Tuesday, January 1, 2019Friday, August 6, 2021

2019 – What’s Up

Week of 30th December

Astronomical twilight ends at 18:10 UT at the start of the week and 18:14 UT at the end
The Quadrantids meteor shower peaks on Saturday morning, with best viewing once the Moon has set in the early hours. Meteors are already appearing and will be building in number during the week, though only reach good numbers in the hours leading up to the sharp peak. The shower is potentially one of the best in the year with fast meteors being seen at rates of one a minute or more. The radiant is at high declination, above the end of the ‘saucepan’s’ handle. It now lies in the constellation Bootes (originally it was in the, now declassified, constellation of Quadrans Muralis, Mural Quadrant). The parent body was identified in 2003 as asteroid 2003EH1
The Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun (Perihelion) just before 8am next Sunday
The Moon is waxing and will be First Quarter on Friday
Venus continues to dominate the evening twilight sky with the waxing Moon
The Sun is blank again after 2 sunspots from the new Cycle 25 briefly appeared on Christmas Eve
There are no ISS passes this week

Week of 23rd December

Astronomical twilight ends at 18:05 UT at the start of the week and 18:10 UT at the end.
The Moon is waning and will be New on Thursday
Venus continues bright in the evening twilight sky and is nearly (-4 magnitude). Look towards the southwest horizon between 16:00 and 17:30 UT
The Sun is still blank – current stretch 39 days
There are no ISS passes this week

Week of 16th December

Astronomical twilight ends at 18:02 UT on Monday 16th and 18:05 UT on Sunday 22nd
The Winter Solstice occurs on Sunday 22nd when the Sun’s path reaches its lowest point in the sky. The noon Sun will reach a maximum altitude of 15 degrees. Sunrise and sunset occur at their most southerly extremes and it is the shortest day of the year, with the Sun above the horizon for only 7 hours 51 minutes.
Venus continues to appear bright in the evening sky. Look towards the southwest horizon between 16:00 and 17:30 UT
The Moon is Last Quarter on Thursday 19th
The Sun is still blank – current stretch 32 days
The ISS makes one visible pass this week:
Saturday – 06:55:34, S to ESE, max 14 degrees

Week of 9th December

Astronomical twilight ends at 18:01 UT on Monday 9th and 18:02 UT on Sunday 15th
Venus is bright in the evening sky at mag -4.0 and passes by Saturn (mag +0.6) through the week, with closest conjunction on Wednesday 11th when it comes to within 2 degrees. Look in the southwest at around 16:00 to 17:00 UT
Geminid meteor shower is active from 4th to 17th December, with its peak at 01:00 UT on Saturday 14th. Meteors appear to originate from the constellation Gemini, but are best observed by looking away from the radiant. They are caused by the Earth hitting a stream of debris left by asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Peak hourly rate can be as high as 120 meteors, but the bright Moon present this year will reduce visibility to only the brightest
The Moon is Full on Thursday 12th
The Sun is still blank and has been for the past 24 days, giving 261 spotless days so far this year
The ISS makes several visible passes this week:
Monday – 16:35:41, W to ESE, max 57 degrees and 18:13:02, W to S, max 16 degrees
Tuesday – 17:24:13, W to SSE, max 23 degrees
Wednesday – 16:35:33, W to SE, max 33 degrees
Thursday – 17:25:03, WSW to SSW, max 12 degrees
Friday – 16:35:44, W to S, max 17 degrees

