Planets -end of June

[JoeF]

Its 30th June at 10:40pm

Low near the horizon to the southwest are Venus and Saturn. Venus is the brightest 'star' in the sky and is easily seen. A pair of 10x50 binoculars will just show he phase (like a half moon) and yellowish Saturn will be seen to the top right in the same field of view and should appear slightly elongated due to the rings. Later, as it gets darker you may also be able to see Titan, Saturns largest moon as a tiny star like dot. Saturn and Venus will stay close together like this for the next week or so.

Take time as well to turn north to another bright 'star', again close to the horizon', this time its Jupiter. Jupiter in 10x50s will look like a small white ball wih a number of tiny dots around it. Those dots, up to four of them, depending o whether they are hidden by the planet or by it's side are; Io, Europa, Callisto and Ganymede. When you've had a look at them, look down and to the left to see a bright orange star. Antares is a true giant of a star, it only looks so small because it's 604 light years away. It looks lovely on the canvas of a dusky blue sky.

Happy hunting

Joe