The Night Sky Month by Month

Includes content previously published in Universe THE NIGHT SKY MONTH BY MONTH Capella Castor GEMINI Pollux TAUR...

Author: Will Gater | Giles Sparrow

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Includes content previously published in Universe

THE

NIGHT SKY

MONTH BY MONTH Capella

Castor

GEMINI

Pollux

TAURUS

14 13

LEO

Arcturus

Pleiades

ARIES

Aldebaran

15

Hyades 12 Regulus

12 16

Procyon

Bellatrix

19

14

14

11

13

16

AQUARIUS 11

Mira 14

12

PISCES

Betelgeuse

11

VIRGO

OPHIUCHUS

CANCER

17

17 17

Rigel

14 15

Spica

13 19

TTARIUS

11 18

16 17

19

16 19

13 12

18

15

15

15

18

18 Antares

17

SCORPIUS Shaula

LIBRA

Fomalhaut

CAPRICORNUS

THE

NIGHT SKY

MONTH BY MONTH WILL GATER with GILES SPARROW

Content previously published in UNIVERSE

LONDON, NEW YORK, MELBOURNE, MUNICH, AND DELHI DK UK Editor Designer Managing Editor Managing Art Editor Production Editor Production Controller Publishing Manager Art Director Reference Publisher

Martha Evatt Duncan Turner Sarah Larter Michelle Baxter Sophie Argyris Phil Sergeant Liz Wheeler Phil Ormerod Jonathan Metcalf

Picture Researcher

Louise Thomas

Jacket Designer

Mark Cavanagh

DK INDIA Editors

Soma B Chowdhury Sudeshna Dasgupta Himanshi Sharma

Designers

Nidhi Mehra Pooja Pipil

Project Editor

Alka Ranjan

DTP Designers

Managing Editor Managing Art Editor DTP Manager

Vishal Bhatia Saurabh Challariya Pushpak Tyagi Rohan Sinha Ashita Murgai Sunil Sharma

First American edition, 2011 Published in the United States by DK Publishing 375 Hudson Street New York, New York 10014 A Penguin Company Looking at the Sun with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope can cause eye damage. The authors and publishers cannot accept any liability for readers who do not take precautions to observe safely. Modifying cameras or other equipment may invalidate the manufacturers’ warranty and readers do so at their own risk. Copyright © 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited 11 12 13 14 15 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 179965—January 2011 Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book. Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited. A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN 978-0-7566-7148-8 Color reproduction by MDP, Bath Printed and bound in Singapore by Star Standard

Discover more at www.dk.com

CONTENTS LOOKING UP Looking into Space

8

Looking at Stars

10

The Changing Sky

12

Getting Started

14

MONTHLY SKY GUIDES Using the Sky Guides

18

January Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

20 22 24 26

February Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

28 30 32 34

March Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

36 38 40 42

April Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

44 46 48 50

May Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes June Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

52 54 56 58

60 62 64 66

July Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

68 70 72 74

August Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

76 78 80 82

September Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

84 86 88 90

October Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

92 94 96 98

November Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

100 102 104 106

December Overviews Highlights Northern Latitudes Southern Latitudes

108 110 112 114

ALMANAC 2011–2012

116

2013–2014

118

2015–2016

120

2017–2018

122

2019

124

Glossary Index Acknowledgments

125 126 128

CONTRIBUTORS Will Gater is an astronomy journalist and author. He has written for several of the UK’s top astronomy and science magazines and promotes both these subjects with frequent appearances on television and radio. His blog and website can be found at www.willgater.com. Will is also the author of The Practical Astronomer, published by DK Publishing.

Giles Sparrow is a writer specializing in astronomy and space science. He has degrees in astronomy and science communication, and has worked for 15 years as an editor and author. An avid follower of the unfolding story of space exploration, he has written on space technology and the history of spaceflight in a wide range of books, including DK Publishing’s bestselling Universe.

LOOKING UP By watching the night skies and observing stars, planets, nebulae, and galaxies, stargazers can start to understand the vast Universe and all it encompasses. Astronomers picture the night sky as a starry sphere around Earth—“the celestial sphere”—which allows them to find their way around it and track the movements of night-sky objects as the Earth rotates.

Leonid meteor shower Shooting stars, here seen over Joshua Tree National Park in the USA, light up the sky. Eagerly anticipated every year, the Leonid meteor shower originates in the constellation Leo and annually peaks around November 17.

8

L OOK ING U P

LOOKING INTO SPACE The Earth is a part of a much greater Universe than our eyes alone reveal to us. Knowing our place within it helps us understand what we are seeing.

NGC 147

The Andromeda Galaxy lies 2.5 million light-years away from Earth, in the Milky Way

NGC 185

Andromeda I The stellar neighborhood lies in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way, around 26,000 light-years from its center

Andromeda II Andromeda III Triangulum Galaxy Galactic nucleus

THE SCALE OF THE UNIVERSE The Universe we live in is immense, extending far beyond the farthest edge of our Solar System. On a clear night, many stars are visible to the naked eye, and sometimes the faint glowing band of the Milky Way galaxy can be seen. From a very dark site, the Andromeda Galaxy, a staggering 2.5 million light-years away, is also visible. It is one of the most distant deep-sky objects that is visible to the naked eye. A telescope or a pair of binoculars allows us to see objects that are even farther away, such as other galaxies, nebulae, or star clusters in our galaxy, the Milky Way. However, there is much more to Alpha be seen, and amateur astronomers can see Centauri only a small fraction of it. Sun

Sirius

5,000 light-years THE MILKY WAY The Milky Way galaxy is a disk of gas, dust, and stars with a bulging nucleus. It can be seen as a faint band of light stretching across the sky on a clear night. The Sun is just one of the 200– 400 billion stars that the Milky Way contains.

Orbit of Neptune

Asteroid belt Sun Earth 5 light-years

THE STELLAR NEIGHBOURHOOD Earth

Beyond the edge of the Solar System, we leave the sphere of the Sun’s influence and move out into the stellar neighborhood. There are 106 stars within 20 light-years of the Sun, of which the closest is Proxima Centauri. A member of the Alpha (α) Centauri star system in the constellation Centaurus, Proxima Centauri sits 4.2 light-years away.

1 light-hour

THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The Moon moves around Earth in a slightly elliptical orbit

0.5 light-seconds THE EARTH AND MOON The Moon is the nearest celestial body to Earth, sitting 238,900 miles (384,400km) away. Light takes just over a second to reach Earth from the Moon.

The planets, moons, dwarf planets, comets, and asteroids that orbit the Sun are known as the Solar System. The most distant planet from the Sun is the gas giant Neptune, located an average of 2,794 million miles (4,497 million km) away from the Sun.

L OOK IN G IN T O S P A C E

THE LOCAL GROUP OF GALAXIES

THE LOCAL SUPERCLUSTER

The Milky Way is a part of a much larger gathering of around 40 galaxies that exist in the nearby Universe. These are known collectively as the Local Group. Some of the Local Group galaxies can be seen easily in the night sky, such as the Andromeda Galaxy, M31, and the Triangulum Galaxy, M33.

The Local Group is itself a part of a larger group, formed by thousands of galaxies. Known as the Virgo Supercluster, this swarm of galaxies is 100 million light-years wide. This supercluster nestles in vast interconnected filaments of other superclusters, which stretch across the Universe.

Ursa Minor dwarf galaxy The Milky Way

250,000 light-years Leo A 10 million light-years

MEASURING DISTANCE Because the Universe is such a large place, the units of distance we use in everyday life, such as miles or kilometers, are not very helpful in communicating the vast distances between stars and galaxies. Instead, astronomers use units called light-years to mark the vast distances between the stars and galaxies. One light-year is equal to the distance that a ray of light travels over the course of one year. The speed of light is an incredible 186,000 miles (300,000km) per second, so one light-year is a huge distance. As the distances (see below) between the galaxies and even nearby stars are so great,

light takes a long time to travel across space. When we see the light from an object like a star, it may have taken decades, centuries, or millions of years to reach us. Essentially, we are peering back in time because we see the object as it was when that light left it, not what it looks like “now.” So for an object like the Andromeda Galaxy, which is 2.5 million light-years away, we are seeing it as it was 2.5 million years ago. In contrast, the Sun’s light takes just 8.5 minutes to reach earth. In the chart below, the first division represents 6,200 miles (10,000km). Each further division marks a 10x increase in scale.

Peering into the depths The objects we see in the night sky are not all at the same distance from us. We can see everything from meteors shooting through our atmosphere to distant stars in our own galaxy.

DISTANCE FROM THE CENTER OF EARTH

Earth: radius 3,963 miles (6,378 km)

0

Moon:

Venus:

Sun:

238,900 26 million miles miles (384,400 km) (42 million km)

93 million miles (149.6 million km)

6,200 miles (10,000 km)

620,000 miles (106 km)

Saturn:

Kuiper Belt:

745 million miles (1.2 billion km)

approx 5.5 billion miles (9 billion km)

62 million miles (108 km)

1,000-light- Center of the Oort Nearest star year sphere: Milky Way: Cloud: (Proxima approx 1 Centauri): 90% of naked-eye 28,000 light-year

6.2 billion miles (1010 km)

4.2 light-years

6.2 x 1011 miles (1012 km)

stars are within 1,000 lightyears of Earth

62 trillion miles (1014 km)

light-years

6.2 x 1015 miles (1016 km)

Andromeda Galaxy:

Virgo Cluster:

Nearest quasar:

Edge of the visible Universe:

2.5 million light-years

52 million light-years

1 billion light-years

47 billion light-years 276 billion trillion miles (445 billion trillion km)

6.2 x 1017 miles (1018 km)

6.2 x 1019 miles (1020 km)

6.2 x 1021 miles (1022 km)

9

10

L OOK ING U P

LOOKING AT STARS When we look at the sky on a clear night we are greeted by countless stars. Stargazers use several methods to navigate their way around the magnificent night sky. THE CELESTIAL SPHERE The coordinate system of latitude and longitude helps us locate an object on the Earth’s surface. This system is based around a simple imaginary grid, where latitude—the horizontal lines on the grid—is measured north or south from the equator. Longitude, the vertical grid lines, is measured east or west from a point known as the prime meridian—a circle running through the North and South Poles and Greenwich in England. Similarly, astronomers project an imaginary sphere, also known as the celestial sphere, onto the sky. It has its own grid lines: the prime meridian, known as the “celestial

meridian,” and the equator, known as the “celestial equator.” Instead of latitude, astronomers use declination, which is measured in degrees and minutes, while longitude becomes right ascension, or RA, and is measured in hours and minutes. These coordinates help astronomers to locate celestial objects in space. Earth’s axis of spin

Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5°

OUR VIEW OF THE CELESTIAL SPHERE Your view of the night sky depends on where you are on Earth’s surface. If you are located in the Southern Hemisphere, you see a different portion of the celestial sphere to someone who is observing the night sky in the Northern Hemisphere. However, from the equator you can view the entire celestial sphere over the course of a year. Limited view Your location on Earth determines the part of the celestial sphere that you can see.

Line perpendicular to ecliptic plane (plane of Earth’s orbit around the Sun) Celestial sphere

North Celestial Pole lies directly above Earth’s North Pole

Stars appear to be fixed on the sphere, which moves in the opposite direction to Earth’s spin

Earth’s spin

Autumnal equinox (first point of Libra) Earth’s North Pole

Earth’s equator The Sun and planets are not fixed on the celestial sphere, but move around on, or close to, the circular path known as the ecliptic

Earth

Celestial equator—a circle on the celestial sphere concentric with Earth’s equator

Defining positions To create a coordinate system where objects can be located on the night sky, astronomers imagine that Earth is embedded in an imaginary “celestial” sphere (as shown here).

Vernal or spring equinox (first point of Aries), one of the two points of intersection between celestial and ecliptic

Sun’s motion

South Celestial Pole lies below Earth’s South Pole

L OOK IN G A T S T A R S

MEASURING SIZES When observing the night sky for the first time it can be tricky to gauge how big a constellation or an object is by just looking at a star chart. However, there are some easy ways to measure apparent sizes on the sky. Held at arm’s length against the background of the sky, the hands and fingers can act as convenient measuring scales. For example, an index finger covers the Moon, which is only half a degree

Handspan A fully outstretched hand held at arm’s length spans about 22° of the sky.

Finger joints A side-on fingertip is about 3° wide; the second joint is 4°, the third joint 6°.

Finger width One finger at arm’s length will cover the Moon, which is less than 1° across.

STARHOPPING To navigate around the night sky using a star chart, you can use a method known as starhopping. This is a technique used by experts and beginners alike, and can come in handy when you are trying to find faint telescopic targets that may not be visible to the naked eye. The basic method is to first check a star chart (see pp.16-114) that shows the object you are trying to find, as well as any bright stars nearby. Then, start by finding a star or pattern of stars in the sky that you

across, while the width of an outstretched hand is roughly 22º across. Distances between objects on the night sky are measured in units called degrees. For example, the Andromeda Galaxy, or M31, appears roughly 3° across on the sky. A degree can be broken down into 60 arcminutes (with the symbol ‘), and each arcminute can be broken down into 60 arcseconds (with the symbol “). These units are sometimes written in slightly different ways and you might see them as minutes of arc, arcmin, seconds of arc, or arsec. These smaller units are often encountered when 1 degree dealing with the separation 90 degrees between double stars or the 360 degrees size of a nebula or cluster.

recognize and can easily locate. Once you find one recognizable star, you can then hop to another, possibly fainter star nearby, continuing to other stars until you eventually find your target. This is a great way to learn your way around the night sky, and is also handy when you use a pair of binoculars or a telescope. A more detailed printed chart from planetarium software will help you find objects when you are starhopping using a telescope, such as faint galaxies.

URSA MINOR

ANGULAR DISTANCES OBJECT OR DISTANCE

APPROXIMATE ANGULAR SIZE

Distance from the pointers in the Big Dipper to Polaris

28º

Distance between the Crux pointers

6º

Distance between pointers in the Big Dipper

5º

Your little finger at arm’s length

1º

The Moon (average size)

31’

The Sun (average size)

32’

Distance between Jupiter and Ganymede (the brightest of its main moons)

6’

Resolution of the naked eye (this means the ability of your eye to split two objects that are as close together as this)

3’ 25”

UNDERSTANDING CELESTIAL COORDINATES To understand right ascension and declination you need to know the reference points from which they are measured. The “zero” point for declination lies on a line on the celestial sphere called the celestial equator. You can think of it simply as Earth’s equator projected onto the imaginary celestial sphere. Objects above the celestial equator, toward the North Celestial Pole, have a positive declination, and those below, toward the South Celestial Pole have negative declination. For right ascension, the zero mark is a line called the “celestial meridian” marked at the moment where the Sun crosses the celestial equator.

Pherkad Polaris (The North Star)

Kochab

North Celestial Pole

Celestial meridian, the line of 0° right ascension Star position

START AT URSA MAJOR (THE BIG DIPPER) Alkaid

Mizar

1

Alioth 45°

Megrez

Phad

Dubhe

Merak

Celestial equator

Stellar signposts Arguably the most well-known “starhop” is the one that helps you find the “pole star” Polaris, which sits in Ursa Minor. Use the pointer stars of the Big Dipper asterism, Merak and Dubhe, in Ursa Major.

Declination angle 45° above celestial equator

Angle of right ascension (1 hour)

A star's position To find an object on the celestial sphere we need to know its RA and declination (see left). The star in the diagram above has a right ascension of 1 hour and a declination of +45°.

11

12

L OOK ING U P

THE CHANGING SKY North celestial pole

The night sky changes over time, revealing a panorama of celestial objects. Understanding the sky’s movement helps us predict what will be visible and when.

w

DAILY SKY MOVEMENTS The stars seem to move across the sky as the night progresses. This is caused by Earth’s rotation on its axis. Once every 24 hours, Earth completes one rotation on its axis relative to the Sun. This is known as a mean solar day. Astronomers also measure the time taken for one rotation of Earth relative to the stars. This is known as a sidereal day, and is slightly

shorter than a solar day, at 23 hours 56 minutes and 4 seconds. This means a star will rise four minutes earlier each night. The difference between solar and sidereal days occurs because Earth has moved a little in its orbit around the Sun. The motion of the stars across the sky, over the course of an evening, depends on your location on Earth’s surface (see right).

S

N E Circumpolar area

w

S

N E

Moving constellation Because of a 4-minute difference between the length of a sidereal and a solar day, the constellations move westward a little from one night to the next. APRIL 1, 8PM

APRIL 8, 8PM

Earth at Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice (December 21/22)

w

S

APRIL 15, 8PM

YEARLY SKY MOVEMENTS Not only do the stars move across the sky during the course of a single night, they also shift slowly around the sky over the course of a year. This means that at one time of the year, a constellation or a region of the sky may be visible when it is dark, say at midnight, while at another time it is hidden behind the Sun. This is because Earth moves around the Sun, so it appears as if the Sun moves against the background night sky.

Scorpius Ophiuchus

Libra

Sun

Virgo

Direction of the Sun’s movement

N E

Motion at mid-latitudes If you are observing from mid-latitudes, you will see the stars rise in the east and set in the west. Stars that never set are known as “circumpolar.”

Motion at the equator If you are standing at the equator, the stars will rise straight up from the east, pass overhead, and then move straight down to set in the west.

Point of the Northern Hemisphere’s autumnal equinox Earth’s rotation on its axis

Leo

Cancer Gemini Earth’s equator

Sun Aries

Earth at Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice (June 21) Hemisphere visible from equator at midnight on the winter solstice

Taurus Celestial equator

Earth’s axis Capricornus

Ecliptic

Sagittarius Earth’s orbit

Motion at the north pole At the north pole, the stars circle in a counterclockwise motion around a point above you. At the south pole, they move in the opposite direction.

Hemisphere visible from equator at midnight on the summer solstice

June and December skies If you were on the equator at midnight in June you would see exactly the opposite half of the celestial sphere from the one you would see at midnight in December.

Aquarius

Point of the Northern Hemisphere’s vernal equinox

Pisces

Zodiac As the Sun appears to move against the background stars over the year it passes through several constellations. This band of constellations is known as the zodiac.

T H E C H A N G IN G S K Y

ECLIPSES As the Moon orbits Earth, it occasionally blocks the Sun’s light. The Moon’s shadow is cast onto Earth and anyone within the shadow will see a solar eclipse. Standing in the darker part of the Moon’s shadow, the umbra, you will see a total solar eclipse with the Sun completely covered by the Moon. If you are in the outer, lighter shadow, known as the penumbra, you will see a partial solar eclipse with only a portion of the Sun

Moon

Penumbra (outer, lighter shadow)

obscured by the Moon’s disk. If the Moon is too far away it cannot completely cover the Sun and an annular solar eclipse is seen from Earth. Similarly, if the Moon’s orbit takes it into the shadow cast into space by Earth, a lunar eclipse occurs. Eclipses require certain precise alignments of the Sun, Earth, and Moon, which is why an eclipse does not occur every time there is a full Moon or a new Moon.

Area of totality

Earth

Sunlight

Total lunar eclipse During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon can often be tinted a wonderful copper-red colou. This is the highlight of one of the greatest spectacles that can be seen in the night sky.

Penumbra (outer, lighter shadow)

Earth

A slight darkening of the moon occurs in the light outer shadow

Sunlight

Umbra (inner, darker shadow)

Solar eclipse Observers in the Moon’s umbral shadow see the Sun totally covered by the Moon. Those in the penumbra region only see a partial eclipse— where the Moon partly obscures the Sun’s disk.

PLANETARY MOTIONS Most of the planets can be seen in the night sky with nothing more than the naked eye. The planets Mercury and Venus are termed the “inferior planets” because they go around the Sun in orbits that are closer to the Sun than Earth’s orbit. Because of their proximity to the Sun, they are typically seen low in the sky before sunrise and after sunset. Mars and the planets beyond it are called

Umbra (inner, darker shadow)

Area of partial eclipse

“superior planets.” They can stray far from the Sun in the sky and can be seen late at night. As most of the planets orbit in roughly the same plane as they go around the Sun they can all be found relatively close to the line of the ecliptic (the path of the Sun on the sky). For more on their locations in the night sky, see the planet locator charts in the Monthly Sky Guides section of this book (pp.20–115).

The Moon is darkest within the umbra

Full Moon

Lunar eclipse During a lunar eclipse, the Moon enters the Earth’s lighter shadow, the penumbra. It then enters the darker region, or umbra, where it typically goes deep red. Finally, it moves out into the penumbra again.

Superior conjunction

Planet

Sun

Greatest western elongation

Greatest eastern elongation

Inferior conjunction

Angle of elongation Earth

INFERIOR ORBIT Conjunction

Sun Earth Opposition (closest to Earth)

Planet

SUPERIOR ORBIT Mercury and Venus Many of the planets can be seen very easily with the naked eye. In this photograph, the planets Mercury and Venus sit near each other in the sky after sunset—a striking sight.

Planetary positions These diagrams show several key positions in the orbits of the planets. Inferior planets are best seen near greatest elongation, while superior planets are generally best viewed around opposition.

13

14

L OOK ING U P

GETTING STARTED Many of the night sky’s finest sights can be seen with the naked eye, but telescopes and binoculars allow us to see farther and explore celestial objects in more detail. PLANNING AHEAD Preparation is the key to an enjoyable night’s astronomy under the stars. Start by thinking what you want to look at and the equipment you will need to see it. For example, if you are

using equipment that requires batteries, make sure they are charged and ready. Additionally, take a good star chart with you (see pp.16–114), so that you know the location of the objects you want to observe. Also, think about what to wear when observing. The clearest nights can often be the coldest, so it is crucial to wear warm clothes such as a windproof jacket as well as waterproof trousers, a warm hat, and stout shoes. If you are traveling out to a remote location, make sure to tell someone where you are going. Remembering these basic things will ensure your observing goes smoothly. Viewing location The location from which you observe is as important as the equipment you use. Ideally, head toward a dark sky site, away from sources of light pollution, such as streetlamps and houses.

BINOCULARS Loved by beginners and experts alike, binoculars are a simple, generally inexpensive way to explore the night sky. A good pair of binoculars is capable of showing a huge variety of objects on any given night. With even a small pair the rich star fields of the Milky Way, glittering open star clusters, and the Moon’s rugged surface are all wonderful sights. Binoculars come in many different Focus wheel

CHECKLIST t8BSNDMPUIFT t(MPWFT t3FEMJHIUGMBTIMJHIU t/PUFQBEBOEQFO t"OZFRVJQNFOU UFMFTDPQFT CJOPDVMBST FUD t$PNQBTT t4UBSDIBSU t8BSNESJOL t#MBOLFUPSGPMEBCMFDIBJS Red light torch To preserve your night vision, a red light torch is crucial. This can be bought or easily made by covering a regular flashlight with a red candy wrapper, secured by an elastic band.

sizes and are defined by two numbers that can often be found marked on their sides. The first number is the number of times the binoculars can magnify a view, and the second number is the size of the main (or objective) lens in millimeters. For example, binoculars that magnify 10x with 50mm diameter lenses are said to be a “ten by fifty” pair of binoculars.

Eyepiece Eyepiece Light path Prism

Prism

Light path Objective lens

Objective lens

Compact binoculars These “roof-prism” binoculars use a design where light passes through a group of close prisms, making them more compact.

Standard binoculars “Porro-prism” binoculars with a folded light path are popular with astronomers because their typically larger lenses result in brighter images.

Large binoculars Large binoculars can provide stunning views of celestial objects; however, they require tripods because they can be hard to hold steady.

G E T T IN G S T A R T E D

TELESCOPES Designed to collect light from celestial objects, telescopes also magnify the view and allow us to see objects in more detail. A telescope’s crucial specification is its aperture—the size of its main mirror or lens—which is usually measured in millimeters or inches. The larger the main mirror or lens, the more light it will be able to gather. A typical small telescope has an aperture of 4–6 in (10–15 cm). Telescopes can be

held on different types of mounts. These must be sturdy enough to provide a firm, stable platform for the optics and allow the telecope to aim accurately. Equatorial mounts are capable of aligning to the rotation axis of the night sky for simplified tracking. More compact in comparison to equatorial mounts, altitude-azimuth mounts work by moving around 360° (in azimuth) and up and down (in altitude). Finderscope Eyepiece

Eyepiece

Telescope tube assembly

Equatorial mount

Altitude-azimuth mount

Telescope tube assembly

15

RECORDING WHAT YOU SEE There are many ways to record the things you observe when studying the night sky. The simplest is to make a sketch of what you see with the naked eye or through the eyepiece of a telescope or binoculars. Make sure to use a good quality pencil and an artist’s sketch pad. To sketch clusters, nebulae, and other deep-sky objects, the best way to begin is to draw the brighter stars first. Another popular method, although a little more tricky to master, is astrophotography. This involves connecting a camera to your telescope to take pictures. However you record your observations, be sure to note down the observing conditions, the time and date, your name and location, details of the equipment used, and the name of the object observed.

Slow motion control Main mirror located inside tube

Tripod

Newtonian reflector This simple design, consisting of a tube on a mount and tripod, is ideal for a beginner. The eyepiece is located at the top of the tube and extends from the side.

Dobsonian The Dobsonian reflector uses a simple altitude-azimuth mount. Tending to have larger apertures for their price, Dobsonians are excellent deep-sky telescopes.

OBSERVING WITH THE NAKED EYE Focus adjustment knob Eyepiece Telescope tube assembly

Altitude-azimuth mount

There is a wealth of things to see in the night sky using nothing more than the naked eye. For example, meteor showers are best seen by sitting back on a chair and just watching the sky. Similarly, no equipment is needed to marvel at the great expanse of the Milky Way galaxy, or the many stars within it, from a dark sky site. To get the most spectacular naked-eye views of the night sky you must head away from light-polluted towns and cities.

An astro image of the North America Nebula Astrophotographers create stunning images of the night sky, with the help of sensitive cameras mounted on telescopes. They stack together many individual exposures to create a final detailed image.

Focus and zoom adjustment

Camera body

Tripod with eyepiece holder

Camera lens

Mount adjustment handle

Tripod head

Adjustment handle

Refractor Refractor telescopes have a classic telescope design, their lenses collect light and produce an image in the eyepiece. They are good for observing a range of celestial objects.

What you can see Many celestial objects are visible to the naked eye, including the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy, meteors, noctilucent clouds, and the aurorae (shown above).

Digital SLR These cameras are used by astroimagers because they can be attached to telescopes and their shutters can be left open to gather the faint light from celestial objects.

MONTHLY SKY GUIDES During the course of a year, our view of the night sky changes from month to month as Earth orbits the Sun. Some constellations are always in the sky, while others appear and disappear over different regions. The following monthly sky guides help you recognize patterns and track changes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The aurorae The Northern and Southern lights, or the aurorae, occur in high latitudes of both hemispheres, such as Wapusk National Park in Canada, as seen here. They cause spectacular displays that often last for hours and end with a ribbonlike rippling effect.

MO NT H LY S KY GUID ES

USING THE SKY GUIDES This month-by-month guide features charts that show the whole night sky as it appears from different locations. These pages explain how to get the most from the information in the charts. MONTHLY OVERVIEWS For each month of the year, a double-page spread outlines the different celestial phenomena in the sky. These include bright stars, constellations, deep-sky objects, and meteor showers. The constellation box on these pages discusses a key constellation in detail, pointing out its bright stars. 20

These pages also feature planet-locator charts, which show the band of sky that lies on either side of the ecliptic, where the planets appear. These charts should be used in conjunction with the information supplied in the following highlights pages, whole-sky charts, and the Almanac.

M O NTH LY S K Y G U IDE S : OV E R V IE WS

J AN U ARY

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

Uranus and Neptune The magnified insets of the main chart show Uranus and Neptune, the two outermost planets, as they move relatively slowly through our sky.

11

AQUARIUS

21

9 PM

MIDNIGHT

Each month has its own overview pages

SOUTHERN LATITUDES

JANUARY In January skies, all eyes are firmly fixed on the striking constellation Orion, the Hunter. The Milky Way is another spectacular sight to behold this month. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, look high in the sky for the Large Magellanic Cloud.

The text highlights the most prominent stars, deep-sky objects, and meteor showers

SIGHTS OF INTEREST If you are exploring the constellation Orion, you will see the Orion Nebula, M42, a bright deep-sky object lying

south of the chain of three stars that makes up Orion’s belt. This nebula is easily visible through binoculars from northern latitudes and can be seen with the naked eye as a hazy patch. The open star clusters M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga are also worth a look with binoculars. METEOR SHOWERS The Quadrantid meteor shower kicks off around January 3–4 every year. These meteors seem to originate from a point near the handle of the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major. This area was once occupied by the now-obsolete constellation Quadrans, after which the meteor shower is

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation

Highest in sky at 10 pm

21

Alpha (α) Aurigae, or Capella, 0.1

Aurigae

Aur

December–February

The constellation Auriga, the Charioteer, can easily be spotted within the band of the Milky Way between the constellations 50º Perseus and Gemini. Its brightest star is the magnitude 0.1 Capella. There are several interesting open 0º clusters in Auriga that make ideal targets for astor binoculars or a small telescope. Pollux

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS When viewing in January, you will immediately notice the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major. Visible from mid-northern latitudes, Sirius twinkles above the southern horizon. Directly above you is the yellowish star Capella in Auriga. Meanwhile, in the northeast lies a familiar asterism, the Big Dipper. In the northwest, look for the faint band of the Milky Way passing through into Perseus and Cassiopeia.

Size ranking

7h

6h

LYNX

δ

ξ PERSEUS 9

ψ

1

AURIGA

β

2 ψ7 ψ

Capella

π

λ

NGC 2281

63 UU

θ

ν τ υ

χ κ

ε

η

16

NGC 1664

SIGHTS OF INTEREST It is not just observers in the northern latitudes who enjoy a good view of the constellation Orion. The Orion Nebula is ideally placed high in the sky, even if you are observing from southern latitudes. The Large Magellanic Cloud in the constellation Dorado can be seen with binoculars on January evenings. Among its

ζ

μ

4

M38 NGC 1907 AE IC 405

M36

GEMINI RT

α

2

ι

M37

Brightest star

Genitive

43

Alpha (α) Canis Majoris, Canis Majoris or Sirius, -1.4

CMa

January–February

—50°

6h

7h

The Milky Way This view of the Milky Way shows the regions toward the constellations Crux, the Southern Cross, and Carina, the Keel.

—40°

MONOCEROS

–10º

CANIS MAJOR NGC 2360

γ

–20º

ι π

θ μ α

ORION

Castor

Sirius

ν3

β

2

LEPUS

15 M41

UW NGC

τ

2362

ω

27

η

–30º

ο2

ο1

δ σ ε

ξ

2

ξ

GEMINI

Pollux

Adhara

λ

κ

ζ

TAURUS

3 AM

PISCES

19 18

Aldebaran

NEPTUNE

Capella

16

19

15

18

13

17

Hyades 16

12

15

14

11

Castor

13

12

11

Betelgeuse

3 PM

CETUS

GEMINI

—20°

17

AQUARIUS

Procyon

Pleiades

TAURUS

14

Bellatrix

ARIES

13

LEO

—10°

Aldebaran

15

Hyades

10°

Regulus

12

PISCES

12

CANCER

10°

Betelgeuse Procyon

16

Bellatrix

19

AQUARIUS

0° Mira

17

12

14

14

11

13

13 19

11 18

17

SAGITTARIUS

19

16 19 Antares

–10°

14 15

13 15

12

15

S K Y

18

–20°

11

E V E N I N G

POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS

18 17 –30°

LIBRA

This chart shows the positions of the planets in January from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

SCORPIUS Shaula

–40°

S

–50°

M

Planet-locator charts (right) These charts show the position of the planets at 10pm local standard time on the 15th day of the month. Each planet is represented by a colored dot, and the number inside each dot refers to a particular year. Each chart shows the planets’ positions in relation to the 13 constellations along the ecliptic.

O

R

N

I N

K

Y

G

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

CAPRICORNUS

Fomalhaut

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on January 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Ecliptic

–30°

Mars’s position on January 15, 2011

11

Uranus

–50°

Key to planet-locator chart

Saturn’s position on January 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)

Capella

Castor

GEMINI

Pollux

Pleiades

TAURUS

14

ARIES

13

LEO

Arcturus

Aldebaran

15

Hyades

Ecliptic

12

CANCER

Regulus

12

PISCES

Bellatrix

19

AQUARIUS 11

Mira

17

14 12 14

13

17

14 15

13 15

12

18

15

15 11

18

ntares

LIBRA

CAPRICORNUS

Fomalhaut

The planet-locator chart shows a portion of the celestial sphere on either side of the ecliptic

Celestial sphere

MONTHLY HIGHLIGHTS The monthly highlights pages detail a selection of the best objects to look for in the night sky, such as galaxies, clusters, and double stars. Each month has four charts, which show the skies looking north and south from both northern and southern latitudes (see p.19). The colored lines indicate the region of the sky that is visible from the given latitude. The text discusses objects that are well placed for observation in the region of sky shown on the chart. There are also tips on how to locate the objects, some of which are illustrated with photographs. To hone in on objects in the sky, you can cross-reference these charts with the detailed sky charts on the following pages.

17

Rigel

Spica

16

Celestial equator Position of a planet shown by colored dot

Betelgeuse Procyon

16 11

VIRGO

19

22

MO N TH L Y SKY G U ID ES: H IG H L IG H TS

JANUARY NORTHERN LATITUDES

Date

JANUARY SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH

Standard time

Daylight-saving time

December 15

Midnight

1 am

January 1

11 pm

Midnight

January 15

10 pm

11 pm

February 1

9 pm

10 pm

February 15

8 pm

9 pm

-1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH

Zenith

40°S

AURIGA GEMINI

40ºN

ERIDANUS

Ecl ipt ic

Castor

Rigel

60ºN

Sirius

Betelgeuse

TAURUS

CETUS

URSA MINOR

Capella

Castor

Ecl i pt

Ho riz o

n 20

LEO

0ºN on 6 Horiz

Horizon 20ºS

EA

ST

W

ES

T

URSA MAJOR

CASSIOPEIA

ANDROMEDA

EA

ST

The Hyades The “V” of the Hyades star cluster is an unmistakable sight; its members form the head of Taurus, the Bull. The bright orange-red star nearby, Aldebaran, is not actually a part of the cluster.

Big Dipper

Horiz on 0º

LOOKING SOUTH

LOOKING SOUTH Zenith

Zenith

60°N

0°

The constellations Vela, Carina, and the long and winding Eridanus are all on show at this time of the year. The planetary nebula NGC 3132 in Vela is an interesting object when seen through a telescope. While you are observing the eastern part of the sky, be sure to look for the globular cluster NGC 3201. The open star cluster NGC 2547, also in Vela, is a good target for binoculars. Use a small telescope to bring into focus the scattered open cluster M47 in the constellation Puppis, the Stern.

