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The Top 10 Sky Sights for 2013
The prospects of two bright comets highlight the coming year
in the sky
Last year brought a feast of celestial events that is difficult to beat. But the possibility of two naked-eye comets could elevate 2013 into a banner year for stargazing. Here are the highlights of what’s up in 2013.
By Alan Dyer
Click on photos to enlarge.
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#1. Mid-March
Comet PanSTARRS at its best (evening sky)
Come spring, we might have a decent comet to observe. Comet PanSTARRS was discovered in June 2011 by astronomers using the Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System, a 1.8-metre telescope on Haleakala, Hawaii, designed for hunting asteroids and comets. Officially known as C/2011 L4, this comet will never appear far from the Sun for us and will be best seen from southerly latitudes (the simulation below depicts the scene from the latitude of New Mexico). While predictions suggest that Comet PanSTARRS might reach naked-eye brightness in mid-March, when it is conveniently placed in a moonless evening sky, comets are notorious for misbehaving. What we can say is that this comet comes closest to Earth on March 5 and closest to the Sun on March 10. Just what it will look like remains uncertain. COURTESY STARRY NIGHT PRO PLUS™/SIMULATION CURRICULUM CORP. |
#2. Saturday, March 16
Waxing Moon near Jupiter (evening sky)
Winter and spring see Jupiter shining in Taurus just above the Hyades star cluster and the bright star Aldebaran. On March 16, the waxing crescent Moon slides between Jupiter and Aldebaran for a beautiful naked-eye and binocular scene. It doesn’t get much better than this for a photogenic setting! |
#3. Saturday, April 13
Waxing Moon near Jupiter (evening sky)
A month later, the crescent Moon is back, slipping between the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters and below Jupiter, all surrounded by the brilliant stars of winter sinking into the evening twilight. Both March 16 and April 13 are super nights for hosting a star party for the public. |
#4. Thursday, April 25
Full Moon near Saturn (evening sky)
After sunset on April 25, look southeast to see the full Moon rising in tandem with Saturn and opposite the Sun. Saturn is officially in opposition and closest to Earth three nights later and is beginning its prime-time appearance as our main evening planet this spring and summer, replacing Jupiter. |
#5. Sunday, May 26
Conjunction of Mercury, Venus and Jupiter (evening sky)
By May, Jupiter is dropping into the evening twilight. At the end of the month, Mercury and Venus briefly join Jupiter. On May 26, low in the northwestern twilight, the trio forms a tight two-degree-wide triangle. Such a formation is rare; pity it happens so low and in a bright twilit sky. |
#6. Thursday, June 20
Conjunction of Mercury and Venus (evening sky)
In late spring, Mercury pops up, passes Venus, then descends back down toward the Sun. As it does so, it is two
degrees from Venus, forming a close conjunction of the solar system’s two innermost planets. You will need binoculars to pick out faint Mercury near its bright companion. |
#7. Monday, July 22
Conjunction of Mars and Jupiter (morning sky)
By July, Jupiter has moved into the dawn sky, where it meets up with Mars on July 22. This is a close call! The two worlds are just 45 arc minutes apart—within the field of a low-power telescope. A bonus is nearby Mercury, rising to one of its best morning appearances of the year. |
#8. Monday, August 12
Waxing Moon near Saturn, Perseid meteor shower peaks (evening sky)
The evening of August 12 begins with the waxing crescent Moon four degrees below Saturn. That’s a nice enough sight, but the real treat comes after the Moon sets, leaving the sky dark for the popular Perseid meteor shower. Drive to dark skies to enjoy this annual sky show. |
# 9. Sunday, September 8
Waxing Moon near Venus (evening sky)
As Saturn bows out of the evening sky late in the year, Venus rises to take its place. Venus remains low in the southwest during its 2013 evening appearance. However, the waxing Moon passes Venus at monthly intervals: first on September 8, then October 8, November 6 and December 5. |
#10. Friday, October 11
Triple shadow transit on Jupiter
This is rare. The last time we saw three of Jupiter’s moons casting shadows onto the Jovian clouds at the same time was on March 28, 2004. For just over an hour on October 11, observers in eastern North America can watch the shadows of Callisto, Europa and Io move across the cloudtops of Jupiter. From western North America, Callisto’s shadow is moving off the disc by the time Jupiter rises. If you miss this one, the next triple shadow transit in a nighttime sky is January 23, 2015, an event well timed for all of North America. At that transit, the faster-moving shadow of Io will pass across the shadow of Callisto, a doubly rare sight. DIAGRAMS 2 THROUGH 10 COURTESY THESKYX™/SOFTWARE BISQUE F |
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