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Edinburgh Reporter
6 days ago
- Science
- Edinburgh Reporter
The astronomical sky above Edinburgh and Lothian in June
June hosts the annual celebration of all things pagan: the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice. The Solstice, which occurs on 21 June at 3:42 am, marks the Sun's most northerly altitude and the beginning of astronomical summer which will last for 93 days 15 hours and 37 minutes. If you were to stand on the Tropic of Cancer, the Sun would be directly overhead at local noon. In Edinburgh and Lothian, the Sun will reach 57.5 degrees at 1:14 pm. Due to an effect known as the 'precession of the equinoxes' the Sun is not in Cancer (The Crab) in modern times but Taurus (The Bull). This, the longest day of the year, will last 17 hours 36 minutes and 24 seconds and you will cast your shortest shadow of the year. Within a few hours of the Solstice, though, the Sun leaves Taurus (The Bull) and enters Gemini (The Twins) and recedes from Earth by 397,520 km over the month. Daylight lengthens from 17:12 (17.206 hours) on 1 June to 17:31 (17.514 hours) on 30 June so we lose 18 minutes of twilit night time by the end of June. Since the Sun will be at its shallowest point below the northern horizon in June, and Edinburgh and Lothian sits in the 50–65 degrees band of latitude, we have an excellent opportunity to observe polar mesospheric clouds, also known as noctilucent clouds from the Latin for 'night shining'. Noctilucent clouds form in the mesosphere around 80 km above the Earth. They are visible after sunset and before sunrise when the observer is still within twilight but the clouds are sunlit (from below). Typically they are to be found between north-east and north-west lying below 15 degrees altitude. The first quarter Moon shows up on 3 June at 4:41 am in Leo (The Lion). Lunar apogee (furthest from Earth) occurs on 7 June at 11:37 am and takes the Moon to 405,580 km away from Earth—around 21,180 km further than average—subtending an angle of 29.5 arc-minutes. This is followed by the full Strawberry Moon which makes an appearance on 11 June at 8:44 am in Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer). The Moon enters last quarter on 18 June at 8:19 pm in Pisces (The Fishes). Lunar perigee (closest to Earth) occurs on 23 June at 5:38 am and finds the Moon some 363,160 km away from Earth—around 21,240 km closer than average—subtending an angle of 32.9 arc-minutes. The new Moon appears on 25 June at 11:32 am in Auriga (The Charioteer) beginning a new synodic month which will last 29 days, 8 hours and 40 minutes. Regulus in Leo (The Lion) will be 1.8 degrees south of the first quarter Moon on 2 June at 1:30 am. The Pleiades (M45) in Taurus (The Bull) will be 0.6 degrees south of the waning crescent Moon on 23 June at 2:59 am. For the inferior planets: Mercury begins the month in Taurus (The Bull) and ends in Cancer (The Crab) and approaches Earth by 64,772,840 km. Contrarily, Mercury decreases in brightness from -2.17 to 0.40 magnitudes over the month as it's sunlit phase reduces until it reaches dichotomy (half-phase) on 28 June. Venus begins the month in Pisces (The Fishes) and ends in Taurus (The Bull) and recedes by 35,575,400 km so decreases in brightness from -4.39 to -4.14 magnitudes over the month. The 'Morning Star Planet' will reach greatest western elongation on 1 June at 4:30 am and dichotomy (half-phase) later the same day. She reaches aphelion (farthest from the Sun) on 12 June. On 22 June, Venus will appear below the waning crescent Moon in the pre-dawn eastern sky. For the superior planets: Mars remains in Leo (The Lion) all month but recedes by 34,393,273 km. Consequently, the 'Red Planet' fades in brightness from 1.28 to 1.49 magnitudes over June. At midnight on 16/17 June, Mars will be 0.7 degrees north of Regulus in Leo (The Lion). On 29 June at 11:00 pm, Mars will be within 0.2 degrees of the waxing crescent Moon, low in the western sky. The following night, it will be fully occulted by the Moon but this event will be below our horizon. Jupiter begins June in Taurus (The Bull) and ends in Gemini (The Twins). The 'Gas Giant' recedes by 9,528,863.7 km and diminishes in brightness from -1.91 to -1.89 magnitudes. Jupiter reaches (solar) conjunction on 24 June and is lost to us for observing. Earth and Jupiter will be farthest apart for the year on 26 June. Saturn remains in Pisces (The Fishes) all month but comes closer by 73,493,246 km. The 'Ringed Planet' increases in brightness from 1.08 to 0.96 magnitudes. On 19 June at 3:47 am, Saturn will be 3.4 degrees south of the waning crescent Moon and reaches western quadrature on 22 June. Uranus remains in Taurus (The Bull) all month but comes closer by 33,228,276 km. Neptune remains in Pisces (The Fishes) all month and comes closer by 74,218,490 km. The 'Blue Planet' reaches western quadrature on 23 June. The Blaze