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In the Sky This Week – June 2, 2020

By Robert Trembley  |  2 Jun 2020

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This entry is part 151 of 253 in the series In the Sky This Week

Inner Solar System

Mars continues to move eastward away from Saturn and Jupiter in the southern predawn sky.

South-southeastern predawn sky Mars in the southeastern predawn sky; Jupiter and Saturn in the southern predawn sky this week. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.

Mercury appears above west-northwestern horizon at sunset.

Mercury on the horizon Mercury appears above the western horizon after sunset this week. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.

The Moon appears near the star Spica the southern sky at 11:00 PM on June 2nd.

Conjunction The Moon appears near the star Spica on June 2nd in the southern sky at 11:00 PM. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.

The Moon appears near the star Antares in the southeastern sky at 11:00 PM on June 4th and 5th.

 

The Moon is a waxing gibbous – visible to the southeast in early evening, and up for most of the night.

The full Moon occurs on June 5th – rising at sunset, visible high in the sky around midnight, and visible all night.

After June 5th, the Moon will be a waning gibbous – rising after sunset, visible high in the sky after midnight, and visible to the southwest after sunrise.

Moon The Moon from 2020-06-02 – 2020-06-08. Visualizations by Ernie Wright / NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.

Moon News

What looks like a dried river bed is actually a lava channel, carved out of the Moon's surface long ago by flowing lava. 🌋 These channels, called sinuous rilles, are a common landform on the Moon. https://t.co/oUqfenqlyn pic.twitter.com/pe3tyzKBdR

— NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) May 21, 2020

We have a spot! Sunspot AR2764 is a member of new Solar Cycle 25. The northern coronal hole appears to have opened up a bit since last week, while the southern hole remains open and large.

The Sun seen in 193 angstroms (extreme ultraviolet)  June 1, 2020:

https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/dailymov/2020/06/01/20200601_1024_0193.mp4

More, beautiful, swirling prominences on the Sun’s limb over the last few days!

The Sun seen in 304 angstroms (extreme ultraviolet) June 1, 2020:

https://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/assets/img/dailymov/2020/06/01/20200601_1024_0304.mp4
Videos courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA, EVE, and HMI science teams.
You can view the Sun in near real-time, in multiple frequencies here: SDO-The Sun Now.
You can create your own time-lapse movies of the Sun here: AIA/HMI Browse Data.
You can browse all the SDO images of the Sun from 2010 to the present here: Browse SDO archive.

 

Facebook: SolarActivity

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10220118194538867&set=gm.3243998082278180&type=3&theater&ifg=1

Solar Corona

Solar wind speed is 347.9 km/sec (↑), with a density of 9.0 protons/cm3 (↑) at 1445 UT.

Near real-time animation of the corona and solar wind from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO):

SOHO LASCO C2 Latest Image Animated LASCO C2 Coronograph showing the solar corona above the Sun’s limb (the white circle). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech-SOHO

 

Near-Earth objects (NEOs) discovered this month: 0, this year: 1173, all time: 230,052
Potentially hazardous asteroids: 2037  (last updated  June 2, 2020)  (+19)
Total Minor Planets
discovered: 958,618  (+92)

 

Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters:

