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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report through July 13th, 2016. Here’s what’s happening in the skies of southern California.
The moon and three bright planets, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, are ideally placed for observation starting shortly after sunset. These objects are currently featured through Griffith Observatory’s free public telescopes.
The moon changes from waxing crescent to first quarter on Monday evening, the 11th, and then is waxing gibbous starting on the 12th. Moonset occurs at 9:54 p.m., PDT on the 6th, and 1:19 a.m. on the 13th.
The planet Jupiter, in the constellation Leo the Lion, begins the evening in the western sky where it can be seen until it sets at about 11:00 p.m. Binoculars are sufficient to spot Jupiter’s four largest moons, also known as the Galilean satellites. A more powerful telescope is required to see the details of Jupiter’s banded clouds. The planet’s colorful oval storm, the Great Red Spot, is visible from the west coast at 9:00 p.m., PDT on July 7th, 10th and 12th. The moon appears to the lower left of Jupiter on Thursday the 7th.
The orange planet Mars appears slightly fainter than Jupiter. It gleams from the constellation Libra the Scales in the south as darkness falls. Mars is still close enough to show its dusky markings as well as misty clouds and bright polar caps through most telescopes. Mars sets in the west-southwest at about 2:00 a.m.
The golden planet Saturn is located in the south-southeast as darkness falls, to the left of Mars in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. The northern face of Saturn’s ring system is spectacular through telescopes, and several of the planet’s many moons are visible surrounding Saturn, outside of the rings. The brightest moon of Saturn, Titan, is visible through nearly any telescope. Saturn sets about an hour after Mars.
On Friday the 8th, The International Space Station makes a spectacular early-morning pass over Los Angeles. The ISS emerges from earth’s shadow at 4:42 a.m., PDT, when it is already 22 degrees above the southwest horizon. It is overhead at 4:44 a.m., then moves to the northeast horizon at 4:47 a.m.
Free views of the sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night are available to the public in clear weather through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes from Tuesday through Sunday, before 9:30 p.m. Check our website for the schedule. The next free public star party on the grounds of Griffith Observatory, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, will take place on Saturday, July 9th, from 2:00 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Follow the Sky Report on Twitter for updates of astronomy and space-related events.
From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.