ORION

Capella Rigel Sirius

40ºN

GEMINI

Propus 20ºN

CANIS MAJOR

TAURUS

40ºS

ORION Aldebaran CANCER

ic

ERIDANUS

PUPPIS

Canopus

ARIES

LEO

pt

20ºS

MONOCEROS

PERSEUS

Castor Pollux

Regor

Betelgeuse Procyon

PICTOR PISCES

MONOCEROS

Sirius

Rigel

CETUS VELA

Regulus PUPPIS

on Horiz

M35 in Gemini The open cluster M35 sits near the star Propus in Gemini. While a small telescope will show the cluster clearly, a larger telescope will also show the fainter cluster NGC 2158 sitting nearby.

Horiz on 20 ºN

CETUS

HYDRA CENTAURUS TUCANA

Canopus

ST

CARINA

PHOENIX

ERIDANUS

CANIS MAJOR

60 ºN

Horizon 40ºN

EA

Achernar

Mira

HYDRA

VELA

CARINA

PICTOR

Text highlights the most prominent celestial objects

Regulus

PERSEUS

ºN

Horizon 40ºN

Vega

AURIGA

Northern and southern latitudes are covered separately

ic

Horizon 4 0ºS

HERCULES

The constellation Orion, the Hunter, is a magnificent sight to behold with the naked eye. Particularly striking is the color difference between Orion’s two brightest stars, the orange-red Alpha (α) Orionis, Betelgeuse, and the blue-white Beta (β) Orionis, Rigel. A telescope or a pair of binoculars will reveal the stunning Orion Nebula, M42, which sits in Orion’s sword. The variable star Mira in Cetus and the open cluster M35 in Gemini are also well placed for observation.

23

PISCES

BOÖTES

CYGNUS

Pollux

AURIGA

ARIES

Mizar

DRACO Deneb

GEMINI LEO

Alcor

HYDRA

CANCER Regulus

Big Dipper

CEPHEUS

T

Procyon

Aldebaran

URSA MAJOR

Polaris ANDROMEDA

PEGASUS

ES

PUPPIS MONOCEROS

0º

ORION CANCER

CASSIOPEIA

CANIS MAJOR

20ºS

Pollux Capella

PERSEUS ARIES

W

The bright star Castor, Alpha (α) Geminorum, in Gemini, is an interesting target if observed through a telescope. Appearing as a single star to the naked eye, Castor is actually a multiple star system composed of six stars, three of which can be observed with a small telescope. Also on show are the open clusters M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga, the Charioteer. In the west, the prominent “V” shape of the Hyades star cluster in Taurus is a fine sight to the naked eye or through binoculars.

Zenith

20°N

TAURUS

PISCES

The Double Cluster Both NGC 884 and NGC 869 can be seen through binoculars or a small telescope as two fuzzy patches made of many stars, sparkling against the rich star fields of the Milky Way galaxy.

The inner planets (above) The main body of the planet-locator chart shows the six planets closest to the Sun. The bands along the top and bottom of the chart indicate in local time when that area of sky is highest in the sky. However, the local sunset and sunrise times will affect the darkness of the sky and the visibility of the planets.

JAN U AR Y

The pair of star clusters NGC 884 and NGC 869 are known together as the Double Cluster. They lie in Perseus, in the northwest in January skies, and are a truly wonderful sight through binoculars or a small telescope. The constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, is well placed for observation in January. In the east, the double star of Alcor and Mizar in Ursa Major, the Great Bear, can be spotted through a small telescope. Capella, in the constellation Auriga, is almost overhead.

The time when an area of the sky is visible: evening sky (from sunset to midnight) or morning sky (from midnight to sunrise)

Neptune

Earth’s axis of rotation

Celestial equator

S K Y — -10°

Celestial equator

–40°

EXAMPLES

11

— 0°

17

Rigel

E V E N I N G

Rigel

17

Spica

16

18

15 16

0°

11

11 14

–10°

—30°

13

URANUS 6 PM

14

VIRGO

Declination coordinates

P

14

COLUMBA

9 AM

OPHIUCHUS

The time of night (local time) when this area of sky lies on the meridian (an imaginary line that runs north to south)

1

PUPPIS

Pollux

18


MIDNIGHT

Arcturus

–20°

Abbreviation

9 PM

MIDNIGHT

6 AM

NOON

Size ranking

Sitting at the heels of Orion, Canis Major, the Greater Dog, is home to the brightest star of the entire night sky—Sirius, Alpha (α) Canis Majoris. Sirius is a brilliant white star with a magnitude of -1.4. Canis Major represents one of the two hunting dogs of Orion, the Hunter, which sits nearby. It is home to two fine open clusters, NGC 2362 and M41.

β Tau

the trails of meteors appear to come, is quite low in the northeastern sky, even at midnight.

Capella

CANIS MAJOR

Alnath

TAURUS

named. At the peak of the shower, you may be able to spot as many as 100 meteors an hour, but they appear relatively faint. The meteor shower is best observed from rural or light pollution-free areas. The peak lasts only a few hours and their radiant, the point in the sky from which

and its star fields and clusters can be seen with binoculars or a small telescope. If you are located around latitude 20°S the star cluster M41, near Sirius, will be directly above you. Under good conditions M41 can be seen with the naked eye.

sparkling stars, you will find the Tarantula Nebula, which appears to the naked eye as a glowing patch the size of the full Moon. Do not forget the Small Magellanic Cloud in Tucana either—it lies to the southwestern horizon this month,

Auriga is low in the north on clear January evenings and the rich Milky Way star fields of Carina and Centaurus, which are home to many interesting celestial sights, are sitting low in the southeast.

THE STARS If you are observing the skies from southern latitudes this month, you will find the bright star Canopus in the constellation Carina sitting high in the sky, while Sirius is almost overhead. Orion’s brightest stars, Rigel and Betelgeuse, are also high up. Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus, shines with a red-orange tint lower in the north. The star Capella in the constellation

A U RI G A

Ec li

18

PHOENIX

W

ES

T

0º izon Hor Horizon 20ºS Hor izon 40º EA S S

T

CRUX

OCTANS

AQUARIUS

β Centauri

GRUS

α Centauri

PAVO ARA

Fomalhaut

WE

ST

NGC 2547 The gorgeous magnitude 4.7 star cluster NGC 2547 sits very close to the star Regor, Gamma (γ) Velorum, in the constellation Vela. It is a fine sight through binoculars or a small telescope.

Photographs show some of the most interesting features to observe Sky charts show positions of the stars looking north and south

USING THE SKY GUIDES

THE WHOLE-SKY CHARTS In addition to the monthly highlights and overviews pages, there are two whole-sky charts for every month. These charts show the position of the stars at 10pm local time on the 15th day of the month, for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. They project the half of the celestial sphere that would be visible to you without any obstruction on the horizon. To use the whole-sky charts, first use the world map (bottom right) to find the colored latitude line that is closest to your observing location. Then turn to the chart for the month you are observing in. Next, look for the horizon line that is colored the same as the latitude line that is closest to your location. The sky plotted within the horizon’s boundaries is visible from your location during that month for the times shown. Now turn to the appropriate month and position yourself and the chart (see right).

South NORTHERN LATITUDES

South SOUTHERN LATITUDES

Orientation To view the northern sky, turn northward and hold the map flat with the label NORTH closest to you. The colored northern horizon line on the chart corresponds to the horizon in front of you. To view the south, turn yourself and the map around.

Star-motion diagrams These diagrams show the direction in which the stars appear to move in the sky as the night progresses. Stars near the celestial equator appear to move from east to west, while circumpolar stars circle around the celestial poles without setting.

Constellation name

-1

0

1

2

3

4

Variable star

5

N LY

M I LE O NO R

Globular cluster

Galaxy

Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N

DEEP -SKY OBJECTS

60°N

Zeniths

40°N

20°N

JANUARY NO RT HERN L AT IT U DES

25

Asterism name STAR MAGNITUDES

Ecliptic

POINTS OF REFERENCE

X

SA R UR J O A M

LOO K I N G

South

SO UT H

SOUTH SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON 15TH JANUARY

LMC

M81 RET I

er

ipp

DO RA DO

U CUL

North

M

STAR MOTION

Canopus

U

ST LA

LO G

CAELUM

IUM

C O LU M B A

PI S

U

O PH

EN

TH

IX

Adhara

L E PU S

IA TL

M41

C AN MA I S JO R

AN

M93

M4

46

E RI

DA N

RN

AX

US

Sirius

7

Rigel M42

48

CE

M

DR HY

C

Bellatr

ix

geuse

Betel

cy

S EX

67

ran

es

lus

I

M35

IN

M44

Regu

Hyad

M

M

M37

M36

45

US

(P

leia

I GA

de

PE R S

s)

EU S

Ca

stor

Pollu

AU R

M38

x

L EO

Aldeba

CER CA N

N TA

S

Pro

M

UR TA

OR I O N M1

GE

ic

Eclipt

TU

ER OS

on

EAST

A

NO C

O M

IS AN

M

I

R

A RI E S

LE O

R PE

SE

A ED

M52

M87

I

Dip

U RS A MIN OR ar

M51

Miz

39

M101

Den

eb

US

O

D RACO

ST

N

M29

R

T

H

ES ÖT BO

EA

CY GN

W

ES

T LYR A

M ONT HL Y S KY GU I D E S: SK Y GUI DE S

O

R

TH

M13

M57

OBSERVATION TIMES Date

Standard time


December 15

Midnight

1 am

January 1

11 pm

Midnight

January 15

10 pm

11 pm

February 1

9 pm

10 pm

February 15

8 pm

9 pm

NORTH

LO OK I N G

N O RTH


December 15

Midnight

1 am

January 1

11 pm

Midnight

January 15

10 pm

11 pm

February 1

9 pm

10 pm

February 15

8 pm

9 pm

Observation times Each chart shows the sky as it appears at 10pm local standard time mid month. However, this view can also be seen at other times of the month, as well as one hour later when local daylight saving time is in use. These times range from midnight in the middle of the previous month to 8pm in the middle of the next month.

JANUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

POINTS OF REFERENCE

Globular cluster

Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula


Zeniths

60°N

40°N

20°N

Ecliptic

60°N

24

Variable star

N

NA RO IS C O R E AL BO

M92

Vega

HERC UL ES

5

Standard time

3

HE U S

Date

M

C EP M

Big

Polaris

RT A

M64

31

S NE I C CA N AT VE

M53

M

M

M81

r

LA CE

S

B E CO M RE A NI CE S

M

SA R U R A JO M

9

C AM E LOP A RDA LIS

3

EAST

M34

LU N GU

O DR

C 86

4

M10

Main features Besides showing the band of the Milky Way galaxy, the whole-sky charts also highlight many stars, constellations, deep-sky objects, asterisms, and the path of the Sun—also known as the ecliptic.

MI LEO NO R

M33

T RI A

AN

C 88

E IA

Deep-sky object name or number

M50

NO

Mir a

PI S C E S

NG

IO P

pe

HEU

DEEP-SKY OBJECTS Globular cluster

C ES

C EP

Star magnitude This panel shows the approximate magnitudes of the stars plotted on the whole-sky chart. In astronomy, the brighter a star the lower its “magnitude” value; bright objects may even have a negative value.

Galaxy

NX LY

S

4

PI S

AS U

3

A U RI G A

NG

SS

1

OBSERVATION TIMES lla

CA

M5

M101

Cape

US

P EG

2

S

2 WEST

1

WEST

0

T OR

M5

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

SCU LP

Horizons and zeniths The stars shown near the center of each chart are close to the point directly overhead, known as the zenith, while stars near the chart’s edge appear close to the horizon. Color-coded lines and crosses are used to identify the horizon and zenith for each of the three latitude projections on each monthly whole-sky chart.

ar

Miz

M

FO

Celestial sphere Each whole-sky chart shows an area greater than half a celestial sphere because it combines three different projections of the night sky, as seen from three different latitudes. Each month the sky charts show the sky as it appears from 60°–20°N on the northern latitudes chart and from 0°–40°S on the southern latitudes chart.

PY X IS

Viewer

Star name

PU P

SO

T

SO

VE

RO HO

ES

C V

gD

Bi

TH

EA

PI C T O R

W

Horizon

CAR INA

Zenith

North

JANUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES

Horizon

Zenith

North

40°N 20°N 0° 20°S 40°S POINTS OF REFERENCE

Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

Deep-sky objects This panel displays the symbols for deep-sky objects, including galaxies, clusters, and nebulae shown on the whole-sky charts.


Zeniths

60°N

40°N

20°N

Ecliptic

Points of reference To help you remember which horizon line or zenith marker applies to your location, this bar shows the different colors that correspond to the different latitudes.

Lines of latitude Use this map to find the colored latitude line that is closest to your location. This is the color of the line you need to find on the sky charts (see above). Note that a 10° difference in latitude has little effect on the stars that can be seen.

19

20

MO NT H LY S KY GUID ES: OVERVIEW S

JANUARY In January skies, all eyes are firmly fixed on the striking constellation Orion, the Hunter. The Milky Way is another spectacular sight to behold this month. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, look high in the sky for the Large Magellanic Cloud.

A U RI G A

SIGHTS OF INTEREST If you are exploring the constellation Orion, you will see the Orion Nebula, M42, a bright deep-sky object lying

south of the chain of three stars that makes up Orion’s belt. This nebula is easily visible through binoculars from northern latitudes and can be seen with the naked eye as a hazy patch. The open star clusters M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga are also worth a look with binoculars. METEOR SHOWERS The Quadrantid meteor shower kicks off around January 3–4 every year. These meteors seem to originate from a point near the handle of the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major. This area was once occupied by the now-obsolete constellation Quadrans, after which the meteor shower is

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


21

Alpha (α) Aurigae, or Capella, 0.1

Aurigae

Aur

December–February

The constellation Auriga, the Charioteer, can easily be spotted within the band of the Milky Way between the constellations 50º Perseus and Gemini. Its brightest star is the magnitude 0.1 Capella. There are several interesting open 0º clusters in Auriga that make ideal targets for astor binoculars or a small telescope. Pollux

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS When viewing in January, you will immediately notice the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major. Visible from mid-northern latitudes, Sirius twinkles above the southern horizon. Directly above you is the yellowish star Capella in Auriga. Meanwhile, in the northeast lies a familiar asterism, the Big Dipper. In the northwest, look for the faint band of the Milky Way passing through into Perseus and Cassiopeia.

Size ranking

7h

6h

LYNX

δ

ξ PERSEUS 9

ψ1

ψ7 ψ

AURIGA

β

2

Capella

π

α λ

NGC 2281

63 UU

θ

ν τ υ

χ

16

NGC 1664

ζ 4

M38 NGC 1907 AE IC 405

M36

κ

η

μ

GEMINI RT

ε

2

ι

M37

Alnath

βTau TAURUS

named. At the peak of the shower, you may be able to spot as many as 100 meteors an hour, but they appear relatively faint. The meteor shower is best observed from rural or light pollution-free areas. The peak lasts only a few hours and their radiant, the point in the sky from which

the trails of meteors appear to come, is quite low in the northeastern sky, even at midnight. MIDNIGHT

3 AM

6 AM

NOON

9 AM

LEO

Arcturus 10°

Regulus

12 16 0° 11

VIRGO

OPHIUCHUS

14 –10° 14 –20°

17

12 14

11

13

Spica

16

18

15 18

13 19

11 18

16 17

19

16 19

18

18 17

Antares

–30°

SAGITTARIUS

LIBRA

SCORPIUS Shaula

–40°

S

–50°

M

O

R

N

I N

G

15

K

Y

CANCER

JANUARY

21

SOUTHERN LATITUDES and its star fields and clusters can be seen with binoculars or a small telescope. If you are located around latitude 20°S the star cluster M41, near Sirius, will be directly above you. Under good conditions M41 can be seen with the naked eye.

sparkling stars, you will find the Tarantula Nebula, which appears to the naked eye as a glowing patch the size of the full Moon. Do not forget the Small Magellanic Cloud in Tucana either—it lies to the southwestern horizon this month,

Auriga is low in the north on clear January evenings and the rich Milky Way star fields of Carina and Centaurus, which are home to many interesting celestial sights, are sitting low in the southeast.

THE STARS If you are observing the skies from southern latitudes this month, you will find the bright star Canopus in the constellation Carina sitting high in the sky, while Sirius is almost overhead. Orion’s brightest stars, Rigel and Betelgeuse, are also high up. Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus, shines with a red-orange tint lower in the north. The star Capella in the constellation

SIGHTS OF INTEREST It is not just observers in the northern latitudes who enjoy a good view of the constellation Orion. The Orion Nebula is ideally placed high in the sky, even if you are observing from southern latitudes. The Large Magellanic Cloud in the constellation Dorado can be seen with binoculars on January evenings. Among its

CANIS MAJOR Size ranking

Brightest star

43

Alpha (α) Canis Majoris, Canis Majoris or Sirius, -1.4

Genitive

Abbreviation


CMa

January–February 6h

7h

Sitting at the heels of Orion, Canis Major, the Greater Dog, is home to the brightest star of the entire night sky—Sirius, Alpha (α) Canis Majoris. Sirius is a brilliant white star with a magnitude of -1.4. Canis Major represents one of the two hunting dogs of Orion, the Hunter, which sits nearby. It is home to two fine open clusters, NGC 2362 and M41.

The Milky Way This view of the Milky Way shows the regions toward the constellations Crux, the Southern Cross, and Carina, the Keel.

MONOCEROS

–10º

CANIS MAJOR NGC 2360

γ

ι π

–20º

θ μ α

ORION

Sirius

ν3

β

2

LEPUS

15 M41

UW NGC

τ

ο

ο

2

1

ξ

2

2362

δ ω σ ε η

ξ

1

27

–30º

Adhara

λ

κ

ζ COLUMBA

PUPPIS

9 PM

MIDNIGHT

URANUS 6 PM

PISCES

19 18

NEPTUNE

17

Capella

16

19

15 14 13

18

17

12

16

15

11

Castor

GEMINI

13

12

11

3 PM

CETUS Pollux

14

AQUARIUS

Pleiades

TAURUS

14

ARIES

13 Aldebaran Hyades

12

PISCES

10°

Betelgeuse Procyon

Bellatrix

19

AQUARIUS

0°

11 Mira

17 17

Rigel

–10°

14 15

13 12

E V E N I N G

15

15

S K Y

11

–20°

POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS This chart shows the positions of the planets in January from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on January 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Mars’s position on January 15, 2011

11

CAPRICORNUS

–30°

–40°

Neptune

EXAMPLES

11

Fomalhaut

Saturn’s position on January 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)

–50°

MONT HLY SKY GUID ES: HIGHLIGHTS

JANUARY NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH The pair of star clusters NGC 884 and NGC 869 are known together as the Double Cluster. They lie in Perseus, in the northwest in January skies, and are a truly wonderful sight through binoculars or a small telescope. The constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, is well placed for observation in January. In the east, the double star of Alcor and Mizar in Ursa Major, the Great Bear, can be spotted through a small telescope. Capella, in the constellation Auriga, is almost overhead.

Date

Standard time


December 15

Midnight

1 am

January 1

11 pm

Midnight

January 15

10 pm

11 pm

February 1

9 pm

10 pm

February 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

AURIGA

TAURUS

GEMINI

40ºN

Ecl ipt

Castor

ic

Pollux Capella

PERSEUS

60ºN

ARIES

CANCER

PISCES CASSIOPEIA

URSA MAJOR

Polaris ANDROMEDA URSA MINOR

Regulus Big Dipper LEO

CEPHEUS

Alcor

PEGASUS

Mizar Horiz o

DRACO Deneb

The Double Cluster Both NGC 884 and NGC 869 can be seen through binoculars or a small telescope as two fuzzy patches made of many stars, sparkling against the rich star fields of the Milky Way galaxy.

W

ES

T

BOÖTES

CYGNUS

n 20 ºN

Horizon 40ºN

o Horiz

Vega

n 60

ºN

EA

ST

HERCULES

LOOKING SOUTH The constellation Orion, the Hunter, is a magnificent sight to behold with the naked eye. Particularly striking is the color difference between Orion’s two brightest stars, the orange-red Alpha (α) Orionis, Betelgeuse, and the blue-white Beta (β) Orionis, Rigel. A telescope or a pair of binoculars will reveal the stunning Orion Nebula, M42, which sits in Orion’s sword. The variable star Mira in Cetus and the open cluster M35 in Gemini are also well placed for observation.

Zenith 60°N

Capella 40ºN PERSEUS

AURIGA

Castor Pollux

GEMINI

Propus 20ºN

TAURUS

ORION Aldebaran

ARIES

LEO CANCER tic ip

Betelgeuse Procyon

Ec l

22

PISCES MONOCEROS

Sirius

Rigel

CETUS

Regulus

Mira

HYDRA PUPPIS on Horiz

M35 in Gemini The open cluster M35 sits near the star Propus in Gemini. While a small telescope will show the cluster clearly, a larger telescope will also show the fainter cluster NGC 2158 sitting nearby.

ERIDANUS

CANIS MAJOR

60ºN

Horizon 40ºN

EA

Canopus

ST

Horiz on 20 ºN

VELA

CARINA

PICTOR

PHOENIX

W

ES

T

JANUARY

JANUARY SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH The bright star Castor, Alpha (α) Geminorum, in Gemini, is an interesting target if observed through a telescope. Appearing as a single star to the naked eye, Castor is actually a multiple star system composed of six stars, three of which can be observed with a small telescope. Also on show are the open clusters M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga, the Charioteer. In the west, the prominent “V” shape of the Hyades star cluster in Taurus is a fine sight to the naked eye or through binoculars.

Zenith 40°S

ERIDANUS

CANIS MAJOR

20ºS

Rigel

Sirius 0º

ORION

PUPPIS MONOCEROS

Betelgeuse

TAURUS

CETUS

Aldebaran

Procyon

HYDRA

CANCER GEMINI

Pollux

AURIGA

ARIES

Capella

Castor

Ecl ipt ic

Regulus

Horizon 40ºS

PISCES PERSEUS LEO Horizon 20ºS

W

ES

T

URSA MAJOR

CASSIOPEIA

ANDROMEDA

EA

ST

The Hyades The “V” of the Hyades star cluster is an unmistakable sight; its members form the head of Taurus, the Bull. The bright orange-red star nearby, Aldebaran, is not actually a part of the cluster.

Big Dipper

Horizon 0º

LOOKING SOUTH The constellations Vela, Carina, and the long and winding Eridanus are all on show at this time of the year. The planetary nebula NGC 3132 in Vela is an interesting object when seen through a telescope. While you are observing the eastern part of the sky, be sure to look for the globular cluster NGC 3201. The open star cluster NGC 2547, also in Vela, is a good target for binoculars. Use a small telescope to bring into focus the scattered open cluster M47 in the constellation Puppis, the Stern.

Zenith 0°

ORION

Rigel Sirius

20ºS

MONOCEROS CANIS MAJOR 40ºS

ERIDANUS

PUPPIS

Canopus Regor PICTOR

VELA

Achernar

CARINA

PHOENIX

CETUS

HYDRA CENTAURUS TUCANA 0º izon Hor Horizon 20ºS Hor izon 40º EA S S

T

CRUX

OCTANS

AQUARIUS

β Centauri

GRUS

α Centauri

PAVO ARA

Fomalhaut

WE

ST

NGC 2547 The gorgeous magnitude 4.7 star cluster NGC 2547 sits very close to the star Regor, Gamma (γ) Velorum, in the constellation Vela. It is a fine sight through binoculars or a small telescope.

23

MO NT H LY S KY GUID ES: SKY GUID ES

WEST

H

W

M33

M

NGU

AN

C

AS S IO

P

US

E GC 8

2

C8

03

NG 84 M1

ED

S

N

31

M

O

R M5

7

LYR A

EP H EU

M5

N

C

EIA

RS

OM

S

PE

DR 39

NU

eb

De n

CY G

4

LU

L

M

RT A

9

AC E

M2

M3

T

T

A 5

Variable star

69

CA

Vega

Globular cluster

DEEP-SKY OBJECTS Galaxy

Ca pel la

AU R I G A

MEL OPARDALIS

Polaris

U R SA MINO R

D R A CO

M92

H E RC U L E S

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

N LY

X

M13

M81

Planetary nebula

g Bi

Di

SA R U R JO A M

er pp

ar Miz M101

NA RO I S CO REAL BO

POINTS OF REFERENCE

M5

1

E ÖT

S

O

S NE IC CA NAT VE

N

I Date December 15 January 1 January 15 February 1

Zeniths

R

LEO


TH

Standard time

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

Ecliptic

1 am

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

OBSERVATION TIMES

BO

M I LE O NO R February 15


EAST

TR I A

ES

4

M87

P I SC E S

S 3

M6

4

3

M5

ASU 1

2

JANUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

BE COM RE A NI CE S

3

M

ST

A

E

PE G

24

S

l Regu

LEO

S AN EXT

DR

us

AN

TL

IA

SO

U

0

PU P

CARINA

PI S

Adhara

CAN MA I S J OR

7

M5

RO S

e

P I C TO R

Canopus

IGA

des

Hya

P ERS

CU R ET I

LU M

CAELUM

S OUT H

SOUTH

LMC

DO RA D O

COLUMBA

Rigel

rix

Bellat

M42

ran

Aldeba

AU R

O R ION

M1

L E PU S

LO OK I N G

M41

Sirius

CE

5

lgeus

Bete

M3

M37

M38 M36

45

D ERI

AN

S

) es

ad

RU

lei (P

U TA

M

EUS

H

LOG O RO

US

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster

DEEP-SKY OBJECTS Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

IU M

ARIES


POINTS OF REFERENCE

JANUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST 48

SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON 15TH JANUARY

LA

M

ST

HY

I

VE

ER ANC SM

EA

67

X IS

C I AN 3

n

M9

yo M4

NO

O M

H

M

Mi

ra

NA

Zeniths

R FO

X

60°N

U

NI

SO

E HO

TU

P

X

CE

CES PI S

C

S

M44

PY

oc Pr 46

x

R

or

M

lu Pol

NO

Cast

T

A

I

TH

T 40°N

20°N

South

North

Ecliptic

LPT OR STAR MOTION

ES

IN

W

M GE

SCU

Eclipt ic

J A NUA R Y N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 25

WEST


WEST

P IS M 33

DR

ic

AR I

ES

AN G

S

M

69

4

C8

M3

NG

TA

S

DA

Pleiad es)

UR U

M45 (

84

RSE US

C8

PE

NG

I

IA

UL UM

PE

N M10 3

ER

T

DA

RI

Ecl ipt

OM E

CA SS IO

C ET U

AN

ra

C ES 31

H

W

ES T

Mi

AS U

S

O

R T

1

2

3

4

5

Variable star

NU

S

L EP U R

S

ige l M42

M36

M37

OR ION

Capella

AU RI G A

M38

M1

Bellatrix

Aldebaran

Hyade s

C

Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

s

MAJ O R

Planetary nebula

M5

0

M

47

n

x

cyo Pro

R

tor

u Poll

I NO

Cas

C A NI S M

NI

1

X LYN

M8

8 M4

Siriu

C ANIS

Betelgeuse

M35

G E MI

DRACO

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

AM E L OPARDALIS

Globular cluster


C ER

40°S

M44

CAN

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE Horizons 0°

M

67

UR

SA

M

O

R

lus gu Re

N

0°

TH

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date December 15 January 1 January 15 February 1 February 15

Zeniths

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

EAST

S

R

M46

JANUARY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

O

XT AN

NO

ST

MI

O

LE

EA

OR

LE

RA

SE

HY D AJ

PE G

26

SO

S

TH

U

EA ST

CE

C 51

US

39

NT AU R

NG

NG

A

C 32

Gac

31

rux

C

US

ux

ri

Acru x

uri

ent a

C I RC

β Ce ntau

Becr

X

LA

C RU

01

αC

32

LU P

NG

VE C 25

I NU S

IS

A

VO L

R IN

MENSA

LMC

AP U S

OCTANS

LO OK I N G

PAVO

S OUT H

SOUTH

A RA

O

RETICULUM

DOR AD

M

BA

C A ELU

COLUM

L EPUS

C HA M A E L E O N

ANS

P I C TO R

Canopus

T R IA N G U LU M AU S T R A L E

CA

PP

CA

47

M US

NG

PU

Adh ara

MA J O R

SMC

4

ANA

ar ern Ach

TU C

C 10

US

NG

H YD R

U

IU M

AN

G OLO HOR

E

D RI

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE

X

NA 40°S

NI

S

OE

U IN D

PH

FO R

X

MI

US

CR

Zeniths

GR

O

S

TU CE

S

JANUARY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

EAST

VU

SC

U

IU

SO

OP SC

0°

U

R

TO

R CO

LP

A

M

NI S

TH

S 20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

A

TE R CRA

LI

AU P S T IS C I R IN S US

T AN

E

S

W

3

ST

DR RIU

HY XI

QU A

PY

aut

M9

alh

41

Fom

M

CA

Ecliptic

J A NUA R Y S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 27

WEST

28


FEBRUARY To get your bearings this month, look out for the bright stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini from northern latitudes. If you are observing from the Southern Hemisphere, the constellations Carina, Puppis, and Vela can be seen high in the sky.

GEMINI Brightest stars

Genitive

Abbreviation


30

Beta (β) Geminorum, 1.15 Alpha (α) Geminorum, 1.6

Geminorum

Gem

January–February

LYNX 6h 8h

You can find the constellation Gemini, the Twins, by looking for its two brightest stars, Beta (β) and Alpha (α) Geminorum, known to astronomers as Castor and Pollux. Castor is an interesting multiple star. You will also find the open cluster M35 near the feet of the twins.

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS If you are observing the sky from mid-northern latitudes, you will find the constellation Gemini almost overhead. South of Gemini lies the sparkling Winter Triangle formed by the bright stars Sirius in Canis Major, Betelgeuse in Orion, and Procyon in Canis Minor. The four

Size ranking

constellations Taurus, Auriga, Perseus, and the W-shaped Cassiopeia are also on show this month. In the eastern sky the constellation Leo, the Lion, is visible, while the familiar shape of the Big Dipper asterism sits nearby in the northeast.

7h

Castor

30º

χ

β

φ

ο αρ

σ

θ τ ι

Pollux

υ

κ 20º

AURIGA

ε

GEMINI

δ

Ecliptic

M35

μ

ζ

η

1

ν

NGC 2392

TAURUS

81

h

Alhena

38

ξ

ORION

γ 30

10º

CANCER Procyon

Betelgeuse

CANIS MINOR MONOCEROS

SIGHTS OF INTEREST Close to the feet of Gemini, the Twins, you will find M35, a large open star cluster that can be easily spotted with a pair of binoculars. The Winter Triangle In the northern winter night sky, look out for the stars of the Winter Triangle asterism—Sirius (center bottom), the orange-red Betelgeuse (top), and Procyon (top left).

The wonderful Beehive Cluster, also known as M44 or Praesepe, is a great sight through a small telescope. It lies in the nearby constellation Cancer and appears wider than the full Moon. Meanwhile, you will find the Milky Way running through the constellation Monoceros, home to many open star clusters. If you are observing with a pair

of binoculars, look out for the star cluster NGC 2244. It is also an interesting target for a small telescope, and sits between the stars Betelgeuse and Procyon.

3AM

NOON 6AM

20° 9AM

10°

LEO

Arcturus

Regulus 12

Altair

16 0°

OPHIUCHUS –10°

VIRGO

16 –20°

13

14 15 16

16 19

19

Spica

13

14

11 16

17

12

CAPRICORNUS 11

11

14

18

17 19

15 18

18

Antares

LIBRA

–30°

SAGITTARIUS

Shaula

–40°

S

SCORPIUS

M

O

R

N

I N

G

K

Y

FEBRUARY

29

SOUTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS If you are observing from southern latitudes you will find two stellar beacons shining away high in the sky. These are the two brightest stars in the night sky—Sirius and Canopus. Two stunning constellations, Crux, the Southern Cross, and Centaurus, the Centaur, are also visible. A little way above them, you will find the deceptive False Cross, sometimes mistaken for the true Southern Cross. The False Cross is formed by four stars in Vela and Carina. At this time of the year, the two main stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, can be found sitting in the north. The constellations Orion and Taurus are also visible. In the south you will still find the Large and Small

Magellanic Clouds. Meanwhile Leo, the Lion, is steadily rising in the northeast.

PUPPIS

SIGHTS OF INTEREST The regions in and around the Milky Way should be explored as they contain many star clusters, such as M46, M47, NGC 2451, and NGC 2477, which can be found in Puppis. Also seek out the star clusters IC 2391 and IC 2395 in Vela and NGC 2516 in Carina.

Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


20

Zeta (ζ) Puppis, or Naos, 2.2

Puppis

Pup

January–February 7h

9h

The constellation Puppis, the Stern, is home to the open star clusters M46 and M47, which can be seen with a pair of binoculars. Puppis sits in the night sky just north of the bright star Canopus and is wedged between the constellations Vela, Carina, and Canis Major.

MONOCEROS

–10º

ORION

19

M47

Sirius

20

M46

CANIS MAJOR

16

–20º

LEPUS 11

ξ

M93

ο 1

NGC 2571

PYXIS

Adhara

3

-30º 6h

k NGC 2439

π

NGC 2451 NGC 2546

–40º

PUPPIS

Naos

The South Celestial Pole Find the South Celestial Pole by intersecting two imaginary lines: one, an extension of the long axis of Crux, and the other at right angles to the line joining Alpha and Beta Centauri.

VELA

COLUMBA

NGC 2477

σ

ν

L2 L1

V

PICTOR

–50º

CARINA

Canopus

9PM 6PM URANUS

MIDNIGHT

19

PISCES

18 17

Capella

16 15

3PM

14 13 12 11

CETUS

Castor Pollux

Pleiades

GEMINI 14

ARIES

13 Aldebaran

15

TAURUS

Hyades

CANCER

20°

12

PISCES

19

10°

Betelgeuse Procyon

17

17

Bellatrix

AQUARIUS

12 11

19

0°

15 15

Mira

13 13

Rigel

18

E V E N I N G

S K Y

–20°


Fomalhaut

This chart shows the positions of the planets in February from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on February 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

–30°

–40° 11

AQUARIUS

–50°

EXAMPLES

11 Mars’s position on February 15, 2011

–10°

Saturn’s position on February 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125) NEPTUNE


FEBRUARY NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH In February, the three prominent open clusters in the northwest M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga are a must-see. Through a telescope, each cluster appears like grains of sugar scattered against the black sky; a pair of binoculars show the clusters as gray smudges. Other objects to be spotted with binoculars are the galaxy M81 in Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and the line of stars known as Kemble’s Cascade in Camelopardalis, the Giraffe, which lies close to Cassiopeia and Perseus.

