Bootleg Astronomers

The Bootleg Spring Star Party Registration Form is available HERE (pre-registration deadline is August 24, 2024) 12th)

*** Due to the number of people doing imaging at the Bootleg Star Parties, Bootleg Management is indicating that Green Lasers will not be permitted starting one hour after sunset ***

1	Moon near Mars at 17h UT (54° from Sun, morning sky). Mag. 1.0. • Mars (Wikipedia)
2	Moon near Uranus at 9h UT (45° from Sun, morning sky). Mag. 5.8. • Uranus (Wikipedia)
2	Moon near the Pleiades at 17h UT (41° from Sun, morning sky). • The Pleiades (Wikipedia)
3	Moon near Jupiter at 7h UT (morning sky). Mag. −2.0. • Jupiter (Wikipedia)
5	Earth at Aphelion (farthest from Sun) at 6h UT. The Sun- Earth distance is 1.016725 a.u. or about 152.1 million km. • Earth at Aphelion (SpaceWeather.com)
5	Dwarf planet 1 Ceres at opposition at 15h UT. Mag. 7.3. • Ceres (Wikipedia)
5	New Moon at 22:58 UT. Start of lunation 1256.
7	Mercury 0.11° NNE of Beehive Cluster (M44) at 5h UT (22° from Sun, evening sky). Mag. −0.2.
7	Moon, Mercury and Beehive cluster (M44) within circle 3.2° diameter at 19h UT (evening sky). Mag. −0.2. • Beehive Cluster (Wikipedia) • M44: The Beehive Cluster (APOD)
7	Moon near Mercury at 21h UT (23° from Sun, morning sky). Mag. -0.2. • Mercury (Wikipedia)
9	Moon near Regulus at 15h UT (evening sky). • Regulus
9	Jupiter 4.8° N of Aldebaran at 23h UT (38° from Sun, morning sky). Mags. −2.0 and 0.9.
12	Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 8h UT (distance 404,362km; angular size 29.6').
13	First Quarter Moon at 22:49 UT.
14	Moon near Spica at 4h UT (evening sky). Occultation visible from North and Central America. • Spica (Wikipedia) • Occultation of Spica (In-The-Sky)
15	Mars 0.53° SE of Uranus at 15h UT (57° from Sun, morning sky). Mags. 0.9 and 5.8.
17	Moon near Antares at 21h UT (evening sky). Occultation visible from Southern Africa and Madagascar. • Antares (Wikipedia) • Occultation of Antares (In-The-Sky)
21	Full Moon at 10:19 UT.
21	Mars 4.8° SE of the Pleiades at 12h UT (59° from Sun, morning sky). Mag. 0.9
22	Mercury at greatest elongation east at 7h UT (27° from Sun, evening sky). Mag. 0.5.
22	Pluto at opposition at 21h UT. Mag. 14.4. Requires at least a 10-inch telescope and a very dark sky to observe visually. • Pluto (Wikipedia)
24	Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 5:44 UT (distance 364,917km; angular size 32.7').
24	Moon near Saturn at 21h UT (morning sky). Mag. 0.9. Occultation visible from SE Asia, India and Madagascar. • Saturn (Wikipedia) • Disappearance and Reappearance Times (IOTA) • Occultation of Saturn (In-The-Sky)
25	Mercury 2.1° SW of Regulus at 11h UT (27° from Sun, evening sky). Mag. 1.4
28	Last Quarter Moon at 2:53 UT.
29	Moon near the Pleiades at 23h UT (67° from Sun, morning sky).
30	Moon near Mars at 9h UT (morning sky). Mag. 0.9.
30	Moon near the Jupiter at 23h UT (morning sky). Mag. −2.1.
31	Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower peaks. Active from July 12 to August 23. Produces medium speed, faint meteors (about 15 to 20 per hour). Best seen from southern latitudes. • Southern Delta Aquariids (Wikipedia) • AMS Meteor Shower Calendar 2024-2025 (IMO)

>>> All times Universal Time (UT). USA Central Standard Time = UT-6 hours. (DST = UT-5 hrs,)

Zodiacal Light is caused by sunlight reflected off meteoric dust in the plane of the solar system. Choose a clear, moonless night, about 1-2 hours after sunset, and look for a large triangular-shaped glow extending up from the horizon (along the ecliptic). The best months to view the Zodiacal Light is when the ecliptic is almost vertical at the horizon: March and April (evening) and October-November (morning); times reversed for the southern hemisphere.
• Zodiacal Light (Wikipedia)
• Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD)
• Photographing the Zodiacal Light (Weatherscapes)