RASC Vancouver President, Suzanna Nagy, revived the “In Transit” presentation at the June 2016 member’ monthly meeting. “In Transit” is a short presentation of interesting astronomical events that are visible in the current sky.
Three Bright Planets
Three planets – Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn – are bright in the evening sky throughout June 2016.
TROTTIER OBSERVATORY – NEW PLANETARY CAMERA May 27 – Oleg Mazurenko and Howard Trottier
Mikhail Chubaret in the Ukraine made this chart. It shows the view of Mars through a telescope in 2016. We pass between Mars and the Sun on May 22. We won’t see Mars as a disk like this with the eye alone. But between the start of 2016 and May, the dot of light that is Mars grows dramatically brighter and redder in our night sky. Watch for it.
The Sun is Getting Less Active
Spotless Days Current Stretch: 4 days
2016 total: 4 days (1%)
2015 total: 0 days (0%)
2014 total: 1 day (<1%)
2013 total: 0 days (0%)
2012 total: 0 days (0%)
2011 total: 2 days (<1%)
2010 total: 51 days (14%)
2009 total: 260 days (71%)
Updated 10 Jun 2016
Open Star Cluster NGC 457
The open star cluster NGC457 is located in Casseopia and has an interesting shape.