Date

Standard time


January 15

Midnight

1 am

February 1

11 pm

Midnight

February 15

10 pm

11 pm

March 1

9 pm

10 pm

March 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

GEMINI

Pollux Castor 40ºN

AURIGA

Aldebaran

LEO

60ºN

Capella TAURUS PERSEUS

Eclip tic

Big Dipper URSA MAJOR URSA MINOR

CETUS CASSIOPEIA ANDROMEDA

ARIES

γ CEPHEUS

DRACO

BOÖTES Horiz on 20 ºN

PISCES

Kemble’s Cascade Sitting close to the halfway point between the bright star Capella, in Auriga, and Gamma (γ) Cassiopeiae, Kemble’s Cascade is best observed with a pair of binoculars.

Horizon 40ºN

W

ES

PEGASUS

T

Arcturus

Deneb CYGNUS

0ºN on 6 Horiz

Vega HERCULES

EA

ST

LOOKING SOUTH The open cluster M41 lies just south of the bright star Sirius in Canis Major, the Greater Dog. It is worth a look if you are enjoying the more obvious sights of Orion nearby. M41 is clearly visible through binoculars or a small telescope. To the east, the cluster NGC 2244 in Monoceros, the Unicorn, is good through binoculars and small telescopes. Also worth finding is M1 in Taurus in the west. A large telescope reveals its elliptical shape, while the biggest telescopes reveal even more details.

Zenith 60°N

URSA MAJOR

Capella 40ºN

Castor Pollux

AURIGA

GEMINI

20ºN

CANCER

LEO

Aldebaran Procyon

TAURUS

Regulus Ec lip t

30

Betelgeuse

ic

ORION MONOCEROS

HYDRA

CANIS MAJOR

Sirius Rigel

VIRGO Horizon 60ºN

ERIDANUS CETUS

PUPPIS

M1 in Taurus Also called the Crab Nebula, M1 is a supernova remnant that was formed by the explosion of a massive star. About 6,500 light-years from Earth, it appears as a faintly glowing patch in the sky.

Horizon 40ºN

EA

VELA

Canopus

ST

PICTOR CARINA

Horizon 20ºN

W

ES

T

FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH In the constellation Cancer, the Crab, look out for the wonderful star cluster M44, also known as the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe. Easy to locate, it sits at the very center of the constellation, close to the stars Gamma (γ) and Delta (δ) Cancri. M44 appears as a misty patch to the naked eye from a dark sky location. Also on show, and best seen with a telescope, are the interesting spiral galaxies M65 and M66 in Leo, the Lion. These galaxies appear as elliptical smudges through a telescope.

Zenith 40°S

PUPPIS CANIS MAJOR

20ºS

Sirius MONOCEROS 0º

Rigel

HYDRA

Procyon ERIDANUS

Betelgeuse

CANCER

𝛅 𝛄

ORION GEMINI

Regulus

Eclip t

Pollux

Aldebaran

Castor

ic

LEO

TAURUS AURIGA CETUS

VIRGO Horiz

Capella

on 40

ºS

PERSEUS ARIES

W

ES

Horizon 20ºS

Big Dipper

T

URSA MAJOR o Horiz

EA

n 0º

ST

M44 in Cancer Appearing as a glittering collection of stars, the magnitude 3.7 open cluster M44 is a beautiful sight through binoculars. It is an ideal target for amateur deep-sky astrophotographers.

Polaris

LOOKING SOUTH This is a good time to observe and admire the rich star fields of the Milky Way stretching across the southern skies. To scan these stars, you only need your eyes or a pair of binoculars. Look out for the Milky Way running through the constellations Crux, Centaurus, Musca, and Carina in the east. Be sure to observe the Coalsack Nebula, a distinctive dark patch close to the stars of Crux, the Southern Cross. This dark nebula is a cloud of dust and gas about 600 light-years away.

Zenith 0°

MONOCEROS 20ºS

Sirius

ORION

CANIS MAJOR

Rigel

PUPPIS 40ºS

HYDRA

Canopus

VELA

CARINA

PICTOR

ERIDANUS

CENTAURUS CRUX

Achernar

β Centauri

VIRGO

Spica α Centauri ic ipt Ecl

ST

n 0º

CETUS

PHOENIX TUCANA

EA

Horizo

OCTANS

Horizon 20ºS

PAVO LUPUS ARA

GRUS

S n 40º Horizo

WE

ST

IC 2602 This magnitude 1.9 open cluster lying in the constellation Carina is known to astronomers as the Southern Pleiades. It is visible to the naked eye, but binoculars show it twinkling away.

31

45

AN

M3 1

PE

A

US

I OP

SE

SS

R

CA

C

Ca lla

pe

RI GA

L IS

US

Deneb

CEPH E

PARD A

AU

ME LO

M39

M52

CA

103

TA

M

884

C ER

869

NGC

NG

EIA

LA

M38

NG

O

R

PE

T

ED

34

3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

X LYN

Polaris

Diffuse nebula

U R SA

M8

1

MI N

OR

Big Dip

CO

a Veg

D RA

LYRA

Planetary nebula

S U R JO A M per

10

1

RC

r

UL

iza 2

HE

M9

M

M

POINTS OF REFERENCE

ES

M

13

CO O B

N

O

R

TH

M53

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date January 15 February 1 February 15 March 1

Zeniths

March 15


Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

M

OM DR US

M

N 2

us

AR I E S

IA 33

S

UL UM M

GA

T

)

P IS CE S 1

tur

TR

H

W

ES

C YG N U S M29

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

L MI EO NO R

FEBRUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

ES

ÖT

ST

A

Arc

4 M6

M3

BO

E

CA V E NE S NA TIC I 51 M

A

R

ES

C BEROMA EN IC

R RE ON AL A IS

s de eia l (P


WEST

32

T

S

SO

U H

EA

R

ST

TE

SE

TLI

S

AN

XT AN

A

ulu s

Re g

HY DR

M6

V E LA

PY X I S

A

Ecliptic

7

M

NC

M48

ER

M93

M50

4

37

C

AJO

s anopu

r Adha

C A N ISa M

s

R

eus elg Bet

5

e

IGA

M3

AU R

M

Siriu

M41

224

S OUT H

SOUTH

VO L A N S

CA R INA

P UP P I S

M46

M47

RO S

NGC

INI

R

G EM

O MIN

MO N O C E

CAN I S

Procyon

LO OK I N G

CA

44

Pollux

Castor

6

OR

A

rix

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

O

E LU

AD

CA

M

US

T

Zeniths

s de

a Hy


POINTS OF REFERENCE

l

LEP

ge Ri

R DO

2

N O R IO

lat Bel

ran eba

Ald

M4

MB

P I CT

COLU

M1

US AU R

M3

FEBRUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST A

SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON 15TH FEBRUARY

GO 60°N

SO

U

ER

AN

04

ID

M1

VU

R

R CO

TH

FO

CR

E

7

40°N

20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

W

S

TU CE

VIR US

M8

NA X

LEO

ST

M

Mira

Ecliptic

F E BRUA R Y N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 33

WEST


WEST M

UR US

TA

ID

ER

S

AN U

S Be

l lla tri x

O

42

N

LE

8

6

PU S

M3

AR I ES

TR

IAN GU

LU

R I GA

M

LO P A RD A L IS

Cap ella

AU

M3

M1

RI O

M

H

CA ME

lde ba ran

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ge

45

de s)

SE U

lei a

ER

(P

P

T

Ri

US

M

N O

34

R T 2

3

4

5

Variable star

NO CE 44

GE M I NI

NGC 22

MO

Sirius

Bete lgeus e

M35

M37

Globular cluster


M50

ROS

M47

M46

n

yo Proc

R

Pollux Castor

CA NI S M I NO

Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

M

48

C AN M44

CE R

LYNX

H

M6

7

M81

Planetary nebula

s ulu g Re

AN XT

LE

O

NO

OR

MI

AJ

R

40°S

per Dip

AM

L EO

SE

URS

Big

20°S


M65 M66

iza M

r

C VE

N

O

0°

R

pt li Ec

TH

ic

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date January 15 February 1 February 15 March 1 March 15

Zeniths

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

EAST

CET S 1

M53

Mira

H

W

ES

D R A CO

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

S

FEBRUARY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

4

M6

O

RG

VI

7

M8

BE CO RE M NI A CE S

EA

ST

A N A NE S TI CI

RA YD

P IS CE

34

GO

Sp

EAST

EA ST

LU

SO

U

S

NO A

CIR

CIN US

26 02

MU S

IC

A RA

A E LEON

TO

M E NSA

LMC

PIC

R

pus

Cano

S OUT H

SOUTH

OCTANS

VO LA N S

LO OK I N G

PAVO

A PU S

C HAM

CA

T RIA NG A U S U LU M TRAL E

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ntau r

Coa Acru Ne lsack x bul a

β Ce

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Bec

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Ga cr

CR

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αC

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C5

CA R IN A

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IN DU

NGC

US

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SMC

HY DR

AN

A

LOG O RO

M

H

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TU C

DO

CA

LUM

D ORA

PU

BA

LE

M LU CO

RE T IC U

M

AN AJ IS OR

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE

r rna he Ac

M

40°S

IU

FEBRUARY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

ica

NT AU

NG

TER CRA

H

PU

CE

A

T

83

P UP

Adhara

M41

ID

US

PH

N

IX OE

Zeniths

GR

ER

US AN

VIR V

SO

FO

0°

R

X

U

NA

R CO

US M

VELA

IS

X

TH

S 20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

W

04

A

SC

M1

LI

ES T

T AN

TO R

DR

TU

HY CE

PY UL P

M93

Ecliptic

F E BRUA R Y S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 35

WEST

36


MARCH As the nights grow shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, the bright winter constellations move toward the west. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, the nights are getting longer, bringing many fine celestial objects into view.

CANCER

Sextans, Crater, and Hydra. The most notable star in this part of the sky is Alphard, lying in the constellation Hydra. Appropriately, Alphard means “the solitary one.” Sitting high in the northeast is the reassuringly familiar shape of the Big Dipper asterism, with its handle arching down toward the bright star Arcturus in Boötes. A little way away and closer to the horizon lies the star Spica in the constellation Virgo. Also look

The Sickle of Leo The asterism known as the “Sickle”, made from the stars of the head of Leo, is a useful celestial signpost for navigating March’s night skies.

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


31

Beta (β) Cancri, 3.5

Cancri

Cnc

February–March

10h

You will notice that there are no very bright stars located in the constellation Cancer, the Crab. However, that does not mean you should not pay attention to it. At its heart is one of the finest open clusters in the whole of the night sky, M44, which is also known as Praesepe as well as the Beehive Cluster.

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS Look north on March evenings and you will see the “Sickle” asterism, which makes up the head of Leo, the Lion. To its right is the less conspicuous constellation Cancer. Below this region are the rather faint and sparse constellations

Size ranking

8h

9h

LYNX Castor

ι

Pollux

GEMINI

γ

20º

Eclipti

CANCER M44

δ

c

ζ

Regulus

α

LEO

10º

M67

β

CANIS MINOR Procyon

HYDRA

out for the bright star Sirius shining in the constellation Canis Major near the southwestern horizon.

0º

MONOCEROS

SEXTANS

from streetlights and other sources of light pollution M81 can be spotted through a pair of binoculars. Further south, look out for the well-placed Beehive Cluster, or M44, in the constellation Cancer.

SIGHTS OF INTEREST If you are observing with a small telescope this month, be sure to look out for the magnificent spiral galaxy M81 in the northern part of the constellation Ursa Major. On a clear March evening away

MIDNIGHT

3 AM 9 AM

20°

Arcturus

6 AM

10°

Altair

AQUARIUS 0° 13 –10°

VIRGO

OPHIUCHUS 11

13

11 17

12 16 19

14

14

SAGITTARIUS

11

–20°

15 17

19 Fomalhaut

18

–30° 19

18

Spica

16 18

19

18

CAPRICORNUS

16

14

13

14

Antares

LIBRA

SCORPIUS 17

16

Shaula 15

14

13

12

11

S

AQUARIUS

NEPTUNE

M

O

R

N

I N

G

K

Y

MA R C H

37

SOUTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS If you are observing the night sky from southern latitudes, your eyes will undoubtedly be drawn to the constellations sitting in the southeast, centered around Crux and Centaurus. From mid-latitudes, you can see Alphard, the brightest star in the constellation Hydra, sitting almost right above you. Meanwhile Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, twinkles away in the east, with the blazing Canopus in Carina taking center stage in the southwest sky. The constellation

Orion is gradually sinking out of view, so make the most of it before it disappears. Leo is very much still visible and can be found sitting high in the northern part of the sky. Not far away from Leo, a little lower in the northwest, are the brightest stars of the constellation Gemini, Castor and Pollux. SIGHTS OF INTEREST You can see a great deal with a good pair of binoculars this month, including a lovely open cluster known as the Southern Pleiades, The False Cross Formed by four stars in the constellations Carina and Vela, the False Cross asterism resembles the constellation Crux, the Southern Cross, but is somewhat larger.

degrees north of the Southern Pleiades is a glowing region NGC 3372, visible to the naked eye. Also known as the Carina Nebula, it is beautiful when observed through a small telescope.

IC 2602. Its brightest member, the star Theta (θ) Carinae, can actually be seen with the naked eye. If you focus your binoculars on the cluster, you can see about 24 other sparkling stars. Around four VELA Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


32

Gamma Velorum, 1.8

Velorum

Vel

February–April

The constellation Vela, the Sails, was once part of a larger constellation called Argo Navis, the Ship. Vela can be found in the night sky near the other parts of the ship, notably the constellations Carina, the Keel, and Puppis, the Stern.

ANTLIA

PYXIS

ψ

NGC 3132

–40º

λ PUPPIS

VELA

NGC 3201

γ μ

IC 2395 NGC 3228

–50º

φ

CENTAURUS

κ

ο IC 2391

NGC 2547

δ

IC 2488

8h

CRUX

6 PM

PICTOR

9h

CARINA

VOLANS

9 PM

Acrux

10h

11h

3 PM MIDNIGHT

Capella NOON

Castor

GEMINI 30°

Pollux Pleiades 14

LEO

15

20°

TAURUS

Aldebaran

19

12

PISCES

12

Hyades

CANCER

12

ARIES

13

17

15

15

Betelgeuse

16

Bellatrix

Procyon

17

11

Regulus

10°

18 11 18

12 13

0°

Mira Rigel –10°

E N I N G E V

S K Y

–20°

POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS This chart shows the positions of the planets in March from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on March 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

–30° 19

PISCES

18 17 16

15 14 13

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Mars’s position on March 15, 2011

11

CETUS

EXAMPLES

11

12

Neptune

11

Saturn’s position on March 15, 2011 The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125) URANUS


MARCH NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH This month, look out for three beautiful star clusters in Taurus in the southwest: the Pleiades, M45, and the Hyades (see p.23). The Pleiades is arguably the finest open cluster in the northern skies. Although visible to the naked eye, it looks wonderful through all sorts of equipment—from binoculars to small, high-quality refractor telescopes. Other objects to spot in the vicinity are the open clusters NGC 1664 and NGC 1857 in Auriga, which are worth a look with a small telescope.

Date

Standard time


February 15

Midnight

1 am

March 1

11 pm

Midnight

March 15

10 pm

11 pm

April 1

9 pm

10 pm

April 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

LEO GEMINI

40ºN

Pollux Castor URSA MAJOR

60ºN

Big Dipper

AURIGA

Capella Ecliptic

38

URSA MINOR

Polaris

Aldebaran

Arcturus BOÖTES

PERSEUS

DRACO

CEPHEUS TAURUS

HERCULES

N on 20º Horiz

SERPENS CAPUT

CASSIOPEIA ARIES

The Pleiades Also known as the Seven Sisters, the Pleiades is a beautiful star cluster visible to the naked eye. It is a much-loved target of both astrophotographers and astronomers observing with binoculars.

Vega

Horizon 40ºN

W

Deneb

ES

Hori zo

T

n 60º N

CYGNUS

ANDROMEDA

EA

ST

LOOKING SOUTH Coma Berenices, Berenice‘s Hair, is a constellation located between Leo and Boötes in the west, and binoculars or a small telescope will reveal the scattered open star cluster known as Melotte 111, which lies within it. With a magnitude of 2.7, Melotte 111 is visible to the naked eye from a dark sky site. Other objects to look out for from northern skies include the three galaxies in Leo: M65, M66, and NGC 3628, as well as the double star Algieba, Gamma (γ) Leonis.

Zenith 60°N

URSA MAJOR 40ºN

Castor Pollux 20ºN

Algieba

GEMINI

Ecliptic

LEO CANCER

Regulus BOÖTES

Procyon MONOCEROS

Arcturus Betelgeuse

HYDRA

Aldebaran

ORION VIRGO

Horizon 60ºN

Spica

PUPPIS

Melotte 111 Also known as the Coma Star Cluster, Melotte 111 is an open cluster containing around 45 separate stars. It is a fine sight through a small refractor telescope or a pair of binoculars.

VELA

EA

LIBRA

ST

Sirius CANIS MAJOR Horizon 40ºN

Rigel

ERIDANUS

CENTAURUS

Canopus

CRUX CARINA

20ºN Horizon

W

ES

T

MA R C H

MARCH SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH The galaxy M104 is an interesting target for deep-sky observers using a telescope. It sits in Virgo, the Virgin, which lies to the east in the southern skies. Also known as the Sombrero Galaxy, M104 is famous for a distinctive lane of dust that sits across its faintly glowing form. A relatively large telescope can show the dark lane clearly, but even a modest telescope reveals the galaxy’s elliptical shape. Also in Virgo is the spiral galaxy M61; however, its low magnitude (9.7) makes it difficult to spot.

Zenith 40°S

PUPPIS

20ºS

CANIS MAJOR

HYDRA 0º

Sirius

Ecliptic

Regulus

Procyon

MONOCEROS

Spica

LEO VIRGO CANCER

Rigel

Betelgeuse Pollux

GEMINI

Castor URSA MAJOR

ORION Horizon 40ºS

Arcturus Aldebaran

Big Dipper

AURIGA

BOÖTES

Horizon 20ºS

W

Capella

ES

TAURUS

T

EA

DRACO

ST

The Sombrero Galaxy M104 is a good target if you have a large-aperture telescope. This stunning image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the prominent dust lane in great detail.

Horizon 0º

LOOKING SOUTH The globular cluster Omega (ω) Centauri is a must-see object for astronomers. A large telescope shows many of its stars, while binoculars show the cluster as a bright patch of light. In the west, the open cluster NGC 4755, the Jewel Box, in Crux, is a nice target for small telescopes and binoculars. Another western target is NGC 3372, or the Eta (η) Carinae Nebula, a little farther in Carina. NGC 3372 is visible to the naked eye against the Milky Way, with a dark lane of dust running through it.

Zenith 0°

20ºS

HYDRA

MONOCEROS PUPPIS

40ºS

Sirius CANIS MAJOR

VELA CENTAURUS

Spica

ORION

VIRGO

CARINA

Canopus

Ecliptic

CRUX

Rigel PICTOR

β Centauri LIBRA

α Centauri

LUPUS

Horizon 0º

ERIDANUS

OCTANS ARA Horizon 20ºS Achernar

SCORPIUS

EA

ST

Antares

PAVO TUCANA Horizon 40ºS

PHOENIX

WE

ST

Omega (ω) Centauri Lying 17,000 light-years away, Omega (ω) Centauri or NGC 5139 is the largest globular cluster in the Milky Way. At magnitude 3.7, it is visible to the naked eye in the constellation Centaurus.

39

AR

Hy ad es

S M

ran

NG U

LU M

AU

Ald eba

S

N

M3 6 M3 8 18

64

GC

16

1

N

GC

M3

57

7

R

M3 4

lei ad es )

TR

DR OM

PIS

(P

CE

M

ED A

SE U

A AN

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RI G

45

I ES 33

H

IA

W

ES T

M3

RU S

N O

R T 2

3

4

5

Variable star

pe lla

DA L

IA

IS

IO P E

M103

OP AR

4

L

C8 8

ME

Ca

CA

C

NG NG 86 9

CAS S

LY N

M81

UR SA M Polaris

CEPHE U S

M39

INO

Big Dipper

R

b Dene

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

X

M52

L AC E RTA

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

C

M2

9

DR

NU

O AC

CYG

M

S

10

1

POINTS OF REFERENCE

LYR

A

M3

a g Ve

M9

57

2

M

April 1

March 15

March 1

February 15

Date

M

13

N

O

R

TH

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

Arc

Zeniths

April 15


Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

UT

AP

SC

EN

RP

SE

TAU 1

ES

U M RSA AJ OR

MARCH | NORTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

ST

A

E

UL RC

ES

ÖT BO

VE

NA T IC I r iza M

ES AN

us tur

C B O O RO R E NA AL IS HE

51 M

M1


WEST

40

M5

R

L IBR

A

EA

83

ST

NG C 51 39

M 10 4

SO Ga

U

NT AU

cru x

CE

VU

C RU X

M65

Ecliptic

M66

3628

ATE R

S

CR

RU S

CO R

7

3

NO

R

S OUT H

SOUTH

C A N CE

M44

P Y X IS

M67

VO L A N S

V EL A

LO OK I N G

ANT LIA

H Y D RA

NS

lus

Reg u

MI

SEXTA

L EO

O

M48

R

x llu Po

r

sto

Ca

P

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

M9

3

7

M

s

JO

R

IO

N

Zeniths

pu no Ca

NI CA a

1

OR se

A SM

M4

us i Sir

r ha Ad

50

u lge te Be

M35


POINTS OF REFERENCE

I NA

OR

I NI

OS

M4

ER

IS UP P

M46

C AR

M

IS

N MI

GE M

C O NO

CA N

n

yo Proc

MARCH | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST

TH

M

ica

Sp

NGC

R

LE

CO

Be

60°N

SO

x

U

42

tri M

lla

TH

BA

VI

ge Ri

M5

M8

LU M

GO

M

S

l

40°N

20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

W

MA E S CO NIC E B E R 64

PU

111

LE

tte

ES T

lo Me

US Ecliptic

AN

SA UR JO A M

ER ID

M1

M A RC H N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 41

WEST


WEST

I DA NU

Rigel

Bell

H

atri x

S Ald

M42

OR 5

OS

M47

IN I

C M AN IN I S OR

GE M

M46

e M3

M4

M

5(

ad es yo n Pollux

1

tor

Cas

oc Pr

7

LI S

CE

us M3

DA

NO

N 36

Be 38

eb n

ara

pe lla

PE

RS E L OP AR

Ca

CA M

M

ge

IO M

RI

GA

tel

AU

T

M50

ES

MO

W

) des

ia Ple

EU

N O

R T

R

3

4

5

Variable star

M4 8

ER

M67

C ANC M44

H YD RA

M81

SE

AN XT

lus

u Reg

S

LEO

L EO MINO

R

Big

U R S A MA

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

LYNX

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

J OR er Dipp

DR A

ic

M6

CA

ipt

Ecl

CO

1

BE

SV

r iza

EN

40°S

M

NE

20°S


4

I

M6

IC AT

51

01

M

M1

N

O

0°

R

Standard time

Midnight

1 am


TH

Midnight

11 pm

40°S

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

9 pm

8 pm

20°S

Ecliptic

10 pm

OBSERVATION TIMES Date February 15 March 1 March 15 April 1 April 15

Zeniths

M5

ER S

2

EAST

Hy

US 1

53 M

Spica

GO VI R

04 M1

R AT E

CR

MARCH | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

ur

ES

Ar ct

us

ST

A

E

ÖT BO

3 M

87 M

CO RE MA NI CE S

R TAU

42

GO LU

RA

M4

O SC

Ant

M6

are

s

2

US

SO

U

A

TE

RM

LE SC OP

51

A

I UM

AR

uri

39

en ta

C

TA U S

aur i

X

S

4755

CI N U

ent

CIR

βC

NGC

CRU

Be cru x

ru x

Ga c

RU

TR I AN AU GULUM ST R AL E

EN

DRA

A

4

T U CA N

C 10

SMC

HY D R

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

ICU

M41

S

M LU

NI

Horizons 0°

20°S

EL

UM

UM

CA

Zeniths

X

GI

NI

O OL

E HO

40°S

P

r rna he Ac

R

AD

HO

R DO

O

BA

M LU CO

S 0°

SO

PU

LE

Sirius

OR

AJ M

POINTS OF REFERENCE

RET

R

s

CA

opu

TO

Can

Ad ha ra

PI C

P IS

US

PU P

LMC

A

SA MEN

NG

VO L A N S

C A RIN

S OUT H

SOUTH

I ND US

O CTANS

C H AMA E L E O N

MU S C A

V ELA

LO OK I N G

PAVO

APU S

Acru x

NGC 3372

TLIA

M93

MARCH | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

ST

NO

αC

NG

HY

AN

U

TH

X

NA

EAST

0

FO R

M8

T

LIB

I RP

EA

S

83

TH

la

au

Sh

PU

US 20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

ES

M

E

US

AN

VIR RI D

V COR

C

W

PYXIS

Ecliptic

M A RC H S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 43

WEST

44


APRIL Although the nights in the Northern Hemisphere are getting shorter, there is still plenty of time to do some serious sky gazing. In the Southern Hemisphere there is plenty to see, including the magnificent arc of the Milky Way sweeping across the sky. NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS The magnitude -0.1 star Arcturus in Boötes sits in the west this month, and should be one of your first signposts. Find it by following the curve of Ursa Major’s handle, away from its “bowl.” Along this curve, past Arcturus, you will eventually

come across the bright star Spica in Virgo. Not far away from Virgo is Leo, and below these two constellations is a relatively empty patch of sky containing the long constellation Hydra, the Water Snake. SIGHTS OF INTEREST If you are using binoculars the Coma Star Cluster in the constellation Coma Berenices is a beautiful object to observe on a clear April night. Look out for the spiral The Big Dipper The famous asterism known as the “Big Dipper” sits high in the sky this month. It is part of the constellation Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and is sometimes referred to as the Plough.

40°

30°

9 AM

20°

LEO Size ranking

Brightest stars

Genitive

Abbreviation


12

Alpha (α) Leonis 1.4, Beta (β) Leonis 2.2

Leonis

Leo

March–April

The constellation Leo, the NES VENATICI Lion, lies between Cancer and Virgo. It is familiar to deep-sky observers because 30˚ it is home to many interesting galaxies. These include the galaxies M66, M65, and M96, which are 20˚ excellent targets for an amateur telescope. The constellation’s brightest star is Regulus, Alpha (α) 10˚ Leonis, which sits at the bottom of the famous backwardquestion-mark-like 0 ˚ “Sickle” asterism.

-10

10h

11h

LYNX URSA MAJOR

LEO MINOR

κ

μ ζ

54

72

δ

93

60

Algieba

ε γ

THE SICKLE

40

θ

β

tic

M105 M96

ι

χ∴ σ

η

LEO

NGC 3628

M65 M66

Denebola

λ NGC 2903

Eclip

α

Regulus

R

M95

31

ρ

π

ξ

ο 10

59 58

τ

HYDRA

NGC 3521

VIRGO

υ 87

φ

61

SEXTANS

˚

galaxy M81 in Ursa Major with a small telescope. With a large telescope you can seek out the Virgo Cluster, which contains many faint but interesting galaxies.

CRATER

star Vega, in Lyra, is highest in the sky. Although this shower does not create many meteors, they can be quite bright and fast; you can expect to see around 10 meteors over the course of an hour.

METEOR SHOWER The Lyrid meteor shower is best seen from northern latitudes and reaches its peak around April 21–22. The best time to view it is around dawn, when the bright

MIDNIGHT

3 AM

6 AM

Arcturus

PISCES 10°

13 11 11

Altair

16 18

0°

17

AQUARIUS

12 19

VIRGO

OPHIUCHUS

11 19

–10°

12

14

CAPRICORNUS

14 15

–20° 19

18

18

17

16 19

16

18

13

LIBRA

Antares 19 18

Fomalhaut

PISCES

17 16 15

14

19

18

17

16

15

14

SAGITTARIUS 13

13

12

SCORPIUS Shaula

11

12 11

AQUARIUS CETUS

URANUS

NEPTUNE

G I N N R M O

S

K

Y

A P R IL

45

SOUTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS As the skies get dark you will notice that the constellations scattered along the arc of the Milky Way come into view. In the Southern skies, Crux, also known as the Southern Cross, and Centaurus, with the bright stars Rigil Kentaurus and Hadar, or Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri, are visible. In the southeast, do not miss the bright star Antares in Scorpius. On the opposite side of the sky, you will see Canopus in Carina.

SIGHTS OF INTEREST This time of year is perfect for observing the dark nebula known as the Coalsack. You will find it nestled within the rich, bright star fields of the Milky Way. It is easily visible to the naked eye, sitting right next to Crux, or the Southern Cross. The Coalsack appears dark because it stops the light from the stars behind it from getting to our eyes. Not far from the Coalsack you will find the wonderful open cluster NGC 4755, the Jewel Box Cluster. It looks like a hazy star to the naked eye,

The Coalsack This dark nebula can be seen near Crux, the Southern Cross, with the naked eye. It is a vast dust cloud that blocks the light from the stars behind it.

NGC 3372, the Carina Nebula. The real star of the show is the stunning globular cluster NGC 5139, Omega (ω) Centauri, in the constellation Centaurus. A small telescope reveals many of its millions of stars.

but binoculars or a small telescope will reveal its individual stars. If you are observing with binoculars, make sure you do not miss two marvelous sights in the nearby constellation Carina—IC 2602, or the Southern Pleiades, and

There is relatively little going on in the sky overhead—this area is dominated by the long and winding constellation Hydra. However, you will find the bright star Spica in Virgo high in the east.

C RU X Size ranking

Brightest stars

Genitive

Abbreviation


88

Acrux 0.8, Becrux, or Mimosa, 1.3

Crucis

Cru

April–May

Of all the constellations Crux, the Southern Cross, is the smallest. The whole constellation should fit behind your outstretched hand at arm’s length. You can use two of the bright stars that make up Crux to trace a line in the approximate direction of the South Celestial Pole.

VELA –50º

CENTAURUS

–60º

μ γ CRUX δ λβ ε NGC ι β Centauri 4755 Coal- α θ1,2 sack Acrux ζ η

CARINA

MUSCA –70º

6 PM

12h

13h

14h

11h

3 PM

NOON

9 PM

Capella 40° MIDNIGHT

Castor

30°

GEMINI

Pollux

Pleiades

12 14

13 19

17

LEO

15

Aldebaran

12 Regulus

CANCER

20° 18

TAURUS

Hyades

16

ARIES

16

15

15 12

13

Betelgeuse Procyon

17 10°

Bellatrix 0°

11

14

Mira Rigel

17

–10°

Spica –20°


S

E

V

E

N

I N

G

K

Y

This chart shows the positions of the planets in April from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on April 15. Mercury is shown only when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For the specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

EXAMPLES

11

Mars’s position on April 15, 2011

11

Saturn’s position on April 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)


APRIL NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH Northern skies in April contain the open cluster NGC 188 in the constellation Cepheus. This cluster sits just south of the bright star Polaris, Alpha (α) Ursae Minoris, and is a nice target for a large telescope. For observers using binoculars, the open clusters M36, M37, and M38 in the constellation Auriga are still on show, as is the Double Cluster (see p.22) and the double star Mizar and Alcor. Also look out for the spiral galaxy M81 in the constellation Ursa Major.

Date

Standard time


March 15

Midnight

1 am

April 1

11 pm

Midnight

April 15

10 pm

11 pm

May 1

9 pm

10 pm

May 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

Regulus 40ºN LEO

Arcturus

URSA MAJOR

Alcor

60ºN

CANCER

Big Dipper Ecliptic

46

BOÖTES

Mizar

Pollux Castor URSA MINOR

HERCULES

Polaris GEMINI

DRACO

CEPHEUS AURIGA

Capella Horizon 20ºN

Vega

ORION

OPHIUCHUS

Betelgeuse Deneb

PERSEUS

M36 in Auriga The open cluster M36 is a truly wonderful sight when seen through a small telescope. It sits in the middle of Messier’s three famous open clusters in Auriga.

CASSIOPEIA

Aldebaran

W

Horizon 40ºN CYGNUS

ES

T

TAURUS

EA ANDROMEDA

ST

Horizon 60ºN

LOOKING SOUTH There is a lot to see in April for deep-sky and galaxy enthusiasts looking south. Virgo has galaxies that can be seen through a telescope, such as M84, M86, and M87. The globular cluster M3 in Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs, makes a good small-telescope target. Canes Venatici can be located between Ursa Major and Boötes high in the northeast of the April skies. A small telescope will help show the lovely open cluster M48 in Hydra, the Water Snake. M48 is a loose collection of 80 stars southwest of Hydra‘s head.

Zenith 60°N

URSA MAJOR 40ºN BOÖTES

20ºN LEO

CANCER

Arcturus

Castor Pollux Eclipt i

Regulus

c

VIRGO GEMINI HYDRA

Spica

SERPENS CAPUT

Procyon MONOCEROS

LIBRA OPHIUCHUS

The Virgo Galaxy Cluster Lying in the constellation Virgo, this cluster is thought to consist of an incredible 2,000 individual galaxies. Several of its brightest members can be observed using amateur equipment.

Horiz o

CENTAURUS PUPPIS

Horizon 40ºN LUPUS

EA

ST

SCORPIUS

β Centauri α Centauri

n 60

ºN

Sirius

VELA

CRUX

Antares

CANIS MAJOR

20 zon Hori

CARINA

ºN

W

ES

T

A P R IL

APRIL SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH In the west, Leo plays host to many interesting galaxies that can be seen with relatively modest amateur equipment. The spiral galaxies M65 and M66 can be spotted with a small telescope, while M96, M95, and M105 are excellent targets for large-aperture telescopes. They are found clustered around a region at roughly the halfway point between the stars Chertan, or Theta (θ) Leonis, and Regulus, or Alpha (α) Leonis. M65 and M66 appear as gray smudges of light through a small telescope.

Zenith 40°S

20ºS

HYDRA

Spica

Eclipti

0º PUPPIS

c

VIRGO

Regulus

Chertan

LIBRA

LEO

Arcturus

Procyon CANCER

URSA MAJOR

SERPENS CAPUT

BOÖTES

MONOCEROS

40ºS Horizon

Pollux

OPHIUCHUS

Castor Big Dipper Betelgeuse

W

HERCULES

GEMINI

Horizon 20ºS

ORION

ES

DRACO

T

EA

AURIGA URSA MINOR

Horizon 0 º

ST

M66 in Leo The magnitude 8.9 spiral galaxy M66 appears in the bottom right of this image as part of the famous trio of galaxies known as the Leo Triplet, which also includes M65 and NGC 3628.

LOOKING SOUTH By far the most impressive sight from southern latitudes is the great arc of the Milky Way galaxy. It stretches all the way from the magnificent region in the east around the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius, through Crux, Carina, and Vela down to Puppis and Canis Major. The bright, magnitude 0.8 star Acrux, or Alpha (α) Crucis, in Crux is a multiple star that can be resolved by a small telescope. The galaxy M83 in Hydra is an excellent large-aperture telescope object.