Star, the recurrent nova T CrB in Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown), should continue to be monitored for it's much-anticipated brightening as the constellation is highly visible during evening and night hours all month. At the time of our sky map, some constellations visible are Draco (The Dragon) at zenith, Perseus (The Hero) in the north, Cygnus (The Swan) in the east, Leo (The Lion) in the west, and Serpens Caput (The Snake's Head) in the south. The ecliptic hosts Sagittarius (The Archer), Ophiuchus (The Serpent Bearer), Scorpio (The Scorpion), Libra (The Scales), Virgo (The Maiden), Leo (The Lion) and Cancer (The Crab). We also see 2 bright star triangles in the June sky: The 'Spring Triangle' of Arcturus in Bootes (The Herdsman), Denebola in Leo (The Lion) and Spica in Virgo (The Maiden) in the south and the 'Summer Triangle'—Deneb in Cygnus (The Swan), Vega in Lyra (The Lyre) and Altair in Aquila (The Eagle)—in the east. Circumpolar constellations—always above the horizon at the latitude of Edinburgh and Lothian—include Ursa Minor (The Little Bear), Ursa Major (The Great Bear), Camelopardalis (The Giraffe) and Cepheus (The King). Like this: Like Related
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
The Scottish village home to seafood restaurant with fish and chips 'to die for'
The Daily Record's latest Village of the Week offers both yummy food and great walks. As we enter the final week of May, it is safe to say the summer season is well and truly kicking off. For that reason, the Daily Record has chosen a stunning coastal spot as our latest Village of the Week. Each week, we look across Scotland for one town or village that stands out from the crowd. This time, it is Mallaig in Morar. Mallaig is a port that is nestled along the west coast of the Highlands. The bustling village, which faces out towards the Isle of Skye, is home to a population of around 660 people. The charming village is perfect for those looking to immerse themselves in the bustling ambience of a fishing port. At the same time, Mallaig's small population and remote location make it perfect for a peaceful getaway. While many people visit Mallaig as a stopover on their way to Skye, the village has lots to offer all on its own. The village is known for its great seafood restaurants, namely The Crab and Creel. The popular eatery serves up fresh local fish and shellfish, as well as top-quality Highland grilled meats. One customer described The Crab and Creel's fish and chips as "to die for". Elsewhere, The Bakehouse & Crannog is a bakery and pizzeria that is a great place to head for either a snack or a full meal. It is situated in a stunning waterside location, with breathtaking views out over the coast. Meanwhile, there is a huge variety of picturesque walks and beauty spots near Mallaig. Highlights include the magnificent Loch Morar and Morar Beach. Read on for a selection of images that showcase a few of Mallaig's best features. For further travel inspiration, some of our previous Towns and Villages of the Week can be found below:
Edinburgh Reporter
25-04-2025
- Science
- Edinburgh Reporter
The night sky over Edinburgh in May
May graces us with a new comet, a New Supermoon, a Full Micromoon and the Eta Aquarids meteor shower seeded by Halley's comet. After 5 May, the sky never darkens beyond nautical twilight all month long. The Sun leaves Aries (The Ram) on 13 May at 11:52 pm and enters Taurus (The Bull) and recedes from Earth by 966,174 km over the month. Daylight lengthens from 15:24 (15.395 hours) on 1 May to 17:10 (17.165 hours) on 31 May so we lose 1 hour and 46 minutes of night time by the end of May. After 5 May, we never attain astronomical twilight or darker as the Sun is always above the -18 degrees boundary (so never dips below it). The first quarter Moon shows up on 4 May at 2:52 pm in Cancer (The Crab). Lunar apogee (furthest from Earth) occurs on 11 May at 1:34 am and takes the Moon to 406,256 km away from Earth—around 21,856 km further than average—subtending an angle of 29.4 arc-minutes. This is followed by the full Flower Moon which makes an appearance on 12 May at 5:56 pm in Libra (The Scales). It is also a 'Full Micromoon'. The Moon enters last quarter on 20 May at 12:59 pm in Aquarius (The Water Bearer). Lunar perigee (closest to Earth) occurs on 26 May at 2:28 am and finds the Moon some 359,013 km away from Earth—around 25,387 km closer than average—subtending an angle of 33.3 arc-minutes. The new Moon appears on 27 May at 4:02 am in Taurus (The Bull) beginning a new synodic month which will last 29 days, 7 hours and 29 minutes. The new Moon is also a 'New Supermoon'. Pollux in Gemini (The Twins) will be 2.1 degrees north of the waxing crescent Moon in the early hours of 3 May. Antares in Scorpio (The Scorpion) will be 0.3 degrees north of the waning gibbous Moon before sunrise on 14 May. For the inferior planets: Mercury begins the month in