Summer 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 can be seen after dusk just above the western horizon from late June to the first dozen days in July. It is hard to spot, but there is a 15 minute window when it gets dark enough to spot, yet Mercury still hasn't set. It will only be about 25 degrees from the sun at this time, which makes it challenging to see.
I hope you are an early bird. Two planets are only putting on a show in the pre-dawn.
Venus will be putting on a great morning show this semester. It will be very bright in the eastern sky before dawn. In fact, it reached its greatest western elongation of 46 degrees from the sun on May 28 (just before the class started). But don't worry, it will still be easily seen all this summer session as it slowly aligns closer to the sun.
Saturn has long passed its opposition but still will be visible the entire summer session early in the morning. By the end of the class, you may be able to spot Jupiter in the east in the pre-dawn.
Eclipses (as seen from Milwaukee area)
Nothing ... sorry
Other
On June 20th the sun hits the summer solstice. This marks the first day of summer and we will have over 15 hours of sunlight. Yippee! The sun will rise about 33 degrees north of due east, make a great arc that gets about 20 degrees from the zenith at high noon, and then sets about 33 degrees north of due west.
I know this is just past the end of the class but don't miss the best meteor shower of the year - The Perseids (around August 10- 13).
ŠJim Mihal 2004, 2014, 2017, 2022, 2025 - all rights reserved