Zenith 0°

20ºS

Spica

VIRGO

HYDRA

c

𝛄 Ecli pti

40ºS

LIBRA

CENTAURUS

θ Centauri

CRUX

VELA

Acrux β Centauri LUPUS

SCORPIUS

PUPPIS MONOCEROS

α Centauri

CARINA

ARA

OPHIUCHUS

Canopus

Horizon 0º

OCTANS

CANIS MAJOR

Sirius

PICTOR

PAVO ORION

Horizon 20ºS

EA

SAGITTARIUS ERIDANUS

ST

Achernar TUCANA

Horizon 40 ºS

Rigel

WE

ST

M83 in Hydra The spiral galaxy M83 sits in the constellation Hydra. It can be found in the night sky sitting between the stars Menkent, or Theta (θ) Centauri, and Gamma (γ) Hydrae.

47


WEST H

W

rix M3

A

GA

IN I

UR I

elge use M

st 4

CA

U TA

RU M4

S 5(

M3 3

M3

lla

or

UM

Ca pe

Ca

37

GU L

Pollux

M

38

IA N

EU S

TR

RS

M

PE

GEM

5

36

ES T

bara

des n

) des

ia Ple

M1

N O

R T 4

5

Variable star

ME

L

884

LI S

LYN X

OP A

RD A

NGC

NGC

M10

869

3

UR S A MA J O R

CA SS I O

M81

EDA

P EI A

A N D RO M M31

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Big

URSA

C 18 8

Polaris NG

NE I CA AT N VE

L AC E R

CEPHE US

OR

per

Dip

MI N

M52

NORTH

N ORTH

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

DR

TA

O AC

BO

ÖT

b ne De

POINTS OF REFERENCE

M39

ES

C

M

13

ga Ve

A

US

R LY

GN CY 29

May 1

April 15

April 1

March 15

Date

N

O

R

TH

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

V

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

M

IS EAL Zeniths

May 15


Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

US

Bet

Hya

Alde

3

LA

CH

HIU

OP

er

ng

llat

2

UL

PE

CU

ha

at

Co

Be

1

Al

re o

ST

A

E

ES

UL RC

HE

N 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

bi

57 M

M

APRIL | NORTHERN LATITUDES

LOOK I N G

ar

OR

AB ON OR 92 M

CI

iz

51

1 10 M

S

M

OR I O

48

S

M8

M10

Ant

are

0

M4

US

TH

LI

EA

BR A

UP

L

ST

US

5

SO

U

Ecliptic

VI

3

O

M8

RG

ntau ri

β Ce

5139

TAU RU

NGC

C EN

a

Spic

M86

M84

M104

M87

CRATE

I

R

M

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

u

A

D HY

67

RA

M

44 M

C

ER


POINTS OF REFERENCE

A

VE L A

A N TL I

g Re

CA RIN

S AN S EX T

LEO

lus

C AN

P

S

48

Zeniths

I YX

M

yo

n Pr oc

R

S OUT H

SOUTH

C RU X

LO OK I N G

Acrux

Gacrux

CORVU S

64

Becrux

S

M

O LE

GE M

I

IN

S M

46

NI

P

U

60°N

SO

PU

CA

OR

IN M

NO

APRIL | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST

s

M

M1

PI

S

OR SC

PI

ON M

47

M

U UC2H M

TH

93

T CA

us

1

Siri

us

0

S 40°N

20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

E

ur

W

PU RO

OP HI

CA

OC E

S ct Ar M5

EN ES NI

SERP

ÖT 53

ST

BO M

OR

3

SM AJ

M M4

BE

Ad har a

CO RE MA NI CE S

U MA R S A JOR

Ecliptic

A PR IL N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 49

WEST

lgeu

N MO OC

OR I O M3

CA NI SM

IN

I

Pr oc y on

Ca st or

Po

M48

llu x

CA ER

X

M6 7

NS

L EO

M95

LEO

OR

AT E

M96 M105

R

M66 M65 628 NGC 3

A JO R Big Dipper

N 5

OS

R AU

IG A

N O

R T

RA

3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

COR

VU

S

M8

7

Planetary nebula

4

VI R

M6

GO

S

M

53

a M1

M51

ICE

Spic 01

lip

tic

rus ctu Ar

Ec

M3

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE

ER EN

r

T I CI VE N A

COMA B

C A NE S

Miza

DRACO

U R S A M I NO R

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

UR SA M

MIN

s

Regu lu

A XT

4

NC

M4

LY N

CR

IN

OR

EM

G

W

T

SE

ER

H

ES

HYD

se

2

BO

ÖT

40°S

Date

N

O

NA S RO LI CO R E A BO

March 15 April 1 April 15 May 1 May 15

0°

R

TH

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

ES

M5

Zeniths

S

Bete

1

ES

UL

RC

1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

Ecliptic


HE

EAST

2

M1

O

I PH

UC

13

M

T PU

CA

S EN RP

SE

4 10 M

APRIL | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

ST

A

E

HU


WEST

50

80

S M

M2

M9

3

M24

S

M

1

19 M

M2 6

M

M2

7

8

8

2

M6

9

M5

4

SA

G

AR ITT

IU

EA

S

H

ST

A ON ALI R CO STR AU

T

TE LE

US

SC OP

PI

IU

S

A

DU

RM

IN

A

NO

AR

M

RA

SO

U

TRI ULU

S

M AU

PAV O

ANG

CI N U

i

aur

CIR

ent

αC

139

SMC

IA

PHO E N

US HY DR

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

C

RE

OR

LU T I CU

P I CT

r rna he Ac

LMC

NS

M

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE

IX

A

P

IS

YX NA A RI

VOLA

V EL A

TL

MENS

AN

S OUT H

SOUTH

NGC 104

OCTANS

C H AMA E L E O N

TU CA NA

AP US

MU S C A

Acrux

LO OK I N G

LE

RA

Gacrux

RU S

C RU X

Becrux tauri

β Cen

C5

S TR A

NG

NT AU

HY D

APRIL | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

EAST

M2

au l

SC OR

es ar a

t An 62

US

CE

S

R

40°S

HO

UM

O

0°

I

SO

ER

N

U

ius

TH

US

M LU

CA

N DA

E CA

B

A

7 M4

M LU CO

Zeniths

GI

AD

O OL

R DO

s

IS

pu

PP

no Ca

PU

6 M4

3 M9

ra ha Ad

M50

41 M

VU Sir

IS

HU OR

AJ

OP

C H IU

M

0

T

M 4

Sh

M M

UP

L

S 20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

ES

M1 3

W

LIB

PU

C

LE

M8

ION Ecliptic

OR

OR

A PR IL S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 51

WEST

52


MAY In the Southern Hemisphere you will be treated to the richness of the constellations Centaurus, Scorpius, and Sagittarius. If you are observing from the Northern Hemisphere, you will see more subdued constellations, such as Hercules and Virgo.

C O M A B E RE N I C E S Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


42

Beta (β) Comae Berenices 4.2

Comae Berenices

Com

April–May

curving handle to find your way to Arcturus in the constellation Boötes. To its south, you will see the bright star Spica in Virgo. This month the

14h

37

β

50°

30°

16 14

31

NGC 4565

23

M64

20º

111 12 7

FS

BOÖTES

35

Arcturus

M53

α COMA BERENICES

M85

36 M91

LEO

11 M100

M88

M98 M99

10º

VIRGO

Finding the Pole star You can use the stars Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Ursae Majoris (right) in the Big Dipper asterism to find the location of the pole star, Polaris (center top).

40°

γ MELOTTE

41

bright blue-white star Vega rises in the east in the constellation Lyra, the Lyre—a celestial sign that summer is on its way. If you are observing the night sky from lower northerly latitudes, you can also glimpse the constellation Scorpius, the Scorpion, peeking over the southeastern horizon, led by the bright orange-red star Antares.

NOON

12h

13h

The constellation Coma Berenices, the Hair of Berenices, is not very prominent in the night sky. However, it does contain a wonderful binocular target, the magnitude 2.7 open cluster Melotte 111 (also known as the Coma Star Cluster), as well as the interesting galaxy M64, or the “Black Eye” Galaxy.

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS If you have a small telescope, point it at the middle star in the “handle” of the Big Dipper asterism in Ursa Major. This is the star Mizar, which has a companion star, Alcor, that can be glimpsed with the naked eye. A closer inspection of Mizar with a telescope shows that it is made up of a pair of stars. Once again, follow the Big Dipper’s

Size ranking

SIGHTS OF INTEREST For galaxy enthusiasts, the May night sky offers two relatively bright targets. The first is the Whirlpool Galaxy, or M51, in Canes Venatici. The second is the spiral galaxy M101, which sits to the north of the Big Dipper’s handle. METEOR SHOWER The annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks this month. Because the radiant of the shower lies near the celestial equator, it is not a great sight from far northerly latitudes.

6 AM

ARIES

MIDNIGHT

20° 3 AM

16

12

11

11

10°

PISCES

11 17 19

Altair 11

13

17

AQUARIUS

14

0°

OPHIUCHUS

Mira –10°

18

19 18

URANUS

17 19

19

19 18

PISCES

17 16 15

14

15 16

16 Antares

CAPRICORNUS 18

17

16

15

14

SAGITTARIUS 13

13

12

SCORPIUS Shaula

11

12 11

AQUARIUS CETUS NEPTUNE

M O R N I N G

Y S K

MA Y

53

SOUTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS Sitting high in the southern sky is the prominent constellation Crux, the Southern Cross. If you have a small telescope, be sure to point it at Crux’s brightest star Acrux, Alpha (α) Crucis, which is actually a double star made of two blue-white stars. The Milky Way rises high in the south this month, with Sagittarius and Scorpius sitting in the east— a clue that winter is on its way in the Southern Hemisphere. SIGHTS OF INTEREST Whether you are observing with the naked eye or a telescope, it is the globular cluster NGC 5139, Omega (ω) Centauri, you will want to focus on this month. You can see it easily as a hazy star with the naked

eye, whereas a telescope reveals many of its millions of stars in a tight ball. If you have a large-aperture telescope, turn it toward the fine spiral galaxy M83 that sits in the constellation Hydra.

C E N T A U RU S Brightest stars

Genitive

Abbreviation


9

Alpha (α) Centauri -0.3, Beta (β) Centauri 0.6

Centauri

Cen

April–June

LIBRA The large constellation Centaurus, the Centaur, sits within the –30º rich star fields of the Milky Way. It is home to what is arguably the finest globular cluster in –40º η the whole night sky—the magnificent Omega (ω) LUPUS Centauri, or NGC 5139. The constellation’s two brighest stars are Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri, known more familiarly to astronomers as Rigil Kentaurus and Hadar. CIRCINUS The constellation is fully visible between the latitudes of 25°N and 90°S.

METEOR SHOWER Caused by the dust left over from Comet Halley entering our atmosphere and vaporizing, the Eta (η) Aquarid meteor shower peaks every year around May 5–6. You can expect to see roughly 30 meteors an hour. The meteors appear to be coming from a point near the star Eta (η) Aquarii, in Aquarius, and tend to be quite fast moving. The farther south you are, the better view of the shower you will get. Spectacular star fields Looking into the southern night sky in May, you cannot miss the bright stars Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri (left). Nearby you will find the constellation Crux (right) and the Coalsack Nebula.

Size ranking

13h

14h

12h

11h

CORVUS HYDRA 4 1 2

3

ANTLIA

θ

CENTAURUS

ψ

φ ν μ υ1

χ υ2

NGC 5128

ζ NGC 5139

NGC 5460

ω

NGC 4945

ξ

1

ξ

2

γ

τ

σ ρ

ε

VELA

δ

NGC 3918

CRUX

ο1,2

(β) centauri

R

π

NGC 3766

(α) centauri Acrux

λ

MUSCA

TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE

CARINA

3 PM NOON 6 PM

50°

Capella

40°

9 PM

Castor Pollux

12

GEMINI

MIDNIGHT

14 19 18

15 14

CANCER 15

LEO

Arcturus

30°

TAURUS 13

Pleiades 15 13

17

15

20°

Aldebaran Hyades

12

10°

Regulus

Betelgeuse

16 Procyon

Bellatrix 0°

11 14

VIRGO

17 12

Rigel –10°

13

Spica

14 18

LIBRA POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS

S

E

V

E

N

I N

K

Y

This chart shows the positions of the planets in May from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

G

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on May 15. Mercury is shown only when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

EXAMPLES

11

Mars’s position on May 15, 2011

11

Saturn’s position on May 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)


MAY NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH The globular cluster M13 in Hercules is a prominent feature in May. It is located roughly a third of the way along a line between the stars Eta (η) and Zeta (ζ) Herculis. Although M13 can be seen with binoculars, a telescope shows it more clearly. Larger aperture telescopes can show a multitude of the cluster’s stars. Another object to look out for is the planetary nebula NGC 6543 in Draco, which is best suited to larger telescopes.

Date

Standard time


April 15

Midnight

1 am

May 1

11 pm

Midnight

May 15

10 pm

11 pm

June 1

9 pm

10 pm

June 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

40ºN

URSA MAJOR

LEO

BOÖTES

60ºN

HERCULES

ζ

η

Big Dipper DRACO

URSA MINOR

Ecliptic

54

ψ Draconis Vega

CANCER

Pollux

CYGNUS

CEPHEUS

Castor

Deneb GEMINI

on 2 0ºN

AQUILA

Capella

Procyon

NGC 6543 This magnitude 8.1 nebula, also known as the Cat’s Eye Nebula, is best suited for larger telescopes and appears as a bluish disk. It is 3,600 light-years away from Earth.

Horiz

CASSIOPEIA

AURIGA

Horizon 40ºN

W

ES

ANDROMEDA zon Hori

T PEGASUS

PERSEUS

Altair

N 60º

EA

ST

LOOKING SOUTH There are several notable globular clusters worth observing in May’s night sky. M10 in the east, at the heart of the constellation Ophiuchus, is visible with binoculars. Just northwest of M10 but also in Ophiuchus lies another cluster, M12, which is a fine sight through a small telescope. Moving up a little, the globular cluster M5 appears over the border in the southern part of Serpens Caput, the Snake’s Head. Kappa (κ) Boötis is a double star in Boötes, visible through a small telescope.

Zenith 60°N

κ

URSA MAJOR 40ºN

BOÖTES

20ºN

Arcturus HERCULES

LEO SERPENS CAPUT

Ecliptic VIRGO

Spica

OPHIUCHUS LIBRA SERPENS CAUDA

CANCER

Regulus

HYDRA

Horiz on

Antares LUPUS

M10 in Ophiuchus The magnitude 6.6 globular cluster M10 lies 14,000 light-years from Earth, and is a little over 80 light-years in diameter. It is a wonderful target for a small amateur telescope.

CENTAURUS

EA

60ºN

Horizon 40ºN

SCORPIUS

SAGITTARIUS

β Centauri

ST ARA

α Centauri

CRUX VELA

o Horiz

ºN n 20

W

ES

T

MA Y

MAY SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH In the east, several star clusters are on view in the constellation Ophiuchus this month. Besides the globular clusters M10 and M12, there is the magnitude 4.6 open cluster NGC 6633, roughly the same size as the full Moon on the sky. Composed of 30 stars, this open cluster is a wonderful sight through a small telescope. Northwest of NGC 6633 is another large and scattered open cluster, IC 4665, which lies close to the star Cebalrai, or Beta (β) Ophiuchi, and is easily visible with binoculars.

Zenith 40°S

CENTAURUS

20ºS

HYDRA

SCORPIUS

Spica Antares LIBRA

0º VIRGO

OPHIUCHUS SERPENS CAPUT

Arcturus

LEO

SERPENS CAUDA

BOÖTES

Cebalrai

Regulus Eclip tic

HERCULES n 40ºS Horizo

CANCER

URSA MAJOR

Big Dipper DRACO

Horizon 20ºS

W

ES

Vega

Pollux

T

Horizo n0

EA

URSA MINOR

º

ST

M12 in Ophiuchus Discovered in 1764 by Charles Messier, M12 is a prime target for a small telescope. It is estimated to be between 16,000 and 18,000 light-years away from Earth.

LOOKING SOUTH The beautiful section of the Milky Way around Crux, the Southern Cross, including the dark nebula known as the Coalsack, takes center stage in the south in May. There are several fine open clusters on view in Carina, many nestled among the rich star fields of the Milky Way. NGC 3532 can be seen with the naked eye, but binoculars reveal its many twinkling stars well. The magnitude 4.2 cluster NGC 3114 is an interesting target for a small telescope, while NGC 2516 is a good target for binoculars.

Zenith 0°

VIRGO

Spica 20ºS LIBRA

OPHIUCHUS

Ecl ipt ic

40ºS

LUPUS

β Centauri

SCORPIUS

α Centauri

SERPENS CAUDA

HYDRA

CENTAURUS

Antares

CRUX VELA

ARA CARINA SAGITTARIUS Horizon 0º

Avior PUPPIS

PAVO OCTANS PICTOR Horizon 20ºS

EA

Canopus

CANIS MAJOR

TUCANA

ST

Sirius

GRUS

Achernar PHOENIX

Horizon 40ºS

WE

ST

NGC 2516 The magnitude 3.8 open cluster NGC 2516 sits roughly 3.5 degrees away from the star Avior, Epsilon (ε) Carinae. It contains roughly 100 stars and can be viewed with just a pair of binoculars.

55


WEST GE UR I GA

N

I NX

IN Cap ella

LY

M

M

I M

A 38

st or

M

O

44

M

T

Ca

lu x

Po l

M 36

ES

LE

ER 37

H

W

35

N O

R T 3

4

5

Variable star

OR

U

RS

AM A

J OR

SEU S

M81

69

M51

Mizar

NGC 8

C VE A N E N AT S I CI

r

pe

ip

gD

Bi

IS

4

Polaris

M101

DRA

CO

C A SS I O P E I A M103

A N D R O M E DA

LOOK I N G

BO

ÖT

N ORTH

NORTH

T R I A N G U LU M

NGC 88

CA M ELOP A R DA L

PE R

M34

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

ES

LAC

POINTS OF REFERENCE

EUS

NGC 6543

2

M13

CY

SU

S

b ne De

GA

GN

US

M

29

N

R

bir eo

O

Al

June 1

May 15

May 1

April 15

Date

Zeniths

TH

A

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

PE

9

TA

M3

ER

a

June 15


CE P H

M5

M31

Planetary nebula

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

M

M1

2

Altair

UL RC HE

ILA

AQ U

GIT

SA

CA NC

I NO R 1

er

ng

CAN IS M 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

VU

LP

EC

UL

ha

7

57 M

TA

S

I NU

LP H

DE

Ve g

A

92 M

ES

LY R

at

M2

Co

ST

A

E

R NO MI

SA UR

MAY | NORTHERN LATITUDES

Procyon

56

N

M1

1 M

M2 14

6

U DA S CA

M

M1

6

M1

M

M2

5

18

M2

M2

4

2

21

M

M2

8

8

M

7

SO

U

SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON 15TH MAY

7

M

23

6

tar es

AR A

SC OR

An

PI

US

M4

0

NO

M8

RM A

NS

M5

US

US

LI B R

LU P

T

C IN

PU

C IR

CA

A

α Centauri

M64

x Acru

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

x Gacru

U CORV

M87

S OUT H

SOUTH

C RU X

Becrux

M104

VIRGO

M53

CENTAURUS

M83

Spica

β Centauri

Arcturus

LO OK I N G

Ecliptic

A

S

COMA S CE BE R EN I

MAY | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST M

ST

US 9

S

EA

62

CH M1

R

TH

la

M

U HI au

9

OP 12

LE

Sh

M

M

U RC 10

PE

IS

N RO A L CO RE BO

M

SE

O LE Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N

POINTS OF REFERENCE

S

TER CRA

lus

S

LA

Zeniths

VE

AN XT

Reg u

SE

AN

TL

A

SO

U

60°N

I

M67

RA

TH

HY D

SERPE

E

T

XIS 40°N

20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

ES

HE

ÖT

W

BO PY

M3

8 M4

Ecliptic

M AY N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 57

WEST


WEST x

M6

us

LE O

OR

S

MI N

UR SA M

A JO R

E AT

O

AN XT LE

SE

4

NC

7

ER

N

N LY

A

O

R T

X

g Re ul

R

5

Variable star

M8

1

CO R

VU S M104

M87

M64

Spica

M53

I

VI R G O

rus

Arctu

M3

COMA BERENICES

VENATIC

M51

Mizar

URS A MI N

BOÖTE

OR

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

CA NE S

per

Big Dip

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

S

NA

P EN

M5

SE R

CORO

PU

T

LI S

CO

REA

A S C

BO

D RA

NGC 6543

M1

20°S

3


40°S

HE

LE

92

U RC

M

S

4

N

IC

O

0°

46

R

65

TH

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date April 15 May 1 May 15 June 1 June 15

Zeniths

LA

UI

7

1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

Ecliptic


AQ

0 M1

CR

DR c

E ST

4

EAST

33

66

RA

LI B

HY Eclipti

H

W

3

a

SE CA RPE UD N S A

M5

CA 1

Ve g

2 M1

M1

S HU UC

HI OP

C

NG

A

LY R

ST

A

E

M4

0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

2

MAY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

lu Pol

58

4

TUM 22

M

M11

ILA

EAST 54

SA

G

IT M 55

M

IC RO

EA

S

SO

U ST

PI UM

US

SC OP

GR

S

LE IUM

AR A

A

TUC

PAV O

RM

S

CI R CIN

ri

ntau

α Ce

A NA

US

4

MUS C

Acrux

A

S OUT H

SOUTH

Achernar

H YD RU S

x

Gacru

C RU X

S

C H A MAE L E O N

Coalsack Nebula

β Centauri

Becrux

RU CENTAU

NGC 5139

LO OK I N G

P HO E N I X

NGC 10

SMC

OCTANS

APUS

T RI A N GULU M AU S T R AL E

PU

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

A

M

VE

LA

Horizons 0°

20°S

A

40°S

RA

TLI

DO

AN

POINTS OF REFERENCE

M O GI U H O RO L

U LU

ANS

NGC 2516

VO L

LMC

INA

A

R NGC 3114

DR

DO

Ca

pu

s

Zeniths

no

P PU

S

0°

PI

SO

U

TH

M48

M

CR AT E HY

R E TIC

ME NS

CAR

NGC 3532

Planetary nebula

MAY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

6 M2

RO CO STR AU

TH

69

DU

7

IN

TE

la

CO

M

S

6

IU

M8

N AL A IS

NO

LU

M83

US

RV

S

XI PY

M

au

CO

Sh

BA LU M

M

US

T

5 M2

8

PI

TA R

An es tar

20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

ES

8 M1

3

SCU M2

M2 M

M9

7

1

U

OR SC US CH

Ad ha ra

ON O

CER

OS 7

AQ U M1

M4

6 6

3 M2

HI

M4

M1

OP 62

R AJ O

M9 M

IS M

M2

9

CA N

M1

1

0 M8

Ecliptic

M4

M4

W

CO

M AY S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 59

WEST

60


JUNE It is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, and with lighter evenings the time for observation is reduced. For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, the dark skies offer a plethora of celestial sights to look for, including the constellations in the Milky Way.

HERCULES

NOON

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


5

Beta (β) Herculis, or Kornephoros, 2.8

Herculis

Her

June–August 5

16h 17h 18h Hercules’ waist is formed by DRACO 50º four stars that make the CYGNUS 42 asterism known to υ τ 52 astronomers as the ι φ “Keystone.” The stunning σ LYRA 30 globular star cluster M92 40º M13 lies one-third of Vega η ρ 69 the way south along M13 KEYθ π STONE an imaginary line 68 30º ζ between the stars 104 ν ε ξ Eta (η) Herculis and ο μ λ Zeta (ζ) Herculis. δ 100 M13 contains 113 NGC 6210 109 β 106 20º roughly 250,000 95 HERCULES 110 γ 102 stars and can be 111 CLUSTER 93 ABELL 2151 easily seen with a Rasalgethi ω α pair of binoculars. 60 29 10º A small telescope shows it very well. AQUILA

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS Looking north Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, is clearly visible with Draco, the Dragon, wrapped around it. The tip of the bear’s tail is marked by the pole star, Polaris. If observing from a site with a clear southern horizon, you will be able to spot the constellation

Size ranking

Scorpius. Look out for the unmistakable bright star Alpha (α) Scorpii, Antares, shining with an orange-red tint. SIGHTS OF INTEREST If you have a small telescope, train it on M13, the finest globular cluster in the northern skies this month. It lies in Hercules, which is high in the sky at this time. Also look for another globular cluster M5, which

χ

BOÖTES

CORONA BOREALIS

κ

SERPENS CAPUT

OPHIUCHUS

sits in the head of the constellation Serpens, the Snake. These star clusters are roughly magnitude 6 and can be seen through binoculars. If you are an enthusiastic galaxy

9 AM

50°

40°

observer, use a telescope to reveal two well-known spiral galaxies, M51 and M101, sitting near the handle of the “Big Dipper.”

6 AM

30° 15

13

20°

12

15

Pleiades 19

ARIES 12

11

Aldebaran

MIDNIGHT

16

14 17

Hyades

10°

3 AM

11

11

PISCES Altair

Bellatrix

AQUARIUS

TAURUS

0° Mira Rigel –10°

18 URANUS

19

17

18

CAPRICORNUS

19

19

18

PISCES

17 16 15

14 13

Fomalhaut 18

17

16

15

SAGITTARIUS 14

13

12

12

11

11

AQUARIUS CETUS

M NEPTUNE

O

R N I N G

S K Y

Shaula

JUNE

61

SOUTHERN LATITUDES SIGHTS OF INTEREST There is no shortage of interesting objects to view from southern latitudes this month. A good place to start is the constellation Scorpius, which contains the stunning open clusters M6 and M7, both of which can be viewed with the naked eye. They sit not far from the Scorpion’s tail and a pair of binoculars shows them very clearly. There is also the open star cluster NGC 6231 nearby, lying close to the star Zeta (ζ) Scorpii. The magnificent globular cluster Omega (ω) Centauri in the constellation Centaurus is still on show. It is breathtaking when seen with a large telescope. Also in the south, not far away from Centaurus, in the constellation Crux, you can find the dark Coalsack Nebula. You can also view the spectacular Jewel Box Cluster and M83, a spiral galaxy in Hydra.

THE STARS June is a wonderful time for night-sky observers in the Southern Hemisphere. The rich star fields of the Milky Way galaxy stretch right across the sky from the southwest to the northeast. Scattered among them are the sparkling constellations Centaurus, the Centaur; Crux, the Southern Cross; as well as Scorpius, the Scorpion; Carina, the Keel; and Sagittarius, the Archer. High in the south you will see the constellation Lupus, while the distinctive shape of Scorpius will help you get your bearings. Its brightest star is the orange-red Antares. Be sure to scan your eyes across the beautiful star fields in the constellation Sagittarius, especially if you are observing from a dark sky site. Looking north the constellations Boötes, Hercules, and Ophiuchus are visible.

S C O RP I U S Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


33

Alpha (α) Scorpii, or Antares, 1.0

Scorpii

Sco

June–July

You cannot fail to spot the constellation Scorpius, which has one of the most recognizable patterns in the night sky. It is home to many excellent targets for an amateur telescope. However, to see the entire constellation in the night sky your location should be to the south of latitude 40 degrees north. Scorpius’ brightest star is the orange-red Antares, Alpha (α) Scorpii. It is a supergiant star with a diameter about 800 times that of our own star, the Sun.

ψ

–10º

ξ

Sco X-1

SERPENS CAUDA

–20

ν β

OPHIUCHUS Ecliptic

ο 22

SAGITTARIUS

Antares

τ

M6

RR

Shaula

κ λ –40º

ι

ε

NGC 6383

M7

2

δ 2

π

M4

1

LIBRA

ρ

13

SCORPIUS

LUPUS

μ2 μ1

υ

NGC 6124

NGC 6322

θ

α

M80

σ

η ζ

NGC 6231 NGC 6178

NGC 6388

NORMA TELESCOPIUM –50º

ARA 18h

17h

16h

NOON 3 PM

Sparkling Scorpius The distinctive constellation Scorpius is rich in deep-sky objects to observe, including the marvelous open clusters M6 and M7, found near its tail (top left).

50° 6 PM

40°

Castor

GEMINI

Pollux

15

MIDNIGHT

19

18

19 14

13 13

17

13 20°

LEO

Arcturus

15

CANCER Regulus 12

Betelgeuse

16

VIRGO

10°

Procyon

11

OPHIUCHUS

30° 16

9 PM

0°

17 12 14

–10°

13 Spica

14 15 16

16

18

LIBRA

19


Antares

This chart shows the positions of the planets in June from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

SCORPIUS

N G N I E E V

S

K

Y

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on June 15. Mercury is shown only when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For the specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

EXAMPLES

11

Mars’s position on June 15, 2011

11

Saturn’s position on June 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)

62


JUNE NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH One of the finest double stars of the northern skies is on show in the east at this time of the year. Albireo, or Beta (β) Cygni, in Cygnus is a must-see for any beginner due to the ease with which the stars can be separated. It can be seen through a small telescope, with one of its stars shining gold and the other with a blue hue. The open cluster M39, also in Cygnus, is another good small-telescope target, as is the variable star Delta (δ) Cephei that varies between magnitude 3.5 and 4.4 every 5 days and 9 hours.

Date

Standard time


15 May

Midnight

1 am

1 June

11 pm

Midnight

15 June

10 pm

11 pm

1 July

9 pm

10 pm

15 July

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

HERCULES

Arcturus BOÖTES

40ºN

60ºN

Vega DRACO

Albireo Big Dipper

URSA MINOR

URSA MAJOR

CYGNUS

Deneb

LEO

Polaris

CEPHEUS

δ Horizon 20ºN

Regulus li Ec ic pt

CASSIOPEIA AURIGA

CANCER

Albireo A small telescope shows the striking colour difference of the two stars, set against the star fields of the Milky Way in Cygnus. The magnitude 3.1 and 5.1 stars lie 380 light-years away from Earth.

ANDROMEDA

PERSEUS

Castor

Capella

Horizon 40ºN

Pollux

W

ES

PEGASUS

EA

GEMINI

T

ST

Horizon 60ºN

LOOKING SOUTH The constellation Boötes, the Herdsman, is high in the sky in June. Its brightest star Arcturus, with a magnitude -0.04, is a red giant star that is an incredible 25 times larger than our Sun. Also still on view, to the east of Boötes, is the globular cluster M13 in Hercules. Low down on the horizon is Scorpius, which contains some interesting objects, such as two open clusters, M6 and M7, and a globular cluster M4. Both M6 and M7 are visible to the naked eye and their individual stars can be seen through binoculars.

Zenith 60°N

DRACO

URSA MAJOR

40ºN

Vega

BOÖTES HERCULES 20ºN

Arcturus

SERPENS CAPUT

OPHIUCHUS SERPENS CAUDA

Altair

VIRGO LEO LIBRA

Antares

AQUILA

Spica Regulus

SAGITTARIUS Horizo n Ec

M6 in Scorpius A magnitude 4.2 open cluster, M6 can be found sitting not far from the “sting” in the tail of Scorpius, just north of M7. It is also known as the Butterfly Cluster.

t ic lip

SCORPIUS

60ºN

LUPUS Horizon 40ºN

EA

ST

CAPRICORNUS ARA

CENTAURUS

α Centauri β Centauri CRUX

HYDRA

N n 20º Horizo

W

ES

T

JUNE

JUNE SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH While there may be more impressive sights in the southern part of the June sky, there is also much to see when looking north, such as the globular clusters M13 and M92 in the constellation Hercules. There are also plenty of interesting clusters to look at in Ophiuchus. Besides the two globular clusters M10 and M12, and the open cluster NGC 6633, be sure to look out for the magnitude 4.2 open cluster IC 4665. It is composed of a group of 30 stars and is a lovely sight through binoculars.

Zenith 40°S

LUPUS SCORPIUS

Antares

20ºS

ipt Ecl

HYDRA

SAGITTARIUS

LIBRA

ic

OPHIUCHUS

0º

Spica

SERPENS CAUDA

SERPENS CAPUT

VIRGO

Arcturus HERCULES AQUILA BOÖTES

Altair

Vega LEO

ºS

Horizon 20ºS

Big Dipper

ES

on 4 0

DRACO

Regulus

W

Horiz

CYGNUS

URSA MAJOR

T

Deneb URSA MINOR

º on 0 Horiz

EA

ST

CEPHEUS

M13 in Hercules The globular cluster M13 in Hercules is a spectacular sight in a large-aperture telescope. A large Dobsonian telescope, for example, will show it as a ball of thousands of stars.

LOOKING SOUTH If you are looking south in the southern hemisphere, you will be met with a rich variety of objects visible with just the naked eye, or with binoculars or a small telescope. M22 in the constellation Sagittarius is an impressive magnitude 5.1 globular cluster, while the emission nebula, M8, is a fine target for binoculars. Meanwhile, Omega (ω) Centauri, arguably the finest globular cluster in the night sky, sits at the heart of Centaurus, the Centaur.

Zenith 0°

LIBRA OPHIUCHUS

20ºS

VIRGO

Antares SERPENS CAUDA

SCORPIUS

tic lip Ec

Spica 40ºS

ARA

LUPUS

α Centauri SAGITTARIUS

HYDRA

β Centauri

AQUILA

CRUX

CENTAURUS

PAVO OCTANS CAPRICORNUS CARINA

VELA

Horiz on 0 º

TUCANA GRUS

EA

Horizon 20ºS

Fomalhaut

ST

PICTOR PHOENIX

Achernar

PUPPIS

Canopus ERIDANUS

ºS on 40 Horiz

WE

ST

M8 in Sagittarius Also called the Lagoon Nebula, M8 can be seen through binoculars as a glowing patch. The view through a large telescope is mesmerizing, with several stars nestled in and around the nebula.