Week of 2nd December

Look out for bright Venus (mag -3.9) along with Jupiter (-1.8) and Saturn (+0.6) in the southwest at dusk around 4pm, while Mars and Mercury will be visible in the southeast just before dawn at around 6am
Astronomical twilight ends at 18:03 UT on Monday 2nd and 18:02 UT on Sunday 8th
The Moon is at First Quarter on Wednesday 4th
The Sun is still blank
The ISS makes multiple passes this week as follows:
Monday – 17:24:40, W to E, max 85 degrees
Tuesday – 16:36:12, W to E, max 88 degrees and 18:12:58, W to S, max 83 degrees
Wednesday – 17:24:27, W to E, max 88 degrees
Thursday – 16:35:57, W to E, max 84 degrees and 18:12:42, W to S, max 55 degrees
Friday – 17:24:10, W to ESE, max 71 degrees
Saturday – 16:35:38, W to ESE, max 84 degrees and 18:12:30, W to S, max 31 degrees
Sunday – 17:23:52, W to SE, max 43 degrees

Week of 25th November

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.06 UT at the start of the week and 18.03 UT at the end
The Moon is New on Tuesday and waxing to a crescent by the end of the week
The Sun is still blank – 2019 has seen 252 spotless days so far
There are multiple ISS passes this week as follows: On Monday at 18.13.53 from SW to SSE reaching 38 degrees, Tuesday at 17.28.43 from SSW to ESE to 28 degrees, Wednesday at 18:13:26 from WSW to SSE to 66 degrees, Thursday at 17:25:06 from SW to E to 51 degrees, Friday at 16:36:51 from SW to E to 37 degrees and at 18:13:11 from W to E to 89 degrees, Saturday at 17:24:43 from WSW to E to 79 degrees and on Sunday at 16.36.18 from WSW to E to 64 degrees and at 18.12.59 from W to N to 84 degrees

Week of 18th November

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.11 UT at the start of the week and 18.05 UT at the end
The Moon is Last Quarter on Monday and then wanes to New at the start of next week
The Sun is again blank
The ISS returns this week with passes as follows: On Friday at 19.02.41 from SSW to SSW reaching 11 degrees. Saturday 18.14.47 from SSW to SSE to 19 degrees and Sunday 17.27.14 from S to ESE and 19.02.04 from SW to SW to 24 degrees

Week of 11th November

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.19 UT at the start of the week and 18.11 UT at the end
The Moon is Full (Frost Moon) on Monday
The planet Mercury reaches Inferior Conjunction at 3pm on Monday. The resultant transit, last seen in 2016, won’t happen again till November 2032. 1st contact should be soon after 12.31pm at about ‘8.45’ on the solar disc (ie Eastern limb) The Sun will be high in the Southern sky (Azi 192.5 degrees and Alt 20.25 degrees) The planet will then cross the disc, nearly centrally, and will be viewed until sunset (just after 4pm), though will be below 10 degrees by 2.50pm. The black dot is tiny and is not visible except through a small telescope. WARNING !!It is totally unsafe to view the Transit unless professional Solar filters are in use !!(projection will not show a large enough image)
The Sun is blank
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 4th November

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.30 UT at the start of the week and 18.20 UT at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Frost Moon) at the start of next week
Next Monday (11th) see the next Transit of the planet Mercury. Last seen in 2016, this won’t happen again till November 2032. 1st contact should be soon after 12.31pm at about ‘8.45’ on the solar disc (ie Eastern limb) The Sun will be high in the Southern sky (Azi 192.5 degrees and Alt 20.25 degrees) The planet will then cross the disc, nearly centrally, and will be viewed until sunset (just after 4pm), though will be below 10 degrees by 2.50pm. The black dot is tiny and is not visible except through a small telescope. WARNING !!It is totally unsafe to view the Transit unless professional Solar filters are in use !!(projection will not show a large enough image). Mercury will be at Inferior Conjunction at 15 UT
The Sun is basically blank with an old cycle spot 2751
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 28th October

British Summer Time (BST) has ended we are now on Universal Time (UT) till the Spring
Astronomical twilight ends at 18.40 UT at the start of the week and 18.30 UT at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be First Quarter at the start of next week
The Sun is blank again. Now we are at deep Solar minimum the Cosmic Ray count is at an all time high (highest for nearly 50 years)
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 21st October