Asteroid
Date(UT)
Miss Distance
Velocity (km/s)
Diameter (m)
2020 KN2
2020-Jun-02
5.8 LD
8.4
18
2020 KK7
2020-Jun-02
1.3 LD
15.2
20
2020 KD4
2020-Jun-02
10.5 LD
5.2
21
2020 KF
2020-Jun-02
12.1 LD
10.8
26
2020 KJ1
2020-Jun-02
5.5 LD
5.1
19
2020 KE4
2020-Jun-03
7.7 LD
9.1
31
2020 KN5
2020-Jun-04
16.2 LD
12.7
32
2020 KA6
2020-Jun-05
11.7 LD
11.6
17
163348
2020-Jun-06
13.3 LD
11.1
339
2020 KO1
2020-Jun-06
15.5 LD
7.3
35
2020 KQ1
2020-Jun-06
13.4 LD
14.9
49
2020 KA7
2020-Jun-07
10.4 LD
7.3
31
2020 KK3
2020-Jun-07
17.8 LD
11.9
29
2013 XA22
2020-Jun-08
7.6 LD
6.7
98
2020 KZ3
2020-Jun-08
3.2 LD
6
21
2020 KY
2020-Jun-10
17.3 LD
2.4
21
2020 JQ2
2020-Jun-11
15.2 LD
4.5
24
2020 JS1
2020-Jun-11
9.9 LD
5
19
2020 JU1
2020-Jun-13
19 LD
6.6
48
2020 KB3
2020-Jun-13
3.2 LD
7.5
46
2017 MF7
2020-Jun-14
3.7 LD
10.9
23
2020 KP6
2020-Jun-16
3.6 LD
10.8
38
2020 JU3
2020-Jun-17
6.9 LD
10.9
55
2020 KF3
2020-Jun-17
12.5 LD
3.5
14
2018 PD22
2020-Jun-19
17.2 LD
14.6
56
2020 KR1
2020-Jun-22
11.6 LD
6.8
42
441987
2020-Jun-24
9.8 LD
12.9
186
2017 FW128
2020-Jun-25
6.9 LD
5.4
11
2020 JX1
2020-Jun-29
3.3 LD
5
59
2019 AC3
2020-Jul-01
10.5 LD
3.4
12
2007 UN12
2020-Jul-04
16.7 LD
2.9
6
2020 KJ7
2020-Jul-13
11.9 LD
3.4
30
2009 OS5
2020-Jul-13
17.6 LD
2.6
45
2016 DY30
2020-Jul-19
9 LD
15.1
3
2002 BF25
2020-Jul-21
9.4 LD
6.8
129

Notes: LD means “Lunar Distance.” 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance between Earth and the Moon. Red highlighted entries are asteroids that either pass very close, or very large with high relative velocities to the Earth. Table from SpaceWeather.com

Asteroid News

Atira #asteroids are asteroids whose orbits are entirely confined within Earth's orbit but do not cross paths with our planet. They extremely rare with only 22 known examples. Congratulations to @Catalina_sky survey and Greg Leonard for spotting a newest one! #planetarydefense https://t.co/K9di8G0ozU

— NASA Asteroid Watch (@AsteroidWatch) May 5, 2020

On June 2, 2020, the NASA All Sky Fireball Network reported 13 fireballs. 
(13 sporadics)

Orbits In this diagram of the inner solar system, all of the fireball orbits intersect at a single point–Earth. The orbits are color-coded by velocity, from slow (red) to fast (blue). Credit: SpaceWeather.com

Position of the planets and a couple spacecraft in the inner solar system.

Inner Solar System Position of the planets and a couple spacecraft in the inner solar system, 2020-06-02 – the orbit of asteroid Eros is highlighted.. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley.

Position of the planets in the middle solar system.

Middle Solar System Position of the planets in the middle solar system, 2020-06-02. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley.

Position of the planets some transneptunian objects in the outer solar system.

Outer Solar System Position of the planets in the outer solar system on 2020-06-02 – the orbit of dwarf planet Eris is highlighted. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley.

Solar System News

Every 19 months, Venus passes between the Sun and the Earth. And every 8 years, Venus looks particularly close to the Sun.

This image was taken this morning, Venus was only 2,4° from the Sun. All we can see is its thin atmosphere that scatters light and gives this shape of ring. pic.twitter.com/HOEvHXFnxB

— Thierry Legault (@ThierryLegault) June 2, 2020

As of today the @ESA/@NASASun SOHO satellite has discovered 3,979 new comets via the Sungrazer Project. We're now 21 comets away from FOUR THOUSAND discoveries! 😱🤯☄️

A huge win for #CitizenScience and all the volunteers that @DoNASAScience from the comfort & safety of home!👏 pic.twitter.com/AA4fa3y9Xo

— Karl Battams (@SungrazerComets) June 1, 2020

OSIRIS-REx: NASA’s Asteroid Sample Return Mission

Scientists are gaining a new understanding of asteroid Bennu’s memorable “spinning top” shape and where it comes from.

