Gingin Observatory July 2015 Newsletter

JULY NEWSLETTER 2015 ©
So what’s really been happening at the Gingin
Observatory- the Space Place, in the Solar System and
the Universe? Well, lots ... …. 
Coming Up - We are open all winter,  this is the best time of the year to look at the stars
and planets. “Just Gotta Love Astronomy”.
Some important news
Gingin Observatory will be making an interplanetary transition whilst here on Earth regretfully
we will be relocating our business, as we are out- growing our facilities. The date of our move is
to be by 30th of September, (we will be open as usual) please note that we are not closing
down, we hope to be doing astronomy tours of our beautiful night skies not far from where we
currently are, with our team with a Travelling Telescopes so you may not have far to travel to
see the Stars.
You can still book in like normal on our website and the distance may be shorter to get along to
us.
We are all looking forward to this change and know that you our customers / visitors will
support us as we make this interplanetary transition here on Earth. So keep your eyes on this
space for the Space Place and where we will be situated
Please contact us for further queries – thankyou
YOU’RE GUIDE TO THE NIGHT SKY IN JULY
Mercury
Is in the eastern dawn sky, is only visible early this month as it descends towards the Sun and
superior conjunction (Earth and Mercury on opposite sides of the Sun) on the 24 th.
Subsequently this speedy little planet moves into the evening dusk sky joining the brightest
planets Venus and Jupiter in early August.
Venus
Venus and Jupiter make a dazzling pair when they are just 0.4 apart on the 1st. They quickly
separate but remain within 6 of each other for July in the early western evening sky – all the
while in the two boundaries of Leo the Lion. The 2-day old Moon forms a triangle with the two
brightest planets on the 18th. On the following evening the 3-day old Moon appears 3 above
Venus with the cusps pointing away from the planet, a glance at the Moon at this time reveals
the origin of the saying “the old Moon in the New Moons arms” as Earthshine ( ashen glow)
floods the unlit portion. Venus reaches its greatest brilliancy on the 10th at -4.7magnitude –
known as greatest illuminated extent by astronomers, it is defined as when the planets
illuminated portion or dayside covers the greatest square area of our sky. At this time we see
Venus just one quarter (25%) illuminated just like a 3 or 4 day old Moon.
Postal Address: PO Box
2695 Clarkson WA 6030
Earth
The Earth is at aphelion on the 7th, the furthest point in its orbit from the Sun(152,093,462 km
or 1.016652 au distant).
Mars
Mars is now past conjunction, remains too close to the Sun for observation until next month.
Jupiter
Opens the month just 0.4 from the brighter Venus in the early western evening sky a
spectacular sight!. At this time Jupiter is -1.8 magnitude compared to – 4.6 for Venus. On the
18th the 2-day old slender crescent Moon forms a triangle with Jupiter and Venus, or a
quadrilateral if you include the 1st magnitude star Regulus (Alpha Leonis). Jupiter motion
across Leo takes it directly toward Regulus and at month end the pair is only 2.5 apart and
even close next month.
Saturn
Saturn is in Libra, is visible high in the north-eastern sky at the end of astronomical dusk. Early
to mid evening is the best time for Saturnian observations this month while the planet remains
at a decent elevation above the horizon. On the 26 th, the 9-day old waxing gibbous Moon will
be nearby the planet.
Uranus
Uranus rises around midnight mid-month. On the 27th, the planet appears stationary against
the back ground stars and thereafter is in retrograde motion until late December. Whilst it is
moving very slowly at this time it will be close to the 5th magnitude double star Zeta Piscium. In
fact, Uranus remains within 0.5 of this star from mid –June through to early September. Zeta
is a fine double and best in the constellation for small telescopes. The 5 th and the 6th
magnitude pair of suns is separated by a respectable 23 arch seconds, the primary is mostly
described as white or bluish whilst observers seem to be in disagreement to the secondary’s
colour- sometimes white – pink – greenish!
Neptune
Neptune rises in the mid evening eastern evening sky in Aquarius.
Pluto - Dwarf Planet
Pluto is at opposition on the 7th, above the horizon the entire night. It is presently 4,770 million
km (31.88 au) from Earth, with its light taking four hours and twenty-five minutes to reach us.
If you have to, add this distant 14th magnitude ice dwarf to your bucket list. You will need a
moderate (200mm – 250mm) to large telescope. Your quest will also be aided by a good dark
sky. Remember that Pluto is currently in a region of our galaxy that has innumerable faint stars
of similar brightness, making identification relatively difficult. Astro photographers should try
imaging the region over the span of a few days to sort out the wanderer from the fixed stars.
Postal Address: PO Box
2695 Clarkson WA 6030
COMETS
Comet 10P/Tempel 2- : Brightens from the 13th to 12th magnitude this month in Virgo. Tempel
2 is setting around midnight and well be best observed during the 2 nd and 3rd weeks of July
when there is no moonlight interference.
Comet 22P/ Kopff -: is, like Comet Tempel 2. An evening object in Virgo during July and is best
observed at the end of evening twilight. During July Kopff should be around 12th magnitude. It
is best to observe in the middle of the month when the Moon won’t interfere.
Comet 88P/ Howell - : fades from 11th to 12th magnitude during July, will be rising after
midnight. Howell begins the month in Pisces before moving back into Cetus mid-month and
then finally entering Aries at the end of July. The Moon will interfere with observing during
much of the first half of July and again at the end.
Comet C/2013US 10 (Catalina)-: opens July in Sculptor at 10th magnitude, rising mid-evening.
Early in the month, Catalina moves into Phoenix and then late in the month as it heads south,
passes through Grus before finishing in Tucana when it might be 8 th magnitude. Observers will
need to contend with moonlight early in the month and again towards the end.
METEOR SHOWERS
NB If you see bright fireball in our night skies please go to the website below
and report what you have seen. http://www.fireballsinthesky.com.au/
Meteorites are the oldest rocks in existence: the only surviving physical record of the formation
and evolution of the solar system. They sample hundreds of different heavenly bodies.
Potentially, meteorites offer a direct route to understanding our origins. But to decode that record we need to know
where they come from. The Desert Fireball Network (or DFN for short) is designed to provide that data.
Meteorites generate a fireball as they come through the atmosphere – you may even have seen one of these
yourself. The DFN is a network of digital cameras in the outback desert of Australia which capture photographs of the
night sky. By making networked observations of the fireball we can triangulate its trajectory, track the rock forward to
where it lands, and back, to where it came from in the solar system.
JULY’S MOON…….. about our Moon













