THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
70 Falmouth Street Portland, Maine 04103
(207) 780-4249 usm.maine.edu/planet
43.6667° N 70.2667° W Altitude: 10 feet below sea level Founded
January 1970
2021-2022: CXXXIII
"Think off center."
-George Carlin
THE DAILY ASTRONOMER Tuesday, June 7, 2022
June 2022 Night Sky Calendar Part II
*TUESDAY, JUNE 7: FIRST QUARTER MOON*
The first quarter moon will rise at 12:24 p.m. and set at 1:45 a.m. on
Wednesday, June 8th. The moon will then proceed with the waxing gibbous
phase.
*FRIDAY, JUNE 10: MOON NEAR SPICA*
One will see the waxing gibbous moon (59% illuminated) close to Spica, the
brightest star in Virgo the Maiden. This "close encounter" between Spica
and the moon affords us the opportunity to revisit one of the night sky's
famous mnemonics. "Arc to Arcturus; Speed to Spica."
[image: kqo9pNdYJ3WDgqvL2ipGtj.jpg]
Arcturus, the brightest star in Bootes, the Sheepherder, is just off the
Big Dipper's handle. Draw the arc from this handle down to Arcturus.
Continue it down to Spica, the star that represents an ear of corn held by
Virgo, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest.
The Big Dipper begins the night close to the zenith. Bootes is located high
in the northeastern sky while Virgo begins the evening close to the
meridian, the boundary marking due south.
*MONDAY, JUNE 13: MOON NEAR ANTARES*
Yes, we have no mnemonics, at least any that would help us find Antares,
the brightest star in Scorpius the Scorpion. Fortunately, Antares appears
so reddish and bright that an observer would need little guidance to find
it. Tonight, one will find the nearly full moon (98% illuminated) close to
it. See both the moon and star rise by 8:00 p.m.
[image: scorpius-e1491939442417.jpeg]
*TUESDAY, JUNE 14: FULL MOON * *SUPER MOON!! (SILVER EVENT!!)*
Yes, we love hype in all its variegated forms. We love the tintinabulating
bells, shrieking whistles, the razzle and dazzle of carnival lights, the
bristle and bustle of Mardi Gras and, of course, the pomp, circumstance and
jolly jocularity of platinum jubilees. After all, who truly wants a life
bereft of flavour? Hence, the SUPER MOON written in all capital letters and
bold print. A Super Moon is merely a full moon that occurs around the time
of perigee, the point of least distance between the moon and Earth. Such a
super moon can appear 14% larger and 30% brighter than a micro-moon,
defined as a full moon that happens at the time of apogee, the point of
greatest distance between Earth and the moon.
The moon reaches perigee on the 14th, about 13 hours after the moon reaches
opposition (becomes a full moon.)
Although one would be hard pressed to truly notice a difference between any
full moons, because one can only experience one full moon at a time, do
note that this month's full moon is a SUPER MOON! We should also note that
Super moons cause KING TIDES, or tides that are higher than usual. And, to
add a bit more fun, SUPER MOONS that occur around the time of *perihelion*,
the point of least distance between Earth and the Sun (which occurs around
January 3) produce POSEIDON'S TIDES. Named for the Greek god of the sea,
Poseidon's tides are even higher than King Tides.
Darn it, we love hype!
*THURSDAY, JUNE 16: MERCURY AT GREATEST WESTERN ELONGATION*
One will find Mercury in the eastern pre-dawn sky. This morning, Mercury
strays as far from the Sun as possible during this apparition. (23 degrees
from the Sun.) While Mercury is never truly easy to observe, it is slightly
easier to see now owing to this elongation. Mercury will rise by 4:00 a.m.
this morning.
*SATURDAY, JUNE 18: MOON NEAR SATURN* See the waning gibbous moon (77%
illuminated) close to Saturn tonight! Both the moon and planet will rise
just before midnight and will remain visible for the rest of the night.
*MONDAY, JUNE 20: LAST QUARTER MOON*
The last quarter moon will rise at 12:45 a.m.
TOMORROW: The third and last part of the June 2022 Night Sky Calendar
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