Even with sunny days, the last week was covered with clouds come nightfall.
There were some gaps that revealed a constellation or recognizable part thereof.
Maybe this week will bring better luck, so let's take a brief look at what to expect and to target for observation.
All images courtesy SkySafari 6 Pro, a link to the webpage is in the right column of this blog under "Useful links".
THE MOON AND PLANETS.
The Moon has a busy week!
It is at last quarter and once again excellent for viewing the terminator with your binoculars or scope. And it rises after 11PM giving you plenty of time to get some serious scope time in before ruining your night vision on the Moon.
The Moon will also be in conjunction with Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, not all once mind you! The Moon will entertain each on separate evenings starting with Jupiter on Wednesday evening. With the two passing within 2°17' of each other.
From Durban and Southern Africa they will be visible in the early morning eastern sky and be visible until dawn breaks. They will be too wide to fit a telescope FOV(Field Of View) but should be a treat in binoculars or the naked eye.
Then on Friday the Moon and Saturn will pass within 0°18' of each other. The two should be visible shortly before 2AM and be visible until dawn breaks. This conjunction can be viewed in the scope, binoculars and naked eye. Look for them in your early morning eastern skies.
Then on Saturday night the Moon and Venus do the final dance, passing within 1°11' of each other. This will best be seen through binoculars or naked eye since they are too far apart for a telescope FOV. And again look toward your early morning eastern skies to see the two, from about 02H40 until dawn breaks.
As an added bonus the Venus Moon conjunction will have four planets easily visible naked eye along the ecliptic.
DEEP SKY OBSERVING (DSO).
With the Moon rising shortly after 11PM on Monday and half an later each night thereafter, it gives us some time to pursue a few DSO.
Let's visit two more Globular clusters(GC), soon we will be looking back to the galactic center and be in for a treat with globular clusters that litter the night skies!
So, let us turn our attention toward the constellation Musca(The Fly) and it's two GC.
NGC 4833 and NGC 4372.
NGC 4833, Globular cluster in Musca, Magnitude +7.23.
This can be a tough find with smaller scopes or a lot of light pollution. Some nights my 8" scope and backyard will easily reveal these two clusters or not, depending on conditions.
This is a easy star hop from the star Gamma Muscae a 3rd magnitude star. Even in my horrible light pollution this star is a naked eye star and easy to get in the finder.
This cluster was first catalogued by James Dunlop on 30 April 1826.
NGC 4833, Globular cluster in Musca, magnitude +6.90.
Another easy star hop from the 3rd magnitude star Delta Muscae.
I find both clusters to have a low surface brightness and they do not cope well with light pollution using my 8" Dob. From darker skies they are much nicer to view.
This cluster was first discovered by Abbe Lacaille during is 1751-1752 visit to South Africa. It was also later catalogued by Sir John Herschel and James Dunlop.
Both clusters are partially obscured by galactic dust and this makes them visually challenging.
The ISS makes no visible passes over Southern Africa this week, we will need to wait for the week following to resume sightings.
Have a fantastic week and if clear skies present themselves then get out there and look up!
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