63


WEST CA

l Regu

H

W

E

us

X

UR SA

6

MA J OR

IGA

Big

I

A

Dip r

pe

Cape lla

M8 1

M51

UR

LEO l Po

GE

lu

M

IN

x

I

N O

R 8

TI C NA

OR

LY N

M 37 M3 M3

VE

IN

4

T

M

01

BO

M1

ÖT E

S

DRACO

Polaris

CAMELOPARDALIS

P E RS E US

NGC 869 NGC 884

M34

N ORTH

NORTH

r

LOOK I N G

iza

3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

EU S

2

U LU

M5

NG

IA

Vega

M

M

1

39

M3

CE LA

DR

A RT

AN

O

N

O

R

TH

40°N

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

US

S

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date May 15 June 1 June 15 July 1

Zeniths

July 15


POINTS OF REFERENCE

TR I A

OPE

C EP H

C A SS I

M103

Planetary nebula

5

1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

Ecliptic


M1

LA E CU

H IN U

DEL P

A

ES

M

M4

2

US

2 M9

ES UL

RC HE

CAN

Ca

ST

st or

O

ER 1

EAST

LE

NC 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

ne

LP

VU

Albireo 29

b

M

De

M57

CY GN

A

LY R

ULE

EQU

S

SU

GA

PE

ST

A

E

M27

ED

M

URS A M I N OR

JUNE | NORTHERN LATITUDES

M67

64

AQ UIL

A

ST

11 54

M 26

C

R ICO AP R

NU M

S 55

SA

G

AR IT T

A

IU

69

CO U S RO TR N A AL IS

M

M

U

S

EA

ir M

M 22

UT

SO

U

28

TE

M

L ES

7

1

CO P

M

M8

M2

M 6

M 14

I UM

23

A

M

UD

16

M 1 M 7 18 M 24

M

CA

AR A

ula

Sha

M9

OP

9

0

M12

res M4

S ER P E

LO OK I N G

α Centauri

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

us ri

3

S

VU


G

M

87

4 10

M

R CO

ux acr

GO

5139

RU

rux Bec

TAU CEN

BE

VI R

NGC

M8

ca Spi

M

64

CO R E MA N IC ES

POINTS OF REFERENCE

ntau β Ce

tic Eclip

S OUT H

SOUTH

CI RC I N US

LUPUS

LI BR A

M5

N S C A PU T

TR IANGULUM A US TR A LE

N O R MA

PIUS

M80

SCOR

Anta

M1

HU S

M1

UC

M62

HI

B

3 M

ur

S TE OÖ

53 M

Ar ct

JUNE | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST SC 25

S

EN

TH

Alta

RP M

SE M

A Zeniths

S

O

HY

C

TE RA

LE 60°N

SO

U

R

TH

A

A ITT S

DR

S AG

T 40°N

STAR MOTION

20°N

South

North

Ecliptic

S XT AN

P VUL

L ECU LE

SE

HE U RC

ES

M13

W

CORONA BOREALIS

J UN E N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 65

WEST


WEST

T

M

LE 87

M6 4

GO

VI ru s

Ar ctu

M3

1

r

Miza

S

M5

S CAP UT

D R A CO

CORO N A B O RE A L IS

PE N

ÖTE

S ER

BO

M101

RA

MI NO M5

ES

R

NI C

M53

BE RE

ca

L EO

I

CO MA AT IC

4

VE N

R

Spi

O M

NE S

SA

CA

UR AJ O

Big D ipp er

LIB

u Reg lus

R

N O

R T 2

3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

H

CU

OP

HE R

M13

Planetary nebula

2

LE S

M9

IC 4

M16

a Veg

665

NGC

A

663

40°S

LYR

20°S

UM

57

VU

Date

EC

U

G CY

LP

May 15 June 1 June 15 July 1 July 15

Zeniths

O

o re bi Al

N

0°

R

S

TH

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

M

3

M26

SE R CA P EN UD S A


M11

SCUT

M10

S 1

4 M1

TAN

ES

ic

Eclipt

H

W

UR S A M IN O R

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

0 M1

JUNE | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

EAST

S

LE U

UU

US

HIN

LP

DE

ST

EQ

air

TA

Alt

AG

IT

27 M

b

29 M

De

ne

A

E

LA

UI

AQ LA

US N

US CH

IU

12 M

S EX

66

CA

PR M

O IC

RN

M

C PI S

EAST

IS

30

AU

R ST

IN

OE NI X

TE TU

C AN

U

US

U SC

ma Fo

ut

lha

SO

A

IC

U ERI DA N

US

NGC 104

PAVO

Ache rnar

A

la

AR

au

ST

R TA PH

S

R CO ST U A

DU

M

M6

IU

Sh

P IU S A

M

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

C5

M83

DO

NS

PIC

Horizons 0°

20°S

RI N

A

40°S

s pu no Ca

TO R

CA

POINTS OF REFERENCE

D OR A

VO L A

A

x Acru

G

x acru

US

139

MUS C

C RU X

LMC

S OUT H

R E T I C U LU

ME N S A

C H AMA EL E O N

NG

AU R CEN T β Centauri Becrux

CIRC I N US

SOUTH

LO OK I N G

S

α Centauri

AP U S

H Y D RUS H O RO L O G I U M

SMC

OCTANS

TRIANGULUM AU S T R A L E

NO R M

SC OR

LU P U

VE

A LA

Zeniths

VUS CO R

0°

LI

CRA TER

T AN

SO

U

TH

TAN S XI S

20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

SEX

A BR

JUNE | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

EA

IN

SC OP

62

TH

T GI

TO R

55

M

LE

M7

LP

M

IU

SA

SC OP

M 54

RO

2 9

S

M6

S

M2 8

IU

M2

O RA NA LI S

M8

DR

M9

HY

M25

A

M17

S

M23 M21 M18 M24 M

PI

M19

PU P

t

T

An

ES

M4 res a

W

M80

PY

LI

Ecliptic

J UN E S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 67

WEST

68


JULY The northern night skies will continue to entice stargazers through the summer. High in the sky is Hercules, home to the magnificent M13. In the southern latitudes, the spectacular constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius are visible.

LYRA

you can find the Summer Triangle asterism, while the constellation Ophiuchus sits in the south. Look for Boötes in the west, with the bright star Arcturus at its base. Below is Virgo and its brightest star Spica. This is also an ideal time to observe the rich region of the sky covered by Scorpius and Sagittarius.

NOON

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


52

Alpha (α) Lyrae, or Vega, 0.0

Lyrae

Lyr

July–August 18h

19h

You can easily find the relatively small constellation Lyra, the Lyre, by locating its brightest star Alpha (a) Lyrae, or Vega. Vega is one of the three stars of the famous Summer Triangle asterism. The planetary nebula M57, or the Ring Nebula, is also in Lyra and is a much-loved target for amateurs. Larger aperture telescopes will show the nebula as a small smoky, gray ring.

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS The constellation Hercules is high in the sky this month and it is a good time to observe its celestial treasures, such as the globular cluster M13. Below M13 lies the winding constellation Draco, the Dragon. Toward the east

Size ranking

CYGNUS LYRA

R RR

ε

1,2

40º

η

δ1,2

θ γ λ

30º

α

Vega

κ

ζ1

β M57

M56

HERCULES VULPECULA

interesting globular clusters, such as M10 and M12. These clusters are visible with binoculars, while a telescope will resolve many of their individual stars. If you have a pair of binoculars, look for the open clusters IC 4665 and NGC 6633, also in Ophiuchus.

SIGHTS OF INTEREST The globular cluster M13 in Hercules is a must-see object this month, as is another globular cluster, M5, which can be found in the nearby constellation Serpens. Ophiuchus also has some

9 AM

URANUS 6 AM

50°

19 18

PISCES

17 16

Capella

15 14

40°

13 12 11

Castor

GEMINI

30°

3 AM

TAURUS

15 13

11 19

20°

13 14

14

11 17 12 Aldebaran

13

12

CETUS

Pleiades

MIDNIGHT

ARIES

Hyades

11

PISCES

10°

Altair

Betelgeuse Bellatrix 0° Mira Rigel

AQUARIUS

–10°

18 Fomalhaut 19

18

17

16

15

14

13

12

SAGITTARIUS

11

M Noctilucent clouds Look out for these ethereal high-altitude clouds after sunset and before sunrise in June and July. They can take on many beautiful forms.

AQUARIUS

CAPRICORNUS

O

NEPTUNE

R

N

I N

G S

K

Y

JULY

69

SOUTHERN LATITUDES SIGHTS OF INTEREST At this time of the year, the constellation Sagittarius offers some exceptional deep-sky objects. The striking globular cluster M22 is visible to the naked eye if you have good observing conditions. The Lagoon Nebula, or M8, lying above the spout of the “Teapot”, is a glowing cloud of gas and a stunning sight through binoculars. It appears as a misty patch with the star cluster NGC 6530 nestled within it. Other famous deep-sky objects in Sagittarius are visible through a telescope, including the Trifid Nebula, or M20. However, you can see one particularly bright patch of the Milky Way—M24—with just the naked eye. Beside Sagittarius, Scorpius contains the bright open clusters M6 and M7, which remain high in the sky this month. To the north in the constellation Serpens Cauda, the Tail of the Serpent, lies the open cluster M16 in the much fainter Eagle Nebula.

THE STARS Sitting high in the southern skies, Scorpius is easy to spot this month. Nearby are the constellations Sagittarius and the slightly less prominent Libra. Sagittarius is famous for the “Teapot” asterism formed by some of its brightest stars, and at this time it sits very high in the sky. When you look toward Sagittarius and Scorpius, you are peering toward the center of the Milky Way galaxy. This whole region is full of rich and beautiful star fields, which are a joy to explore using binoculars. A little lower in the sky are the bright stars Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri, also known as Rigil Kentaurus and Hadar respectively. Very close to them you will spot the smallest constellation in the night sky—Crux, or the Southern Cross.

S A G I TT A RI U S Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

15

Epsilon (ε) Sagittarii, 1.8

Sagittarii

Abbreviation


Sgr

July–August

20h

19h

AQUARIUS

The constellation Sagittarius, the Archer, is nestled within a mesmerizingly detailed part of the Milky Way. You can find it by first locating the “Teapot” asterism, which forms the constellation’s hub, close to a notably bright swathe of the Milky Way. A scan of Sagittarius with binoculars or a small telescope will reveal many rich star clusters and bright nebulae, such as the beautiful Lagoon Nebula.

18h

OPHIUCHUS

CAPRICORNUS NGC 6818

56 –20º

60

π ο ψ

52

ω

ξ1,21,2 ν

M55

SAGITTARIUS

λ

M22

M21

11

M20

M28

4 M8

φ

X M69

M70

θ1

M23

μ

TEAPOT

MILK DIPPER M54

–30º

M24

21

Nunki

τ ζ σ

59 RR

62

M17 M18 M25 Y

NGC 6716

43

ECLIPTIC

M75

SERPENS CAUDA

SCUTUM

υ ρ1

NGC 6822

ε

NGC 6723

W

γ

δ

Sgr A*

Kaus Australis

η

SCORPIUS Shaula

α

ι

–40º

CORONA AUSTRALIS

β1 β

2

TELESCOPIUM

INDUS

ARA NORMA

–50º

METEOR SHOWER When observing in late July, look out for the Delta Aquarid meteor shower, which peaks on July 29. If observing from a dark sky site you should be able to spot around 20 meteors every hour.

The galactic hub If you look toward the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius on a clear night in the Southern Hemisphere, then you are looking in the direction of the very heart of our galaxy.

NOON

50°

3 PM

40°

6 PM

Pollux

30°

17 16 14

Arcturus

MIDNIGHT

9 PM

19

LEO Regulus 18 17

15 15

13

20°

12

18

11 10°

CANCER

16 Procyon 0° 11

VIRGO

OPHIUCHUS

12

17 –10°

14

13 14

12

Spica

18

15 19

18

17

16

16

19

LIBRA


Antares

SCORPIUS Shaula

This chart shows the positions of the planets in July from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on July 15. Mercury is shown only when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

EXAMPLES

11

E V E N I N G

Y S K

Mars’s position on July 15, 2011

11

Saturn’s position on July 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)

70


JULY NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH Ursa Major, the Great Bear, is home to several galaxies that can be seen with amateur equipment. M81, or Bode’s Galaxy, appears as a fuzzy, gray blob through binoculars or a small telescope. The double star Alcor and Mizar is also worth a look while enjoying the sights of Ursa Major. In the east Cygnus, the Swan, looks magnificent at this time of the year. The more adventurous deep-sky observers should try to hunt down NGC 7000, the North America Nebula, just southeast of the star Deneb.

Date

Standard time


June 15

Midnight

1 am

July 1

11 pm

Midnight

July 15

10 pm

11 pm

August 1

9 pm

10 pm

August 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

HERCULES

40ºN

Vega BOÖTES

CYGNUS 60ºN

Arcturus

Deneb

DRACO

Mizar

CEPHEUS

Alcor URSA MINOR

URSA MAJOR

Polaris

Big Dipper

CASSIOPEIA ANDROMEDA

Horizon 20ºN

PEGASUS

PERSEUS LEO

Alcor and Mizar The double star system of Alcor and Mizar is visible to the naked eye. You can find it in the handle of the famous Big Dipper (Plough) asterism in the constellation Ursa Major.

W

Horizon 40ºN

Capella

ES

PISCES

T

GEMINI

AURIGA

Castor

Pollux

EA

ST

Horizon 60ºN

LOOKING SOUTH One prominent marker of the night sky in the northern summer is the asterism known as the Summer Triangle. The corners of this large isosceles triangle are formed by the three bright stars Altair, Vega, and Deneb. Another interesting sight is the multiple star system, the “Double-Double” (see p.86) or Epsilon (ε) Lyrae, in Lyra. Viewing it with binoculars shows a pair of stars, but, closer inspection with a telescope reveals that each of these stars is a pair of stars itself.

Zenith 60°N

DRACO

Epsilon (ε) Lyrae

Deneb

40ºN

Vega

HERCULES

CYGNUS

BOÖTES

20ºN

SERPENS CAPUT

AQUILA

Altair

Arcturus

OPHIUCHUS

SERPENS CAUDA

PEGASUS

LIBRA

Antares

c Eclipti

AQUARIUS

Horizon

VIRGO 60ºN

Spica

SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORNUS

The Summer Triangle This asterism is a useful navigational aid when finding your way around the summer night sky. Look for dark lanes in the Milky Way that cut across the triangle through Cygnus and beyond.

SCORPIUS

Horizon 40ºN

ARA

EA

ST

Horiz

on 2 0 ºN

CENTAURUS LUPUS

HYDRA

W GRUS

PAVO

α

ES

T

JULY

JULY SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH The wonderful globular cluster M5 is high in the sky at this time. It is roughly 25,000 light-years away from Earth, toward the constellation Serpens Caput. A small telescope brings many of its outer stars into focus. A short hop east over Ophiuchus into Serpens Cauda you will find the open cluster M16 surrounded by the much fainter Eagle Nebula. This cluster can be observed with a pair of binoculars. Also look out for Alpha (α) Librae, a double star in the constellation Libra, the Scales.

Zenith 40°S

SCORPIUS

SAGITTARIUS

Antares

20ºS

LIBRA

Ecl ipt ic

SERPENS CAUDA 0º

OPHIUCHUS

Zubenelgenubi

CAPRICORNUS AQUILA

SERPENS CAPUT

Altair

Spica HERCULES

AQUARIUS

Arcturus Vega

BOÖTES

CYGNUS

VIRGO izon Hor

40ºS

Deneb DRACO PEGASUS

Horizon 20ºS

W

ES

T

Ho r i zon

URSA MAJOR

0º

EA

ST

CEPHEUS

URSA MINOR

Alpha (α) Librae The second brightest star in Libra is called Zubenelgenubi (Arabic for “the Southern claw”). It is a binary star system, and a pair of binoculars easily shows its two stars.

LOOKING SOUTH The “Teapot” asterism, made of eight stars, lies among the stars of the Milky Way in the constellation Sagittarius. Its stubby spout is marked by the stars Gamma (γ), Epsilon (ε), and Delta (δ) Sagittarii, while Phi (ϕ), Sigma (σ), Zeta (ζ), and Tau (τ) make its handle. Scattered around the Teapot are some interesting binocular and small-telescope targets, including the bright Lagoon Nebula M8, the magnitude 4.6 open cluster M25, and the globular cluster M22.

Zenith 0°

OPHIUCHUS

SERPENS CAUDA 20ºS

AQUILA

tic lip Ec

φ σ ε τ ζ

δ γ

Antares SCORPIUS 40ºS

LIBRA

SAGITTARIUS

LUPUS

ARA

VIRGO

CAPRICORNUS

α Centauri

PAVO

AQUARIUS

Spica

β Centauri

GRUS

HYDRA

CRUX

OCTANS

CENTAURUS

TUCANA

Fomalhaut

Horizon 0º

PHOENIX

Achernar

EA

ST

CARINA

PICTOR ERIDANUS

Canopus

Horizon 20ºS VELA

ºS n 40 Horizo

WE

ST

M22 in Sagittarius A small telescope shows many of M22’s brightest stars. It is the third-brightest globular cluster in the sky and can be seen with just the naked eye in particularly dark and clear skies.

71


WEST O

7

LE

A N N AT ES IC I

64

C

U

RS A

M3

M AJO R

M5 1

S

E ÖT

MI NI

R tor

GE Cas

BO

OR

A COM ICES EN

O

T

VE

2

3

4

5

Variable star

LYN X

Miza r

M101

M81

Globular cluster


O

SA

D RAC

UR

M 92

H E RC U L E S

M IN O R

Polaris

AURIGA M38

Diffuse nebula

R LY

A

Planetary nebula

CY

G

PH

EU

S

NG

C

70

00

M

A

52

C8

3

S

69

SEU

NG

M10

P EI

884

SIO

NGC

PE R

L

4

AN

M3

DR

OM

ED

M

A

31

TR

IA

NG

AR

U

O

IE

N

R

Midnight

Standard time

11 pm

Midnight

1 am


TH

11 pm

10 pm

Ecliptic

10 pm

20°N

9 pm

40°N

9 pm

60°N

8 pm

OBSERVATION TIMES Date June 15 July 1 July 15 August 1

Zeniths

August 15


POINTS OF REFERENCE

S

CAS

DALI

CE

CAMELOPAR

Capella

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

Open cluster

EAST

De

M

N 1

ES

P ISC

TA

ER AC

9 M2

b ne 9 M3

S

NU

S

P E G A SU M

BE R M

IN

H

W

ES T

r

M8

0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

M

LU

33

ST

A

E

S

Big Dippe

JULY | NORTHERN LATITUDES

LE O

72

S 2

U AQ

I AR US 30

IS S SC U P I RI N ST AU

SO

U ST

M

IN DU

S

M55

ITTA

1

M54

M22

M69

M25

SCUM26 T UM

M1

A

M28

M17 M18 M24

M16

CU

S

M19

M62

M12

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

N RO L CO REA BO

A

SE R

IS P

ES CA

S

us


PU

RA

LU

L IB

M5

ur Ar ct

ÖT

BO S EN

T POINTS OF REFERENCE

MA

M4

N OR

M80

res

Anta

HUS

M10

LE

O P H I UC

R HE

S OUT H

SOUTH

Shaula

M6

M9

LO OK I N G

PAVO

M7

M21

M14

A RA

M23 M8

SE R P C AU E N S DA

COR AU S O N A TRAL IS T EL ES C O P IUM

RIUS

A

UL

13

JULY | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST M

EA

M

H

EU IU

S S AG

A

SC OP

r

RO

S

tai

IC

NU

ptic

IL

T QU

EC

LP

T

M

EQ L UU IC OR

L NU

PR

DE

I PH Ecli

Al

CA

M15

S

TA

GI PU

SA N

US

Zeniths

CE

UR TA

C BE OMA M53 R E NI CE S

D HY

60°N

SO

U

83

G

U AS 27

M

M

TH

RA

O RG

PE

VU

VI

S NU ica

eo bir

Sp

Al

T

G 57

40°N

20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

ES

M

A

W

CY R LY 4 M10

a

US

g Ve

CO RV

M

Ecliptic

J UL Y N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 73

WEST


WEST M

M 53

A

SE

M5

RP E

O

NS

CO R

CA

NA

PU T

B OR EA L IS

M

M13

12

O

PH I

NI CE M92

H E RC U

M14

L ES

UCHU S

9

01

rct uru s

M1

MI NOR

M2

3

16

17

M

M

EN S S E RP A D C AU

LYRA

Vega

26

S

N

VE

S I NE T I C CA N A

O

R T 3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

M

11

Planetary nebula

VU

M57

A

LA

UL

UI

EC

AQ

LP

S

o ire Alb

NU

EUS

C YG

C EP H

Al

r i ta

9

DE

HI

M

52

Date

LA

June 15 July 1 July 15 August 1

CE

August 15

Zeniths

A RT

N

O

0°

R

TH

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

9

LP

M3

40°S

b ne De

A TT 27

GI SA M

M2

20°S


M2

S

R IU

5 M2

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

UR SA

M

B

M 3

M 51

O Ö TE S

GO

RE M R

10

64

A

AJ O

r

Mi za

DRA CO

M

BE

UR S

T

RA

A

H

W

ES

LIB

M CO 2

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

EAST

VIR

7

1

S

SU

UA

AQ

ED A

S

LEU

UM

UT

SC

M

M M2 18 4

JULY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

PE

GA

DR OM

AN

ST

A

E

5 M1

UU

EQ S

NU

M8

74

A

A QU S CI US P IS R IN ST AU

RI al ha

m Fo

SC

EAST

P UL

TO

R

SO

U

X

ER ID AN

OP

IU M

US

Ach ern ar

SC

US

RO L

NGC

A NA

HO

TUC

IN D

RE TI

M

SMC

OG I U

104

US

9 M1

s anopu C

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

A

Planetary nebula

βC

i aur

Horizons 0°

C5

139

C RU

20°S

40°S

X

x cru Ga

NG

POINTS OF REFERENCE

I NA

ux Acr

rux Bec

ent

US

CAR

CA

NUS

MUS

P LU

ri ntau

α Ce

EO N NS VO L A

P I CTO R

C H AM A E L

AP U S

RM

CIR C I

NO

OR SC

0 M8

CE

83

LA

RU

S

Zeniths

VE

AU NT

O RG 0°

VI

SO

U

TH

4 M10

A

A

BR

LI

62 M

S OUT H

SOUTH

D OR AD O

LMC

An

UM GUL TR I AN ALE R AU S T

ARA

Shaula

MEN SA

OCTANS

M6

LO OK I N G

CULUM

S

PAVO

ESCO

HYD RU

TEL

M7

PI U M

C AU O R O S T NA RA L IS

tar es

US PI

S

VU

M4

JULY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

US

ST

ut

EA

NI

0

OE

RO

TA

H

M3

S

US

NU

IC

IT

T

PH

GR

OR RIC M

RI

55

M

G SA CO R

M 54

R 20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

E

M

W

CAP 9

DR

M6

HY

2

IA

M2 8

TL

M2

AN

M8

CR AT E

M21

ST

Ecliptic

Ecliptic

J U L Y S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 75

WEST

Spica

76


AUGUST

CYGNUS

On a warm August evening the most prominent feature from northern latitudes is the large Summer Triangle asterism. From the Southern Hemisphere, the magnificent center of the Milky Way is still sitting high in the sky. NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS Directly overhead is the bright star Vega in Lyra, as well as Deneb, which marks the tail of the constellation Cygnus. The shape of Cygnus means it is often called the Northern Cross. In the south, the rich regions around Scutum, Scorpius, and Sagittarius are sinking away.

SIGHTS OF INTEREST When observing Cygnus, look out for the Cygnus Rift. This dark lane of dust sits in front of the background stars and appears to split the Milky Way into two. Also look out for the Wild Duck Cluster, M11, in Scutum. It is clearly visible through binoculars.

Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


16

Alpha (α) Cygni, or Deneb 1.3

Cygni

Cyg

August–September 19h

22h

The constellation Cygnus, the Swan, is easy to recognize due to its large “cross” shape. Its brightest star Deneb, has magnitude 1.3, and marks the swan’s tail. The swan’s head is marked by the gorgeous double star Albireo, Beta (β) Cygni. A small 40º telescope reveals the two stars—one gold, the other tinted blue. Binoculars are perfect for exploring Cygnus’s beautiful star fields and clusters.

60

20h

21h

˚

60º

CEPHEUS 33

LACERTA 50º

63

M39

55

ρ

ξ

57

NGC 7000

72

σ υ

30º

μ1

α ο1

30

γ

ν

Cyg A

LYRA

22

M29

λ ε

29 28

47

52

Vega

15

P

Cyg X-1

39

NGC 6992

ζ

δ

Deneb

61

τ

θ

ο2

ω1

59

ι

NGC 6826

CYGNUS

π2 W

κ

ψ

π1

η

8 17

χ

φ

41

β2

Albireo

VULPECULA

METEOR SHOWER One of the finest meteor showers of the year, the Perseids peak around August 12. This is a great

9 AM 6 AM NOON

opportunity to lie back, take in the night sky, and hopefully see some meteors too—you should be able to spot one every minute or so. The meteors appear to come from the northern parts of Perseus. They are typically quite bright and are best seen after midnight.

Capella NEPTUNE

3 AM

50°

19

16

11 15

TAURUS 13

14

14 18

15

14

13

12

GEMINI

Pollux 15

20°

17

Castor

40°

30°

18

13 17

19

Pleiades

AQUARIUS

11 12

12

Aldebaran Hyades

12

17

11

11

PISCES CANCER

Betelgeuse Procyon

Bellatrix

AQUARIUS

0° Mira –10°

Rigel

19 18

Fomalhaut

PISCES

17 16 15

M

14 13 12 11

Perseid meteors The warm nights in August are a great time to sit back and watch the Perseid meteor shower unfold in the night sky above you.

O

R

N

I N

G

S

CETUS URANUS

K

Y

AUGUST

SOUTHERN LATITUDES

SCUTUM

Austrinus. Between Fomalhaut and the stars of Scorpius are the stars of the constellations Grus, Tucana, Pavo, and Ara. With clear skies you should have little trouble seeing the Small Magellanic Cloud sitting to the west of the star Achernar in Eridanus.

THE STARS When observing from southern latitudes you can find Sagittarius, the Archer, lying almost overhead; to its southwest lies Scorpius, the Scorpion. Low on the southwest the bright stars Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri, also known as Rigil Kentaurus and Hadar, are sinking below the horizon, taking Centaurus with them. Low on the horizon between the stars of Centaurus and Scorpius is the constellation Lupus, the Wolf. In the east the bright star Fomalhaut lies in the constellation Piscis

77

SIGHTS OF INTEREST With the rich regions of Sagittarius and Scutum visible high in the sky, you can take your pick from a superb selection of binocular and telescope targets this month. To experience a real space-walking feel, pick up

Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


84

Alpha (α) Scuti, 3.8

Scuti

Sct

July–August

19h

The constellation Scutum, the Shield, is relatively small—the fifth smallest of 88 constellations. It is located between the stars of Aquila and Sagittarius, close to the constellation Serpens Cauda, the Snake’s Tail, in a wonderfully rich and interesting part of the Milky Way. The Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius originally named it “Sobieski's Shield” in 1684, in honor of John Sobieski, the king of Poland at that time.

a pair of binoculars and “wander” along the Milky Way, from Scutum to Centaurus. If you have a telescope, the Lagoon Nebula makes a wonderful target in Sagittarius, and with a wide enough field of view you can also glimpse the Trifid Nebula, M20. Two interesting open clusters M6 and M7 are nestled among rich star fields in Scorpius, and both are

18h

OPHIUCHUS

AQUILA

ηβ R M11

ε

–10º

δ

α ζ

M26

SCUTUM

–20º

γ

SERPENS CAUDA

SAGITTARIUS

visible to the naked eye. The star field M24 in Sagittarius makes a great binocular target. Looking northward, you will find the planetary nebula M57, or the Ring Nebula. It is an interesting target for a small telescope, as is the larger planetary nebula M27, or the Dumbbell Nebula, in the constellation Vulpecula, the Fox. NOON

The Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius M8, or the Lagoon Nebula (bottom right), can be seen with just the naked eye and makes an excellent target for a small telescope. It appears nestled among the rich star fields of our galaxy, the Milky Way.

40°

3 PM

30° MIDNIGHT 6 PM

20°

9 PM

LEO

Arcturus

19 19 15

16

Altair 13

Regulus

10°

16 16 0°

OPHIUCHUS

11

VIRGO

CAPRICORNUS

13 14

18

14

18

12 17 12

–10°

Spica

15 16 18

19

18

19

17

Antares

16

LIBRA POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS This chart shows the positions of the planets in August from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

SAGITTARIUS

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on August 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Shaula

SCORPIUS

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

EXAMPLES

11

E V E N I N G

S K Y

Mars’s position on August 15, 2011

11

Saturn’s position on August 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)

78


AUGUST NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH Northern summer nights are the perfect time to admire the galaxy we live in. In August the Milky Way rises up from Auriga and Perseus in the northeast, stretching all the way across the sky into Scutum, Scorpius, and Sagittarius in the southwest. There are many objects nestled in and around the Milky Way that can be spotted with binoculars. In addition to the Double Cluster (see p.22), be sure to look out for the globular clusters M13 and M92. A large telescope will reveal the galaxies M81 and M51.

Date

Standard time


July 15

Midnight

1 am

August 1

11 pm

Midnight

August 15

10 pm

11 pm

September 1

9 pm

10 pm

September 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

CYGNUS 40ºN

Vega Deneb

HERCULES 60ºN

PEGASUS SERPENS CAPUT

DRACO CEPHEUS

BOÖTES

ANDROMEDA

URSA MINOR

Polaris CASSIOPEIA

Arcturus

zon Hori

URSA MAJOR

Big Dipper

PISCES PERSEUS

20ºN

Capella

The Milky Way Binoculars are the ideal way to explore the star fields of the Milky Way. The glow of the Milky Way on a dark night is the collective light of billions of the galaxy’s stars.

ARIES

Horizon 40ºN

W

ES

T

H or izon

it lip Ec

c

AURIGA

60ºN

EA

ST

Castor

LOOKING SOUTH There are two must-see objects if you are looking south in the Northern Hemisphere: M27, or the Dumbbell Nebula, east of Pegasus, and M57, or the Ring Nebula, south of Cygnus. Both these planetary nebulae are enormous shells of gas ejected by Sun-like stars as they die. The Ring Nebula is so named because it looks like a smoky gray ring when it is viewed through a telescope. The Dumbbell Nebula appears as a faint gray bow-tie shape through a large-aperture telescope.

Zenith 60°N

DRACO

Deneb

40ºN

Vega

CYGNUS

20ºN HERCULES

Altair

PEGASUS

AQUILA

AQUARIUS PISCES

SERPENS CAUDA

CAPRICORNUS

OPHIUCHUS SERPENS CAPUT

tic Eclip

0 ºN Horizon 6

SAGITTARIUS

VIRGO

Antares Fomalhaut

The Dumbbell Nebula Lying east of Pegasus, the Dumbbell Nebula can be seen as a fuzzy patch through a small telescope or a pair of binoculars. A large telescope reveals its intriguing shape more clearly.

CETUS

EA

LIBRA

Horizon 40ºN SCORPIUS

ST

Horiz on

ARA

GRUS 20ºN

PAVO

LUPUS

W

ES

T

AUGUST

AUGUST SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH The constellation Cygnus, the Swan, is home to two open clusters that make good, small-telescope targets. M29 sits very close to the star Sadr, Gamma (γ) Cygni. The magnitude 4.6 cluster M39 can be seen sparkling against the stars of the Milky Way. It has about 30 stars. Higher in the sky you will find Capricornus, the Sea Goat, which is home to the globular cluster M30 and Beta (β) Capricorni—a double star of magnitude 3.1 that can be seen with binoculars.

Zenith 40°S

SAGITTARIUS

20ºS CAPRICORNUS

β SERPENS CAUDA

Antares

0º

SCORPIUS

AQUARIUS OPHIUCHUS

Altair

AQUILA

LIBRA ptic Ecli

CYGNUS

SERPENS CAPUT

HERCULES

Sadr Vega Deneb

PEGASUS Horizon 40 ºS

VIRGO CEPHEUS ANDROMEDA

DRACO BOÖTES

Arcturus

W

ES

Horizon 20ºS PISCES

URSA MINOR

T

EA CASSIOPEIA

ST

0º Horizon

M39 in Cygnus The open cluster M39 covers an area of similar size to the full Moon and lies 825 light-years away. It is a nice target for binoculars or a small telescope on a clear night.

LOOKING SOUTH Sagittarius, the Archer, is now sitting high in the south, providing a feast of objects to observe. M17, the Omega Nebula, is a good target for a small telescope. It is a glowing cloud of hydrogen gas that resembles the Greek capital letter Omega (ω). The open cluster M23 and the Sagittarius Star Cloud M24 are also ideal binocular objects. A large telescope is needed to clearly see the magnitude 9 M20, also known as theTrifid Nebula.

Zenith 0°

AQUILA

SERPENS CAUDA

20ºS c ipti Ecl

SAGITTARIUS

CAPRICORNUS

AQUARIUS

OPHIUCHUS

40ºS

Antares

GRUS SCORPIUS

ARA

Fomalhaut

PAVO

LUPUS PHOENIX

TUCANA

α Centauri

OCTANS

β Centauri

Achernar CETUS

zon 0 Hori

CRUX

º

VIRGO Horizon 20ºS

EA

ST

LIBRA

ERIDANUS

CENTAURUS PICTOR

HYDRA

CARINA

WE

Canopus Horizon 4 0 ºS

Spica

VELA

ST

The Trifid Nebula The Trifid Nebula is an enormous cloud of gas 7,600 light-years from Earth. It lies in the constellation Sagittarius, and at its heart is a young cluster of stars that are causing the nebula to glow.

