC 5907
Challenge deep-sky object for June: Abell 2065
The objects listed above are located between 14:00 and 16:00 hours of right ascension.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minor Planet Occultation Updates:
This email describes updates for minor planet occultations for June 2020.
If you do not wish to receive these updates please advise
the Occultation Section.
You can view updated paths and other details at:
http://www.occultations.org.nz/
Minor Planet Occultation Updates:
================================
Events of particular ease or importance below are marked: *****
***** Jun 2 (1294) ANTWERPIA: Star Mag 9.3, Max dur 2.5 sec, Mag Drop 5.6
Somewhat uncertain path across Queensland, beginning near Rockhampton, then across central Australia and central West Australia, leaving near Carnarvon.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200602_1294_67180_u.htm
Jun 2 (532) HERCULINA: Star Mag 12.0, Max dur 25.3 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
Wide path across south-eastern New South Wales, north-central and western Victoria and extreme southern South Australia.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200602_532_65084_u.htm
Jun 2 (803) PICKA: Star Mag 11.3, Max dur 10.7 sec, Mag Drop 3.3
Slightly uncertain path across New South Wales, central Australia and northern West Australia, passing over Ulladulla, Goulburn, Canberra and Derby.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200602_803_65086_u.htm
Jun 3 (241) GERMANIA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 8.3 sec, Mag Drop 2.5
South-eastern Queensland, passing over Brisbane.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200603_241_65092_u.htm
Jun 3 (1297) QUADEA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 7.0 sec, Mag Drop 4.3
Significantly uncertain path across New Zealand and northern New South Wales, passing over Westport, Newcastle, Coonabarrabran and Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200603_1297_65094_u.htm
Jun 4 (1702) KALAHARI: Star Mag 10.9, Max dur 2.9 sec, Mag Drop 4.4
Somewhat uncertain path across New Zealand, southern New South Wales, southern Australia and southern West Australia, passing over Wollongong, Goulburn, Mildura and Point Dover.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200604_1702_68148_u.htm
Jun 4 (7) IRIS: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 36.0 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
Wide path across the southern end of the south island of New Zealand, passing over Invercargill and Dunedin.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200604_7_65100_u.htm
***** Jun 4 (355) GABRIELLA: Star Mag 10.4, Max dur 9.4 sec, Mag Drop 4.4
Somewhat uncertain path across south-eastern New South Wales, passing over Batemans Bay and across Victoria passing over Belgrave, Frankston and Cape Otway.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200604_355_67182_u.htm
Jun 5 (626) NOTBURGA: Star Mag 11.3, Max dur 7.8 sec, Mag Drop 2.4
New Zealand and eastern Victoria, southern and western New South Wales and central Australia, passing over Invercargill, Cann River, Albury-Wodonga, Broken Hill and Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200605_626_65102_u.htm
Jun 5 (110) LYDIA: Star Mag 11.7, Max dur 9.3 sec, Mag Drop 0.7
Southern Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, passing over Maryborough, Childers and Broome.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200605_110_65104_u.htm
Jun 5 (110) LYDIA: No update for this event.
Jun 5 (488) KREUSA: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 11.6 sec, Mag Drop 0.7
Queensland, central Australia and southern West Australia, passing over Mackay, Kalgoorlie and Perth.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200605_488_65106_u.htm
Jun 5 (64) ANGELINA: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 10.7 sec, Mag Drop 0.5
Central-western West Australia, passing over Cervantes.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200605_64_65108_u.htm
Jun 6 (1977) SHURA: Star Mag 11.0, Max dur 5.9 sec, Mag Drop 4.0
Significantly uncertain path across New Zealand, passing over Oamaru, then across Victoria and southern South Australia, passing near Bairnsdale and over Bendigo.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200606_1977_65116_u.htm
Jun 6 2009KN30: No update for this low-probability, close double-star Centaur event
Jun 6 (1424) SUNDMANIA: Star Mag 10.2, Max dur 2.5 sec, Mag Drop 5.6
Northern New South Wales, southern South Australia and south-western West Australia, passing over Grafton, Broken Hill, Whyalla and Albany.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200606_1424_67186_u.htm
Jun 7 (976) BENJAMINA: Star Mag 9.9, Max dur 7.2 sec, Mag Drop 3.3
New Zealand, passing over Wanganui and New Plymouth.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200607_976_65128_u.htm
Jun 7 2013JW65: No update for this low-probability Centaur.
