Sky Chart For The Month of October, 2012 [INDIA SPECIFIC]

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR OCTOBER 2012

The Moon

Last Quarter occurs on 08th at h. 13-03 I.S.T	New Moon occurs on 15th at h. 17-33 I.S.T.
First Quarter occurs on 22nd at h. 09-02 I.S.T.	Full Moon occurs on 30th at h 01-19 I.S.T.
The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 17th.
The Moon is at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 05th and at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 17th.

The Moon passes about 1º south of Jupiter after local midnight of 5^th i.e.on 6^th, about 6½º south of Venus on 13^th, about 4½º south of Saturn on 16^th, about 1½º north of Mercury on 17^th, about 2º north of Mars in the evening of 18^th, about 6º north of Neptune in the evening of 24th, about 5º north of Uranus on 27^th.

The Planets

The Visibility of Planets :

Mercury: The planet sets about ½ hour to 1 hour after sunset upto second quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month. It approaches the Aphelion position in its orbit or reaches farthest from the Sun on 8^th. It is in Greatest Eastern Elongation of about 24º from the Sun on 27^th.

Venus: It is a brilliant object, rises after local midnight and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight. It rises about 2½ hours to 3 hours after local midnight throughout the month.

Mars: The planet is seen in the evening sky after sunset and sets about 2½ hours after sunset throughout the month.

Jupiter: The planet rises after sunset and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 4 hours to 3½ hours after sunset upto first quarter of the month, about 3½ hours to 3 hours after sunset upto second quarter of the month and about 3 hours to 2 hours after it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Retrograde with respect to the Earth on 4^th.

Saturn: The planet is visible in the western sky and sets about 1 hour after sunset upto 7^th of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month, being in Conjunction with the Sun on 25^th.

Uranus: The planet sets before sunrise throughout the month. It sets around sunrise time to ½ hour before it upto first quarter of the month, about ½ hour to 1 hour before it upto second quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 2½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month.

Neptune: The planet sets after local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it upto first quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Conjunction of Planets :

Mercury passes about 2º north of Spica (Chitra) on 1^st.

Venus passes very close to Regulus (Magha) on 3^rd.

Mercury passes about 3½º south of Saturn on 6^th.

Mars passes about 3½º north of Antares (Jyestha) on 20^th

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from Virgo (Kanya) to Libra (Tula) on 1st.Moves from Libra (Tula) to Scorpion (Vrischika) on 23rd	- 0.4 to -0.2
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Leo (Simha) to Virgo (Kanya) on 23rd.	-4.0
Mars (Mangala)	Remains in Scorpion (Vrischika)	+1.2
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Remains in Taurus (Vrisha)	-2.5 to -2.7
Saturn (Sani)	Remains in Libra (Tula)	+0.7
Uranus	Remains in Pisces (Mina).	+6.0
Neptune	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	+8.0

Source: 

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700091