British Summer Time (BST) ends next-week end in the early hours of Sunday morning. The clocks go back 1 hour to Universal Time (UT). We will enjoy lighter mornings for a while
Astronomical twilight ends at 19.53 BST at the start of the week and 18.40 UT at the end
The Moon is waning and will be New at the start of next week
The Orionids meteor shower peaks at the start of the week. The waning Moon will interfere with the best early morning meteors. Pre dawn on Tuesday should be the peak of these fast meteors
The debris is left over from passes of Halley’s comet
The Sun is blank again
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 14th October

Astronomical twilight ends at 20.07 BST at the start of the week and 19.53 BST at the end
The Moon is waning and will be Last Quarter on Monday
The Sun is blank again
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 7th October

Astronomical twilight ends at 20.23 BST at the start of the week and 20.07 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Hunters Moon) on Sunday
The Sun is blank again, having had a small old cycle 24 spot last week. There are already reversed polarity active regions being detected so we can expect a cycle 25 spot soon
The ISS makes its last 2 passes for sometime: Monday 20.32.04 W to SSE to 27 degrees and Wednesday 20.32.22 WSW to S to 14 degrees

Week of 30th September

Astronomical twilight ends at 20.39 BST at the start of the week and 20.23 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be First Quarter on Saturday
Saturn is in Conjunction with the Moon, less than 1 degree to north at 9pm on Saturday
The Sun is totally blank again, so far 26 days on end
The ISS makes further good evening passes as follows: Monday 21.21.21 from W to ESE reaching 87 degrees and 22.58.11 W to W to 13 degrees. Tuesday 20.32.49 W to E to 85 degrees and 22.09.35 W to WSW to 36 degrees. Wednesday 21.21.01 W to SE to 62 degrees. Thursday 20.32.27 W to ESE to 77 degrees and 22.09.25 W to WSW to 23 degrees. Friday 21.21.42 W to SSE to 36 degrees. Saturday 29.32.05 W to SE to 49 degrees and 22.09.49 WSW to SW to 13 degrees and Sunday 21.21.38 W to S to 19 degrees

Week of 16th September

Astronomical twilight ends at 21.15 BST at the start of the week and 20.57 BST at the end
The Moon is waning and will be Last Quarter on Sunday
The Sun is totally blank again
The ISS returns this week making evening passes as follows: Thursday at 22.11.44 from SSW to SSW reaching 13 degrees. Friday 21.23.54 from S to SE to 18 degrees an 22.59.12 WSW to WSW to 10 degrees. Saturday 22.20.50 SW to SSW to 34 degrees and Sunday 21.22.35 SW to ESE to 33 degrees and 22.58.49 W to W to 17 degrees

Week of 9th September

Astronomical twilight ends at 21.35 BST at the start of the week and 21.18 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Harvest Moon) on Saturday
The Sun is totally blank again
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 2nd September

Astronomical twilight ends at 2059 BST at the start of the week and 2035 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be First Quarter on Friday
>The Sun is totally blank again
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 26th August

Astronomical twilight ends at 2017 BST at the start of the week and 1958 BST at the end
The Moon is waning and will be New on Friday
The Sun is totally blank again
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 12th August

Astronomical twilight ends at 2303 BST at the start of the week and 2242 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be Full on Thursday
The Perseids meteor shower (aka Tears of St Lawrence, first seen in 36AD) peaks in the early hours of 13th August but, due to the nearly Full Moon, only the brightest will be seen, reducing the normally high hourly rate. Luckily, perhaps due to the large size of the parent Comet (Swift-Tuttle) nucleus, the shower is often full of bright fireballs (more than any other shower). It is worth watching out on Monday and Tuesday (look NE after 10.30pm, when the sky is dark enough and the Radiant in Perseus is high) when the Moon is less evident
The Sun is totally blank again
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 5th August