Jun 8 (453) TEA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 3.9 sec, Mag Drop 1.6
Slightly uncertain path across New South Wales, northern South Australia and central West Australia, passing over Newcastle and Broken Hill.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_453_68160_u.htm
Jun 8 (1625) THENORC: Star Mag 10.2, Max dur 3.5 sec, Mag Drop 5.4
Central West Australia and northern South Australia, passing over Shark Bay.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_1625_67188_u.htm
Jun 8 (642) CLARA: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 8.5 sec, Mag Drop 3.7
Somewhat uncertain path across south-western West Australia, northern Tasmania, and southern New Zealand, passing over Perth, Launceston and Dunedin.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_642_65132_u.htm
Jun 8 Mars: Mars occults 8th mag star in Aquarius for locations north of line running across Tasmania and near Auckland.
Jun 8 (110) LYDIA: Star Mag 9.2, Max dur 8.9 sec, Mag Drop 2.4
Queensland, central Australia and southern West Australia, passing over Kalgoorlie and Bunbury.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_110_65134_u.htm
Jun 8 (5337) AOKI: Star Mag 9.2, Max dur 3.6 sec, Mag Drop 6.8
Significantly uncertain path across northern Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, passing over Townville and Tennant Creek.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_5337_67190_u.htm
Jun 8 (1351) UZBEKISTANIA: Star Mag 9.3, Max dur 1.9 sec, Mag Drop 6.7
Central South Australia.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200608_1351_67192_u.htm
Jun 9 (338) BUDROSA: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 5.0 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
New Zealand, southern New South Wales and northern South Australia, passing over Eden, Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Karratha.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200609_338_65138_u.htm
Jun 9 2005LB54: No update for this event
***** Jun 11 (1484) POSTREMA: Star Mag 10.4, Max dur 4.1 sec, Mag Drop 4.0
Somewhat uncertain path across New Zealand, Victoria and far southern South Australia, passing near Hamilton, Melbourne, Ballarat and Kangaroo Island.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200611_1484_65156_u.htm
Jun 11 (50000) QUAOAR: Star Mag 12.7, Max dur 46.3 sec, Mag Drop 6.1
Large uncertainty path may cross southern Australia or New Zealand
Jun 12 (151) ABUNDANTIA: Star Mag 12.0, Max dur 9.0 sec, Mag Drop 1.7
Slightly uncertain path across New South Wales, western Victoria and far southern South Australia, passing over Sydney, Wagga Wagga, Echuca and Kingston SE.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200612_151_65172_u.htm
Jun 13 (56) MELETE: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 17.2 sec, Mag Drop 0.2
New Zealand, passing over Oamaru and Dunedin.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200613_56_65178_u.htm
Jun 13 (155) SCYLLA: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 3.1 sec, Mag Drop 4.3
Somewhat uncertain path across south-eastern Queensland, north-western New South Wales and southern South Australia, running from Bundaberg to Port Lincoln.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200613_155_65180_u.htm
Jun 14 (4867) POLITES: Star Mag 11.8, Max dur 3.9 sec, Mag Drop 4.8
Significantly uncertain path across New Zealand, passing over Taupo, Hamilton and Auckland.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200614_4867_65182_u.htm
Jun 14 (363401) 2003LB7: No update for this event
Jun 14 (466) TISIPHONE: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 8.6 sec, Mag Drop 1.2
Northern Queensland, Northern Territory and central West Australia, passing over Cooktown, Tennant Creek and Exmouth.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200614_466_65190_u.htm
Jun 14 (2759) IDOMENEUS: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 3.3 sec, Mag Drop 5.6
Significantly uncertain path across southern West Australia, northern South Australia and southern Queensland, passing over Perth and Kalgoorlie.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200614_2759_65192_u.htm
Jun 15 (488) KREUSA: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 11.9 sec, Mag Drop 0.7
New Zealand, passing over Whangarei.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200615_488_65200_u.htm
Jun 16 (532) HERCULINA: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 18.3 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
Northern Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, passing over Cardwell, Ingham, Tennant Creek, Port Hedland and Karratha.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200616_532_65204_u.htm
Jun 16 (28978) IXION: No update for this TNO event
Jun 17 (751) FAINA: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 12.5 sec, Mag Drop 1.3
Path across northern Queensland.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200617_751_65210_u.htm