Read more about what they’ve discovered: https://t.co/hRvwO4qTb1 pic.twitter.com/qYKl8xLQpQ

— NASA's OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) June 1, 2020

SpaceX Crew Dragon Launches to the International Space Station!

Falcon 9 lifts off from historic Launch Complex 39A and sends Crew Dragon to orbit on its first flight with @NASA astronauts to the @space_station pic.twitter.com/UOoaKiQaFk

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 31, 2020

International Space Station

.@Astro_Doug and @AstroBehnken were aboard the @SpaceX #CrewDragon as it approached the station. https://t.co/IXnE4DimeS pic.twitter.com/AtqnUA9GdN

— International Space Station (@Space_Station) June 1, 2020

#LaunchAmerica: Kerbal Space Program Teases Players with Possible Crew Dragon Suits

In our excitement for today's launch, and after seeing the @NASA astronaut's sweet suits, we made our own concept! Who wants to see this in the game? #LaunchAmerica @SpaceX pic.twitter.com/eJW46azhyY

— Kerbal Space Program (@KerbalSpaceP) May 30, 2020

Hubble Space Telescope

At the heart of our Milky Way galaxy is a supermassive black hole.

About 3.5 million years ago, it unleashed a burst of energy that our very distant hominid ancestors likely saw as ghostly light overhead. Hubble is uncovering clues about this explosion: https://t.co/kSEB8wdbwH pic.twitter.com/WQg7cKuu2B

— Hubble (@NASAHubble) June 2, 2020

Climate

Seven of the regions that dominate global ice mass losses (such as the Southern Andes and High Mountain Asia) are melting at an accelerated rate, depleting freshwater resources that millions of people depend on and adding to sea level rise. https://t.co/tJ4ptv0jDA

— NASA Climate (@NASAClimate) June 1, 2020

Exoplanet
ex·o·plan·et /ˈeksōˌplanət/, noun: a planet orbiting a star other than the Sun.

All Exoplanets 4158
Confirmed Planets with Kepler Light Curves for Stellar Host 2360
Confirmed Planets Discovered by Kepler 2341
Kepler Project Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed 2418
Confirmed Planets with K2 Light Curves for Stellar Host 430
Confirmed Planets Discovered by K2 409
K2 Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed 889
Confirmed Planets Discovered by TESS 47
TESS Project Candidates Integrated into Archive (2020-05-16 13:00:02) 1912  (+75)
Current date TESS Project Candidates at ExoFOP 1912  (+75)
TESS Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed 1161  (+34)

Data from the NASA Exoplanet Archive
* Confirmed Planets Discovered by TESS refers to the number planets that have been published in the refereed astronomical literature.
* TESS Project Candidates refers to the total number of transit-like events that appear to be astrophysical in origin, including false positives as identified by the TESS Project.
* TESS Project Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed refers to the number of TESS Project Candidates that have not yet been dispositioned as a Confirmed Planet or False Positive.

Do you know an advocate who deserves recognition for their work protecting the night from #lightpollution? Nominate them today for the 2020 @IDADarkSky Awards! We would love to recognize their commitment to the #darksky movement.