st
1 – (1am WST) - Maximum Libration (8.4) near Full Moon
nd
2 – (10am WST) - Full Moon
th
6 – (3am WST) - Moon at Perigee (closest to Earth at 367,093km)
th
7 – (5pm WST) - Minimum Libration (1.7), Dark SE Limb.
th
9 - (4am WST) - Last Quarter
th
9 – (11am WST) - Occultation of Uranus by the Moon, visible from western most Australia and southern
Indian Ocean (daytime event)
th
13 - (2am WST) - Occultation of Aldebaran by the Moon, visible from northern Japan, eastern Russia,
Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland and Iceland.
th
14 – (5pm WST) - Maximum Libration (8.4) Too close to the New Moon.
th
16 – (9am WST) – New Moon
th
19 – (9am WST) - Occultation of Venus by the Moon, visible from New Guinea, NE Australia , Melanesia and
French Polynesia. ( See the Venus section)
st
21 – (3pm WST) - Minimum Libration (1.0), dark NW limb.
st
21 – (7pm WST) - Moon at Apogee (furthest from Earth 404,835km).
th
24 – (noon WST) – First Quarter
Postal Address: PO Box
2695 Clarkson WA 6030
th
 28 – (10am WST) – Maximum Libration (9.2), dark SW limb.
 31st – (7pm WST) – Full Moon
OUR STAR - THE SUN – IN JULY 2015
Date
4th
11th
18th
25th
Rise
Set
7:18
7:17
7:14
7:11
17:24
17:28
17:32
17:36
Twilight End
18:51
18:54
18:57
19:01
WARNING: do not look at the sun through binoculars or a
telescope without a special lens or you could incinerate your
eyes!
NB: We would like to say ‘thank you’ to Quasar Publishing for all the information we have gathered from – Your
Guide to the NightSky–ASTRONOMY 2015 AUSTRALIA. Quasar Publishing
Astronomy Groups in WA
 ACLG - Cosmic Landscape Photography Group of WA
ACLG- Astro photographic & Astronomy
Night sky photography in the past was very difficult and out of reach for most people. Now with the
new digital compact and SLR cameras this has enabled photographers to take beautiful landscape
photos under the Moon or starlit sky.
Our group specialises in this type of photography………….take a photo of a cityscape during the day then
one at night - the difference is amazing.
This group is free to join and can be done by sending an email to: [email protected]
We meet in Bassendean once a month 7.30pm – 9.30pm.
We have a wide range of members from absolute beginners to professionals. So whatever your skill
level if you would like to photograph or take time lapse video of the night sky, this maybe just your
scene.
 AGWA
AGWA meetings are held on Wednesday night and is on once a month, will be in the same hall as the
Cosmic Landscape group (ACLG). For more info go to their Facebook site or Email Keith Williams
[email protected]
Don't forget members can join the Facebook site to keep up with all the latest astronomical news and
chat. https://www.facebook.com/groups/124589480922323/
 ASWA
For further information see the website http://aswa.info or contact ASWA by email at
[email protected].
Postal Address: PO Box
2695 Clarkson WA 6030

STARGAZERS CLUB WA - Why not learn more about our night skies and join The
Stargazers Club. http://www.stargazersclubwa.com.au/
©
 GINGIN OBSERVATORY – The Space Place ( Travelling Telescopes)
Look at our website www.ginginobservatory.com for “what to do” around and
nearby to where we are situated and of course.
Why not follow us on Facebook/Twitter/Linked In/Google +
For all bookings and all enquiries:
Email [email protected] or Phone +61895757740
 We also Support IDFA- Immune Deficiency Foundation of Australia
There are many people who have Primary Immune Disorders. IDFA are
raising awareness and supporting people with a Primary Immune Deficiency
in Australia. PIDs are a large group of different disorders caused when
some components of the immune system (mainly cells and proteins) do not
work properly. People with PIDs are more prone than others to catching infections. PIDs can also
cause the immune system to attack the body itself – this is called ‘auto-immunity’ and it can lead to
various symptoms such as pain and swelling of the joints (arthritis). PIDs are caused by defects in
the genes (the DNA) responsible for the immune system. The defects can be inherited from the
parents and they can manifest themselves at any age, although most cases are diagnosed at young
adult or late adult ages.
Read more on their website http://www.idfa.org.au/ Find them also on Facebook. – Join NOW!!
 We also Support OXFAM
Sincerely
See you in the Universe
Quasar and Hans Solo and the Galaxy Team ©
Postal Address: PO Box
2695 Clarkson WA 6030