The Night Sky in May

DURING May the attention of all astronomers and astro amateurs is drawn to the two comets C/2002 T7 (LINEAR) and C/2001 Q4 (NEAT), shortly T7 LINEAR and Q4 NEAT.

Later, we will await the transit of the planet Venus in front of the Sun. I want to call your attention to this extremely rare event this month now already.Comet Q4 NEAT is visible in the evening sky in the Little Dog constellation.It moves on to Cancer, where it is found between Saturn in the Twins [Gemini] and Jupiter in Leo around May 15.Q4 is brightest on May 7.Comet T7 LINEAR sets at 17h16 on May 15; the Sun sets at almost the same time on the same day.Three days later, T7 will be at 20° above the horizon at sunset, and on May 20, 37°.This time it can be found in the Hare constellation, south of Orion.T7 is brightest on May 18 (see star chart).As is well known, the Earth’s orbit of the Sun takes 365 days.Venus’s orbit lies inside that of Earth’s and therefore a Venus year is only 225 days.Every 584 days, Venus passes Earth and is then positioned in the direction of the Sun as seen from Earth.We call this an inner conjunction (see fig.) Venus will be in inner conjunction to the Sun on June 8.Venus’s orbit is slightly inclined to that of Earth.Otherwise we would have a Venus transit every 584 days.Venus will only be visible in front of the surface of the Sun if it crosses the plane of the Earth’s orbit during the conjunction.This event is extremely rare.The last time it took place was 122 years ago – on December 6 1882.During the transit, we will see Venus as a black spot travelling over the surface of the Sun from sunrise onwards.The angular diameter of Venus is 58″ (arc seconds) during this time, or almost 1′ (1 arc minute = 1/60 degree).Therefore, Venus will be discernible in front of the Sun even without a telescope, in any case with binoculars.But please keep in mind:we must never look at or view the Sun without appropriate eye protection, particularly when using binoculars or a telescope.Otherwise you will suffer severe eye damage.It is safe to observe the Sun if you use some layers of rescue blanket in front of the eyes, binoculars or telescope, fixed in a way that it cannot be blown away.The Sun can also be safely viewed by projecting it onto a sheet of white paper behind the eyepiece of rigidly mounted binoculars, and focusing it by turning the eyepiece.A sheet of cardboard around the object will provide a helpful shadow onto the paper.The first contact takes place at 06h19.At this instant, Venus touches the solar limb the first time.Since the Sun does not rise before 06h27, this first contact cannot be observed.With the second contact, at 06h36, Venus leaves the solar limb at the inner side and moves fully in front of the Sun.During the third contact, at 12h11, Venus touches the limb from the inner side again as it leaves the Sun.After the fourth contact at 12h29, Venus will be invisible.* Rising and setting times on May 15:Mercury rises at 04h22; Venus sets at 19h12; Mars sets at 19h59; Jupiter sets at 00h51; Saturn sets at 20h24; Moonrise at 02h56; Sunrise at 06h17; and Sunset at 17h18.- Eberhard v. Grumbkow; Phone 064-402 025; E-Mail:grumbkow@iway.naI want to call your attention to this extremely rare event this month now already.Comet Q4 NEAT is visible in the evening sky in the Little Dog constellation.It moves on to Cancer, where it is found between Saturn in the Twins [Gemini] and Jupiter in Leo around May 15.Q4 is brightest on May 7.Comet T7 LINEAR sets at 17h16 on May 15; the Sun sets at almost the same time on the same day.Three days later, T7 will be at 20° above the horizon at sunset, and on May 20, 37°.This time it can be found in the Hare constellation, south of Orion.T7 is brightest on May 18 (see star chart).As is well known, the Earth’s orbit of the Sun takes 365 days.Venus’s orbit lies inside that of Earth’s and therefore a Venus year is only 225 days.Every 584 days, Venus passes Earth and is then positioned in the direction of the Sun as seen from Earth.We call this an inner conjunction (see fig.) Venus will be in inner conjunction to the Sun on June 8.Venus’s orbit is slightly inclined to that of Earth.Otherwise we would have a Venus transit every 584 days.Venus will only be visible in front of the surface of the Sun if it crosses the plane of the Earth’s orbit during the conjunction.This event is extremely rare.The last time it took place was 122 years ago – on December 6 1882.During the transit, we will see Venus as a black spot travelling over the surface of the Sun from sunrise onwards.The angular diameter of Venus is 58″ (arc seconds) during this time, or almost 1′ (1 arc minute = 1/60 degree).Therefore, Venus will be discernible in front of the Sun even without a telescope, in any case with binoculars.But please keep in mind:we must never look at or view the Sun without appropriate eye protection, particularly when using binoculars or a telescope.Otherwise you will suffer severe eye damage.It is safe to observe the Sun if you use some layers of rescue blanket in front of the eyes, binoculars or telescope, fixed in a way that it cannot be blown away.The Sun can also be safely viewed by projecting it onto a sheet of white paper behind the eyepiece of rigidly mounted binoculars, and focusing it by turning the eyepiece.A sheet of cardboard around the object will provide a helpful shadow onto the paper.The first contact takes place at 06h19.At this instant, Venus touches the solar limb the first time.Since the Sun does not rise before 06h27, this first contact cannot be observed.With the second contact, at 06h36, Venus leaves the solar limb at the inner side and moves fully in front of the Sun.During the third contact, at 12h11, Venus touches the limb from the inner side again as it leaves the Sun.After the fourth contact at 12h29, Venus will be invisible.* Rising and setting times on May 15:Mercury rises at 04h22; Venus sets at 19h12; Mars sets at 19h59; Jupiter sets at 00h51; Saturn sets at 20h24; Moonrise at 02h56; Sunrise at 06h17; and Sunset at 17h18.- Eberhard v. Grumbkow; Phone 064-402 025; E-Mail:grumbkow@iway.na