Moon Passes Antares and Saturn

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Bob Riddle

   Welcome to August!
   Over the next few days the Moon will wax from first quarter on Sunday July 30^th into its waxing gibbous phases prior to reaching full Moon on August 7^th. During this time, Tuesday August 1st to Thursday August 3^rd, the Moon will first pass the reddish star Antares in Scorpius the Scorpion then the next day pass the outer planet Saturn on the 2^nd. The following day has the Moon about mid-way across the Milky Way as the picture shows, however given the Moon’s bright reflected light it would be nearly impossible to see the Milky Way.
                           Click on a graphic below to see it larger

: August 1 – 10 pm CDT

: August 2 – 10 pm CDT

: August 3 – 10 pm CDT

Caution: Objects viewed with an optical aid are further than they appear.
Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.

July Moon at Apogee

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Bob Riddle

Our Moon reaches apogee, (greatest distance from Earth), on Thursday July 6^th. At that time the Moon will more or less be at a distance of 31.82 Earth diameters (405,934 km or 252,235 miles) from the Earth.
Does our Moon actually go around the Earth as this graphic shows? From our perspective on the Earth the Moon appears to circle around the Earth. However, in reality, the Moon orbits the Sun together with the Earth^*

^*Click here to read my 2006 Scope on the Sky column “The Real Shape of the Moon’s Orbit”. (PDF)

Read this very informative article about the Earth-Moon system and their orbital motions, written by Joe Hanson. “Do We Orbit the Moon?”

On the day of the apogee Moon the 13-day old nearly full Moon, but still in the waxing gibbous phase, rises around local time for sunset and is about 2^o from Saturn and around 14-15^o degrees from the reddish star Antares in Scorpius the Scorpion.

June Moon at Apogee

Posted on June 7, 2017 by Bob Riddle

Our Moon reaches apogee, (greatest distance from Earth), on Thursday June 8^th. At that time the Moon will more or less be at a distance of 31.85 Earth diameters (406,401 km or 252,526 miles) from the Earth.
Does our Moon actually go around the Earth as this graphic shows? From our perspective on the Earth the Moon appears to circle around the Earth. However, in reality, the Moon orbits the Sun together with the Earth^*

^*Click here to read my 2006 Scope on the Sky column “The Real Shape of the Moon’s Orbit”. (PDF)

Read this very informative article about the Earth-Moon system and their orbital motions, written by Joe Hanson. “Do We Orbit the Moon?”

On the day of the apogee Moon the 14-day old full Moon rises around local time for sunset and is 9-10^o degrees from the reddish star Antares in Scorpius the Scorpion.

May Apogee Moon

Posted on May 11, 2017 by Bob Riddle

Our Moon reaches apogee, (greatest distance from Earth), on Friday May 12^th. At that time the Moon will more or less be at a distance of 31.84 Earth diameters (406,210 km or 252,407 miles) from the Earth.
Does our Moon actually go around the Earth as this graphic shows? From our perspective on the Earth the Moon appears to circle around the Earth. However, in reality, the Moon orbits the Sun together with the Earth^*

The 16-day old waning gibbous Moon rises a few hours before midnight local time, and is located near the reddish star Antares in Scorpius the Scorpion, and the planet Saturn.

^*Click here to read my 2006 Scope on the Sky column “The Real Shape of the Moon’s Orbit”. (PDF)

Read this very informative article about the Earth-Moon system and their orbital motions, written by Joe Hanson. “Do We Orbit the Moon?”



Caution: Objects viewed with an optical aid are further than they appear.
Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.

Moon Near Saturn

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Bob Riddle

   Sunday morning, April 16^th the 19-day old waning gibbous Moon will rise near the planet Saturn. The two will be within the 7^o field of view of 10×50 binoculars and will be easily seen over the eastern to southeastern horizon in the hours before the sun rises.




Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.

March Moon at Apogee

Posted on March 16, 2017 by Bob Riddle

Our Moon reaches apogee, (greatest distance from Earth), on Saturday March 18^th. At that time the Moon will more or less be at a distance of 31.72 Earth diameters (404,640 km or 251,432 miles) from the Earth.
Does our Moon actually go around the Earth as this graphic shows? From our perspective on the Earth the Moon appears to circle around the Earth. However, in reality, the Moon orbits the Sun together with the Earth^*

^*Click here to read my 2006 Scope on the Sky column “The Real Shape of the Moon’s Orbit”. (PDF)

Read this very informative article about the Earth-Moon system and their orbital motions, written by Joe Hanson. “Do We Orbit the Moon?”

On the morning of the apogee Moon the 20-day old waning gibbous Moon rises a couple of hours before the Sun and is visible over the southern horizon.

Moon Skips Past Stars and Planets

Posted on January 22, 2017 by Bob Riddle

Over the next several mornings, January 23^rd to 25^th the waning crescent Moon will pass by the star Antares, and the planets Saturn, and Mercury as these animated graphics are showing.

: Southern Hemisphere: January 22-25

: Northern Hemisphere: January 23-25

Bob's Spaces

Earth and Space Sciences Education

Tag Archives: Antares

Moon Passes Antares and Saturn

July Moon at Apogee

June Moon at Apogee

May Apogee Moon

Moon Near Saturn

March Moon at Apogee

Moon Skips Past Stars and Planets

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