Everything you always wanted to know about astronomy
June
By Bruce Dennis

On June 3rd, there is a New Moon -- a good time to observe the planets and stars all night without a bright light ruining your view. On June 7th, Mars is real close to the crescent Moon in the West at Sunset. Saturn is just above the crescent Moon on the 8th. The 18th brings a Full Moon -- that bothersome bright light alluded to earlier. Although the Moon is bright, a large planet like Jupiter canbe observed near it on the 19th and 20th. On the night of the 20th, the direct rays of the Sun will reach the Tropic of Cancer. This is the furthest North that the direct Sun rays will fall. This time is better known (in the Northern Hemisphere) as the first day of Summer. This is also the shortest night of the year, so observe quickly -- there isn't much 'dark' time at night for a few weeks. Remember that the best time to view the heavens is when it's real dark -- from a few hours after Sunset until a few hours before Sunrise. That doesn't leave much 'dark' time in the Summer. On the 30th, the crescent Moon passes through the Pleiades. This event occurs at about 3 AM. For more informatikon on this, go to www.lunar-occulat com/iota/pleiades08/pleia des.htm .

Regulus is the bright star that is near a half Moon on June 8th and 9th. Mars 'chases' Regulus from night to night until the last week of June when Mars finally 'catches' Regulus low in the sky at Sunset. After its successful conjuction, Mars begins its attack on Saturn. On June 26th, it almost 'catches' Saturn, coming to within 3 fingerwidths of the ringed planet. Meanwhile, Jupiter rises in the middle of the night. It rises earlier each night, finally rising at Sunset by the month's end.

Mars is already up on the evening of June 1st at Sunset. It is about halfway to directly overhead from the Western horizon at dusk. Mars will 'follow' both Regulus and Saturn, narrowing the gap from night to night. If you wonder which bright spot is Mars (assuming that you are just using your naked eye with no telescope), just look for the orangish light (not twinkling). If you are using a scope,it will be the rugged orange body with the dark 'canals' on it. By the end of June, Mars, Saturn, and Regulus will all set right after the Sun.

When Jupiter rises (at about 11 PM on June 1st), it'll remain visible for the entire night. It'll rise earlier each night, coming up at Sunset on July 1st. When you observe the planet with your telescope, wait until midnight (when the planet reaches its highest point in the sky) to view the moons and clouds. On the 29th, Jupiter is at the horizon just before dawn. A star near the planet may be confused with the moons of Jupiter. Don't let it fool you!

Both Mercury and Venus cannort be seen for most of June. Mercury is on the near side of the Sun, so it can only be seen during the day (good luck! -- don't even try it). During the final week of June, Mercury can be spotted peeking out away from the Sun in the east-northeast at Sunrise. Venus, on the other side of the Sun in its orbit, will be invisible all month.

On June 30th, a slender crescent Moon will 'pass through' the Pleiades just before dawn. Don't miss this one! The Sun's rays falling on the Tropic of Cancer will make June 20th the Summer Solstice. This is the first time in 112 years that this date is earlier than the 21st. At the time of this writting (May 19th) the temperature is 40 degrees. Are we going to have an early Summer? I hope so, but there's no sign of it yet. How's this going to convince anyone about global warming? Let's continue looking through the telescope. Happy viewing.

Bruce Dennis is a retired science teacher from Haverling High School.