The moon sets just before 2am tonight, and around 3am onward in the eastern sky near Spica you will find Mars 12 degrees to the north and Saturn 18 degrees south.. Mars will be up around 43 degrees at that time. Mars among the many galaxies of Virgo.
Info courtesy of Sky Safari and my dog who wanted to go outside last night at that time - this time the scope will be ready.
Had a great clear night here and was out from 3 -4:30 taking in Mars, Saturn (very steep ring incline since last I looked), its moons ( at up to 280X), the Virgo Markarian Chain of galaxies, and many DSOs. Sky Quality metre said 20.75 on several sample readings towards Spica Mars area. Good result.
Hi Glen,
Thanks for the heads up!
I wondered outside a bit late (about 4am) and the sky looked majestic.
Unfortunately a lot of moisture in the air so I didn't trouble the scope.
But I did have a naked eye feast.
Including some spectacular fireball meteors low in the North East sky.
All day it was as clear as a bell, even in to the evening. So I set everything up and see a hint of cloud on the horizon! Half an hour later, it's all cloud
Tonight, the 12th of January, probably represents the best moonless observation period of opportunity (after 2:39am Sydney time), for the next ten days. Dawn will begin around 4:15am so make the most of the darkness.
As the old saying goes, "It's always darkest before the dawn"!
