Summer 2026
Each semester offers opportunities and events worth your attention. Below are some astronomical news for your current semester.
The following web page offers a great overview of current activities in astronomy - http://skyandtelescope.com/
More on astronomy events at: http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy_calendar_current.html
And even more at: http://in-the-sky.org/newsindex.php?feed=DFAN
Robert Bonadurer, director of the MPM Planetarium, sends out a terrific monthly newsletter on astronomy. Email bonadurer@mpm.edu to request and receive his FREE monthly sky map and newsletter.
Planets
Evening Sky - Venus will the star of the evening sky this summer. Look for it in the western horizon after sunset. It actually reaches its maximum eastern elongation (angle with the sun) after the class ends. On August 15th it will max out at 46 degrees from the sun. You can also spot Mercury just above the westerns horizon at dusk (when the class starts). Its elongation will be about 25 degrees on June 15th, but it is tricky to spot. If you look too early, it is too bright out, if you wait too long it will be too close to the western horizon as it sets. Use binoculars to have the best chance of spotting it but it should be visible to the eye for a few days around June 15th.
Morning Sky - When the class starts, look to the east in the morning to see Mars and Saturn (a bit higher in the sky). By the end of the class, both these planets will be seen further from the horizon. Saturn will be close to the meridian in the early morning by the time you are taking the final exam. At that same time you might be able to spot Mercury very close to the eastern horizon.
Eclipses (as seen from Milwaukee area)
Sorry, no such luck. I will be in Reykjavik Iceland to (hopefully) see a total solar eclipse on August 12th, but that is well past the end of the course.
Other
On June 21st we can celebrate the first day of summer as the sun reaches the summer solstice. On this day Milwaukeeans enjoy over 15 hours of sunlight and the sun will be about 20 degrees from the zenith (straight up point) at high noon. Enjoy!!!!
On July 6th Earth reaches aphelion .... the furthest Earth is from the sun in its elliptical orbit. So why is it so warm around then? You should know the answer.
ŠJim Mihal 2004, ... 2026 - all rights reserved