Astronomical twilight ends at 2328 BST at the start of the week and 2303 BST at the end
The Moon will wax and will be First Quarter on Wednesday
The Perseids meteor shower (aka Tears of St Lawrence, first seen in 36AD) peaks in the early hours of 13th August but, due to the nearly Full Moon, only the brightest will be seen, reducing the normally high hourly rate. Luckily, perhaps due to the large size of the parent Comet (Swift-Tuttle) nucleus, the shower is often full of bright fireballs (more than any other shower). It is worth watching out all this week (look NE after 10.30pm, when the sky is dark enough and the Radiant in Perseus is high) when the Moon is less evident
The Sun is totally blank again
The ISS makes no evening passes this week

Week of 29th July

Astronomical twilight ends at 0002 BST at the start of the week and 2350 BST at the end
The Moon is waning and will be New on Thursday
The Sun is totally blank again
The ISS makes its last passes for a while: On Monday at 23.39.58 from W to SSE reaching 41 degrees. Tuesday 22.50.35 W to ESE to 56 degrees. Wednesday 23.38.13 W to S to 23 degrees. Thursday 22.48.41 W to SE to 32 degrees. Friday 23.37.15 WSW to SSW to 12 degrees and Saturday 22.47.03 W to S to 18 degrees

Week of 22nd July

Astronomical darkness returns on Sunday 21st July from 0048 BST. At the end of the week it will be dark at 0002 BST
The Moon is waning and will be Last Quarter on Thursday
The Sun is totally blank again
There ISS makes super late evening ISS passes: Monday at 22.58.23 from WSW to E reaching 69 degrees. Tuesday 23.45.43 W to E to 84 degrees. Wednesday 22.56.21 W to E to 89 degrees. Thursday 23.43.43 W to E through the Zenith at 90 degrees. Friday 22.54.20 W to E to 84 degrees. Saturday 23.41.39 W to ESE to 68 degrees and Sunday 22.52.16 W to ESE to 83 degrees

Week of 15th July

Astronomical darkness returns on Sunday 21st July from 0048 BST,li>The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Thunder Moon) on Tuesday. The Moon will rise partially eclipsed by the Earth’s shadow at 21.40 BST following Saturn in SE. It will be darkest at 22.30 BST and will return to full brightness at midnight
The Sun is totally blank again
There ISS returns with late evening ISS passes: Monday at 23.57.57 from ESE to E reaching 16 degrees altitude. Tuesday 23.06.33 SSE to ESE to 12 degrees. Wednesday 23.51.38 SW to E to 33 degrees. Thursday 23.02.42 SSW to E to 23 degrees. Friday 23.49.07 WSW to E to 57 degrees. Saturday 22.59.52 SW to E to 42 degrees and Sunday 23.46.49 WSW to E to 83 degrees

Week of 8th July

Astronomical darkness does not return till 21st July
The Moon is waxing and will be First on Tuesday
The Sun has a small emerging spot. The reversed magnetic polarity sigals it out as belonging to the new Cycle 25
There ISS returns with late evening ISS passes from 15th

Week of 1st July

Astronomical darkness does not return till 21st July
The Moon is waning and will be New on Tuesday, when there is a Total Solar Eclipse (visible from Chile and Argentina)
Saturn reaches Opposition next week, but is low in the sky
The Sun remains blank
There are no evening ISS passes this week

Week of June 24th

Astronomical darkness does not return till 21st July
We are now in the second quarter of the Astronomical Year and the Sun has just moved into Gemini
The Moon is waning and will be Last Quarter on Tuesday
The Sun has been totally blank for 34 days and is now in deep miminum
Noctilucent Clouds (NLC): These iridescent electric blue tendrils are particularly seen close to the Solstice and are now thought to be formed by ice crystal collecting on ionisation trails left by meteoroids at high altitude (80km). NLCs are being seen at lower latitudes (even being seen in Rome). It is worth looking out 30 to 60 minutes after sunset in the North, if the sky is clear
There are no ISS passes this week

