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June
As the month proceeds, the sun climbs through the stars of Taurus until around noon on the 21st, when it crosses the border into Gemini, the solstice having occurred on the 21st at 05h46.
The earth-sun distance is152, 028,935 km. The solstice marks the astronomical start of summer in the northern hemisphere, and the beginning of winter in the southern. Thus takes place the longest day and shortest night for us here in the UK, and thereafter night length increases once again. The season of summer lasts 93.65 days. In the northern UK, there is no true night, and at astronomical midnight, the sky is not black but a beautiful velvet deep blue, merging to turquoise on the northern horizon. Don't forget to look out for noctilucent clouds in the hour before and after midnight as they catch the light of the sun, which is not very far below the northern horizon at this time of year.
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The Moon
Moon is at apogee on the 10th in the late afternoon, and perigee on 23rd, 'Midsummer Night's Eve' at around 11h00. One of the lowest Full Moons of the year is on June 7th just after 18h00 in the constellation of Ophiuchus. For most of the UK at midnight, the moon is barely 10 above the southern horizon. Last Quarter moon is on the 15th just after 22h00 beneath the 'circlet' of stars which forms the western fish of Pisces. New Moon is on the 22nd just after 19h30 in western Gemini with the moon 1.5 north of the sun. First Quarter moon is on the 29th, just before noon in the constellation of Virgo.
The Planets
Mercury is a morning star and becomes increasingly visible in the morning twilight as we approach the end of the month. It is at its greatest elongation west (23) on the 13th. There is a good opportunity to observe it on the 21st, when at just after 03h the waning crescent moon lies 5 north of the planet, which is in turn 5 above the NE horizon.
Venus is a brilliant morning 'star' and remains in the morning sky for the rest of the year. By the end of the month Venus rises shortly after 01h.
Mars increases in brightness during the month, by the end of which it is the same magnitude as Antares, chief star of Scorpius. (Antares means rival of Mars because of its resemblance to the red plant. Although Mars is 100 times fainter than Venus, the two are very close to each other in the early morning sky in the constellation of Aries. On the 21st, the two are just 2 deg (4 moon widths) apart, Mars lying to the North if Venus. The pair are joined by the waning crescent moon on the 19th, the moon lying some 7 to the upper right of the two planets.
Jupiter rises just after midnight at the start of June, and at about 22h towards the month end. It is currently at a stationary point on the Capricornus Aquarius border. The waning gibbous moon passes towards the north of Jupiter and maybe seen in the same part of the sky as Jupiter on the mornings of 13th and 14th.
Saturn is an evening 'star' setting at around 01h at the beginning of the month and 23h at the end. The broad waxing crescent moon passes south of the planet at 21h on the 27th and the pair may be seen at an altitude of about 20 in the WSW sky, Saturn 7 north of and directly above the moon.
The two outer planets Uranus and Neptune are morning objects but bright summer twilight interferes with their observation, although Neptune rises with Jupiter just before midnight mid-month and Uranus just after midnight on the 15th. Both are telescopic objects.
Pluto is at opposition at 07h on the 23rd in the north-western corner of the constellation of Sagittarius. As it is about 3800 times fainter than the faintest naked eye star, a large astronomical telescope is necessary for its observation. The persistent twilight in June doesn't help either!
On June 27th, around astronomical midnight, you may see an increased number of meteors, for this night sees the peak of the June Botids, when up to 30 an hour may possibly be seen, although twilight will interfere.
Constellations visible in the south around midnight, mid-month, are as follows: Ophiuchus, Serpens Cauda, Hercules, and the head of Draco the dragon, which is near the zenith.
All times are GMT 1 is one finger width at arm's length.
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Weather for Scarborough
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