Pisces (The Fishes) and ends in Taurus (The Bull) and recedes by 48,648,853 km. Contrarily, the 'Swift Planet' increases in brightness from 0.15 to -2.17 magnitudes over the month. Mercury is lost behind the Sun on 29 May when it is furthest from Earth and reaches superior conjunction the following day. He is closest to the Sun on the last day of the month. Venus remains in Pisces (The Fishes) all month but recedes by 36,100,539 km. Venus decreases in brightness from -4.72 to -4.39 magnitudes over the month but is still with us as the glorious 'Morning Star Planet'. For the superior planets: Mars begins the month in Cancer (The Crab) and ends in Leo (The Lion) but recedes by 40,892,375 km. The 'Red Planet' decreases in brightness from 0.94 to 1.28 magnitudes over the month. Planet spotters will have little difficulty in seeing Mars but, if you need a hint, on 3 May the Roman god of war will be 2.1 degrees south of the waxing crescent Moon in Cancer (The Crab). Jupiter remains in Taurus (The Bull) all month and recedes by 36,842,985 km. The 'Gas Giant' fades in brightness from -1.98 to -1.91 magnitudes over May. Saturn remains in Pisces (The Fishes) all month but comes closer by 63,816,018 km and, so, increases in brightness from 1.17 to 1.08 magnitudes. Uranus remains in Taurus (The Bull) all month and recedes by 2,005,930 km. The 'Ice Giant' reaches Solar conjunction on 17 May and is lost to us. Uranus is furthest from the Earth, all year, on 18 May. Neptune remains in Pisces (The Fishes) all month but comes closer by 62,526,245 km. There are 2 meteor showers in the May sky for Edinburgh and Lothian. The strong Eta Aquarids (031 ETA), radiant from Aquarius (The Water Bearer), began last month and are active until 28 May. They peak on 6 May with up to 50 meteors per hour. The radiant rises around 3 am on 6 May so the shower, with a ZHR=50, will be visible for 90 minutes—the waxing gibbous Moon illuminated to 71% notwithstanding—before sunrise spoils the show. These are one of only 2 meteor showers seeded by the world's most famous comet: 1P/Halley. The very weak Eta Lyrids (145 ELY), radiant from Lyra (The Lyre), are active between 3–14 May and peak on 10 May with barely 3 meteors per hour. This shower is associated with comet C/1983 H1 IRAS-Araki-Alcock. They are very hard to see and the almost full Moon won't help. They will be radiant from an area between Vega and Deneb: two of the bright stars in the 'Summer Triangle'. A new comet was discovered, serendipitously, last month by the NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite. Since the instrument used in the discovery was SWAN, it was dubbed SWAN25F but it's correct designation is now C/2025 F2 (SWAN). SWAN—or to give it it's full name the Solar Wind Anisotropies instrument—maps hydrogen, specifically Lyman-alpha radiation, in the solar wind and the sudden brightening may be attributed to an outburst at these wavelengths. It may be visible to the naked eye, but certainly visible with a telescope or binoculars, after sunset during the first week of the month near the Pleiades (M45) in Taurus (The Bull) but will fade quickly. The Blaze Star, the recurrent nova T CrB in Corona Borealis (The Northern Crown), should continue to be monitored for it's much-anticipated brightening as the constellation is highly visible during evening and night hours all month. At the time of our sky map, some constellations visible are Ursa Major (The Greater Bear) at zenith, Cepheus (The King) in the north, Hercules (Hercules) in the east, Gemini (The Twins) in the west, and Corvus (The Crow) in the south. The ecliptic hosts Libra (The Scales), Virgo (The Maiden), Leo (The Lion), Cancer (the Crab), Gemini (The Twins) and Taurus (The Bull). If you wish to have a late night, around midnight mid-month, try seeking out some prominent Messier objects visible on our sky map. These will need a telescope or binoculars but M82 (Cigar Galaxy), M101 (Pinwheel Galaxy) and M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) will all be close to zenith and M87 (Virgo A), in the south, will be at a reasonable airmass. M44 (Beehive Cluster also known as Praesepe) and M67 (Golden Eye Cluster) will be in the west, near Mars. We also see 3 bright star triangles in the May sky. The 'Spring Triangle' of Arcturus in Bootes (The Herdsman), Denebola in Leo (The Lion) and Spica in Virgo (The Maiden) is south-east. The 'Winter Triangle'—Procyon in Canis Minor (The Lesser Dog), Sirius in Canis Major (The Greater Dog) and Betelgeuse in Orion (The Hunter)—sets early in the west and after midnight the 'Summer Triangle'—Deneb in Cygnus (The Swan), Vega in Lyra (The Lyre) and Altair in Aquila (The Eagle)—rises in the east. Circumpolar constellations—always above the horizon at the latitude of Edinburgh and Lothian—include Draco (The Dragon), Perseus (The Hero), Cassiopeia (The Seated Queen) and Camelopardalis (The Giraffe). Like this: Like Related
