6 Storm Team Starwatch: Monday, June 29th – Sunday, July 5th 2020

Welcome to the 46th edition of 6 Storm Team Starwatch! This is a blog that will be posted every week that will list events happening in the sky!

Monday, June 29th 2020

The Moon is at perigee today or closest to Earth in its orbit (NASA SKYCAL).

Friday, July 3rd – Monday, July 6th 2020

The Moon as well as Saturn and Jupiter will be visible the next few nights (Sky & Telescope). Look to the Southeast between 10 and 11 PM each night to see this (Sky & Telescope).

Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, July 3-6, 2020 — Image Courtesy of Sky & Telescope
https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/WEBvic20_July05ev.jpg

Saturday, July 4th – Sunday, July 5th 2020

Just after midnight Sunday is the July Full Moon (NASA SKYCAL). This Full Moon is sometimes called the Buck Moon. Additionally, the Moon will be at aphelion, or the farthest point from the Sun in its orbit (NASA SKYCAL). A penumbral lunar eclipse will also occur just after midnight early Sunday (NASA SKYCAL). This eclipse will be visible in North America (Space.com). A penumbral eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the outer shadow of the Earth, which is called the penumbra (Space.com). Penumbral eclipses can be harder to discern than partial or total eclipses and at best you may notice that the surface of the Moon appears to be shaded darker during the eclipse (Earthsky.org). The maximum eclipse occurs at 12:30 AM EDT Sunday (NASA SKYCAL). The image below shows where this penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible.