Monday 6th to Sunday 12th May 2024
I am just going to concentrate on one observing opportunity this time - before dawn on Monday 6th could be a very rewarding time to make an early start! The constellation of Aquarius will just be rising above the east south east horizon from 4am and we have the peak of the Eta Aquariid meteor shower. Just below the radiant point of the shower, Saturn will be poking its head up above the horizon if you have an unobstructed view in that direction.
At 4.17am, if you turn your gaze towards the west, the International Space Station should appear. It will look like a bright star that is moving silently and the ISS will pass almost directly overhead, before disappearing 7 minutes later in the vicinity of the meteor shower's radiant point. How cool is that!
Saturn will have a magnitude of around +1.07 so should be fairly easy to spot. The ISS at that point will have a magnitude of approximately -1.31 or in other words, you won't be able to miss it!
If you delay heading back indoors for breakfast, Mars will then pop up above the eastern horizon and from around 5am, a very thin crescent Moon makes an appearance in the same direction.
Although Mars will have a magnitude around +1.2 it will be much harder to spot against the dawn sky. The Sun will be rising shortly afterwards, which prompts me to give my usual warning about not taking the risk of using your telescope or binoculars, in case you accidentally catch a glimpse of it in the eyepiece.
www.starsoversomerset.com
Screenshots courtesy of Stellarium
Copyright Adrian Dening and Radio Ninesprings 2024
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