SKYWATCH: June 2021

By Phillip Virden: Lake City, Colorado Amateur Astronomer, Cooperative Observer for 30+ years for National Weather Service, Dark Sky Coordinator for Lake Fork Valley Conservancy

Our Sun and the Summer Solstice

On Sunday, June 20 @ 9:32 p.m. MST, the summer season officially begins.  Additionally, the summer solstice marks the longest day of the year and when our North Pole “tilts” towards the Sun and the South Pole is tilted away from the Sun (giving those countries south of the equator the start of winter).   Our knowledge of our sun has increased dramatically this century with several space solar probe missions .   NASA’s Parker Space probe has already had six close encounters with the sun.   During its seven-year mission, Parker will eventually come within only 3,700,000 miles from the Sun.  Some of the Parker’s priorities are to find out how the sun creates solar wind, why solar activity changes over time, and how we can better predict solar outbursts (which can cause havoc with Earth’s telecommunications system).   Here are some interesting facts about “our star”.

·       On average, the Sun is 93,000,000 miles away from Earth.

·       It takes approximately 8 ½ minutes for Sun’s light to reach Earth.

·       The Sun takes up 99.8% of the mass of our Solar System.

·       The Sun is composed mainly of hydrogen (about 74%) and helium (about 24%).  The remaining 2% is made up of iron, nickel, oxygen, and other elements. 

·       1.3 million Earths could fit inside the Sun.  

·       The Sun formed about 4 ½ billion years ago.  It is estimated that its life will expire in about 5 billion years.   At its end, it will engulf some or all the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars).   It will eventually shrink into a white dwarf.

·       The Sun’s temperature varies because it is made up of different layers.   From 27,000,000 F at its core to about 8,000,000 F at its atmosphere. However, the outer corona can ramp its temperature up to as much as 17,000,000 F.

·       On June 20, 2021, the Sun will rise at 5:49 am and set at 8:36 pm – 14:45.52 hours!

·       On the Winter Solstice, the shortest day occurs with only 9:31.51 hours of sunlight.

·       Over 4,000 exoplanets have been discovered.   However, as of now, none have life.  Earth is the only known planet that supports life as we know it.

·       The next solar eclipse in the United States will be on April 8, 2021.

May Weather in Review

·       Average high temperature was 64.3 vs 62.5 historical average.

·       Warmest recorded reading was 72 on May 1 and May 29.

·       Average low temperature was 31.5 vs 31.2 historical average.

·       Coldest recorded reading was 24 on May 10.

·       Average mean temperature was 47.9 vs 46.8 historical average.

·       Total precipitation was 1.25” vs 1.00” historical average.

June Weather Averages

·       Average high temperature is 72.8.

·       Average low temperature is 38.5.

·       Average mean temperature is 55.7.

·       Average precipitation is .79” (driest month on average of the year)

(The constellation Scorpius marks the beginning of summer)

June Sky at Night

·       Summer solstice on June 20 at 9:32 p.m. MST

·       Antares in the Scorpius constellation will appear by the Moon after dusk.

·       Saturn will be near the Moon at dawn on June 27th.

·       Jupiter will be near the Moon at dawn on June 28.

·       New Moon on June 10.

·       First quarter Moon on June 17.

·       Full Moon on June 24.

Weekly Summer Stargazing Programs Begin

Lake City Skies will hold nine public stargazing sessions at Windy Point and Memorial Park beginning June 16.  They will be from 8 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. MST.   People are asked to dim their headlights when the approach the site, wear warm clothing, and bring something to sit on.  Bring your telescope and/or binoculars if you have them!