Week of June 17th

Astronomical darkness does not return till 21st July
The Summer Solstice falls on Friday, when the Sun culminates at its highest altitude at Noon (62.5 degrees). The Sun rises and sets at its furthest north points on the horizons, giving the longest hours of daylight
The Moon is Full (Solstice moon) on Monday
The Sun is totally blank again
2019 is turning out to be excellent for Noctilucent Clouds (NLC). These iridescent electric blue whisps are particularly seen over the Solstices and are now thought to be formed by meteor trails at high altitude. NLCs are being seen at lower latitudes. It is worth looking out 30 to 60 minutes after sunset in the west on a clear night
There are no ISS passes this week

Week of May 27th

Astronomical darkness returns on 21st July
The Moon is waning and will be New at the start of next week
The Sun is totally blank again
The ISS makes its last passes for a while: Monday at 23.22.16 from W to ESE reaching 85 degrees. Wednesday at 23.20.00 from W to ESE. Friday 23.17.45 from W to SE and Sunday at 23.15.44 from W to S to 19 degrees

Week of May 20th

Astronomical twilight ends at 00.25 BST at the start of the week. From Wednesday, Nautical twilight does not end till 21st July, as the Sun is never far enough below the Northern horizon
The Moon is waning and will be Last Quarter on Sunday. The Moon and Jupiter will be in close Conjunction on 20th. Jupiter is approaching Opposition on 10th June
The Sun is basically blank again as 2741 disappears over the Western limb
The ISS makes good late passes: Monday at 22.46.35 from SSW to E reaching 30 degrees altitude. Tuesday at 22.31.39 from WSW to E to 68 degrees. Wednesday 22.40.50 SW to E to 51 degrees. Thursday 23.26.17 from W to E to 89 degrees and Saturday 23.20.54 from W to E to 84 degrees

Week of May 13th

Astronomical twilight ends at 23.45 BST at the start of the week and 00.25 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Flower Moon) on Saturday. The Moon approaches Jupiter from the West during the week and they will be in close Conjunction on 20th
The Sun is still slightly active again with spot 2741 and decaying 2740
The ISS returns later this week with late evening passes: Friday at 23.42.42 from SSW to SSE reaching 10 degrees altitude. Saturday at 22.52.30 from S to E to 17 degrees and Sunday at 23.36.44 from SW to E reaching 42 degrees

Week of May 6th

Astronomical twilight ends at 23.16 BST at the start of the week and 23.45 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be NeFirst Quarter on Saturday
The Sun is active again with spot 2740 (returning active spot 2738) on its Eastern limb
There are no ISS passes this week

Week of April 29th

Astronomical twilight ends at 22.52 BST at the start of the week and 23.12 BST at the end
The Moon is waning and will be New on Saturday
The Sun is blank again
There are no ISS passes this week

Week of April 22nd

Astronomical twilight ends at 21.31 BST at the start of the week and 22.49 BST at the end
The Moon is waning and will be Last Quarter on Friday
The Sun is blank again
There are no ISS passes this week

Week of April 15th

Astronomical twilight ends at 21.12 BST at the start of the week and 22.31 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Paschal Moon) on Friday, so that Easter Sunday can follow on 21st
The Sun is active again with an Earth facing sunspot 2738. This single huge spot (3 x Earth size) is beginning to break apart. This may herald more activity
As Mars disappears in the west, Jupiter will soon be an evening object in the East; currenly rising at 00.30 BST
There are no ISS passes this week

Week of April 8th

Astronomical twilight ends at 21.54 BST at the start of the week and 22.12 BST at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be First Quarter on Friday
The Sun is blank but a new spot group is emerging on the Eastern limb
The ISS has made its last passes fro a few weeks

