PADAS Sky Notes


September 2024

01 Sept alpha-Aurigid meteor shower maximum

              Mercury 5.0 degrees South of the Moon 

03 Sept New Moon

05 Sept Mercury at greatest elongation

             Venus 1.2 degrees North of the Moon

             Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

08 Sept Saturn at opposition

10 Sept-20 Nov Southern Taurid meteor shower

11 Sept Moon in its first quarter

12 Sept PADAS Meeting Deepdale Labour Club, 7.30pm. New members always welcome. The 

             speaker will be Alexia Lopez from UCLAN on her recent discovery with a talk 

             entitled ‘A Big Ring on the Sky’

17 Sept Saturn 0.3 degrees South of the Moon

18 Sept Full Moon, known as the Harvest Moon

             Partial lunar eclipse

             Neptune 0.7 degrees South of the Moon

             Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth. This is the first of three super moons this year, where

             the Moon appears closer and brighter.

21 Sept Neptune at opposition

22 Sept Uranus 4.5 degrees South of the Moon

22 Sept autumn equinox, start of the astronomical autumn.

23 Sept Jupiter 5.7 degrees South of the Moon

24 Sept Moon in its last quarter

25 Sept Mars 4.9 South of the Moon          

August 2024

04 Aug New Moon

05 Aug Venus 1.7 degrees South of the Moon

06 Aug Mercury 7.5 South of the Moon

           Venus 5.9 degrees North of Mercury, these planets appear close together for an extended

           period around this time

09 Aug Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

           PADAS meeting Deepdale Labour Club, 7.30pm. New members always welcome.

12-13 Aug Perseid meteor shower maximum

12 Aug Moon in its first quarter

19 Aug Full Moon known as the Grain or Lynx Moon

21 Aug Saturn 0.5 degrees North of the Moon

           Moon, at perigee, closest to the Earth

           Neptune 0.7 degrees North of the Moon

26 Aug Uranus 4.4 degrees South of the Moon

27 Aug Jupiter 5.7 degrees South of the Moon

28 Aug-05 Sep Alpha Aurigid meteor shower

28 Aug Mars 5.3 degrees South of the Moon

July 2024

01 Jul Mars 4.1 degrees South of the Moon

02 Jul Uranus 4.0 degrees South of the Moon

03 Jul-15 Aug alpha Capricorn and meteor shower

          Jupiter 5.0 degrees South of the Moon

05 Jul Earth at aphelion, it’s furthest point from the Sun in its imperfect orbit.

          New Moon

06 Jul Venus 3.9 degrees South of the Moon

07 Jul Mercury 3.2 degrees South of the Moon

11 Jul PADAS meeting Deepdale Labour Club 7.30pm, new members always welcome.

12 Jul-23 Aug Southern Delta Aquariid, meteor shower maximum

12 Aug Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

13 Aug Moon in its first quarter

17 Jul -24 Aug Perseid meteor shower

21 Jul Full Moon known as the Hay or Mead Moon

22 Jul Mercury at greatest elongation

24 Jul Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

         Saturn 0.4 degrees South of the Moon

25 Jul Neptune 0.6 degrees South of the Moon

28 Jul Moon in its last quarter

29 Jul Uranus 4.2 degrees South of the Moon

30 Jul Southern Delta Aquariid, meteor shower maximum

          Mars 5.0 degrees South of the Moon

          Jupiter 5.4 degrees South of the Moon

June 2024 

01 Jun Neptune passes very close to the Moon, but there is no occultation.

02 Jun Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

           Mars 2.4 degrees South of the Moon

04 Jun Jupiter 0.1 degree North of Mercury, these planets appear together for an extended period

           around this time.

05 Jun Uranus 3.7 degrees South of the Moon

           Mercury 4.7 degrees South of the Moon

06 Jun New Moon

13 Jun PADAS Meeting 7.30pm Deepdale Labour Club, new members always welcome. Our speaker

          will be Dr Keith Robertson, PADAS Vice President with a talk entitled “The Road to Imaging

          the Brightest Object in the Universe”

14 Jun Moon in its first quarter

          Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

21 Jun Summer solstice

22 Jun Full Moon known as the Rose or Dyad Moon

27 Jun Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

           Saturn 0.1 degree South of the Moon, an occultation will be visible from parts of Eastern