Jun 17 (110) LYDIA: No update for this event
***** Jun 18 (110) LYDIA: Star Mag 11.2, Max dur 8.2 sec, Mag Drop 0.8
New Zealand, north-western New South Wales and southern Queensland, passing over Coromandel, Auckland and Coffs Harbour.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200618_110_65214_u.htm
Jun 18 (696) LEONORA: Star Mag 10.5, Max dur 7.7 sec, Mag Drop 4.7
North-eastern New South Wales and Queensland, passing over Newcastle.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200618_696_65216_u.htm
***** Jun 18 (484) PITTSBURGHIA: Star Mag 10.9, Max dur 4.1 sec, Mag Drop 2.7
Somewhat uncertain path across New Zealand, passing over Wellington.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200618_484_65218_u.htm
***** Jun 19 (344) DESIDERATA: Star Mag 6.5, Max dur 4.7 sec, Mag Drop 7.2
Northern West Australia, central Australia and New South Wales, passing over Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200619_344_67000_u.htm
***** Jun 19 (27) EUTERPE: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 6.4 sec, Mag Drop 1.0
Northern West Australia, Northern Territory and southern Queensland, passing over Alice Springs and Brisbane.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200619_27_65228_u.htm
***** Jun 20 (700) AURAVICTRIX: Star Mag 9.8, Max dur 1.8 sec, Mag Drop 3.6
Somewhat uncertain path across south-eastern New South Wales and Victoria, passing over Sydney, Goulburn, Albury, Ballarat and Portland.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200620_700_68172_u.htm
Jun 21 (361) BONONIA: Star Mag 11.5, Max dur 11.8 sec, Mag Drop 3.6
Northern Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, running from Cooktown to Wyndham.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_361_65240_u.htm
Jun 21 (2494) INGE: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 4.3 sec, Mag Drop 3.2
Somewhat uncertain path across New South Wales, South Australia and southern West Australia, passing over Newcastle, Parkes, Port Augusta, Kalgoorlie and Geraldton.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_2494_65242_u.htm
Jun 21 (6634) 1987KB: Star Mag 11.6, Max dur 1.8 sec, Mag Drop 2.6
Very large uncertainty path grazing the southern tip of New Zealand, then north-eastern Tasmania, south-western Victoria, southern South Australia and central West Australia, passing near Invercargill, Launceston, Apollo Bay, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln and Karratha.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_6634_68174_u.htm
Jun 21 (772) TANETE: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 8.4 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
Eastern Northern Territory and central South Australia, passing near Whyalla and over Kangaroo Island.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_772_65244_u.htm
Jun 21 (551) ORTRUD: Star Mag 12.5, Max dur 7.2 sec, Mag Drop 2.2
Northern Territory and central West Australia.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200621_551_65246_u.htm
Jun 22 (1113) KATJA: Star Mag 12.0, Max dur 3.5 sec, Mag Drop 2.9
Slightly uncertain path across New Zealand, passing over Christchurch and then across northern Victoria, south-western New South Wales, South Australia and West Australia, passing over Mallacoota, Mildura and Port Augusta.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_1113_65252_u.htm
Jun 22 (3939) HURUHATA: Star Mag 9.3, Max dur 3.6 sec, Mag Drop 1.9
Large uncertainty path across eastern Northern Territory and western South Australia, passing near Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_3939_67200_u.htm
Jun 22 (2932) KEMPCHINSKY: Star Mag 9.9, Max dur 3.5 sec, Mag Drop 6.8
Large uncertainty path across Queensland, central Australia and West Australia, running from Sarina to Geraldton.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_2932_65254_u.htm
Jun 22 (338) BUDROSA: Star Mag 10.1, Max dur 5.4 sec, Mag Drop 2.8
South-eastern Queensland, north-western New South Wales and central South Australia, running from Gympie to Whyalla.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_338_67202_u.htm
Jun 22 (521) BRIXIA: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 7.2 sec, Mag Drop 0.9
Queensland and South Australia, passing over Mackay.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200622_521_65258_u.htm
Jun 23 (167) URDA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 3.9 sec, Mag Drop 1.9
Queensland, Northern Territory and northern West Australia, passing over Sarina and Cloncurry and near Derby.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200623_167_65266_u.htm
Jun 24 (7) IRIS: Star Mag 12.2, Max dur 26.6 sec, Mag Drop 0.1
New Zealand, passing over Dunedin and Invercargill.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200624_7_65276_u.htm
Jun 25 (1524) JOENSUU: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 5.3 sec, Mag Drop 4.4