Week of April 1st

Astronomical twilight ends at 21.36 BST at the start of the week and 21.52 BST at the end
The Moon is waning and will be New on Friday
The Sun is completely blank
The ISS makes final passes this week: Monday at 21.47.05 from W to ESE reaching 81 degrees altitude and 23.23.50 from W to WSW to 20 degrees. Tuesday 22.33.00 from W to S reaching 40 degrees. Wednesday at 21.42.14 fro W to SE to 55 degrees and 23.19.32 WSW to WSW to 14 degrees. Friday 22.28.22 W to S to 23 degrees. Saturday 21.37.25 W to SE to 33 degrees and Sunday 22.24.21 WSW to SSW to 12 degrees

Week of March 25th

Astronomical twilight ends at 20.23 UT at the start of the week and 21.36 BST at the end
The clocks go forward by one hour next Saturday night to British Summer Time or UT+1
The Moon is waning and will be Last Quarter on Thursday
The Sun is becomming quiet again after spot 2736 disappears
The ISS makes good passes this week: Monday at 19.15.50 from SW to E reaching 35 degrees altitude and 20.52.00 W to W to 45 degrees. Tuesday 20.01.21 WSW to E to 76 degrees and 21.37.57 W to W to 16 degrees. Wednesday 19.10.44 WSW to E to 59 degrees and 20.47.15 W to WSW to 69 degrees. Thursday 19.56.32 W to E to 87 degrees and 21.33.09 W to W to 21 degrees. Friday 19.05.50 WSW to E to 84 degrees and 20.42.27 W to WSW to 86 degrees. Saturday 19.51.44 W to E to 85 degrees and 21.28.21 W to W to 22 degrees and Sunday at 22.37.36 from W to S reaching 65 degrees

Week of March 18th

Astronomical twilight ends at 20.09 UT at the start of the week and 20.21 UT at the end
The Vernal Equinox falls this year on Thursday 21st. This is the start of the Astronomical Year. The Sun rises due East and sets due West and we have equal day and night. From now the Northern Summer season begins. The Sun is at 0h RA and 0 degrees Declination, known as the First Point of Aries, due to precession of the Earth’s axis, the Sun is now in front of the constellation of Pisces. At noon on 21st the Sun will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer, where, at noon, there will be no shadow. At any other latitude on Earth the shadow length at noon gives an estimate for the curvature and hence the circumference of the Earth. This year an International experimental repeat of Eratosthenes’ original expriment will be carried out and the College has been invited to take part
The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Spring Moon) on Thursday
The Sun is completely blank again though there is Geomagnetic activity (often seen near the Equinoxes)
The ISS returns on Friday with low passes: Friday 20.11.48 from SSW to S reaching 23 degrees. Saturday 19.21.21 SSW to ESE to 20 degrees and 20.56.44 WSW to WSW to 22 degrees and Sunday at 20.05.48 SW to SE to 49 degrees and 21.42.11 W to W to 10 degrees
There are no bright evening Iridium flares this week

Week of March 11th

Astronomical twilight ends at 19.56 UT at the start of the week and 20.07 UT at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be First Quarter on Thursday
The Sun actually had activity last week with spot 2734. This is now fading, though a couple of CMEs were released and may cause minor storms on Monday
The ISS makes no evening passes this week
There are no bright evening Iridium flares this week

Week of March 4th

Astronomical twilight ends at 19.43 UT at the start of the week and 19.56 UT at the end
The Moon is waning and will be New on Wednesday
The Sun remains completely blank
The ISS makes no evening passes this week
There are no bright evening Iridium flares this week

Week of February 25th

Astronomical twilight ends at 19.31 UT at the start of the week and 19.41 UT at the end
The Moon is waning and will be Last Quarter on Tuesday
The Sun remains blank
The ISS makes no evening passes this week
There are no bright evening Iridium flares this week

Week of February 18th

Astronomical twilight ends at 19.19 UT at the start of the week and 19.29 UT at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Snow Moon) on Tuesday
The Sun remains blank
The ISS makes no evening passes this week
There is one super bright evening Iridium flare on Wednesday at 18.26.45 at 57 degrees in NNE

