Spring 2025
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
Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation of 18 degrees on March 8th. Look for it low in the western sky after sunset. Mercury is difficult to see because it never gets far from the sun, but around March 8th, you can catch a glimpse of it. If you look too early after sunset, it will not be dark enough ... if you look too late, Mercury will get too close to the horizon. It is a good challenge to spot it. Use a pair of binoculars. Missed it? Don't worry! Speedy Mercury will swing around to the other side of the sun and will be at its greatest western elongation of 27 degrees from the sun on April 21st. Look for it over the eastern horizon before dawn. If you are an early bird riser, it will be much easier to spot.
Venus will be putting on a great show this semester. It will be very bright in the western sky after sunset. In fact, it reached its greatest eastern elongation of 47 degrees from the sun on January 9th. That is, the angle it makes with the sun was at its greatest ... making it the best time to see it. As the semester progresses, that angle will slowly shrink as it laps us in our race around the sun.
Mars will also be dominant the night sky. It reached opposition on January 15th ... just days before the class started. This means it was opposite the sun and at its best viewing. Look for it around the meridian at midnight. It will be bright and red.
Jupiter and Saturn both reached opposition in the fall semester but don't fret, both will still be visible. When the class starts (1/19), Saturn will be visible right next to Venus (we call that a conjunction) in the western sky after sunset, but don't wait too long. Saturn will fade away into the glare of the sun by mid February. On February 1st, look for a neat conjunction (lining up) of Venus and the Moon. Saturn will still be visible just below.
Jupiter may have passed its best viewing, but will still give a great view the entire semester. When the semester starts, it will be close to the meridian around dusk. By the end of the semester, it will appear much closer to the western horizon at dusk. Use a small telescope to see the four Galilean moons. They are quite easy to see with a cheap scope.
Eclipses (as seen from Milwaukee area)
There is a lunar eclipse on March 14th (in the early am). This will be a total lunar eclipse so plan an eclipse party. Use Stellarium to recreate this eclipse so you know what to expect.
There is a partial solar eclipse on March 29 but not visible from Milwaukee. Click here for a map
Other
Just before the class started, the earth reached perihelion on January 4th. This is when the earth is closest to the sun. Do you know why you were freezing then?
The first day of spring is March 20th. The sun crosses the Vernal Equinox and will sit directly on the celestial equator. This means it will appear directly above the earth's equator. Enjoy 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night no matter where you are. Equinox does imply things are "equal" on this day.
ŠJim Mihal 2004, 2014, 2017, 2022, 2025 - all rights reserved