Open thru June 30th, 2020 https://t.co/0l028CSKiV

— DarkSky International (@IDADarkSky) May 26, 2020

Fast Radio Bursts Sheds Light on Missing Matter Mystery

Astronomers led by A/Prof Jean-Pierre Macquart (ICRAR-@CurtinUni) have used mysterious fast radio bursts to solve the mystery of 'missing matter' https://t.co/va4ShliQAO@ucsantacruz @UW @CSIRO @CSIRO_ATNF @Swinburne @Macquarie_Uni @pucv_cl @SKA_Australia @SKA_telescope @nature pic.twitter.com/eVTspLUU8Q

— ICRAR (@ICRAR) May 27, 2020

The Local Stellar Neighborhood

Continuing with my visual tour of nearby stars and their systems, we travel to the Epsilon Indi star system, about 12 light years distant.

Epsilon Indi Distance to Epsilon Indi from Sol; the plane (green) is aligned with the orientation of the plane of the Milky Way galaxy. Credit: SpaceEngine / Bob Trembley.

Epsilon Indi

Epsilon Indi (ε Indi, ε Ind) is a star system approximately 12 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Indus consisting of a K-type main-sequence star, ε Indi A, and two brown dwarfs, ε Indi Ba and ε Indi Bb, in a wide orbit around it. The brown dwarfs were discovered in 2003. ε Indi Ba is an early T dwarf (T1) and ε Indi Bb a late T dwarf (T6) separated by 0.6 arcseconds, with a projected distance of 1460 AU from their primary star.

ε Indi A has one known planet, ε Indi Ab, with a mass of 3.3 Jupiter masses in a nearly circular orbit with a period of about 45 years. ε Indi Ab is the closest Jovian exoplanet. The ε Indi system provides a benchmark case for the study of the formation of gas giants and brown dwarfs. – Wikipedia

Epsilon Indi System Architecture

Epsilon Indi Epsilon Indi System Diagram. Credit: SpaceEngine / Bob Trembley.

Epsilon Indi System Orbital Diagrams

Epsilon Indi Orbits Top-down view of the orbits of the stars in the Epsilon Indi star system – the system barycenter is highlighted in red. Credit: SpaceEngine / Bob Trembley.
Epsilon Indi A Oblique view of the orbits of the star Epsilon Indi A and its exoplanet – the barycenter for both A & B is shown as the blue diamond. Credit: SpaceEngine / Bob Trembley.
Epsilon Indi B Top-down view of the orbits of the brown dwarfs in the Epsilon Indi B sub-system – the system barycenter is highlighted in red. Credit: SpaceEngine / Bob Trembley.

Artist’s view of exoplanet Epsilon Indi Ab

Epsilon Indi Ab Artist’s concept of exoplanet Epsilon Indi Ab. Credit: SpaceEngine / Bob Trembley.

Artist’s view of brown dwarf Epsilon Indi Bb

Epsilon Indi Bb Artist’s concept of brown dwarf Epsilon Indi Bb – Epsilon Indi Ba (red) and Epsilon Indi A (yellow) are shown in the distance. Credit: SpaceEngine / Bob Trembley.

Stay safe, be well, and look up!


Apps used for this post:

NASA Eyes on the Solar System: an immersive 3D solar system and space mission simulator – free for the PC /MAC. I maintain the unofficial NASA Eyes Facebook page.
Universe Sandbox: a space simulator that merges real-time gravity, climate, collision, and material interactions to reveal the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Includes VR support.
SpaceEngine: a free 3D Universe Simulator for Windows. Steam version with VR support available.
Stellarium: a free open source planetarium app for PC/MAC/Linux. It’s a great tool for planning observing sessions. A web-based version of Stellarium is also available.


Section header image credits:
The Sky – Stellarium / Bob Trembley
Observing Target – Turn Left at Orion / M. Skirvin
The Moon – NASA/JPL-Caltech
The Sun – NASA/JPL-Caltech
Asteroids – NASA/JPL-Caltech
Fireballs – Credited to YouTube
Comets – Comet P/Halley, March 8, 1986, W. Liller
The Solar System – NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley
Spacecraft News – NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley
Exoplanets – Space Engine / Bob Trembley
Light Pollution – NASA’s Black Marble
The Universe – Universe Today

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