Abrams Planetarium
Night Sky Notes
The Night Sky Notes is a place on our web site that we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky. Check back often to find out what's new and visible in our ever changing sky. As we learn about something new, we'll post it to this page as soon as we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds, click the RSS link below. The posts will automatically show up in your news aggregator or feed reader.
If you would like more detailed information including star charts, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year, you'll get 12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help support the Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
Subscribe to the RSS feed for Abrams Planetarium's Night Sky Notes
The URL for the RSS feed of the Abrams Planetarium's Night Sky Notes is:
"http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/nightskynotes.xml"
The Night Sky Notes are now available as a feed for iCal, Windows Calendar, Google Calendar and many other calendar programs. Click the 
link to subscribe to the Night Sky Notes in your favorite calendar program.
The URL for the iCal feed of the Abrams Planetarium's Night Sky Notes is:
"http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/nightskynotes.ics".
You may need to cut and paste this link into the "subscribe" option of your calendar.
If you maintain a web page, and would like the Night Sky Notes RSS feed on your site. Click HERE for information on how to put Abrams Planetarium's Night Sky Notes on your web page.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Venus passes Jupiter by just 1 degree. Mercury is above Jupiter and Venus. Look to the WNW 40 minutes after sunset.
Night Sky Note for May 27, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Look for Venus, Jupiter and Mercury low in the WNW. Mercury is to the upper right of Jupiter. Jupiter is to the upper left of bright Venus. We won't see a better trio of planets again in the evening sky until the year 2040.
Night Sky Note for May 26, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
The trio of planets is at it's most compact. Look for Venus, Jupiter and Mercury low in the WNW. Mercury is to the upper right of Jupiter. Jupiter is to the upper left of bright Venus. We won't see a better trio of planets again in the evening sky until the year 2040.
Night Sky Note for May 25, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Venus, Jupiter and Mercury are visible low in the WNW. Look 30 minutes after sunset. Venus is the brightest. Jupiter is the second brightest and Mercury is the faintest.
Night Sky Note for May 24, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
The trio begins. Venus is 3.8 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 1.4 degrees to the upper right of Venus. Look to the WNW 30 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars.
Night Sky Note for May 23, 2013
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Venus is 5 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 1.5 degrees to the upper right of Venus. Look to the WNW 30 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars. On Sunday the 26th, the three planets will be their most compact.
Night Sky Note for May 22, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Venus is 5.7 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 2 degrees to the lower right of Venus. Look to the WNW 30 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars. On Sunday the 26th, the three planets will be their most compact.
Night Sky Note for May 21, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Venus is 6.7 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 2.5 degrees to the lower right of Venus. Look to the WNW 30 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars.
Night Sky Note for May 20, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Venus is 7.7 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 3 degrees to the lower right of Venus. Look to the WNW 20 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars.
Night Sky Note for May 19, 2013
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Venus is 8.8 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 4 degrees to the lower right of Venus. Look to the WNW 20 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars.
Night Sky Note for May 18, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Venus is 9.8 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 4.7 degrees to the lower right of Venus. Look to the WNW 20 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars.
Night Sky Note for May 17, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Venus is 11 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 5.6 degrees to the lower right of Venus. Look to the WNW 20 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars.
Night Sky Note for May 16, 2013
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Venus is 12 degrees to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is 6.5 degrees to the lower right of Venus. Look to the WNW 20 minutes after sunset. Use binoculars.
Please send any comments, suggestions, or questions to
John French: frenchj@ msu.edu