79


WEST

M

ct Ar ur

L EO

M5 1

R

ES M 101

r

LYN X

ACO

URS A M IN O R

GN CY

Polaris

US

b

HE

ne

De

CE P

C AM

N O

R

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

M81

DR

LY RA

Vega

Dip pe

ar

Miz

Big

M9

UL

IC E UR SA

MA JO

3

4

OR

RC

S

EN

IN

VE CAN N ES A TI CI

M

M1

M6

ER S

T

2

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

US

ELO

Planetary nebula

R PA

S

SS

LI

CA

DA

IO

P

M

4

NG

88

3

C

10

NG

7

C

86

lla

IGA

pe Ca

AUR

M3

9

PE

RS

6

8 M3

M3

EU

S M

34

TR

NG

O

IA

N

R

TH

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date July 15 August 1 August 15 September 1

Zeniths

September 15


POINTS OF REFERENCE

S AS U P EG

HE

E ÖT

53

T

BO

M3

W

ES

NA RO I S CO REAL BO

H

us

AB 1

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

ES

SC

PI

9 M3

AUGUST | NORTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

IES

ad

es)

AR

Ple i

5(

S

M4

RU

3 M3

UL

UM

A

ST

TA U

E

31 M

ED A

OM DR

AN

CE

LA 52 M

RT A A

EI

M CO

80

SC

P

E HO NI

AQ

TH ST

ut

US

al ha

RI

Fo m

UA

PT OR

EA

X

SO

U

PI SC IS

STR

INU

GR US

AU S

2

LE

15

RO S

LP HIN

PAVO

tic

M55

AQ U I L A

TA

M69

TELESCO

M28

P IU M

A CORONLIS A US T R A

M54

M22

M25

M8

M21

ARA

M6

M14

M23

M7

M16 M17 M18 M24

EN S S ERP DA U CA

S C U T UM

M26

M11

LA

S OUT H

SOUTH

A LY R

EC U HE

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

M

12

M

M4

80

MA

Zeniths

R NO

62

M

P OR SC

es ar 9 M1 Ant

US


POINTS OF REFERENCE

10

CH

M

U HI

ula Sha

M9

OP

S

LE

57 M

VU LP

SAGITTARIUS

SAG I T Altair

Eclip

US

7

ireo

Alb

LO OK I N G

I NDU S

M

S

COP IU

RN U

US

ICO

UU

PR

M IC

M30

CA

M

EQ

M

DE

M2

US

IU

S

SE

60°N

SO

U

LI

BR

C

NS

GN

US

RC U

AUGUST | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST UL

SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON 15TH AUGUST

US

RP E

M5

T AP U

A

CE T

TH

LU P

S CE 40°N

20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

W

P

IS US

T

PE

S GA

ES

9

GO Ecliptic

VIR

M2

CY

A UGU S T N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 81

WEST


WEST

VIR GO M5

NA

B

UT

P

M

M24 5

M

11

26

M

M17

UM AQ

A

6

A

C AP

NU

S

UU

US

EQ

HIN

U

US

LE

BO

14

ÖT

SC

C EP H E

eb

D E LP

OR RIC

M29

M27

Altair

SAGITTA

EC UL

U IL

VU LP

Albireo M57

CYGNUS Den

ES

N O

R

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

OR

LYRA

Vega

UT

M2

CA

A MIN

A

18

UD

M1

C

10

HI U HU S

RC

URS

UL E S

ACO

HE

M23

CA IS

M

S

AL 3

2

NS

EN OR E M1

M9

DR

PE

RP

T

M1

CO RO

H

W

ES

SE

us

T

P

2

O

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

M39

L AC

ER

2

TA

M5

20°S


CA

40°S

SS

PE

IA

Date

SU

DR

GA

AN

PE

July 15 August 1 August 15 September 1

ED

N

OM

September 15

Zeniths

A

O

0°

R

TH

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

IO

S

US

RI

UA

AQ

SE R

tur

1

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

EAST

ES

SC

PI

S

AUGUST | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

ST

A

E

31 M

M2

15 M

Arc

82

TH

TU

LP

ER

S

FO

RN

AX

A ID NU

S

SO

U IU

M

DO

RA

DO

Ach ern ar

X

R ET

IC U

RU S

Cano p us

SMC

LU M

HYD

CO PI

ANA

104

TU C NGC

US

RO S

IND

M21

C MU S

A

UM GUL T R I A N RA L E AU ST

AR A

S OUT H

SOUTH

C AR I N A

VO LA N S

LO OK I N G

PICTOR

LMC

I UM

A PUS

PAVO

TE LESCOP

CO R O N A IS AU S T R AL

9

M20

M8

M1 M2

8

M7

2

M6

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

U

i aur

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE

VE

i

40°S

LA

Ga

S

UX

PU

CR

x

aur

ru Bec

αC

LU

A

ent

RM

S

NO

ux Acr

ent

βC

C

PI

NU I RC I

OR SC

M19

S

M2

C H AMA E L E O N

O CTAN S

US

ME N S A

UM

SAG ITTA

RI US

4

la

M5

au

M55

s

M9 2 M6

AUGUST | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

EAST T RO

NI

GR

IC

S M6

Sh

M4

are Ant

x

M80

cru

RA 0°

U

RU

S

SO

AU NT

139

CE

C5

Zeniths

NG

LI B

CE

OE

t

ST

U SC HO

PH

au

EA

US

LO G

OR

M

NU

Ecliptic

83

RI alh

TH

M

UA m Fo

T

IS U SC PI TRIN S AU S

30

RA 20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

ES

PR

W

AQ GO VIR

M

Ecliptic

Spica

CA

HY D

IC OR

A UGU S T S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 83

WEST

84


SEPTEMBER

PEGASUS

The nights are darker now in the Northern Hemisphere, making it a good time to admire the constellations along the Milky Way. In the Southern Hemisphere, the region around the Milky Way’s center moves to the west.

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


7

Epsilon (ε) Pegasi, or Enif, 2.4

Pegasi

Peg

September–October

You can easily spot the constellation Pegasus, the Winged Horse, especially in late summer and fall in the Northern Hemisphere. Its main body is made up of the large asterism known 20º as the Great Square of Pegasus. This square helps locate the constellation Andromeda, where you 10º can find the magnificent spiral galaxy M31, the Andromeda Galaxy.

NORTHERN LATITUDES the east. The roughly triangular constellation Capricornus, the Sea Goat, lies in the south.

THE STARS Looking high up in the sky, you will spot the constellation Cepheus, representing King Cepheus. Delta (δ) Cephei, a variable star in Cepheus, is a popular target for amateur astronomers. Its brightness varies between magnitude 3.5 and 4.4 every 5 days and 9 hours. Toward the west, the stars of the Summer Triangle are still visible, while the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda are visible in

Size ranking

LACERTA

22h

23h

ANDROMEDA

π

NGC 7331

0h

β

78

ο

Scheat

ψ GREAT SQUARE OF PEGASUS

CYGNUS

η

72

τ

υ

32

κ

μ λ

56

ι

2

51 1 9

α

Algenib

γ

PEGASUS

Markab

70

ξ

M15

31

ζ

ε Enif

θ 35

ν

EQUULEUS

0º

SIGHTS OF INTEREST If you are up for a real challenge this month, try hunting down the North America Nebula, NGC 7000. It is hard to detect from light-polluted skies, but with binoculars it can be seen from dark skies, sitting near

AQUARIUS

the star Deneb in Cygnus. If you want to marvel at one of the jewels of the night sky, look for the beautiful globular cluster M15 using

binoculars. It can be seen near the star Enif, or Epsilon (ε) Pegasi. The open star cluster M39 in Cygnus is another deep-sky object worth observing through binoculars or a small telescope.

6 AM 9 AM

3 AM

Capella NOON

MIDNIGHT

Castor 30°

GEMINI

Pollux

20°

11

13

LEO

14

15

17 17

19

11 Regulus

ARIES

Aldebaran

CANCER

11

Hyades

PISCES

15 Betelgeuse

14 15

16

Pleiades

12

12

17 10°

TAURUS

13

Procyon

Bellatrix

0° Mira Rigel

–10°

–20°

–30°

M O R N I N G POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS This chart shows the positions of the planets in September from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

S K

Y

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on September 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For the specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

19 18

PISCES

17 16 15

14 13

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

12

Neptune

11

EXAMPLES

11

Mars’s position on September 15, 2011

CETUS 11

Saturn’s position on September 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125) URANUS

S E P T E MB E R

85

SOUTHERN LATITUDES constellations, including Pisces, the Fishes; Cetus, the Whale; and Eridanus, the River.

THE STARS If you are observing from the Southern Hemisphere this month, be sure to enjoy the rich regions of Scorpius and Ophiuchus before they sink below the western horizon. Just above them lies a rich region around the heart of the Milky Way galaxy, brimming with star clusters and bright nebulae. In contrast, the eastern half of the sky is relatively empty, though you can still find several

relatively large telescope to view this nebula. There are two interesting binocular targets in the sky at the moment—the globular cluster M2 in Aquarius, near the star Beta Aquarii, and another globular cluster M15, in Pegasus.

globular cluster M22. The constellation Aquarius, the Water Carrier, sits almost overhead. You can see several deep-sky objects there, including the interesting planetary nebula NGC 7293, also known as the Helix Nebula. You will need dark skies and a

SIGHTS OF INTEREST This month be sure to enjoy the sights of Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Scutum before they disappear below the horizon. The most spectacular objects to look for in these constellations include M8, the Lagoon Nebula; the open clusters M6 and M7; and the

P I S C I S A U S T RI N U S Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


60

Alpha (α) Piscis Austrini, or Fomalhaut, 1.2

Piscis Austrini

PsA

September–October

Also known as the Southern Fish, Piscis Austrinus is one of the smaller constellations in the night sky and lacks any prominent deep-sky objects. You can find it nestled between the constellations Grus, Aquarius, Capricornus, and Sculptor. Its brightest star is the blue-white colored Fomalhaut, which sits at the mouth of the fish. Fomalhaut lies at a distance of 25 light-years from Earth.

22h

23h

AQUARIUS

ε

CAPRICORNUS PISCIS AUSTRINUS

λ

α

–30º

Fomalhaut

δ γ

β

τ

μ υ

GRUS –40º

ι

MICROSCOPIUM

The Small Magellanic Cloud Lying in the constellation Tucana in the Southern Hemisphere, the Small Magellanic Cloud can be found close to the beautiful globular cluster 47 Tucanae, also known as NGC 104.

NOON

30° 3 PM 9 PM

20° 6 PM

Arcturus 10°

Altair

AQUARIUS

11 16

11

OPHIUCHUS

VIRGO

15

0° 19

16 12

CAPRICORNUS 13

14

16 18

19

17

18

18

LIBRA 18

17

16

SAGITTARIUS 15

14

13

12

Shaula

11

AQUARIUS

14

–10°

13 18 –20°

Antares

16 19

19

15 14

12

17

SCORPIUS

NEPTUNE

E V E N I N G

Y S K

–30°

86


SEPTEMBER NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH In the northern skies, trace the constellation Draco, the Dragon, weaving between the constellations Ursa Minor, Cepheus, and Hercules. At the tip of the dragon’s tongue lies the double star 16 and 17 Draconis, which can be spotted with just a pair of binoculars. Nu (ν) Draconis in the dragon’s head is also an interesting double star in binoculars. Sitting a little way above the bright star Vega, the multiple star system Epsilon (ε) Lyrae, is an excellent target for a telescope.

Date

Standard time


August 15

Midnight

1 am

September 1

11 pm

Midnight

September 15

10 pm

11 pm

October 1

9 pm

10 pm

October 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

PEGASUS 40ºN CYGNUS

Deneb Epsilon (ε) Lyrae

60ºN

ANDROMEDA

PISCES

Vega

ν

CEPHEUS

DRACO

CASSIOPEIA

16,17 Draconis

ARIES

Polaris

URSA MINOR

HERCULES

PERSEUS CETUS

Horizon 20ºN

SERPENS CAPUT

Big Dipper

URSA MAJOR Horizon 40ºN

BOÖTES

Epsilon (ε) Lyrae Also known as the “Double-Double”, with binoculars this quadruple star appears as a pair, while a small telescope shows the two stars’ twin components.

W

Capella

AURIGA

Arcturus

ES

GEMINI

T

TAURUS

itc lip Ec

Aldebaran

EA

Castor Horizon 60ºN Pollux

ST

LOOKING SOUTH In the south the impressive Andromeda Galaxy, M31, sits in the heart of Andromeda. It is easily visible to the naked eye from a dark sky site. Binoculars reveal it as a fuzzy ellipse, while a small telescope shows it more clearly. The Coathanger asterism, or Brocchi’s Cluster, lies between Cygnus and Aquila in the east, and is easily visible through binoculars. The double star Gamma (γ) Equulei, west of the constellation Aquila, sits near the star Enif in Pegasus and is also a good binocular target.

Zenith 60°N

Deneb ANDROMEDA

40ºN CYGNUS

Vega 20ºN

PEGASUS

ARIES

Enif Altair Gamma (γ) Equulei

HERCULES

AQUILA

Ecliptic

AQUARIUS PISCES SERPENS CAUDA

CAPRICORNUS CETUS

0 Horizon 6

ºN

Fomalhaut

OPHIUCHUS SAGITTARIUS

GRUS

The Coathanger Ten stars make up the famous shape of the Coathanger, south of Cygnus. The stars of this open cluster are not near each other in space; the shape is a chance alignment.

Horizon 40ºN ERIDANUS

EA

ST

PHOENIX

SCORPIUS

Antares

W

Horiz on 20º N

PAVO TUCANA

ES

T

S E P T E MB E R

SEPTEMBER SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH The globular cluster M15 sits southwest of the star Enif, Epsilon (ε) Pegasi, in Pegasus. This dense cluster can be picked out with binoculars, and a small telescope shows it clearly. M15 is thought to be 13.2 billion years old. Several deep-sky objects lie in the northeast, in the constellation Aquarius. The globular cluster M2 appears as a fuzzy star through binoculars, and the planetary nebula NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula, appears as a faint fuzzy disc through a small telescope.

Zenith 40°S

CAPRICORNUS

Fomalhaut

20ºS

AQUARIUS SAGITTARIUS

0º Ec li

AQUILA SERPENS CAUDA

pt ic

Enif CETUS

Altair

PEGASUS CYGNUS

PISCES

Deneb

OPHIUCHUS

ANDROMEDA

HERCULES

Vega 40 izon Hor

ºS

CEPHEUS CASSIOPEIA

ARIES

Horizon 20ºS

W

ES

T

Hori zon

DRACO

PERSEUS

EA

0º

ST

M15 in Pegasus The globular cluster M15 is roughly 175 light-years in diameter and 30,000 light-years from Earth. A 150mm (6in) telescope reveals many of the cluster’s sparkling stars.

Polaris

LOOKING SOUTH The globular cluster 47 Tucanae is a must-see target in the September southern skies, lying to the south of the constellation Tucana. It is visible to the naked eye as a hazy star, while a small telescope shows its bright center and many of its glittering stars. This cluster is 15,000 light-years away. Other visible targets include the globular clusters M22, NGC 6397, and M4, in Sagittarius, Ara, and Scorpius respectively. The open clusters M6 and M7 in Scorpius are also visible.

Zenith 0°

Ecliptic 20ºS

AQUILA

CAPRICORNUS

AQUARIUS

40ºS

Fomalhaut

GRUS

SERPENS CAUDA

SAGITTARIUS

CETUS PHOENIX TUCANA ARA

PAVO

Achernar

OPHIUCHUS SCORPIUS

ERIDANUS

Horizon 0º

Antares

OCTANS

α Centauri β Centauri Horizon 20ºS

EA

ST

Hori zo

n 40 ºS

PICTOR

CRUX CARINA

Canopus PUPPIS

LIBRA

WE CENTAURUS

VELA

LUPUS

ST

M4 in Scorpius The globular cluster M4 is a beautiful sight in the constellation Scorpius. Sitting close to the star Antares, Alpha (α) Scorpii, it is a lovely target for binoculars or a small telescope.

87

WEST ctu Ar rus

NA RO L I S CO R E A BO

M 13

CA N ES V

M5 1

M

I

92

M CO

BO M1 01

ar

DR

Vega

Miz

A LYR

A EN AT IC

M57

UL ES

CE S

S

NI

ÖT E

RE

T

N O

R

BE

T 4

5

Variable star

ACO

S

eb

n

De

A MINO R

C YG N U

U RS

ipper

Big D

U RS

R

A MA J OR

M IN O

Globular cluster


Open cluster

M39

CE

S

LA

CE P H EU

Polaris

M81

Diffuse nebula

RT

M5

2

CAS

SI O

AN

A

M1

PEI 03

E LO

LYNX

C AM

Planetary nebula

NG

M

31

C

9

IS

86

AL

84

NG

C8

D PAR

lla pe Ca

r sto Ca

POINTS OF REFERENCE

P

I

G

IN

RI

M

AU

GE

M

38

N

O

M

R

37

TH

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date August 15 September 1 September 15 October 1

Zeniths

October 15


Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

RC

M3

3

Hyad

HE

UT 2

n

S

es

TAU RU

M1

)

es

CA P 1

ad

lei

ENS

H

W

ES

LEO

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

A

SEPTEMBER | NORTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

bara

Alde

45

S

A RI E 36 M

(P

ST

A

M

E

A

LU M GU

IA N

TR US

SE

ER

M33 34 M

A

ED OM

DR

SERP

MO NT H LY S KY GUID ES: SKY GUID ES 88

SO

TH

U ST

SC

ES

PH

OE

X

UL

NI

SC PT OR

tic

Ec lip

t

Fom alha u

GA

E US

C A P R I CO R N U S

E QUU L

S OUT H

SOUTH

I NDUS

S

PAVO

U H IN

M

Co r tai

Al

Alb

ireo

ge r an

A I TT

at h

G SA

M57

S

5

U AQ

IL

A

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

IU M


POINTS OF REFERENCE

M

2

5

69

M2

M

28

AR

A

17 M 8 1 M 24 M

Zeniths

NA S RO A L I O C TR S AU

54

M2

M

26

EN RP DA S E AU C M U

S

ES UL

ER C UT

M

11

SC M

COP

IUS

S TEL E

R TTA AGI

M5

L

A

UL

PE C

VU

M

21

60°N

SO

M

23

7

M

U

TH

la au Sh

S

HU

M29

D EL P

M I C RO S C O P I U M

M30

LO OK I N G

T U C A NA

M2

M15

A Q UA R I U S

RINU S

SUS

I S AU S T

GRUS

PIS C

PE

27

16 M

14 M

H

SEPTEMBER | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EA

PI

8 M

0 M1

H M

OP M

6

40°N

20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

W

2 M1

9

IU C 9

SC OR

S

T

EAST

AN U

ES

E R ID

M1

S

2

TU

M6

CE

P IU S

M

ira

are

s

Ecliptic

Ant

CYGNUS

S E PTE M BE R N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 89

WEST


WEST

M1

M1 M 92

SC

S ER Al

6

PR 7

N US

EQ U

M

PE

HI

0

UC

NS

UM

HU

CA

U AQ

IL A INUS

HE

11

Deneb

U LE US

M2

M15

M39

NGC 7293

LACERTA

RC UL ES M 13

C E P H EU S

N O

R

S

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

LP H

M29

DE

OR IC tair

M2

CYG N US

GI TT A

LA

SA EC U

Albi reo

CA

UT

V

UL P

AC O

M57

DR

A

Veg a

LYR

M2

OP

AP

UT

T

4

A UD

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

M52

Planetary nebula

AS

E c li p

E DA

US

RO M

PEG

AN D

1

PE

M3

SIO

03

tic

M1

C AS

IA

20°S


NG

C8

69

40°S

E

84

SC

C8

PI

NG

M

RS

33

PE

TR

EU

N

O

0°

R

TH

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date August 15 September 1 September 15 October 1 October 15

Zeniths

Mir a

6

2

SC

H

W

E ST

M1

P EN 1

S

S RI U UA

AQ

SEPTEMBER | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

EAST

S

AR

IE S

TU

CE

ST

NG

UL UM

A

34 M

E

IA

S

S ER

90

F

N OR

E CA L

CO

M LU

H

EA

BA

T ST

H

SO

U

OG

PP

M

PU

IU

IS

US

s

Ca no pu

AN

DO

ULU

PIC

TOR

DO

TI C

RA

RE M

OE X

SMC

S CARI N A

US

S

5

63

ux Acr

CRU

A

X

rux Bec rux Gac

i

βC

ent

S i aur

I NU

RA

M25

C CIR

aur ent αC

UM GUL L E N A I TR TR A AU S

C NG

NA S RO L I CO STRA AU M P IU O C ES T EL 97

M24 M17

8 M2 M7

M5

G

4 M5

IU

TT AR

I

SA

A MUS C

A PU S

PAVO

S OUT H

SOUTH

VE L A

LO OK I N G

VO L A N

C H AMAE L E O N

RN

PIUM

I N D US

MICROSCO

OCTANS

S

ANA

G RU

TUC

MENS A

104

RU S

NGC

LMC

H YD

Ach ern ar

NI

R

CA

O P R IC

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE 40°S

NO

S

SEPTEMBER | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

EAST OL

AX

UM

ID

PH

P

OR

S ER

TO

AU P I S C I S TR S I NU S

M30

P OR

S

C5

139

Zeniths

NG

CE

IU

0°

M19

US

M9

R AU NT

MA

SC

R

la

3 M2

M16 M21 M18

M8

ha u

au t

alh

Fo m M22

9 M6

US

2 M6

UL tar es An

SO

U

TH

US

M4

P LU

M

SC 20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

W

TU 80

UA

ES T

CE OP

H

IU C

HU

S RA

AQ

LI B

RI

Ecliptic

S E PTE M BE R S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 91

WEST

92


OCTOBER

PERSEUS

In the Northern Hemisphere, the main attractions this month are Pegasus and Andromeda. In the Southern Hemisphere, these constellations sit in the north, while the Small Magellanic Cloud lies in the south.

Lyra can be found very easily by locating its brightest star, the magnitude 0.0 Vega. SIGHTS OF INTEREST If you have a small telescope or a pair of binoculars the Andromeda Galaxy, or M31, in Andromeda is a wonderful target to look at. M31 is visible to the naked eye from dark skies. Binoculars show the open cluster M52 in Cassiopeia.

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


24

Alpha (α) Persei, or Mirphak, 1.8

Persei

Per

November–December

Perseus, the Hero, sits among the beautiful star fields of the Milky Way Galaxy between Andromeda and Auriga. It is an interesting constellation that contains some wonderful deep-sky objects to observe with a small telescope or a pair of binoculars, including the open cluster M34 and the Double Cluster, NGC 884 and NGC 869.

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS Standing under the cold, crisp October night sky, you can see the Great Square of Pegasus high up in the sky. You can easily spot the constellation Andromeda sitting next to it, while a loop of stars known as the Circlet is visible directly beneath the asterism. The constellations Aquarius, Pisces, and Cetus can be located nearby. Turn around and look toward the north to find the constellations Cepheus, Cassiopeia, and Perseus. Cygnus, the Swan, and Lyra, the Lyre, are visible toward the west. Although a small constellation,

Size ranking

5h 2h

4h

3h

CAMELOPARDALIS

η

NGC 869 NGC 884

4

γ 50º NGC 1528

λ μ

Capella

AURIGA

MELOTTE 20 34

δ

ψ σ

48

53

M76

τ Mirphak

α ι

φ

θ

κ 40º

58

32

ν ε

52

Per A

PERSEUS 54

NGC 1499

30º

ζ

β ωρ

Algol

40

ο

π 16

NGC 1342

ξ

ANDROMEDA M34

12

TRIANGULUM

24 17

ARIES

TAURUS

the direction of the patch of sky between Orion’s head and Gemini’s feet. The best time to look is after midnight, when this region of sky has risen higher above the horizon.

METEOR SHOWER The Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak around October 21. Under good conditions during the peak you can expect to see around 25 meteors every hour, shooting from 6 AM

3 AM MIDNIGHT

9 AM

Capella

NOON

Castor Pollux

TAURUS

GEMINI 13

LEO

20°

11

10°

12

VIRGO 17 0°

17

15

15

Aldebaran

Hyades

Regulus

CANCER

Betelgeuse Procyon

15

Bellatrix

15

14

Mira

16 Rigel

–10°

–30°

11

19

11

–20°

ARIES

12

14

13

Pleiades

M O R N I N G

POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS This chart shows the positions of the planets in October from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

–40°

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on October 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

EXAMPLES

11

Mars’s position on October 15, 2011

11

Saturn’s position on October 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)

S K Y

OC T OB E R

SOUTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS After the wonderfully rich views of the southern winter, October night skies look rather empty. However, this does not mean there is nothing to see. Looking south, you can locate the constellations Phoenix, Grus, Tucana, Pavo, and the long and winding Eridanus. The constellation Sagittarius, the Archer, lies low in the west. There are several bright stars to help you navigate the sky. In the south, look out for the magnitude

The Circlet This asterism is formed by a ring of seven stars that make up the head of one of the fish in the constellation Pisces. MIDNIGHT

E RI D A N U S

1.2 star Fomalhaut, almost directly above you in the constellation Piscis Austrinus. A little lower down in the south at one end of Eridanus shines Achernar, or Alpha (α) Eridani, while the bright star Altair, in Aquila, twinkles away in the west. Aquarius is high up in the northern part of the sky. Pegasus is also on view with its famous square practically due north. SIGHTS OF INTEREST In the Southern Hemisphere the night sky offers several objects that make good targets for even modest amateur equipment. Look south to find the constellation Tucana, the Toucan. Within the boundaries of this constellation you can see 47 Tucanae, or NGC 104, one of the best globular clusters in the night sky. With the naked eye it appears as a slightly fuzzy star. Near 47 Tucanae lies the galaxy known as the Small Magellanic Cloud, or SMC, which is a great target for a small

18

17

16

15

14

9 PM

13

12

Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


6

Alpha (α) Eridani, or Achernar, 0.5

Eridani

Eri

November–January PISCES 4h

5h

Eridanus, the River, winds its way across the night sky, starting near the feet of Orion. It then meanders across the sky toward Cetus before passing the constellations Horologium, the Clock, and Caelum, the Chisel. Its brightest star, Achernar, Alpha (α) Eridani, has a magnitude 0.5, and marks the end of this celestial river. Eridanus has few clusters or nebulae within it but contains some interesting double stars, such as 32 Eridani and Theta (θ) Eridani.

3h

45

μ

ν

32

β ω ψ λ

ο2 γ

NGC 1535

η

π

64 53

ζ

ε

δ

39

–10º

CETUS

17

ο1

ERIDANUS

τ1

NGC 1300

54

τ

6

τ9

τ5

τ4 15

τ

τ2

3

τ8 υ1

–30º

FORNAX

υ2 υ

4

υ3 ι

θ1

–40º

CAELUM

κ –50

˚

φ

HOROLOGIUM

telescope or a pair of binoculars, DORADO PICTOR and can also be seen with the Achernar naked eye. A hop over the constellation Galaxy, M31, in the constellation Hydrus, or the Little Water Snake, Andromeda, as well as the takes you to the constellations spiral galaxy M33, visible through Dorado and Mensa, where you binoculars or a small telescope in will find the Large Magellanic the constellation Triangulum. The Cloud, or LMC. It can be seen Andromeda Galaxy is the closest with the naked eye and is a fine major galaxy to the Milky Way, sight through a telescope. Turning and twice as large. your attention to the northern sky, you can find the Andromeda NOON

NEPTUNE 19

93

11

χ

α

AQUARIUS 20°

3 PM 6 PM

Arcturus

PISCES

10° Altair

AQUARIUS 0°

OPHIUCHUS

VIRGO 12 11 13 19

18 15 17

18 19

CAPRICORNUS

16

19

16

18 14

Antares

PISCES

17

12 13

13

19

16

SAGITTARIUS

15 14

18

–10°

–20°

12

LIBRA

19 18

14 16

17

–30°

Shaula

13 12

–40°

11

SCORPIUS

CETUS

E URANUS

V

E

N

I N G

S K Y

94


OCTOBER NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH As the Summer Triangle (Vega, Deneb, and Altair) moves to the west, the Milky Way arches overhead and some winter constellations start peeking over the horizon. Look out for the Double Cluster in Perseus (see p.22) and the open clusters M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga, rising in the east. The Hyades and Pleiades star clusters in Taurus start coming back into view and the open clusters M52, NGC 457, and M103 high in the sky in Cassiopeia are also worth finding. These are all good binocular targets.

Date

Standard time


September 15

Midnight

1 am

October 1

11 pm

Midnight

October 15

10 pm

11 pm

November 1

9 pm

10 pm

November 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

PEGASUS

40ºN

PISCES ANDROMEDA ARIES 60ºN

Deneb

Ecliptic

CYGNUS

CASSIOPEIA

CEPHEUS

AQUILA

PERSEUS TAURUS

Vega Polaris Capella

URSA MINOR

HERCULES DRACO

AURIGA

Aldebaran

Horizon 20ºN

ORION

OPHIUCHUS

Big Dipper

The Auriga Clusters Use binoculars to look out for the open clusters M36, M37, and M38. A telescope also shows the loose open cluster NGC 2281 nearby, which contains around 30 stars.

GEMINI

W

Betelgeuse

Castor

Horizon 40ºN

Pollux

ES

T

BOÖTES

EA

URSA MAJOR

ST

Horizon 60ºN

LOOKING SOUTH While the beautiful Andromeda Galaxy, M31, is still on show this month, do not overlook another interesting galaxy close by. M33, or the Triangulum Galaxy is just above the constellation Aries, and can be glimpsed with the naked eye from a very dark sky site. A pair of binoculars or a small telescope will show this beautiful spiral galaxy’s misty, oval form. If you are observing with a telescope, make sure to spot the lovely double star Gamma (γ) Arietis in the nearby constellation Aries.

Zenith 60°N

CASSIOPEIA

ANDROMEDA

40ºN

Deneb CYGNUS PERSEUS 20ºN ARIES

PEGASUS

γ PISCES

TAURUS

Eclip tic

AQUARIUS

Altair CETUS

Aldebaran CAPRICORNUS

0 ºN Horizon 6

ORION

AQUILA

Fomalhaut GRUS

PHOENIX

The Andromeda Galaxy Through a small telescope M31, in the constellation Andromeda, appears as a fuzzy gray ellipse with a brighter core. Larger apertures will help discern the galaxy’s dark, dusty lanes.

Horizon 40ºN

Rigel

EA

ERIDANUS

ST

SAGITTARIUS

W

Achernar Horizon

20ºN

SERPENS CAUDA

TUCANA

ES

T

OC T OB E R

OCTOBER SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH The double star Almach, Gamma (γ) Andromedae in the constellation Andromeda, is a lovely target for a small telescope when looking north. One of the stars has an orange tint, while the other is a beautiful blue. In the same constellation, quite close to Almach, is the magnitude 5.5 open cluster NGC 752. Binoculars or small telescopes reveal it covering an area larger than the full Moon. Finally, be sure to track down M31 in Andromeda and M33 just above Aries.

Zenith 40°S

Fomalhaut 20ºS CAPRICORNUS

0º

AQUARIUS

CETUS

ERIDANUS

PISCES

Altair

t ic lip Ec

PEGASUS

ANDROMEDA Horizon 40ºS

CYGNUS

TAURUS

ARIES

AQUILA

Almach

CASSIOPEIA

Deneb OPHIUCHUS

Aldebaran

W

HERCULES

ES

ORION

PERSEUS

Horizon 20ºS CEPHEUS

Vega

T

Capella

DRACO

Polaris

EA

AURIGA

ST

NGC 752 Composed of around 70 stars, the loose open star cluster NGC 752 is a fine sight in a small telescope using a low magnification. It can be found north of Andromeda’s star Almach in the east.

Horizon 0º

LOOKING SOUTH Two of the celestial showpieces of the southern skies can be seen this month: the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These galaxies lie relatively close in space to the Milky Way. The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) in Tucana can be seen with the naked eye, as can the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), which is a magnificent sight on the Dorado–Mensa border. Binoculars or small telescopes reveal many star clusters and patches of nebulosity within the LMC.

Zenith 0°

AQUARIUS 20ºS

ic pt

Ec li

Fomalhaut

CETUS

40ºS CAPRICORNUS PHOENIX GRUS AQUILA

Achernar ERIDANUS

TUCANA SAGITTARIUS PAVO OCTANS Horizon 0º

ARA

PICTOR

Rigel Canopus PUPPIS Horizon 20ºS ORION CANIS EA ST MAJOR

SCORPIUS OPHIUCHUS

CENTAURUS

CARINA

α Centauri Antares

β Centauri VELA Horizon 40ºS

CRUX

LUPUS

WE

ST

Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) The irregular galaxy known to astronomers as the SMC sits in the constellation Tucana. Visible to the naked eye, it stretches roughly seven times the Moon’s apparent diameter across the sky.

95

WEST H

W

M 13

ULA M57 2

M29

DR

AC O

De ne 1

b M10

eo Albir

RC

UL R CO

ES

A

ON

A BO RE

AL

a

g Ve

ES

UR

LA

CE

H

RT A

CE P

Polaris

M52

ANDROMEDA

E US

SA MI NOR

Big Dipper

M1

NG

C

7

C

IA

NG

45

PE

86

C

9

NG

IS

N O

R

L EO

A JOR

SIO

03

CAS

M81

U R SA M

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

VE NA TI C I

Mizar

9

M51

CAN

M3

NU

LYR M9

B

OÖ TE S

C YG

HE

ES T

T

S

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

88

4

CA

R PA LO

OR

ME

MI N

DA

UL UM LI

S

LYN

lla pe Ca

X

POINTS OF REFERENCE

)

M

38

NG

C

M

G

36

RI

81

AU

22

N

M

O

37

R

TH

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES Date September 15 October 1 October 15 November 1

Zeniths

November 15


ix

latr

Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

e

eus

elg

Bel

OR

ION

Bet

V U LP E C

S 3

I

HU 2

M1

IN

IUC 1

leiades M45 ( P

n

bara

Alde

35 M

US

TAU R

M

GE

ST

S EU

RS

PE

1 M3

OCTOBER | NORTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

lu

E

A

s r Po l

x

Hyade sto

A Ca

TR

IA

NG 34 M

OPH

MO NT H LY S KY GUID ES: SKY GUID ES 96

T

SO

U

EA ST

ID AN

HO

US

LO

UM

AX

GI

RN

RO

FO

CE

TU

t ic

S

E NI X

Ache rnar

PHO

PIS

G RU S

S OUT H

SOUTH

US

US T PISCIS A

IU S

Fomalhaut

A Q UA R

T UCA N A

S C U L P TO R

LO OK I N G

CES

PE G A S

R IN

US

5

M3

0

M2

M1

MI C

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

D

IU

M

P

ir

NU

S

Zeniths

OR RIC


US

OP

CA

US

N

US

HI

ta Al

M27

P EL

AQ

GIT TA SA LE

IN D

POINTS OF REFERENCE

R

UU

C OS

EQ

OCTOBER | NORTHERN LATITUDES

H

ER

ra

Mi

lip

A 60°N

SO

GI

U

SA

T

TH

M1

1

6 M2

UIL 55 M

A N D R OM E DA

S IU

EAST

TA R

ON

T

US

54

Ec

UM 40°N

20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

W

3

ES

IES M

HUS OP H

IUC

M

TU

R TAU SC U

AR M

ORI UL

5

M17

Ecliptic

M2

TR G IAN 22

M3

WEST

O C TO BE R N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 97


WEST VU

M11

ir

HI

b

15

RI M

M2

LE

US Den e

M5

EC

R LY M39

US

AC O

UA

UU

G

DR

US

29

N

M

EQ

S

LP

DE 27

GN U

M

CY

Al ta

S 7

N

g Ve

O

a

R T

A 5

Variable star

GA S US

CERTA

PE

LA

C

M31

C A SS I OP E I A

A N D RO M E D A

M52

M103

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

EPHE U S

Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

P IS

CE

S

NGC

M3

3

TR I

84

2

C8

C 75

NG

NG

869

AN

CE

GU

A

R PA

DA

40°S

LO

M LU

ME

M34

CA

20°S


RS

S

M

EU

Ecliptic

PE

L IS

45

O

) es ad lei (P

N

0°

R

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

TH

es

n

1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

Ecliptic


ara

US OBSERVATION TIMES Date September 15 October 1 October 15 November 1 November 15

Zeniths

rix

Bellat

ION

OR

AQ

I TT A

A SA

T

Al bir eo

UL A

ES

4

EAST

U IL

LP

HU

H

W

3

eb

Ald

AQ

IU C 1

2

OCTOBER | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

ad

Hy

GA

RI

ST

AU

S Ca

RU pe

lla

A

E

ER

ID

AN

TA U

Mir a

S

TU ES

RI

OP H

98

C

AJ O

BA

S PU

ra ha Ad

SO

U

IS

DO

VE

R

LA

TO

DO

PIC

RA

VO

M

L AN

S

C AR

X

SMC

NI

x Gacru

ux

S OUT H

SOUTH

C RU X

Acrux

AP US

S

Becr

GRU

IN

RO

S

AU R CE NT

US

ri ntau β Ce

S

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE

i aur ent αC

IN U

M LU GU L E N T R IA ST R A AU

S

C I RC

DU

C MI

O PAV

CIS S PI S I NU ST R AU

MUS C A

OCTANS

NGC 104

TU CA N A

CH A MAE L E O N

US

OE

LO OK I N G

HY DR

SA

I NA

MEN

Ach ern ar

LMC

LUM

IU

ICU

RO LO G

RE T

HO

X

H

PT OR

m Fo

M30

OCTOBER | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

OCTOBER

ST

PP

s

pu

no

U Ca

U

SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON 15TH

R

EA

M LU CO

TH

PU

M

S

NA

UL

S

NU 40°S

AR

A

RM

A

Zeniths

NO

S

M

SO

PU

0°

LU

NA I S RO M CO TRAL IU S OP AU C S LE TE

PR ICO R

CA

SC

M IU

CO P

2 M2

55 M

GI

SA

IU TT AR

7

la au Sh

U

TH

M16 M17 M18 M24

3 M2

S 54 M

M26

8 M

TUM

SCU M2 1 2

M2 5

M2 8 6

ut

ha

69 M

EAST

M

2

SM ANI

P

IO N EL

SC OR

LE

IU S

OR

P

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

20°S

W

CA

M6

EN

RP

AN

SE

OR

D RI

M1 9

el

A

UD

Rig

F

M4

E

SC A

M4

S

M9

TU

Ecliptic

Ant ares

CE

ES T

al

O C TO BE R S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 99

WEST

100


NOVEMBER We are now deep into the wonderful dark nights of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, where the constellations Orion, Taurus, Auriga, and Gemini are visible. In the Southern Hemisphere, Cetus, Eridanus, and Aquarius are high in the sky.

