CAS Sky Notes for June 2024

The summer solstice occurs on the 20th June and skies are too light too late for any deep sky astronomy.  Astronomical twilight now lasts all night, so there will be a permanent glow in the north, even at midnight.

Aurora

Hopefully many of you saw the recent display of Aurora, courtesy of a huge sunspot group on the Sun emitting flares and a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME).

It was a magnificent sight and so rare to see anything like that at these latitudes.  We were blessed with, not just a green glow in the north. But reds and blues and pinks bursting overhead.  It is possible that there may be more displays if the sunspot group remains.  Also, the Sun is around its maximum activity and may produce more aurorae.  Keep an eye out and maybe download an aurora alert App, such as Aurora Pro.

Planets

There are no planets visible in the evening sky this month.  There is an alignment of the planets in the morning sky of June 3rd before sunrise.

Of course, they are not really anywhere near each other, but the alignment is pretty.

Venus is not visible as it reaches superior conjunction (behind the Sun) on the 4th June.  Also, Uranus and Neptune require a telescope to be seen.

Mercury also reaches superior conjunction on the 14th June.

 

Moon

 6th June:  New Moon              14th June:  Moon is at First Quarter

22nd June:  Full Moon              28th June:  Moon is at last quarter

 Sun

The Sun is rather active currently, so watch out for large Sunspot groups.  Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.

Meteors

June Bootids.  June 22nd to 2nd July. These occasionally have outbursts, so watch out for them.

 

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