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Celestial
Events Calendar
Thursday, June 2,
2005:
10 AM CDT – The Moon is at
its ascending node. The Moon is crossing the plane of the Earth’s orbit
(ecliptic) and heading north.
Friday, June 3, 2005:
5 AM CDT – The planet
Mercury is at superior conjunction with the Sun. Mercury is on the other side
of the Sun from the Earth. Mercury will no longer rise before the Sun in the
morning but it will now set after the Sun in the evening.
9 PM CDT – Mercury is at
perihelion, the point in its orbit where it is closest to the Sun ~ 28.6
million miles
On this date in 1948
the 200-inch Hale Telescope (Palomar Observatory) on the top of Palomar
Mountain outside of San Diego, California, was dedicated.
Saturday, June 4, 2005:
North Houston Astronomy Club
“Southern Cross” BBQ/Star Party
At the Sammy Neal observing
site in east Texas.
Please plan to arrive before
sunset.
5 – 7 PM BBQ, 8:19 PM
Sunset, 9 PM Novice Field Sessions
Bring: Lawn chair, bug
spray, personal beverages, small flashlight (red cellophane will be supplied),
appropriate clothing, ….
Hamburgers, beans, chips,
water… are supplied by the club.
A few volunteers that can
bring a dessert are needed.
Sunday, June 5, 2005:
5 PM CDT – Jupiter is
stationary relative to the stars (right ascension). Jupiter ceases its
retrograde (westward) drift through the stars and begins its normal prograde
(eastward) drift through the stars of the 13 constellations along the ecliptic.
Monday, June 6, 2005:
4:57 PM CDT – New Moon, this
is the beginning of lunation cycle # 1020
Tuesday, June 7, 2005:
Arietid radio meteor shower
Thursday, June 9, 2005:
Zeta Perseid radio meteor
shower
Saturday, June 11,
2005:
NHAC “Southern Cross”
BBQ/Star Party – rain date
1 AM CDT – the Moon is at
apogee, the point in its orbit where it is furthest from the Earth ~ 254,000
miles
11 PM CDT – The equation of
time is zero, that is, the midpoint between sunset and sunrise is at midnight.
Monday, June 13, 2005:
8 PM CDT – The planet Pluto
is at opposition. The Earth is between the Sun and Pluto. This is the best time
of the year to view Pluto as it is visible all night. It rises when the sun
sets and it sets when the Sun rises.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005:
6:21 AM CDT – Earliest
Sunrise of the year
8 AM CDT – Venus is at
perihelion, the point in its orbit where it is closest to the Sun ~ 66.8
million miles
8:24 PM CDT – First
Quarter Moon
11 PM CDT – Uranus is
stationary relative to the stars. Uranus ceases its normal eastward drift along
the ecliptic and begins westward retrograde motion.
Wednesday, June 15,
2005:
Mars is at heliocentric
conjunction with Neptune, that is they are on opposite sides of the Sun.
Thursday, June 16,
2005:
June Lyrid meteor shower
11 PM CDT – The Moon is at
its descending node
Saturday, June 18,
2005:
On this date in 1983
Sally Ride was the first American woman in space.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005:
1:48 AM CDT – The
Summer Solstice, the longest day and shortest night. The Sun leaves the astrological
sign of the Gemini Twins and enters the astrological sign of Cancer the Crab.
8 AM CDT – The Sun leaves
the astronomical constellation of Taurus the Bull and enters the astronomical
constellation of the Gemini Twins.
11:15 PM CDT – Full
Moon, rose, flower or strawberry moon
Thursday, June 23,
2005:
7 AM CDT – The Moon is at
perigee, the point in its orbit where it is closest to the Earth ~ 226,000
miles.
Friday, June 24, 2005:
7:30 PM CDT – 74th
Meeting of the North Houston Astronomy Club, pre-meeting sessions start at 6:30 PM
Saturday, June 25,
2005:
9 PM CDT – Venus is 1.3o
north of Saturn in the evening sky
Sunday, June 26, 2005:
Charles Messier was born on
this date in 1730.
Monday, June 27, 2005:
8:26 PM CDT – Latest sunset
of the year
June Bootid meteor shower
1 PM CDT – Mercury is 0.07o
SSW of Venus
Tuesday, June 28, 2005:
Beta Taurid radio meteor shower
1:24 PM CDT – Last Quarter
Moon
Wednesday, June 29,
2005:
11:30 AM CDT – The Moon is
at its ascending node