T A U RU S

SIGHTS OF INTEREST In the Northern Hemisphere November’s skies contain the lingering sights of summer, including M31 and M33, as well as some new objects. The open clusters NGC 457 and NGC 663 in the “W” shaped constellation Cassiopeia make excellent binocular

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation

Highest in sky at 10pm

17

Alpha (α) Tauri, or Aldebaran, 0.85

Tauri

Tau

December–January

The stars of Taurus, the Bull, are easy to locate in the night sky because they are anchored around the bright “V” shape of the Hyades star cluster and the bright star Aldebaran. Both the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters can be seen with the naked eye. Another remarkable deep-sky object in Taurus is M1, the Crab Nebula.

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS Two interesting constellations, Perseus and Cassiopeia, are almost overhead this month. Looking south, the constellations Pegasus and Andromeda are sitting high in the sky. In the east, the grand constellations Orion, Taurus, and Auriga are also visible.

Size ranking

targets. A small telescope shows the glittering pair of clusters in Perseus listed as NGC 869 and NGC 884, collectively known as the Double Cluster. There are also several fine open clusters visible in Auriga.

4h

5h

AURIGA

6h

PERSEUS

30º

βAlnath

136

GEMINI

132

ι

M1

ζ

114

109

υ

37

κ

126 Aldebaran

ε α

ARIES

ω

NGC 1647

119

Pleiades M45

τ

NGC 1746

20º

φ

TAURUS

139

Ecliptic

T

Hyades

5

134

λ

90

ORION

10º

88 Betelgeuse

μ

ξ

47

ν

ο CETUS

10

0º

ERIDANUS

a point south of M45. Another meteor shower, the Leonids, peaks around November 17. At its peak you can observe up to 10 meteors an hour, shooting from the direction of Leo’s head.

METEOR SHOWERS Look for the peak of the Taurid meteor shower during the first week of November. If the skies are clear and dark you may see 10 meteors an hour, coming from

3 AM

MIDNIGHT

6 AM

Capella

9 AM

Castor Pollux

GEMINI Pleiades

NOON

13

CANCER LEO

Arcturus

12

Hyades

11 10°

Regulus 13

Betelgeuse Procyon

0°

15 12

VIRGO 11 –10°

17

19

12 19

20°

30°

TAURUS

Aldebaran

14

13

17

LIBRA

14

15

Bellatrix

15

17 16

Rigel

18

13

POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS This chart shows the positions of the planets in November from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

40°

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on November 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

EXAMPLES

50°

11

Mars’s position on November 15, 2011

11

Saturn’s position on November 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)

N OV E MB E R

101

SOUTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS The constellations Eridanus and Cetus sit right above you this month. Eridanus, the River, is naturally long and winding and its end is marked by the bright star Achernar, which can be seen high in the sky almost due south. The constellation Phoenix sits close to Eridanus and below it, toward the direction of the south celestial pole, are the constellations Reticulum, the Net; Hydrus, the Little Water Snake; Tucana, the Toucan; and Octans, the Octant. In the east you can locate Canis Major, which is hard to miss as it is home to the blazing star Sirius. Also coming into view in the east are

Orion and Taurus. It is easy to identify Orion, as it contains the bright stars Betelgeuse, Alpha (α) Orionis, and Rigel, Beta (β) Orionis. Look north to find the constellations Andromeda, Pisces, and Aries. SIGHTS OF INTEREST Because Cetus is high in the sky, a large telescope will show you the interesting spiral galaxy M77, sitting very close to the star Delta (δ) Ceti. The beautiful Magellanic Clouds should be your next target. The Large Magellanic Cloud, or the LMC, sits across the border between the constellations Dorado, the Goldfish (or Swordfish), and Mensa, the Table Mountain. A small telescope is all you need to explore the sparkling star clusters as well as the Tarantula Nebula, or NGC 2070, nestled within the LMC. Meanwhile, a short distance away in the constellation The variable star Mira Omicron (ο) Ceti, more popularly known as Mira, is a variable star in the constellation Cetus. Its brightness changes over time as it pulsates.

CETUS Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


4

Beta (β) Ceti 2.0

Ceti

Cet

October–December

Cetus, the Sea 10º 3h μ ξ2 Monster or Whale, λ can be found in the ν κ α Menkar night sky positioned γ between Pisces and 0º δ M77 Eridanus. The ο brightest star in this constellation, Beta ERIDANUS (β) Ceti, is called –10º Diphda and has a ε ρ π 2.0 magnitude. The σ “back” of Cetus is marked by the famous variable star –20º Mira. Cetus is also home to the spiral galaxy M77, the brightest Seyfert galaxy.

Ecli

ptic

0h

20 Mira

CETUS

θ ζ

ι

φ

η

3

NGC 246

46

τ

6

β Diphda

υ

7

2

56

Looking toward the northeast, the Hyades and Pleiades open star clusters make excellent binocular targets. Also look for the stunning spiral galaxy M33 and the glowing ellipse of Andromeda Galaxy, or M31, through a telescope.

Tucana, you can see the Small Magellanic Cloud and the globular cluster NGC 104, or 47 Tucanae. These are wonderful binocular or small telescope targets. Both the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud can be seen with the naked eye. URANUS

9 PM

PISCES

2h

ξ1

NEPTUNE

19

PISCES

18 17

19

18

16

17

16

15 14

15

14

13

13

12

12

11

11

6 PM

AQUARIUS

ARIES

CETUS 3 PM

PISCES

11

10°

Altair

AQUARIUS

0°

Mira

OPHIUCHUS –10°

CAPRICORNUS 18

14 17

16 19

E

V

E

16

14

18 16 13

11

12 19

17

15 19 11

18

Antares

Fomalhaut

N

I N

SAGITTARIUS

–20°

–30°

Shaula

G

S

14

18

–40°

K

Y

SCORPIUS –50°

10 2


NOVEMBER NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH Be sure to savor the sights of Cygnus, the Swan, before the constellation starts to sink below the horizon. A small telescope will show its beautiful double stars Omicron-1 (ο1) Cygni, 61 Cygni, and Albireo (see p.62), which marks the bill of the swan. A pair of binoculars will show the open clusters M29 and M39. Also look out for the magnitude 7.3 open cluster M52, sitting high in the sky in Cassiopeia; the open clusters M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga (see p.46); and M35 in Gemini.

Date

Standard time


October 15

Midnight

1 am

November 1

11 pm

Midnight

November 15

10 pm

11 pm

December 1

9 pm

10 pm

December 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

ARIES PISCES 40ºN

ANDROMEDA

TAURUS

PERSEUS

Aldebaran

60ºN

PEGASUS CASSIOPEIA

Capella

AURIGA

CEPHEUS ORION

61 Cygni Deneb

Polaris

ο¹ Cygni

Sadr

GEMINI

URSA MINOR

CYGNUS

Castor Pollux

Horizo n 20º N

DRACO

Big Dipper

Procyon

URSA MAJOR

M29 in Cygnus This open cluster can be found sitting against the background star fields of the Milky Way. Located a little way from the star Sadr, it is best observed with a small telescope.

Eclipti c

Albireo

Altair

Vega

Horizon 40ºN

W

ES

BOÖTES

HERCULES

T

CANCER

LEO

EA

ST

0ºN Horizon 6

LOOKING SOUTH The Hyades (see p.23) and Pleiades (see p.38) star clusters in the constellation Taurus make a welcome return to winter skies in the east. A pair of binoculars is all you will need to explore these two open clusters. Both the Pleiades and Hyades are clearly visible to the naked eye, but binoculars will reveal the many glittering stars within them. Other objects of interest to look out for include the Andromeda Galaxy, M31, and the Triangulum Galaxy, M33, sitting high in the sky.

Zenith 60°N

PERSEUS ANDROMEDA

40ºN

ARIES AURIGA

20ºN PEGASUS PISCES

Aldebaran

TAURUS

E cl ipt ic

CETUS

ORION

Betelgeuse

Horizon 60ºN

MONOCEROS

The Orion Nebula Also known as M42, this is one of the finest nebulae in the night sky. A wonderful sight in all types of equipment, a small telescope shows its glowing cavernous gas clouds and embedded stars.

ERIDANUS

Sirius

EA

ST

θ

PHOENIX

AQUARIUS

Fomalhaut

Horizon 40ºN CAPRICORNUS

CANIS MAJOR

Achernar Horizo

GRUS

W n 20ºN

TUCANA

ES

T

N OV E MB E R

NOVEMBER SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES

-1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH Look out for the globular cluster M79 lying under the feet of Orion, the Hunter, in the east. This cluster is visible through a small telescope. In the constellation Eridanus, above Orion, you will find an interesting multiple star system, Omicron-2 (ο2) Eridani, with three components, and a double star Theta (θ) Eridani. Both are visible with small telescopes. Deep-sky observers with dark skies will be able to spot the galaxy NGC 1300 in the same constellation using large telescopes.

Zenith 40°S

20ºS ERIDANUS

CETUS

Fomalhaut AQUARIUS

0º

² ο Eridani

Ecliptic

PISCES

TAURUS

Rigel ARIES ORION

PEGASUS

MONOCEROS

Aldebaran Betelgeuse ANDROMEDA

AQUILA

zon Hori

40ºS

CASSIOPEIA

PERSEUS

Capella AURIGA

Horizon 20ºS

GEMINI

Altair

W

ES

T

Hori zon

CYGNUS

Procyon

Deneb

0º

EA

Castor

CEPHEUS

ST

NGC 1300 The barred spiral galaxy NGC 1300 is located about 69 million light-years from Earth. It is particularly faint but can be seen with a very large amateur telescope.

Polaris

LOOKING SOUTH There is a lot to see in the southern skies this month with just the naked eye. Start off by looking for the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), west of the constellation Pictor, and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), in Tucana. These are both irregular galaxies close to the Milky Way. The globular cluster 47 Tucanae can be seen with the naked eye as a hazy star very close to the Small Magellanic Cloud. The open clusters NGC 2362 and M41 in Canis Major in the east also make for good small-telescope targets.

Zenith 0°

CETUS

20ºS li Ec c pti

40ºS PHOENIX

ERIDANUS

Fomalhaut Rigel Achernar

AQUARIUS

GRUS

ORION TUCANA CANIS MAJOR

CAPRICORNUS

Canopus PICTOR

OCTANS

PAVO

Sirius CARINA MONOCEROS

PUPPIS

SAGITTARIUS ARA

EA

VELA

ST

α Centauri CENTAURUS

CRUX

β Centauri

SCORPIUS

Hor iz

on 0 º

Horizon 20ºS S 40º zon T Hori ES

W

47 Tucanae This globular cluster in Tucana is a wonderful sight through a small telescope. A large-aperture telescope shows its countless stars packed together in a dense ball.

103


WEST

ir

ITTA M2 M

CY b

De ne

M 39

CE

A RT

D RA CO

AN 7

S

M52

MED A

HEU

D RO

CEP

M103

MI NOR

SI O P EIA

UR SA

CA S

M31

US 92

LA

GN

UL Al

A

N

M

bi o re

29

57

HE

R LY

A

RC UL

O

R T

ES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Globular cluster


Open cluster

NG

C8

69 NG

Polaris

Diffuse nebula

C

88

PE 4

RS

CAM

R PA

M81

ELO

Planetary nebula

DA

LI

S

lla

AM

pe

URS

Ca

A JO

R

N LY

8 M36

X

M3

POINTS OF REFERENCE

M35

LE

O

I

sto

December 1

M

November 15

November 1

October 15

Date

Zeniths

N

O

R

TH

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

M37

December 15


OR

MIN

on

1 am

Ecliptic


Pro cy

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

NI

MI ux

GE Po ll

US

EC 1

4

M4

LP 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

r

R

N IS

CA

ER

NC

CA

O

LE

ST

A

E

Ca

NO

A RI G AU

HI N M

TIC I V E NA

r

D EL P 13

Mizar

C ANES

pe

VU Ve ga

M

M101

M51

ip

SAG LA

T TE S

Bi

AQU I

H

W

ES

BO Ö

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

gD

S EU

4 M3

NOVEMBER | NORTHERN LATITUDES

Alta

104

te Be

OS

M50

CA

Siriu

s

M N IS

A JO

tr ix

CA

EL UM

an ar

DO RA

ad es

DO

Hy

LE

R

M41

PU

S

C

UM OL

BA

SO

U

SUNRISE AND SUNSET ON 15TH NOVEMBER

ST

ge l

d Al

TH

Ri

S

RET

ip ti c

ULU

eb

S

PHO

P I SC E

DA

S OUT H

X

OM E

ENI

A N DR

Achernar

M33

SOUTH

M

LO OK I N G

UM

S

Mira

IES

C E TU

AR

NG

ANA

TO R

T UC

SC UL P

GR

US

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula


POINTS OF REFERENCE

R UA

IU

S

M15

Zeniths

CI S U S P I S RI N T S AU

aut alh Fom

AQ

P E G A S US

E M2

60°N

SO

U

I

TH

M

30

S

L EU QU U

IA

H O R O LO G I

AX

Ec l

FO R N

US

LUM

DA N

ICU

ERI

RU

NOVEMBER | NORTHERN LATITUDES

EAST 42

EA

use

lge M

M

CR

la

UM

I

CER l Be

OP

O MO N

N OS C

O RI

T

O es)

AQ

UIL

A S 20°N

South

North

STAR MOTION

40°N

W

ad

ES

M1

CA

U TA

PR

M4

NU

lei

P 5(

I CO R

TR

Ecliptic

NO V E M BE R N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 105

WEST


WEST

Alt

A M 2

LA

AQ

UA R

S S

LE

LP HI

S

IU

SU

A ND

R OM ED

NU

US M

A ITT M2

S M2

CY GN

CE PHE US

A

Ec l

ipt

M52

ic

7

9

N

15

O

R T

U Globular cluster


M31

CA SSI O PEIA

NGC 86

9

Mira

NGC

M34

A RI E

884

T R I A N G U LU M

C E TU S

M33

M103

N ORTH

NORTH

LOOK I N G

Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

S

S

ELO

SEU

C AM

PER

Planetary nebula

ER

ID

US

IS

) des ia Ple

AL

5(

AN

M4

D PAR

es

RU

ad Hy

U TA

lla pe Ca

20°S


S

Rig

el M3

6 8

GA

M3

RI

N LY

X

M42 1

O

37

M

M

N

R

use

Date October 15 November 1 November 15 December 1 December 15

Zeniths

0°

M

35

TH

20°S

8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

AU

an ar b de Al

40°S

NO

1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

Ecliptic


MO

40°S

EAST

UU P

9

RT A

EG A

CE

M3

Variable star

NI

DE S

D en eb

5

ge tel Be

EQ

S AG

E ST

4

x tri

CE R OS

MI

GE

air

H

W

3

Be

UIL 1

2

NOVEMBER | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

ST

A

E

lla

IO N OR

AQ

106

T EA ST

S

SO

U

BA

CA

R IN A

TO R

opu s

PI C

Can

DO

RA

VOL A

DO

EL UM

AN

NS

ID

T IC

Gacrux

LO G

LO OK I N G

SC

T UC

X

R A

S OUT H

uri ta α Cen

S

ULUM T R I AN G A L E A US T R

AN

NI

au t alh

S

IU I

S

-1

0

1

STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE

A

40°S

MA

AR

R NO

U ND

LE

SC

OP SC

I

O CR

Zeniths

TE

M

30

M

UA R

AQ O PAV

US

Fo m

GR

0°

C

SO

OR SC

M IU

S

AU

U

TH

CA

TO

UL P

C I R CI N U β Centauri

SOUTH

CENTAURUS

4

P

E HO

OCTANS

NGC 10

AP U S

SMC

Achernar

US

LEO N

Becrux

Acrux

MU SC A

C H AM A E

H YD R

IUM

M E N SA

M

RO

ULU

HO

C RU X

LMC

RE

US

AX

AU P I S C IS S T RI NU S

NOVEMBER | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

H

LA

IS

LU M

PP

VE

PU

CO

CA

ER

RN

M IU OP

FO

S

P

TU

55 M

IU S a Sh

CE

TA

IT

EAST

AG

6

X

ul a

93

OR ST O N R AL A IS

M

PY

IS

M

7

2

2

20°S

40°S

South

North

STAR MOTION

E

M4

ra ha Ad

W

M4

S

OS

C

RI U

ER NOC

NG

6 23

54

S

S NI C A AJO R M M

S NU

MO

PR ICO R

M

50

41

7

M

ST

s iriu 79

M

LEPU 69

M

M2

NGC 1300

Ecliptic

NO V E M BE R S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 107

WEST

108


DECEMBER As we round off the year, the northern skies contain the spectacular constellations Orion, Taurus, Gemini, and Auriga. These can also be glimpsed from the Southern Hemisphere, along with Vela and Carina.

O RI O N Genitive

Abbreviation


Beta (β) Orionis, or Rigel, 0.2

Orionis

Ori

December–January 6h

Gemini in the east. The Winter Triangle formed by Betelgeuse, Sirius, and Procyon is easy to locate in the southeast. SIGHTS OF INTEREST Observers in the Northern Hemisphere are spoiled for choice this month. In Orion lies the beautiful nebula M42, which is a superb target for a small telescope or binoculars. In Taurus, the Bull, you can locate two striking star clusters. The Hyades is a large cluster outlining the bull’s face and the Pleiades is possibly the finest open cluster in the sky. Auriga too has several stunning open clusters to look for.

The Geminids If you are observing the Geminids, you might spot a very bright meteor. These “fireballs” add to the excitement of watching these celestial fireworks.

Brightest star

26

Orion, the Hunter, is one of the greatest constellations in the whole night sky. You can find it by spotting the prominent line of three stars that form the hunter’s “belt”, as well as its distinctly colored stars, Rigel and Betelgeuse. Orion also contains one of the most stunning nebulae in the sky, M42, also known as the Orion Nebula.

NORTHERN LATITUDES THE STARS Looking north, the constellations Perseus, Auriga, and Andromeda can be found sitting high in the sky. In the southeast, it is impossible to ignore the magnificent sight of Orion, the Hunter. Orion leads the winter constellations, which include Taurus in the south and

Size ranking

χ2 χ1

GEMINI

5h

U

NGC 2175

ξ

ν

15

ο1

11

ο2 π1 2 π

ORION

λ φ1 φ2 γ

10º

μ Betelgeuse

α

32

ω

MONOCEROS 56 0º

51

δ ε ζ σ

M78 NGC 2024 IC 434

ψ 23 ψ1 ρ 31

CANIS MAJOR

π4

π6π5

22

η M 42

Sirius

π3

Bellatrix

2

29

κ

–10º

METEOR SHOWER The Geminid meteor shower peaks around December 13–14. At its peak you can expect to see around one meteor per minute streaking across the sky from the direction of Gemini.

Aldebaran

TAURUS

69

τ β

ERIDANUS

Rigel

LEPUS

–20º

MIDNIGHT 3 AM

6 AM

Castor

GEMINI

Pollux

9 AM

13 NOON

LEO

Arcturus

Regulus

10°

14

CANCER

11

Betelgeuse

15 Procyon

13

0°

VIRGO

OPHIUCHUS

15 12

–10°

11 –20° 16 17

18 14

18

15 Antares

–30°

–40°

12

16 Spica

17 19

12


LIBRA

SCORPIUS

15

13

18 17

11

This chart shows the positions of the planets in December from 2011 to 2019. The planets are represented by colored dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets

–50°

except Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on December 15. Mercury is shown when it is at greatest elongation (see p.125). For specific dates, refer to the Almanac.

Mercury

Mars

Saturn

Venus

Jupiter

Uranus

Neptune

EXAMPLES

11

Mars’ position on December 15, 2011

11

Saturn’s position on December 15, 2011. The arrow indicates that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.125)

DE C E MB E R

109

SOUTHERN LATITUDES Taurus, you have a great opportunity to observe two open star clusters, the Hyades and the Pleiades. The Pleiades star cluster, or M45, can be seen with the naked eye and is a wonderful sight in a small telescope.

Goldfish, and Mensa, the Table Mountain. Look for the Tarantula Nebula, or NGC 2070, in the Large Magellanic Cloud. High in the northeast lies the fantastic nebula M42, in Orion. In the nearby constellation

north. Auriga can be found by locating the bright star Capella, which is low in the sky this month. If you look roughly northeast Gemini is also on show, sitting low in the sky near the horizon. Meanwhile Canis Major, Vela, and Carina can be located in the southeast. December is also a great time to look out for the Magellanic Clouds in the south.

THE STARS The constellations Taurus, Gemini, Orion, and Auriga are visible from the Southern Hemisphere this month. Looking toward the north you can spot the distinct “V” shape of the Hyades star cluster, which marks the head of the constellation Taurus. Just next to it toward the northeast is Orion, a magnificent sight with its bright stars Rigel and Betelgeuse. Emerging from the foot of Orion, Eridanus meanders high across the sky. Look out for Perseus and Auriga below Taurus in the

LEPUS

SIGHTS OF INTEREST The Magellanic Clouds can be seen sitting in the southern part of the night sky this month. The Small Magellanic Cloud sits in Tucana, while the Large Magellanic Cloud hovers on the border of the constellations Dorado, the

Size ranking

Brightest star

Genitive

Abbreviation


51

Alpha (α) Leporis, or Arneb, 2.6

Leporis

Lep

January

The constellation Lepus, the Hare, sits right under the feet of the magnificent Orion, between Canis Major and Eridanus. Unlike its neighbors, Canis Major and Orion, Lepus contains few bright stars. Even so, it does have a handful of targets to observe. These include M79, a magnitude 8 globular cluster, and a small group of stars catalogued as NGC 2017, both of which can be seen with a small telescope.

The Large Magellanic Cloud You can see the Large Magellanic Cloud with the naked eye. A small telescope reveals the Tarantula Nebula, NGC 2070, embedded within it.

ORION MONOCEROS

Rigel

η

θ Sirius

ζ

17 NGC 2017

ι

λ α

–10º

RX

κ

R

μ

ERIDANUS

Arneb

δ CANIS MAJOR

γ

β

–20º

ε

Nihal M79

LEPUS

Adhara –30º

COLUMBA

6h

5h

CAELUM

9 PM

Capella NEPTUNE 19

18

6 PM

17

16

15

14

13

12

11

Pleiades

TAURUS

AQUARIUS

ARIES

12

3 PM

Aldebaran

Hyades

PISCES

11

10°

Altair

ellatrix

AQUARIUS

0°

Mira 18 Rigel

–10°

CAPRICORNUS 16 14

13 16

12

15 11

E 19

PISCES

18 17 16

15

V

E

13 12

18 16

19

17

14 –30°

Fomalhaut

N

I N

SAGITTARIUS

G S

14

19

–20°

19

Shaula –40°

K

Y

11

–50°

CETUS URANUS

11 0


DECEMBER NORTHERN LATITUDES

OBSERVATION TIMES

LOOKING NORTH There are several interesting sights to be seen in the constellation Gemini, the Twins, in the east. Castor, Gemini’s second brightest star, is an interesting multiple star, while the open cluster M35, sitting close to the feet of one of the twins, is a great target for binoculars or a small telescope. Other December treats include the Double Cluster (see p.22) in Perseus; the Andromeda Galaxy (see p.94), which is still high in the sky; and the Milky Way rising up through Cygnus.

Date

Standard time


November 15

Midnight

1 am

December 1

11 pm

Midnight

December 15

10 pm

11 pm

January 1

9 pm

10 pm

January 15

8 pm

9 pm

Zenith 20°N

ARIES TAURUS 40ºN PISCES AURIGA

PERSEUS

GEMINI

Capella

60ºN ANDROMEDA

Castor Pollux Polaris

CEPHEUS

URSA MAJOR

URSA MINOR

PEGASUS

tic Eclip

CASSIOPEIA

CANCER

Deneb Big Dipper DRACO

20ºN izon Hor

Castor A multiple star system, Castor, or Alpha (α) Geminorum, can be seen with a small telescope. The two main stars orbit each other roughly once about every 468 years.

LEO

CYGNUS

Regulus

Horizon 40ºN

W

ES

Hor izon

T

Vega

60º N

BOÖTES

EA

HERCULES

ST

LOOKING SOUTH The Orion Nebula is undoubtedly the prime target in this part of the northern skies (see p.102). It can be found in Orion’s Sword, which drops down from the middle of the “belt” stars. Through a small telescope, you should be able to see the nebula, resembling a celestial cave, with stars embedded in its heart. Larger apertures reveal the nebula’s swirls of gas, which make this one of the finest deep-sky objects in the sky. Also on show are the Hyades and Pleiades—two star clusters in Taurus.

Zenith 60°N

PERSEUS

Capella 40ºN

ANDROMEDA

AURIGA

TAURUS

ARIES 20ºN

GEMINI

Castor Pollux

Aldebaran ORION PEGASUS PISCES

Betelgeuse CANCER

CETUS

Procyon

ti c lip Ec

Rigel

ERIDANUS

MONOCEROS

Sirius HYDRA N 60º izon Hor

Orion The constellation Orion, the Hunter, is a magnificent sight in the winter night sky. The star Betelgeuse marks the shoulder of the Hunter, while Rigel marks his foot.

Horizon 40ºN Hor izon EA 20ºN ST

CANIS MAJOR

AQUARIUS

PUPPIS

PHOENIX

Achernar Canopus

CARINA

Fomalhaut

W

ES

T

DE C E MB E R

DECEMBER SOUTHERN LATITUDES

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

0

1

2

3 and above

LOOKING NORTH The constellation Orion has many interesting objects in and around it to entice observers in the Southern Hemisphere. Sky gazers should look out for the Orion Nebula (see p.102), which is a good target for binoculars or a small telescope. The Pleiades and Hyades star clusters can be enjoyed with the naked eye. Meanwhile, in the nearby constellations Auriga, Monoceros, and Puppis, there are several open clusters to be seen, such as M36, M37, M38, M50, M46, and M47.

Zenith 40°S

20ºS

ERIDANUS CETUS

CANIS MAJOR

Rigel 0º ORION

AQUARIUS

Betelgeuse

Ecliptic

PISCES

Sirius

TAURUS

Aldebaran

ARIES

MONOCEROS PERSEUS

Procyon GEMINI AURIGA

PEGASUS

Capella iz Hor

0 on 4

ºS

Castor

Horizon 20ºS

W

HYDRA

Pollux

ANDROMEDA

CANCER

CASSIOPEIA

ES

T

URSA MAJOR

Horiz on 0º

CEPHEUS

LEO

EA

ST

M38 in Auriga The magnitude 6.4 open cluster M38 is the most scattered of the three famous Messier clusters in Auriga in the north at the moment. It lies 4,200 light-years from Earth.

Polaris

LOOKING SOUTH If you are observing with binoculars, there is a great deal to see looking south. NGC 3114 and NGC 2516 are both prominent open clusters worth observing in Carina in the southeast. The Eta (ε) Carinae Nebula, or NGC 3372, is a bright diffuse nebula visible through binoculars or a small telescope. The bright open cluster IC 2602, or the Southern Pleiades, is a great binocular object. Also look out for the Small Magellanic Cloud in Tucana and the Large Magellanic Cloud, just west of Pictor.

Zenith 0°

20ºS

Rigel CETUS

ORION ERIDANUS 40ºS

CANIS MAJOR

Sirius

PHOENIX

Canopus

AQUARIUS

Achernar PICTOR

Ecliptic

MONOCEROS

PUPPIS

TUCANA

CARINA VELA HYDRA

GRUS

Fomalhaut

OCTANS

º zon 0 Hori

PAVO Horizon 20ºS

EA

ST

Hori z on 4 0ºS

CAPRICORNUS

CENTAURUS

CRUX

SAGITTARIUS

β Centauri α Centauri

ARA

WE

ST

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) A conspicuous naked-eye object, the LMC sits on the border of the constellations Mensa and Dorado. A small telescope will show star clusters and bright patches of nebulosity within it.

111


WEST

E

Y

S

LY R

AN M M52

C

AS S I OP

NG C 86 9

EU C8 84

lla

PH

I NU B O ÖT E S

CAMELOPARDALIS

Polaris

S

S AG A ITT

C M

M2

DRACO

U RSA MINOR

NG

S M1 03

EIA

4

ED TA 9

EU S

RS

OM ER M3

C EP H

PE

DR LA C

De neb

A

M92

VU

Al

S

LP

bi

EC UL

o re

A

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29

31

LES

M3

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5

7

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A

3

4

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Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

M10

M81

1

Big

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M51

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LY

UR

SV

MA

NE

SA

CA

POINTS OF REFERENCE

R

IC AT

I

CO

A M

BE

Zeniths

January 15

January 1

December 15

December 1

L

N

N

RE

November 15

Date

O

R

M67

TH

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

8 pm

60°N

40°N

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

EN

JO

Pollux


Ecliptic


1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

20°N

EAST

M1

57

GN U

M

a

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Cast

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DECEMBER | NORTHERN LATITUDES 0

STAR MAGNITUDES -1

M44

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TAUR U

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P E RS E U S

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M

des

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-1

0

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STAR MAGNITUDES

2

3

4

5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

IX


POINTS OF REFERENCE

EN

Zeniths

SC

Ec l ipt ic

U

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OR

60°N

T LP

U

US

AS PE G

A

ED OM

DECEMBER | NORTHERN LATITUDES

8

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20°N

South

North

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D E C E M BE R N OR T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 113

WEST


WEST

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TU

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1

2

3

4

5

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Globular cluster


Open cluster

Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

6

M1

5

7

M3

M3

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20°S


40°S

M50

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NI

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AJ

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0°

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8 pm

9 pm

10 pm

11 pm

Midnight

Standard time

OBSERVATION TIMES

UR

Pro cy

December 15 January 1 January 15

Zeniths

A

DR

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1 am

Midnight

11 pm

10 pm

9 pm

40°S

Ecliptic


67

M

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DECEMBER | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 0

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STAR MAGNITUDES

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5

Variable star

Galaxy

Globular cluster


Diffuse nebula

Planetary nebula

Horizons 0°

20°S

POINTS OF REFERENCE

OP SC

M

Fo m

alh

au

Zeniths

IU

US

US

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40°S

DECEMBER | SOUTHERN LATITUDES

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Ecliptic

D E C E M BE R S OU T H E R N L A T IT U DE S 115

WEST

t

116

A LM ANAC

ALMANAC This section contains astronomical calendars listing major celestial events for the years 2011–2019. These calendars show the phases of the Moon, eclipses of the Sun and the Moon, and motions of the planets. The latter include the greatest western and eastern elongations (the angle between the Sun and a planet) of Mercury and Venus. Also shown are the oppositions of Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, when these planets are on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun and visible in the sky through the night. KEY

Full Moon

JANUARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY

Total eclipse of the Moon

New Moon

MARCH

APRIL

Partial eclipse of the Moon

MAY

JUNE

JULY

Partial eclipse of the Sun

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

2011 This year sees an unusually large number of eclipses—four partial solar eclipses and two total lunar eclipses. Other highlights include a close conjunction of Jupiter and Uranus, which began in 2010 and continues through January 2011. A conjunction is a close alignment of two bodies in the sky and occurs when both planets lie in the same line of sight as viewed from Earth. Annular eclipse of the Sun

OCTOBER

Total eclipse of the Sun

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

July 1 April 4 Saturn at opposition, magnitude 0.4

January 4 Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from North Africa, eastern Europe, Saudi Arabia, and western Asia

September 3

December 10

Mercury at greatest morning elongation

Total eclipse of the Moon visible from Asia, Australasia, and northwest North America

June 1

January 8 Venus at greatest morning elongation

Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from the south Indian Ocean

May 7

Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from the Arctic, northeast Asia, and northern Canada


January 9 Mercury at greatest morning elongation November 14 Mercury at greatest evening elongation June 15 Total eclipse of the Moon visible from Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe

December 23 July 20

October 29

Mercury at greatest evening elongation

Jupiter at opposition, magnitude -2.9


March 23 Mercury at greatest evening elongation November 25 Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from Antarctica

2011–2012

KEY

JANUARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31


New Moon

Full Moon

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL


MAY

JUNE


JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

March 3

Annular eclipse of the Sun

OCTOBER


NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

December 3

Mars at opposition, magnitude -1.2

March 5



July 1 Mercury at greatest evening elongation December 4 Mercury at greatest morning elongation

June 4

June 5–6

Partial eclipse of the Moon visible from western regions of North and South America, Pacific Ocean, Australasia, and east Asia

Transit of Venus visible from east Asia, Australasia, and northwestern North America

April 15 Saturn at opposition, magnitude 0.2

August 15 Venus at greatest morning elongation

April 18 Mercury at greatest morning elongation

November 13–14

August 16 Mercury at greatest morning elongation

Total eclipse of the Sun visible from south Pacific Ocean. Partial eclipse visible from eastern Australia and New Zealand

May 20–21

March 27 Venus at greatest evening elongation

2012 In addition to a partial eclipse of the Moon, this year sees a total and an annular eclipse of the Sun. However, the highlight of 2012 is the rare transit of Venus. The next such event will not occur until the year 2117. Transit of Venus On June 5–6 Venus will pass across the face of the Sun in a rare transit event that reveals Earth’s neighboring planet in silhouette.