           Australia

28 Jun Neptune 0.3 degrees South of the Moon

           Moon in its last quarter

May 2024

01 May Moon in its last quarter

03 May Saturn 0.8 degrees North of the Moon

04 May Neptune 0.3 degrees North of the Moon

05 May Mars 0.2 degrees South of the Moon

           Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

06 May Eta Aquariids meteor shower maximum

            Mercury 3.8 degrees South of the Moon

07 May Venus 3.5 degrees South of the Moon

08 May New Moon

            Uranus 3.6 degrees South of the Moon

            Jupiter 4.3 degrees South of the Moon

09 May PADAS Meeting 7.30 pm Deepdale Labour Club, new members always welcome.

            Mercury at greatest elongation

15 May Moon in its first quarter

17 May Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

23 May Full Moon known as the Milk or Bright Moon

30 May Moon in its last quarter

31 May Saturn 0.4 degrees North of the Moon


April 2024

02 April Moon in its last quarter

06 April Mars 2.0 degrees North of the Moon

             Saturn 1.2 degrees North of the Moon

07 April Neptune 0.4 degrees North of the Moon

             Venus 0.4 degrees South of the Moon

             Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

08 April Total Solar Eclipse, Mexico and the United States of America

             New Moon

09 April Mercury 2.2 degrees North of the Moon

10 April Jupiter 4.0 degrees South of the Moon

              Uranus 3.6 degrees South of the Moon

11 April PADAS Meeting 7.30pm Deepdale Labour Club, new members always welcome.

14 April Lyrid meteor shower

15 April Moon in its first quarter

18 April Venus 2.0 degrees South of Mercury, these objects are close together for an extended period

             around this time

19 April to 28 May Eta-Aquarids meteor shower

20 April Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

20/23 April Lyrid meteor shower maximum, around 20 per hour.

23 April Full Moon known as the Budding or Seed Moon.

March 2024

03 Mar Moon in its last quarter

08 Mar Mars 3.5 degrees North of the Moon

            Neptune 0.5 degrees South Mercury, for a prolonged period around this time.

            Venus 3.3 degrees North of the Moon

09 Mar Saturn 1.5 degrees North of the Moon

10 Mar Moon at perigee, the closest it will be to the Earth this year

            Neptune 0.5 degrees North of the Moon

11 Mar Mercury 1.0 degrees North of the Moon

            New Moon

14 Mar Jupiter 4.0 degrees South of the Moon

            Uranus 3.4 degrees South of the Moon

17 Mar Moon in its first quarter

23 Mar Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

24 Mar Mercury at greatest elongation, look to the western horizon around dusk.

25 Mar Full Moon, known as the Plough Moon

            Penumbral lunar eclipse, visible from the USA

31 Mar British Summer Time begins, clocks go forward one hour. 


February 2024

02 Feb Moon in its last quarter

07 Feb Venus 4.5 degrees North of the Moon

08 Feb Mars 4.2 degrees North of the Moon

            Mercury 3.2 degrees North of the Moon

            PADAS meeting 7.30pm Deepdale Labour Club, new members always welcome.

09 Feb New Moon

10 Feb Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

11 Feb Saturn 1.8 degrees North of the Moon

12 Feb Neptune 0.7 degrees North of the Moon.

15 Feb Jupiter 3.2 degrees South of the Moon

16 Feb Uranus 3.2 degrees South of the Moon     

             Moon in its first quarter

24 Feb New Moon, known as the Snow or Storm Moon

25 Feb Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

28 Feb Saturn 0.2 degrees North of Mercury, these objects are close together for an extended period around this time.

January 2024

28 Dec-12 Jan Quadrantid meteor shower

03 Jan Earth at perihelion, closest to the Sun

03/04 Jan Quadrantid meteor shower maximum, around 100 per hour

04 Jan Moon in its last quarter

            Venus 5.7 degrees North of the Moon

09 Jan Mercury 6.6 degrees North of the Moon

10 Jan Mars 4.2 degrees North of the Moon

11 Jan PADAS Meeting Deepdale labour club, new members always welcome

            New Moon

12 Jan Mercury at greatest elongation

13 Jan Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

14 Jan Saturn 2.1 degrees North of the Moon

15 Jan Neptune 1.0 degrees North of the Moon

18 Jan Public night sky observing at the Jeremiah Horrocks observatory,

            Moor Park 7.30-9.30pm. Weather dependent.

            Moon in its first quarter

            Jupiter 1.8 degrees South of the Moon

19 Jan Uranus 3.0  degrees South of the Moon.

25 Jan Full Moon, known as the Wolf Moon, named after the howling of hungry wolves in mid-winter.  

27 Jan Mars 0.2 degrees South of Mercury, these will be close for an extended period around this 

            time.

