NIGHT SKY THIS WEEK - 14 TO 20 JANUARY 2019

Let's take a brief look at some the night sky events for this week 14 to 20 January 2018 from South Africa and the Southern Hemisphere.
All images credit Skysari Pro 6.

PLANETS and MOON.

Once again Mars continues as the only bright planet in the evening skies, it also sits very close to the Moon at this point after the conjuction on the 12th.
Venus is now starting to dominate our early morning skies.
Jupiter also starts to make it's presence felt in the mornings and is a welcome return, the giant planet is one of my favourite.


EROS

Near Earth asteroid Eros makes it's closest approach to Earth this week since 2012. It will get to within 31.2 million kilometers(19.4 million miles).
At magnitude 9 it should be visible even in smaller scopes. On the 15th it will make it's close flyby and will sit roughly ten degrees from Capella in the North. From Southern Africa it will culminate at roughly 20 degrees above the horizon so you will need a good clear northern horizon.
Be sure to get a look at this if you can.

DEEP SKY OBSERVING(DSO).

Once again a few of my highlights, there are many to see and I only mention a few here.
Last week I took a look at our two most visible neighbours, the LMC and SMC.
We now move closer and examine a few targets within our own galaxy.

Omicrom Velorum Cluster, IC 2391 or C85.

This is one of those clusters that benefits from a binocular view or a very wide field of view in the scope. Under my light polluted skies I can  pick out the brightest star, the variable Omicron Velorum, naked eye. The cluster itself is magintude + 2.59
This cluster was first noted by the Persian astronomer Al Sufi around 964 AD.
A bright collection of stars that is a delight to observe.

Eta Carina Nebula and clusters.

The Eta Carina nebula can be a beautiful thing in the scope but we must not forget to take a closer look at the many clusters that lie within and in the surrounding field.
There are many Collinder, Trumpler and a host of NGC clusters to view here. If like me you enjoy a open cluster then you are in luck. From the bright and obvious to those just at the limit of your eye and equipment.
There are also many planetary Nebula surrounding the nebula, look out for them too.

 THE ISS

The ISS will have no visible passes over Durban for this week. They will resume in the week following.

So get out there and get observing, no matter how you do so, enjoy yourself and keep looking up!