Annular eclipse of the Sun visible from Japan and north Pacific Ocean. Partial eclipse visible from east Asia and western North America

October 26 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

Annular eclipse In May the Moon will lie near its farthest point from Earth as it eclipses the Sun. Even when perfectly aligned, a thin ring of sunlight will remain visible.

117

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A LM ANAC

2013 Two annular eclipses of the Sun are visible this year, of which one appears total from some locations. A partial lunar eclipse is widely visible, and there is a rare conjunction of the inferior planets Mercury and Venus. Widespread eclipse Partial eclipses of the Sun can be seen over wider areas than total eclipses. The November 2013 eclipse will be visible from many regions. KEY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY


New Moon

Full Moon

JANUARY

Mercury and Venus In June Mercury and Venus will make a rare close approach in evening skies, tracing paths similar to those seen in this time-lapse image.

MARCH

APRIL


MAY

JUNE


JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER


OCTOBER


NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

November 1 Venus at greatest evening elongation

May 9–10 Annular eclipse of the Sun visible from northeastern Australia and south Pacific Ocean. Partial eclipse visible from eastern Australia, northern New Zealand, and Hawaii

November 3


Annular-total eclipse of the Sun visible from north Atlantic Ocean and central Africa. Partial eclipse visible from northeastern South America, southern Europe, and Africa

June 12 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

February 16 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

April 25 Partial eclipse of the Moon visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia

November 18 Mercury at greatest morning elongation

July 30 April 28 March 31 Mercury at greatest morning elongation

Saturn at opposition, magnitude 0.1


2013–2014

KEY

Full Moon

JANUARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31


New Moon

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY


JUNE

JULY


AUGUST

SEPTEMBER


OCTOBER


NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

November 1

January 5

April 8




May 10 Saturn at opposition, magnitude 0.1

March 14

October 8


Total eclipse of the Moon visible from North America, Australasia, and east Asia

12 July Mercury at greatest morning elongation April 15

September 21

Total eclipse of the Moon visible from North America, South America, and New Zealand


March 22 Venus at greatest morning elongation May 25 Mercury at greatest evening elongation April 29 Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from west Australia January 31 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

2014 In addition to a pair of partial solar eclipses and two total lunar eclipses, this year sees rare celestial events such as a brief occultation (see p.125) of a bright star by an asteroid and occultations of Saturn by the Moon. Occultation in Leo On March 20, 2014 Leo’s brightest star Regulus (bottom right) vanishes briefly from North American skies as the asteroid 163 Erigone passes in front of it.

October 28 Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from western North America

The Moon and Saturn Between March and May 2014 the Moon will pass in front of the ringed planet Saturn no fewer than three times.

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A LM ANAC

2015 This year sees two eclipses of the Sun, one of which is partial and the other total (though only from Arctic northern latitudes). There is also a more widely visible pair of total lunar eclipses, one in spring and one in fall. Lunar eclipse When the full Moon passes into Earth’s shadow on September 28, the eclipse will be widely visible on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. KEY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY


New Moon

Full Moon

JANUARY

Venus at its best Our nearest planetary neighbor, Venus, will be a prominent evening “star” in mid-2015 and an equally brilliant morning object later in the year.

MARCH

APRIL

MAY


JUNE

JULY


AUGUST

SEPTEMBER


OCTOBER


NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

June 6 Venus at greatest evening elongation April 4 February 6 Jupiter at opposition, magnitude -2.6

Total eclipse of the Moon visible from western North America, Australasia, and east Asia

September 4 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

May 7 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

January 14 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

October 16 Mercury at greatest morning elongation

September 13 Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from southeast Africa and Antarctica

June 24 Mercury at greatest morning elongation March 20 Total eclipse of the Sun visible from the Arctic. Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from Europe, North Africa, and northwest Asia February 24 Mercury at greatest morning elongation

December 29 September 28 Total eclipse of the Moon visible from Europe, Africa, North America, and South America


May 23 Saturn at opposition, magnitude 0.0 October 26 Venus at greatest morning elongation

2015–2016

KEY

JANUARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31


New Moon

Full Moon

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL


MAY

JUNE

JULY


AUGUST

SEPTEMBER


OCTOBER


NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

June 3 February 7 Mercury at greatest morning elongation

Saturn at opposition, magnitude -0.3

September 1

June 5

Annular eclipse of the Sun visible from Atlantic Ocean, Central Africa, Madagascar, and Indian Ocean. Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from Africa and Indian Ocean

Mercury at greatest morning elongation December 11 March 9

March 8

Total eclipse of the Sun visible from Sumatra, Borneo, and Sulawesi in Indonesia and Pacific Ocean. Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from east Asia, Australia, and Pacific Ocean


Mercury at greatest evening elongation May 9 Transit of Mercury visible from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Central Asia

April 18 August 16


2016 Along with two eclipses of the Sun, this year’s most interesting astronomical highlight is a transit of Mercury. A similar event will take place in November 2019— the last transit event until 2032. Planetary conjunction The bright planets Jupiter (right) and Saturn (left) are close to each other throughout the year. In January and August Venus joins them to make a rare “triple conjunction.”


May 22

September 28



Transit of Mercury On May 9, 2016 the innermost planet Mercury will speed across the face of the Sun in a rare “transit” alignment.

121

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A LM ANAC

2017 This year sees both total and annular eclipses of the Sun, as well as a widely visible partial lunar eclipse. Another interesting celestial event is an exceptionally close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter during November. Total solar eclipse A spectacular total eclipse will be visible across the USA on August 21, 2017. It will last for more than two minutes in many places. KEY

Full Moon

JANUARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY

Saturn’s open rings Due to the changing alignment of the planets, Saturn’s brilliant rings will appear “wide open” when seen from Earth throughout 2017. Total eclipse of the Moon

New Moon

MARCH

APRIL


MAY

JUNE

JULY


AUGUST

April 1

June 3


Venus at greatest morning elongation

SEPTEMBER


OCTOBER


NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

April 7 Jupiter at opposition, magnitude -2.5

January 12

August 7

Venus at greatest evening elongation

Partial eclipse of the Moon visible from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia June 15 Saturn at opposition, magnitude -0.3 September 12

January 19


Mercury at greatest morning elongation May 17 Mercury at greatest morning elongation February 26 Annular eclipse of the Sun visible from Pacific Ocean, Chile, Argentina, Atlantic Ocean, and Africa. Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from southern South America, Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and Antarctica August 21

Total eclipse of the Sun visible from North Pacific, the USA, and South Atlantic. Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from North America and northern South America July 30 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

November 23 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

2017–2018

KEY

Full Moon

JANUARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY


New Moon

MARCH

APRIL

MAY


JUNE

JULY


AUGUST

SEPTEMBER


OCTOBER


NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

November 6 Mercury at greatest evening elongation January 1

May 9

August 11



Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from northern Europe and northeast Asia

July 12 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

March 15 Mercury at greatest evening elongation August 17 Venus at greatest evening elongation

December 15

July 13


Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from southern Australia

February 15 Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from Antarctica and southern South America

August 26 Mercury at greatest morning elongation June 27 Saturn at opposition, magnitude -0.3 April 29

January 31 Total eclipse of the Moon visible from Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia

2018 None of this year’s three solar eclipses are total. However, there is a total lunar eclipse in July, an exceptionally close approach of Mars to Earth around the same time, and a close conjunction of Mars and Jupiter in early January. Blue moons January and March 2018 will both see rare “blue moons”—events where two full moons occur in the same calendar month.


July 27 Mars at opposition, magnitude -2.8 Total eclipse of the Moon visible from Asia, Australia, Pacific Ocean, and western North America

Close approach of Mars In July 2018 Mars will come within 36 million miles (58 million km) of Earth, making it exceptionally bright and large in our skies.

123

124

A LM ANAC

2019 This year sees total, annular, and partial eclipses of the Sun, as well as partial and total eclipses of the Moon. Other highlights include a rare transit of Mercury and an unusual disappearing act by Jupiter’s satellites. Saturn’s great white spot During 2019 Saturn reaches its northern midsummer, when enormous “white spot” storms appear, such as this one seen in 1994. KEY

Full Moon

JANUARY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

FEBRUARY

Lonely Jupiter On November 9, 2019 Jupiter briefly appears moonless, with all four of its bright satellites simultaneously hidden behind the giant planet. Total eclipse of the Moon

New Moon

MARCH

APRIL

MAY


JUNE

JULY


AUGUST


SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER


NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

July 2 Total eclipse of the Sun visible from south Pacific, Chile, and Argentina. Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from south Pacific and South America July 9 Saturn at opposition, magnitude -0.3 June 10

January 6

November 11


Venus at greatest morning elongation Partial eclipse of the Sun visible from northeast Asia and north Pacific

August 9

Transit of Mercury visible from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and central Asia


April 11 Mercury at greatest morning elongation


July 16

December 26

Partial eclipse of the Moon visible from North America, South America, central Pacific, Europe, and Africa

Annular eclipse of the Sun visible from Saudi Arabia, India, Sumatra, and Borneo. Partial eclipse visible from Asia and Australia

January 21 Total eclipse of the Moon visible from South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia

November 28 June 23 Mercury at greatest evening elongation

February 27 Mercury at greatest evening elongation


G L OS S A R Y

GLOSSARY Aperture The diameter of the main mirror or lens in a telescope or binoculars. A large-aperture telescope can collect more light and detect fainter objects than a smallaperture telescope. Asterism A recognizable pattern of stars, where the stars are either a part of a constellation or are members of several constellations. An example is the Big Dipper in Ursa Major. Astrophotography The photography of celestial objects in the night sky, including photography of the Sun and of eclipses.

Deep-sky object Any celestial object lying beyond the Solar System, excluding stars.

Local group A small cluster of over 30 galaxies; it includes our own galaxy, the Milky Way.

Planetary nebula A glowing shell of dust and gas ejected by a dying star that appears as a luminous planet.

Double star Two stars not physically associated with each other, but appearing close together when viewed from Earth.

Magnitude The brightness of a celestial object, measured on a numerical scale, where brighter objects are given small or negative numbers, and fainter objects are given larger numbers.

Radiant The point in the sky from which the tracks of meteors that are members of a particular meteor shower appear to originate.

Eclipse An alignment of a planet or moon with the Sun, which casts a shadow on another celestial body. During a lunar eclipse the Earth’s shadow is cast on the Moon, and during a solar eclipse, the Moon’s shadow is cast on Earth. Ecliptic The plane of Earth’s orbit

Binary star Two stars in a mutual orbit around a common center of mass and bound together gravitationally. Celestial equator The celestial equivalent of Earth’s equator. The celestial equator marks a line where the plane of Earth’s equator meets the celestial sphere. Celestial poles The two points at which the line of Earth’s axis, extended outward, meets the celestial sphere and around which the stars appear to revolve. Celestial sphere The imaginary sphere that surrounds Earth, and upon which all celestial objects appear to lie. Conjunction An alignment of objects in the night sky, with one passing in front of the other, particularly when a planet lines up with the Sun as viewed from Earth. Constellation A named area of stars or a designated area of sky around a star pattern. There are currently 88 officially recognized constellations. Declination A coordinate used in

the equatorial coordinate system; it is the celestial equivalent of latitude on Earth. It is measured in degrees above or below the celestial equator, which has a declination of 0º.

around the Sun, or the projection of that plane onto the celestial sphere. Elliptical galaxy A galaxy that appears as an ellipse. These contain very little gas and dust and are usually devoid of star formations. Elongation The angular separation between the Sun and an inferior planet as viewed from Earth. Also used at the time of maximum angular separation (greatest elongation) between the inner planets, Mercury or Venus, and the Sun. Equinox The time when the Sun is vertically overhead Earth’s equator, and days and nights are of equal length. Galaxy A huge mass of stars, gas, and dust linked by gravity. Galaxies may vary from thousands to hundreds of thousands of light-years in range. Globular cluster A sphere of thousands of stars linked by gravity. Inferior planets Planets whose orbit

around the Sun falls inside Earth’s orbit. The two inferior planets are Mercury and Venus. Light-year The distance traveled by light in one year— 5,878 billion miles (9,460 billion km).

Meteor shower A substantial number of meteors that appear to originate from a common point in the sky. Multiple stars A system of stars that are bound together gravitationally and are in mutual orbits. Multiple stars have at least three stars and may contain up to a dozen stars.

Retrograde motion The rotation of a planet or moon in the opposite direction to its orbit. All the planets orbit the Sun in the direction of the Sun’s rotation: counterclockwise when viewed from above the Sun’s north pole. Most planets also rotate (spin) counterclockwise. Venus and Uranus have retrograde motion: clockwise compared with their counterclockwise orbits.

Nebula A cloud of dust and gas in space, usually made visible by the light of the neighboring stars.

Right ascension (RA) The celestial equivalent of longitude on Earth. It is measured in hours from the position where the ecliptic intersects the celestial equator in spring.

Open cluster A loose group of up to a few hundred stars, bound by gravity and found in the arms of a galaxy.

Solar system The family of eight recognized planets and several other celestial bodies such as moons that orbit the Sun.

Occultation The passage of one celestial body of a larger apparent size over another body of a smaller apparent size, which results in the more distant body being entirely or partially hidden. For example, when the Moon passes over a distant star, it hides the star from our view.

Spiral galaxy A galaxy that has a distinct set of spiral arms composed of bright young stars. Spiral galaxies are rich in gas and dust, and offer prime conditions for star formation.

Opposition The time when an outer planet lies on the exact opposite side of Earth from the Sun. The planet is at its closest to Earth and therefore appears brightest at this time. Orbit The path followed by a planet or other celestial body around the Sun, or by a moon around its parent planet. Planet A celestial body that has cleared away any planetary debris from its orbit around the Sun and is of a roughly round shape due to its own gravity.

Star A huge sphere of glowing plasma that emits heat and light by means of nuclear reactions at its center. Superior planets Planets whose orbit around the Sun are outside the orbit of Earth. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are the superior planets. Variable star A star whose magnitude varies over time, brought about by intrinsic or extrinsic changes, such as being eclipsed by another star. Zodiac A band on either side of the ecliptic, through which the Sun, Moon, and planets appear to travel.

125

126

I NDEX

INDEX Note: Months occurring as subentries are arranged in month order. 16-17 Draconis 86 47 Tucanae 85, 87, 93, 101, 103

A Achernar 93, 101 Acrux 47, 53 Albireo 62, 76, 102 Alcor 52, 70 Aldebaran 100 Algieba 38 Almach 95 almanac 116–24 Alpha Centauri 53 Alpha Librae 71 Alphard 36, 37 Altair 70, 93 Andromeda Galaxy 8–9, 84, 86, 92–5, 100–2, 110 angular distances 11 annular eclipses 117–18 Antares 60, 61 April skies 44–51 Aquarid meteor showers 52–3, 69 Aquarius 85, 87, 93 Arcturus 36, 44, 52, 62, 68 Aries 94–5 astrophotography 15 August skies 76–83 Auriga 20–3, 30, 46, 94, 108–9, 111 Auroras 7, 15

Carina 21, 23, 37, 109, 111 IC 2602 cluster 31, 37, 45, 111 NGC 2516 cluster 55, 111 Carina Nebula 37, 39, 45, 111 Cassiopeia 84, 92, 94, 100, 102 Castor 23, 28–9, 110 Cat’s Eye Nebula 54 celestial sphere 7, 10–11, 18–19 Centaurus 21, 29, 37, 45, 53, 77 Omega Centauri 39, 45, 53, 61, 63 Cepheus 84 Cetus 85, 101 Circlet asterism 92, 93 Coalsack Nebula 31, 45, 55, 61 Coathanger asterism 86 Coma Berenices 38, 44, 52 conjunctions of planets 116, 118, 121–3 constellation movements 12 coordinate system 10–11 Crab Nebula 30, 100 Crux 29, 37, 45, 47, 53, 69 Coalsack Nebula 31, 45, 55, 61 NGC 4755 cluster 39, 45 Cygnus 62, 70, 76, 79, 84, 102 Cygnus Rift 76

D

Beehive Cluster 28, 31, 36 Beta Capricorni 79 Beta Centauri 53 Betelgeuse 21–2, 101, 108–9, 110 Big Dipper 36, 44, 52 binoculars 14 “blue moons” 123 Bode’s Galaxy (M81) 36, 44, 46, 70 Boötes 36, 44, 52, 62, 68 Brocchi’s Cluster 86

daily movements 12 December skies 12, 108–15 declination 10, 11 deep-sky objects 19 Delta Aquarid meteor shower 69 Delta Cephei 84 Deneb 70, 76 digital cameras 15 Diphda 101 distance measurements 9, 11 Dobsonian reflector 15 Dorado 93, 101, 109 Double Cluster 22, 78, 92, 94, 100, 110 “Double-Double” star system 70, 86 Draco 60, 68, 86 Dumbbell Nebula 77–8

C

E

Camelopardalis 30 cameras 15 Cancer 28, 31, 36 Canes Venatici 46 Canis Major 21, 36, 101, 103, 109 Canopus 21, 29, 37 Capella 20, 21–2, 109 Capricornus 77, 79, 84

Eagle Nebula 69, 71 Earth celestial sphere 10–11 changing sky 12–13 Moon and Earth 8 eclipses 13, 116–24 elongations of planets 21, 116–24 Enif 84, 86–7

B

Epsilon Lyrae (“DoubleDouble” star system) 70, 86 equator celestial sphere 10, 11 movement at equator 12 Eridanus 85, 93, 101, 103, 109 Eta Aquarid meteor shower 52–3

F False Cross 29, 37 February skies 28–35 flashlights 14 Fomalhaut 77, 85, 93

G galactic hub 69 galaxies 8–9 see also stars Gamma Arietis 94 Gamma Equulei 86 Gemini 22, 28–9, 102, 108–10 Geminid meteor shower 108 Great Bear see Ursa Major Great Square of Pegasus 84, 92

H Hadar 69, 77 Helix Nebula 85, 87 Hercules 54, 60, 62–3, 68 highlights pages, using the sky guides 18 horizons 19 Hyades 23, 38, 94, 100–2, 108–11 Hydra 44, 46 Alphard 36, 37 M83 spiral galaxy 47, 53, 61 Hydrus 93, 101

I IC 2602 (Southern Pleiades) 31, 37, 45, 111 IC 4665 star cluster 63, 68 inferior planets 13, 116–24 see also Mercury; Venus inner planets, locating 18

J January skies 20–7 Jewel Box (M83 spiral galaxy) 39, 45, 47, 53, 61 July skies 68–75 June skies 12, 60–7 Jupiter conjunctions 116, 121–3 oppositions 116–24 satellites 124

K Kemble’s Cascade 30

L Lagoon Nebula 63, 69, 71, 77, 85 Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) 21, 93, 95, 101, 103, 109, 111 latitude lines, finding latitude lines 19 Leo 28–9, 31, 37–8, 44, 47 occultations 119 Sickle of 36, 44 Leonid meteor shower 17, 100 Lepus 109 Libra 69, 71 light-years 9 Little Bear (Ursa Minor) 22, 60 LMC see Large Magellanic Cloud Local Group 8–9 lunar eclipses 13, 116–24 Lupus 61, 77 Lyra 68, 70, 76, 86, 92 Lyrid meteor shower 44

M M1 (Crab Nebula) 30, 100 M2 star cluster 85, 87 M3 star cluster 46 M4 star cluster 87 M5 star cluster 60, 68, 71 M6-7 star clusters 61–2, 69, 77, 85, 87 M8 (Lagoon Nebula) 63, 69, 71, 77, 85 M10 star cluster 54, 68 M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) 76 M12 star cluster 54–5, 68 M13 star cluster 54, 60, 62–3, 68, 78 M15 star cluster 84, 85, 87 M16 star cluster 69, 71 M17 (Omega Nebula) 79 M20 (Trifid Nebula) 69, 77, 79 M22 star cluster 63, 69, 71, 85, 87 M23 star cluster 79 M24 star cluster 69, 77, 79 M27 (Dumbbell Nebula) 77–8 M29 star cluster 79, 102 M30 star cluster 79 M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) 8–9, 84, 86, 92–5, 100–2, 110 M33 (Triangulum Galaxy) 93–5, 100–2 M34 star cluster 92 M35 star cluster 22, 28, 102, 110 M36-38 star clusters 30, 46, 94, 102, 111 M39 star cluster 62, 79, 84, 102 M41 star cluster 21, 30, 103

M42 (Orion Nebula) 20–2, 102, 108–11 M44 (Beehive Cluster) 28, 31, 36 M45 (Pleiades) 37–8, 45, 94, 100–2, 108–11 M47 star cluster 23, 29 M48 star cluster 46 M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) 52, 60 M52 star cluster 92, 94, 102 M57 (Ring Nebula) 68, 77–8 M61 spiral galaxy 39 M66 spiral galaxy 47 M77 spiral galaxy 101 M79 star cluster 103, 109 M81 (Bode’s Galaxy) 36, 44, 46, 70 M83 (Jewel Box) 39, 45, 47, 53, 61 M92 star cluster 63, 78 M95-96 star clusters 47 M104 (Sombrero Galaxy) 39 M105 star cluster 47 Magellanic Clouds see Large Magellanic Cloud; Small Magellanic Cloud magnitude of stars 19 March skies 36–43 Mars close approach 123 conjunctions 123 oppositions 116–24 May skies 52–9 measuring distance 9, 11 size 11 Melotte 111 38, 52 Mensa 93, 101, 109 Mercury close approach 118 conjunctions 118 elongations 21, 116–24 naked-eye observations 13 Transit of 121, 124 Messier clusters see M36-38 star clusters meteor showers January skies 20 April skies 44 May skies 52–3 July skies 69 August skies 76 October skies 92 November skies 17, 100 December skies 108 Milky Way 8 January skies 20–1 February skies 28–9, 31 April skies 45, 47 May skies 55 June skies 61 July skies 69 August skies 78 December skies 110 Mira 101

IN DE X

Mizar 52, 70 Monoceros 28, 30 monthly sky guides 16–19 January 20–7 February 28–35 March 36–43 April 44–51 May 52–9 June 12, 60–7 July 68–75 August 76–83 September 84–91 October 92–9 November 100–7 December 12, 108–15 Moon “blue moons” 123 Earth and Moon 8 eclipses 13, 116–24 phases 116–24 movement of objects 12–13, 19, 116–24

N naked-eye observations 13, 15 Neptune 18 January skies 21 February skies 29 March skies 36 April skies 44 May skies 52 June skies 60 July skies 68 August skies 76 September skies 85 October skies 93 November skies 101 December skies 109 Newtonian reflector 15 NGC 104 star cluster (47 Tucanae) 85, 87, 93, 101, 103 NGC 188 star cluster 46 NGC 457 star cluster 100 NGC 663 star cluster 100 NGC 752 star cluster 95 NGC 869/884 (Double Cluster) 22, 78, 92, 94, 100, 110 NGC 1300 spiral galaxy 103 NGC 2017 star cluster 109 NGC 2070 (Tarantula Nebula) 21, 101, 109 NGC 2244 star cluster 28, 30 NGC 2516 star cluster 55, 111 NGC 2547 star cluster 23 NGC 3114 star cluster 111 NGC 3132 star cluster 23 NGC 3372 (Carina Nebula) 37, 39, 45, 111 NGC 4755 see Jewel Box NGC 5139 (Omega Centauri) 39, 45, 53, 61, 63 NGC 6231 star cluster 61 NGC 6530 star cluster 69

NGC 6543 (Cat’s Eye Nebula) 54 NGC 6633 star cluster 55 NGC 7000 (North America Nebula) 15, 70, 84 NGC 7293 (Helix Nebula) 85, 87 noctilucent clouds 68 North America Nebula 15, 70, 84 Northern Cross see Cygnus northern latitudes January 20, 22, 24–5 February 28, 30, 32–3 March 36, 38, 40–1 April 44, 46, 48–9 May 52, 54, 56–7 June 60, 62, 64–5 July 68, 70, 72–3 August 76, 78, 80–1 September 84, 86, 88–9 October 92, 94, 96–7 November 100, 102, 104–5 December 108, 110, 112–13 November skies 100–7 Nu Draconis 86

O observation times for charts 19 occultations 119 October skies 92–9 Omega Centauri 39, 45, 53, 61, 63 Omega Nebula 79 Omicron-2 Eridani 103 Ophiuchus 54–5, 63, 68, 85 oppositions of planets 116–24 Orion 21–2, 37, 101, 103, 108–11 Orion Nebula 20–2, 102, 108–11 Orionid meteor shower 92 outer planets 18 see also Neptune; Uranus overview pages, using the sky guides 18

P partial eclipses 118, 124 see also eclipses Pegasus 84–5, 86–7, 92–3, 100 Perseid meteors 76 Perseus 92, 100, 109 see also Double Cluster Phoenix 93, 101 photography 15 Pisces Austrinus 77, 85, 93 planet locator charts, using planet locator charts 18 planets 18

January skies 21 February skies 29 March skies 36, 37 April skies 44–5 May skies 52–3 June skies 60–1 July skies 68–9 August skies 76–7 September skies 84–5 October skies 92–3 November skies 100–1 December skies 108–9 movements 13, 116–24 see also Earth Pleiades 37–8, 45, 94, 100–2, 108–11 Polaris (Pole Star) 11, 52, 60 poles, movement at poles 12 Pollux 28–9 Praesepe 28, 31, 36 Procyon 108 Puppis 29, 37

Q Quadrantid meteor shower 20

R RA (right ascension) 10–11 recording observations 15 red light flashlights 14 refractor telescopes 15 Regulus 44, 47 Rigel 21–2, 101, 108–9, 110 right ascension (RA) 10–11 Rigil Kentaurus 69, 77 Ring Nebula 68, 77–8 rings of Saturn 122 Rosette Nebula 28

S Sagittarius 61, 63, 69, 71, 77, 79, 85 satellites 124 see also Moon Saturn conjunctions 121 Moon passes 119 open rings 122 oppositions 116–24 “white spot” 124 Scorpius 52–3, 60–2, 69, 77, 85, 87 Scutum 76, 77, 85 September skies 84–91 Serpens 60, 68 Serpens Cauda 69, 71 Sickle of Leo 36, 44 sidereal days 12 Sirius 21, 29, 36, 101, 108 size measurements 11 sky guides see monthly sky guides Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) January skies 21 August skies 77

September skies 85 October skies 93, 95 November skies 101, 103 December skies 109, 111 solar days 12 solar eclipses 13, 116–24 Solar System 8 Sombrero Galaxy 39 South Celestial Pole 29 Southern Cross see Crux southern latitudes January 21, 23, 26–7 February 29, 31, 34–5 March 37, 39, 42–3 April 45, 47, 50–1 May 55, 58–9 June 61, 63, 66–7 July 69, 71, 74–5 August 77, 79, 82–3 September 85, 87, 90–1 October 93, 95, 98–9 November 101, 103, 106–7 December 109, 111, 114–15 Southern Pleiades (IC2602) 31, 37, 45, 111 Spica 36, 37, 44–5, 52, 68 starhopping method 11 stars 10–11 January skies 20–7 February skies 28–35 March skies 36–43 April skies 44–51 May skies 52–9 June skies 60–7 July skies 68–75 August skies 76–83 September skies 84–91 October skies 92–9 November skies 100–7 December skies 108–15 magnitude 19 movement diagrams 19 see also galaxies; Sun stellar neighborhood 8 Summer Triangle asterism 68, 70, 84 Sun 8 see also solar superclusters 9 superior planets 13, 116–24 see also Jupiter; Mars; Neptune; Saturn; Uranus

T Tarantula Nebula 21, 101, 109 Taurid meteor shower 100 Taurus 100, 101, 108–9 Hyades cluster 23, 38, 102 Pleiades 37–8, 45, 94, 100–2, 108–11 “Teapot” asterism 69, 71 telescopes 15 Theta Carinae 37 Theta Eridani 103

total eclipses 122 see also eclipses Transit of Mercury 121, 124 of Venus 117 Triangulum Galaxy (M33) 93–5, 100–2 Trifid Nebula 69, 77, 79 Tucana 85, 87, 93, 95, 101, 103 see also Small Magellanic Cloud

U Universe, size of Universe 8 Uranus 18 January skies 21 February skies 29 March skies 37 April skies 44 May skies 52 June skies 60 July skies 68 August skies 76 September skies 84 October skies 93 November skies 101 December skies 109 conjunctions 116 Ursa Major 22, 30, 70 Big Dipper 36, 44, 52 M81 spiral galaxy 36, 44, 46 Ursa Minor 22, 60

V Vega 68, 70, 76, 92 Vela 23, 37, 109 Venus 13, 120 close approach 118 conjunctions 118, 122 elongations 116–24 Transit of 117 viewing locations 14 Virgo 36–7, 39, 44–5, 52, 68 Virgo Supercluster 9, 44, 46 Vulpecula 77–8

W XY Z Whirlpool Galaxy 52, 60 “white spot,” Saturn 124 whole-sky charts, using whole sky charts 19 Wild Duck Cluster 76 Winter Triangle 108 yearly movements 12 zeniths 19 zodiac 12

127

128

A CK NOWLEDGMEN TS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Will Gater I’d like to thank my family for their continual support, especially Rose, as well as Martha and the team at DK Publishing for all their hard work.

Publisher’s acknowledgments DK Publishing would like to thank the following people for their help in the preparation of this book: Giles Sparrow for editorial and illustration guidance and Almanac text; Paul Drislane for initial design work; additional design help from Fiona McDonald. Indexing Specialists for preparing the index; Lizzie Munsey for proofreading. Additional production help from Sophie Argyris and Luca Frassinetti. DK images: Claire Bowers, Martin Copeland, and Lucy Claxton.

PICTURE CREDITS The publisher would like to thank the following for their kind permission to reproduce their photographs:

(Key: a-above; b-below/bottom; c-center; f-far; l-left; r-right; t-top) 2-3 Corbis: Gabe Palmer. 4 Corbis: Visuals Unlimited. 6-7 Corbis: Science Faction/Tony Hallas. 9 Corbis: Myron Jay Dorf

(b/Milky Way); NASA/JPL-Caltech (b/Quasar); Science Faction/ Tony Hallas (crb); Stocktrek Images (b/Andromeda Galaxy). European Southern Observatory (ESO): Digitized Sky Survey 2 (b/Virgo Cluster). 10 Corbis: Roger Ressmeyer (cra). 13 Corbis: EPA/Dean Lewins (tr). Will Gater: (bl). 14 Corbis: Gabe Palmer (cla). 15 Corbis: Frank Lukasseck (bc); Visuals Unlimited (cr). 16-17 Corbis: Frank Lukasseck. 21 Corbis: Roger Ressmeyer (cla). 22 Corbis: Visuals Unlimited (cl) (bl). 23 Robert Gendler: (br). Alson Wong: (cr). 28 NOAO / AURA / NSF: (cl). 29 Science Photo Library: Eckhard Slawik (ca). 30 Getty Images: Visuals Unlimited, Inc./Robert Gendler (bl). Walter MacDonald: (cl). 31 Corbis: Visuals Unlimited (cr). Science Photo Library: Celestial Image Co. (br). 36 Corbis: Roger Ressmeyer (cl). 37 Galaxy Picture Library: Gordon Garradd (cl). 38 Corbis: Roger Ressmeyer (bl); Stocktrek Images (cl). 39 European Southern Observatory (ESO): (br). NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScl): (cr). 44 Getty Images: David McNew (cl). 45 Yuri Beletsky: (cl). 46 Corbis: Stocktrek Images (bl). NOAO / AURA / NSF: (cl). 47 NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/ STScl): (br). Hunter Wilson: (cr). 52 Corbis: Roger Ressmeyer (c). 53 Yuri Beletsky: (cl). 54 NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScl): (cl). NOAO / AURA / NSF: (bl). 55 NOAO / AURA / NSF: (cr). Télescopes à Action Rapide pour les Objets Transitoires: (br). 61 Corbis: Amanaimages/Katahira

Takashi (cl). 62 Will Gater: (cl). NOAO / AURA / NSF: (bl). 63 Getty Images: Image Bank/LWA (cr); Visuals Unlimited, Inc./ Robert Gendler (br). 68 Will Gater: (bl). 69 Corbis: Reuters/Ho (cl). 70 European Southern Observatory (ESO): Digitized Sky Survey 2 (cl). NASA: (bl). 71 Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope: Jean-Charles Cuillandre (br). Galaxy Picture Library: Jeremy Perez (cr). 76 Corbis: Reuters/Ali Jarekji (bl). 77 Corbis: Visuals Unlimited (cl). 78 Corbis: Scott Stulberg (cl). Getty Images: Stocktrek Images (bl). 79 Will Gater: (cr). NOAO / AURA / NSF: (br). 85 Corbis: Stocktrek Images (cl). 86 Frank Barrett: (bl). Galaxy Picture Library: Damian Peach (cl). 87 NASA: (cr). NOAO / AURA / NSF: (br). 93 Alamy Images: Galaxy Picture Library (cl). 94 Corbis: Roger Ressmeyer (bl). Galaxy Picture Library: Robin Scagell (cl). 95 Anthony Ayiomamitis/perseus.gr: (cr). Corbis: Dennis di Cicco (br). 101 Science Photo Library: John Chumack (cl). 102 2MASS: (cl). NOAO / AURA / NSF: (bl). 103 Corbis: Stocktrek Images (br). NOAO / AURA / NSF: (cr). 108 Getty Images: Barcroft Media/Wally Pacholka (cl). 109 Corbis: Roger Ressmeyer (cl). 110 Corbis: Roger Ressmeyer (bl). Galaxy Picture Library: Damian Peach (cl). 111 Getty Images: Stocktrek Images (br). NOAO / AURA / NSF: (cr). 117 Corbis: Richard Cummins (br); Reuters/Tim Wimborne (bc). 118 Corbis: Reuters/Bea Wiharta (tc). Pete Lawrence: (tr). 119 Alamy Images: Galaxy Picture Library (bc). Getty Images: SSPL/Jamie Cooper (br). 120 Corbis: Reuters/Doug Murray (tc). Jimmy Westlake: (tr). 121 Science Photo Library: John Sanford (bc). Mila Zinkova: (br). 122 Corbis: EPA/John Sun (tc); Roger Ressmeyer (tr). 123 Corbis: Gary Carter (bc); NASA/Bryan Allen (br). 124 Corbis: (tc). NASA: JPL-Caltech (tr).

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