Somewhat uncertain path across eastern Victoria, New South Wales, north-eastern South Australia and Northern Territory, passing over Cann River, Albury-Wodonga and near Wyndham.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200625_1524_65278_u.htm
***** Jun 25 (2193) JACKSON: Star Mag 10.4, Max dur 10.6 sec, Mag Drop 5.0
Somewhat uncertain path across Northern Territory, western Queensland and New South Wales, passing near Darwin, Mount Isa, Parkes and over Forbes, Canberra and Bega.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200625_2193_65282_u.htm
Jun 26 (302) CLARISSA: Star Mag 11.4, Max dur 4.4 sec, Mag Drop 3.1
Southern Queensland, southern Northern Territory and central West Australia, passing over Harvey Bay and near Birdsville.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200626_302_65284_u.htm
Jun 26 (388) CHARYBDIS: Star Mag 11.5, Max dur 38.5 sec, Mag Drop 2.2
North-eastern New South Wales, south-western Queensland, central Australia and north-eastern West Australia, running from Coffs Harbour to Broome.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200626_388_65286_u.htm
Jun 27 (7) IRIS: Star Mag 12.3, Max dur 26.4 sec, Mag Drop 0.0
Path across Queensland, southern Northern Territory and central West Australia, passing over Marlborough and Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200627_7_65290_u.htm
Jun 28 (110) LYDIA: Star Mag 12.4, Max dur 8.4 sec, Mag Drop 0.3
Northern New South Wales, central South Australia and south-western West Australia, running from Coffs Harbour to Albany.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200628_110_65306_u.htm
***** Jun 29 (793) ARIZONA: Star Mag 10.7, Max dur 2.6 sec, Mag Drop 3.4
Extremely large uncertainty path across south-eastern Australia, passing near Sydney, Canberra and Bendigo.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200629_793_68186_u.htm
Jun 30 (117) LOMIA: Star Mag 11.9, Max dur 13.0 sec, Mag Drop 1.1
New Zealand, passing over Invercargill, then across north-eastern New South Wales, passing near Forster during late evening twilight.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200630_117_65318_u.htm
***** Jun 30 (552) SIGELINDE: Star Mag 9.8, Max dur 15.4 sec, Mag Drop 4.4
New Zealand, passing over Christchurch, then across northern New South Wales, central Australia and northern West Australia, passing over Newcastle, Coonabarrabran, Birdsville and Alice Springs.
Details: http://occultations.org.nz/planet/2020/updates/200630_552_65320_u.htm
Note: for some events there will be an additional last minute update so check
for one, if you can, on the day of the event or in the days leading up to it.
You may need to click "Reload" or "Refresh" in your browser to see the updated page.
Please report all attempts at observation to the address below.
(PLEASE report observations on a copy of the report available from our website).
Peter Litwiniuk
---------------------------------------------
RASNZ Occultation Section
P.O.Box 3181 / Wellington, 6140 / New Zealand
---------------------------------------------
WEBSITE: http://www.occultations.org.nz/
Email: Director@occultations.org.nz
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
Further links and discussion can be found at the groups/links below
Astronomy in New Zealand - Groups.io
https://groups.io/g/AstronomyNZ
Astronomy in New Zealand - Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/5889909863/
Astronomy in Wellington
https://www.facebook.com/groups/11451597655/
Blogger Posts
http://laintal.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/Laintal
Groups.io
Astronomy in New Zealand
https://groups.io/g/AstronomyNZ
AstronomyNZ@groups.io
Wellington Astronomers
https://groups.io/g/WellingtonAstronomers
WellingtonAstronomers@groups.io
AucklandAstronomers
https://groups.io/g/AucklandAstronomers
AucklandAstronomers@groups.io
North Island Astronomers
https://groups.io/g/NorthIslandAstronomers
NorthIslandAstronomers@groups.io
South Island Astronomers
https://groups.io/g/SouthIslandAstronomers
SouthIslandAstronomers@groups.io
NZAstrochat
https://groups.io/g/NZAstrochat
NZAstrochat@groups.io
NZ Photographers And Observers
https://groups.io/g/NZPhotographers
NZPhotographers@groups.io
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note:
My standard caveat that these are the views of a learned amateur, not a professional in the sector, applies as always.
The above post/email/update represents my own words, views, research and opinions, unless stated otherwise the above work
represents my own writing. I’ll give credit or thanks if I have used or represented other people’s words and/or opinions.
The links and references listed below represent the work and research of the respective author’s.
Questions and constructive criticism are always welcome, however I don’t believe anything written here by myself is any reason for impolite behaviour.
Thanks for your time and I hope you have enjoyed reading.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Comments