29 Jan Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

December 2023

04-20 Dec Geminid meteor shower

04 Dec Mercury at greatest elongation, look low in western horizon soon after sunset.

            Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

05 Dec Moon in its last quarter

09 Dec Venus 3.6 degrees North of the Moon, look East in the early morning before sunrise

12 Dec Mars 3.6 degrees North of the Moon

            New Moon

14-15 Dec Geminid meteor shower maximum 

14 Dec 4.4 degrees North of the Moon

16 Dec Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

17-26 Dec Ursid meteor shower

17 Dec Saturn, 2.5 degrees North of the Moon, look South from dusk

19 Dec Neptune 1.3 degrees North of the Moon

            Moon in its first quarter

22-23 Dec Ursid meteor shower maximum 

22 Dec Winter Solstice

            Jupiter 2.6 degrees South of the Moon

            Mercury at inferior conjunction,

23 Dec Uranus 2.8 degrees South of the Moon

27 Dec Full Moon, known as the Oak or Full Cold Moon

28 Dec Mercury 3.6 degrees North of Mars

November 2023

03 Nov Jupiter at opposition

05 Nov Moon in its last quarter

05-30 Nov Leonid meteor shower

06 Nov Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

09 Nov Venus 1.0 degrees South of the Moon

             PADAS Meeting Deepdale Labour Club, new members always welcome. 

12-13 Nov Northern Taurids Meteor shower maximum

13 Nov New Moon

            Mars 2.5 degrees North of the Moon

            Uranus at opposition

14 Nov Mercury 1.7 degrees North of the Moon

16 Nov Public night sky observing at the Jeremiah Horrocks, Observatory, Moor Park, 730 to 9:30 pm

17-18 Nov Leonids meteor shower maximum

18 Nov Mars at superior conjunction

20 Nov Moon and its first quarter

            Saturn 2.7 degrees North of the Moon

21 Nov Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

22 Nov Neptune 1.5 degrees North of the Moon    

25 Nov Jupiter 2.8 degrees South of the Moon

26 Nov Uranus 2.6 degrees South of the Moon

27 Nov Full moon, known as the Darkest Depths Moon or Mouring Moon.

OCTOBER 2023

02 Oct – 07 Nov Orionids meteor shower

            Jupiter 3.4 degrees South of the Moon

            Uranus 2.9 degrees South of the Moon

06-10 Oct Draconid meteor shower

06 Oct Moon in its last quarter

08-09 Oct Draconid meteor shower maximum 

10-11 Oct Southern Taurid meteor shower maximum

10 Oct Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

            Venus 6.5 degrees South of the Moon

12 Oct PADAS meeting Deepdale Labour Club, 7.30pm new members always welcome

14 Oct Mercury 0.7 degrees North of the Moon 

            New Moon

            Annual solar eclipse, not visible from the UK

15 Oct Mars 1.0 degrees North of the Moon

19 Oct Public Night Sky Observing at the Jeremiah Horrocks Observatory, Moor Park 7.30-9.30pm

20 Oct- 10 Dec Northern Taurids meteor shower 

20 Oct Mercury at superior conjunction 

21-22 Oct Orionids meteor shower maximum 

22 Oct Moon in its first quarter 

23 Oct Venus at greatest elongation 

24 Oct Saturn 2.8 degrees North of the Moon

26 Oct Neptune 1.5 degrees North of the Moon

            Moon at perigee, closest to the Earth

28 Oct partial lunar eclipse

           Full Moon, known as the Hunter’s or Blood Moon

29 Oct Jupiter 3.1 degrees South of the Moon

           Mars 0.4 degrees North of Mercury, for an extended period around this time.

30 Oct Uranus 2.9 degrees South of the Moon

SEPTEMBER 2023

01 Sep alpha-Aurigid meteor shower maximum

             Neptune 1.4 degrees North of the Moon

04 Sep Jupiter 3.3 degrees South of the Moon

05 Sep Uranus 2.8 degrees South of the Moon

06 Sep Mercury at inferior conjunction

            Moon in its last quarter

10 Sep – 20 Nov Southern Taurid meteor shower

11 Sep Venus 11.4 degrees South of theMoon

11 Sep Moon at apogee, furthest from the Earth

14 Sep PADAS meeting 7.30pm, Deepdale Labour Club, new members always welcome.

13 Sep Mercury 6.0 degrees South of the Moon

15 Sep New Moon     

16 Sep Mars 0.7° South of the Moon          

19 Sep Neptune at opposition

22 Sep Mercury at greatest elongation

            Moon in its first quarter

23 Sep autumnal equinox, start of the astronomical autumn.

27 Sep Saturn, 2.7 degrees North of the Moon

28 Sep Moon, at perigee, closest to the Earth

             Neptune 1.4 degrees North of the Moon

29 Sep Full Moon, known as the Harvest Moon. This is the final super-moon of the year