Good weekend for stargazing
The lack of moonlight this weekend will make for ideal stargazing conditions. This would be a great weekend to look for the Milky Way or other dim stars that get washed out by moonlight.
This beautiful shot was taken outside of Glasgow, Montana by Cory Mottice. Check out his gallery of beautiful images you can make your own at his website.
The Milky Way is reaching higher and higher in the night sky. It is highest overhead after midnight.
Before we get to the weekend, you'll want to take a look for a nice pass of the International Space Station. It will be a very bright pass, visible across most of the East Coast.
Areas from Washington D.C. to New York will see it pass nearly overhead around 9:21 p.m. It will be in the sky for a total of about 3 or 4 minutes. It will be as bright as Venus, several times brighter than any star.
Check your viewing conditions with the latest satellite imagery.
<img src="http://sirocco.accuweather.com/sat_mosaic_640x480_public/ei/isaeun.gif"><span>
Keep checking back here for the latest satellite imagery</span>
The summer of planets
I think the biggest astronomy story of the summer is the planets. We have two oppositions. One of them will be historic. Mars, Saturn and Venus will be visible in the night sky all summer. Mars will become extremely bright. Saturn is also in a prime spot to view. If you have never spotted Saturn's rings, now is your chance. A small telescope is all you need.
The Saturn opposition is June 27. The Mars opposition will be July 27, and it will be perhaps the second closest opposition in nearly 60,000 years, second only to the opposition of 2003.
Here is a quick look at your viewing conditions tonight.
Not too many things are free anymore; however, looking at the night sky is still one of those things. Thanks for reading! Just look up; you never know what you will see.
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