SKYLIGHTS~PRINT

Saturn lies above the western horizon until it sets around 12:30am in the beginning of Cancer and by 11:00pm at its end. Saturn near the hindquarters of Leo the Lion is moving easterly toward the Lion's tail. Its yellowish glow at magnitude 1.1 is similar in brightness to blue-white Regulus, the Lion's heart star, which shines at magnitude 1.35 and bluish Spica, the brightest star in Virgo the Virgin at magnitude 0.98. The planet's rings are nearly closed at a ring tilt that decreases from 3.2º - 1.9º during July. They will continue to close to exactly edge-on in September, when the planet is out of sight in conjunction with the Sun. The maximum ring tilt of 27º occurred in 2003. The diminishing reflective surface of the rings and Saturn's increasing distance from Earth are resulting in a dimming of the planet. 6/25-27 the waxing Crescent Moon transits Leo the Lion, first west of Regulus, then between Regulus and Saturn and finally near Saturn. 6/25-27 9:30 Map ~ 6/27 9:30pm Map The First Quarter Moon lies between Saturn and Spica 6/28. Look for the triangle formed by Saturn in the west, Spica in the southwest and Arcturus east of Saturn. Compare their color and brightness. Find the Big Dipper, arc down to bright golden Arcturus in Bootes from there spike down to dimmer blue-white Spica in Virgo. Helpful Image ~ 7/10 10pm Sky Chart

Jupiter rises in the southeast around 11:30pm in the beginning of Cancer and at 10pm by its end. It can be seen in the southern sky 3am-4am and in the southwest afterwards. Jupiter is located in the dim constellation Capricornus and far outshines any stars in its vicinity. The planet is brilliant and easy to see at magnitude -2.8. Watch it ascend and brighten as the weeks unfold. Jupiter is retrograde 6/15-10/11 and reaches opposition 8/14 at 11:00am PDT (18:00 UT). Telescopic Neptune lies very near Jupiter; both are in exact conjunction 5/27, 7/10 and 12/21. The waning Gibbous Moon guides us to Jupiter 7/9-10. 7/9 11pm Sky Chart The waning Moon paired with Jupiter can be observed until sunrise.

Venus and Mars our predawn planetary pair, in exact conjunction on the summer solstice 6/21, separate during the sign of Cancer. They transit eastward from the dim constellation Aries to the bright stars of Taurus. Dazzling Venus shines 100x brighter than Mars and moves faster through Taurus the Bull. Mars rises first at 3:00am in the beginning of Cancer and around 2:30am by its end. Venus follows rising around 3:15am at both the beginning and end of Cancer. Venus hovers around 20º above the horizon, while Mars ascends from 20º - 30º. Mars can easily be seen in a dark sky; binoculars are helpful in first spotting this planet in dawn's early light. Much better views of our Red Planet occur at the end of the year. 7/13 Venus lies next to Aldebaran, like the wide open brilliant 2nd eye of Taurus the Bull. Aldebaran and nearby Mars are similar in color and brightness. 7/13 5am Sky Chart The waning Crescent Moon guides us to the Pleiades, Mars and Venus 7/18. 7/18 4am Map

Mercury is a challenge to see during Cancer with its low altitude and close proximity to the Sun. The planet gets brighter and a little lower as June ends, shining at magnitude -0.9 at an altitude of 5º, 30 minutes before sunrise. The planet's magnitude increases to -1.0, as July begins, however it sinks lower on the horizon and disappears from view within the first few days of July. Mercury is in superior conjunction 7/13.

Arcturus is the bright golden star overhead at sunset. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to arc down to Arcturus from there spike down to blue-white Spica in the south. Helpful Image The westward movement of Arcturus and the Big Dipper can be observed until 2:30am. Notice the seasonal position of the Big Dipper's bowl.

The Summer Triangle a stellar right triangle is high in the northeast at sunset. Vega is the brightest star and western point; Deneb the dimmest star and eastern point, Altair is the southern point. Hercules the Strong Man lies about a third of the way from bright white Vega to golden Arcturus in the northwest. Look for his four star wedge-shaped torso. Star Chart

The Milky Way appears like a faint cloud extending from Scorpius on the southern horizon, to the Summer Triangle high overhead, and onward toward Cassiopeia (M or W shaped) on the northern horizon. Star Map.