STAR WATCH for May, 2008


SPRING, 2008 SCHEDULE for the WCSU Observatory & Planetarium (Westside Campus)
Date
 Planetarium Show*
 Show Time
 Observing Hours**
 Celestial Attractions
Thurs., May 8
 OBSERVING ONLY
 - - - - - - - - - -
 8 - 11 p.m.
 Moon, Saturn, Mizar, spring sky


SPRING, 2008 SCHEDULE for the Science Building Observatory (Midtown Campus)
Date
 Observing Hours**
 Event
Wed., May 14
 1 - 3 p.m.
 Safe Sun viewing

* Held rain or shine, unless roads are dangerous from ice or snow
** Weather and road conditions permitting

NIGHTLY CALENDAR for April & May, 2008

      * or !     Interesting to very interesting events
           !!     EXCEPTIONALLY interesting events (must-see!)
           E     Important geometrical or calendar events

May 8
 !
 Free Public Night at the WCSU Observatory. Observing with the 20-inch telescope, if skies are clear, 8 to 11 p.m.
10
 *
 The waxing crescent moon passes very near the Beehive star cluster (Messier 44) in Cancer the Crab.
11
First Quarter Moon
12
 *
 The waxing gibbous Moon passes near the white star Regulus in Leo the Lion, and also close to the planet SATURN.
13
 !
 The planet MERCURY reaches greatest eastern elongation, 22 degrees from the Sun. Look ENE during evening twilight for this zero-magnitude planet. (It can also be glimpsed starting around the beginning of May, but vecomes more difficult to spot as May progresses.)
14
 !
 Safe Sun viewing (if skies are mainly clear) from 1 to 3 p.m. on the roof of the Science Building (WCSU Midtown campus)
19
FULL Flower MOON
20
The Moon reaches apogee at 406,403 km (252,527 miles) from Earth's center. It also passes very near the orange summer star Antares in Scorpius the Scorpion.
22
 !!
 Look through binoculars toward Cancer the Crab (between Gemini and Leo) to see the planet MARS passing right through the Beehive star cluster (Messier 44).
27
Last Quarter Moon


PLANETARY INFORMATION

MERCURY —
 puts in its best evening appearance this year (look low in the west after sunset) for northern hemisphere observers during the first two weeks of May.
VENUS — is visible in southeastern predawn skies but becomes lower and more difficult to see in predawn skies during May.
MARS —
, moving into Cancer in May, is high in the early evening western sky but has faded significantly from its close approach in December, 2007. Its closest approach to Earth last year was on December 18, at which time it reached magnitude -1.6 and showed a disk almost 16 arcseconds across.
    Some relevant numbers for Mars:
             Date         Magnitude      Diameter ( " )      
           Dec. 20            -1.6              15.8                                                          
           Dec. 30            -1.5              15.4                                                            
           Jan. 10             -1.3             14.6                                                             
           Jan. 20             -1.0             13.5                                                             
           Jan. 30             -0.7             12.3                            
           Feb. 10             -0.3             10.9
           Feb. 20              0.0             10.0
           Mar. 1              +0.2              9.1
           Mar. 11            +0.4              8.3
           Mar. 21            +0.6              7.6
           Mar. 31            +0.8              7.0  
           Apr. 11            +1.0              6.5
           Apr. 21            +1.1              6.1
           May 1              +1.2              5.8   
Mars reaches aphelion at 249 million km (154,700,000 miles) from the Sun on May 12.                  
JUPITER — is visible above the east-southeastern horizon in late evening (mid-May). The waning gibbous Moon passes near Jupiter on thye morning of May 24.
SATURN — , in Leo near the star Regulus, is high in the SW sky after sunset and visible into the "wee hours." Saturn's rings are only tilted 8 or 9 degrees to us now; they will be edge-on (i.e., disappear from easy view!) during 2009.

STAR WATCH is brought to you by WCSU Astronomy. Thanks for connecting! For more information, please call the Observatory line at (203) 837 - 8672
or Dr. Dennis Dawson at (203) 837 - 8671.