Week of February 11th

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.56 UT at the start of the week and 19.06 UT at the end
The Moon is waxing from Monday and will be First Quarter on 12th
Take part in the annual star count to build a light pollution map of the UK; see https://www.cpre.org.uk/what-we-do/countryside/dark-skies/star-count-2019
The Sun is blank
The ISS makes its last pass this week: Monday 18.35.00 W to SE reaching 62 degrees altitude and 20.12.01 W to WSW to 12 degrees. Tuesday 17.43.35 W to ESE to 79 degrees and 19.20.19 W to SSW to 27 degrees. Wednesday 18.28.47 W to SE to 39 degrees. Thursday 17.37.18 W to ESE to 54 degrees and 19.14.34 WSW to S to 15 degrees. Friday 18.22.41 W to SSE and Sunday 18.17.12 WSW to SSW to 12 degrees
There is one super bright evening Iridium flare on Wednesday at 17.37.03 at 68 degrees in SSE

Week of January 28th

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.44 UT at the start of the week and 18.55 UT at the end
The Moon is waning and will be New at the start of next week
The Sun has pne active sunspot 2733<br.
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The ISS makes very good passes almost every night this week: On Monday at 18.08.36 from WSW to E reaching 55 degrees altitude and 19.45.01 W to W to 21 degrees. Tuesday at 18.53.37 W to ENE to 89 degrees. Wednesday 18.02.15 WSW to E to 80 degrees and 19.38.48 W to W to 27 degrees. Thursday 18.47.23 W to E to 84 degrees. Friday 17.55.57 W to E to 86 degrees and 19.32.31 W to W to 34 degrees. Saturday 18.41.05 W to ESE to 85 degrees and 20.17.44 W to W to 12 degrees and Sunday 17.49.38 W to E to 86 degrees and 19.26.12 W to WSW to 39 degrees
There is one bright evening Iridium flare on Tuesday at 18.14.44 at 55 degrees in NE

Week of January 21st

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.35 UT at the start of the week and 18.44 UT at the end
The Moon is Full on Monday and a ‘supermoon’ as the press like to call it. In the early hours the Moon will pass through the Earth’s shadow and a Total Eclipse will be visible. The Moon is at perigee, so will be brighter and larger than usual. Sadly the sky is likely to be cloudy. The Moon will then wane to Last Quarter at the start of next week
The Sun is totally blank
The ISS returns to make evening passes this week: Wednesday at 19.12.47 from SSW to SSW reaching 16 degrees altitude. Tuesday 18.22.03 S to SE to 19 degrees and 19.57.19 WSW to WSW to 11 degrees. Wednesday 17.31.51 SSE to ESE to 12 degrees and 19.06.04 SW to SSW to 34 degrees. Thursday 18.14.57 SW to ESE to 33 degrees and 19.50.59 W to W to 16 degrees. Friday 17.24.02 SSW to E to 23 degrees and 18.59.36 WSW to SW to 64 degrees. Saturday 18.08.16 WSW to E to 55 degrees and 19.44.40 W to W to 22 degrees and the best on Sunday at 18.53.13 W to ENE to 89 degrees
There are no bright evening Iridium flares

Week of January 14th

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.26 UT at the start of the week and 18.34 UT at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be Full (Ice Moon) at the start of next week
The Sun is totally blank
Venus and Jupiter make a fine pair in the early morning pre dawn sky (Venus at nearly -4.5 magnitude) and much brighter than Jupiter which is nearer the horizon
The ISS makes no evening passes this week
There are no bright evening Iridium flares

Week of January 7th

Astronomical twilight ends at 18.18 UT at the start of the week and 18.25 UT at the end
The Moon is waxing and will be First Quarter at the start of next week
The Sun is basically blank
The ISS makes no evening passes this week
There are no bright evening Iridium flares

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