National Museums Liverpool Nightwatch

Nightwatch Feature April 2011

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 April 2011 - see larger version

Saturn is making its way across the southern part of the sky now and can be seen from around about 8.30pm onwards. You will find Saturn in the midst of the large constellation of Virgo. Talking of Virgo, there are more exoplanets in this constellation than any other. Aswell as these new planets, which orbit other stars, there are also many galaxies to be found within its borders so this makes a really worthwhile target for your telescopes. You are best looking for these celestial gems when the moon is new or at least not as bright.

Also this month there is the Lyrids annual meteor shower which will reach its peak on 22 April. If you are somewhere nice and dark away from street lights you can expect to see at least 18 meteors per hour. As the name suggests this meteor shower radiates from the constellation of Lyra. One of the most prominent constellations this month is Boótes the Herdsman with the giant star of Arcturus dominating this star pattern. Boótes was said to herd the bears of Ursa Major and Minor and it was this, which made the celestial sphere rotate in the night sky.

Nightwatch Feature March 2011

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 March 2011 - see larger version

If you are quick you may catch a triumvirate of planets in the early morning this month. Just before the sun comes up, at around 6am, you can just catch a glimpse of Venus, the brightest, Jupiter, next brightest and then if you’re very lucky Mercury. Be careful not to look into the sun though as you could damage your eyesight.

Still on the subject of planets, this month there is the beautiful ringed planet Saturn which you can see in the night sky from 9pm onwards. Saturn has at least 62 moons orbiting inside and outside the striking ring system. In fact the gaps that you see in the rings are caused by moons which shift the icy particles of which the rings are made of, and create these divisions in the ring system. The rings around Saturn orbit the planet faster than a rifle bullet and even though they look solid the rings are actually made up from thousands of tiny ringlets.

Orion still dominates the sky this month and if you follow the belt of the hunter down to the left you will come to the brightest star in the whole night sky Sirius. The great lion of Leo is coming into view now also, which in Greek mythology was said to be the Nemean monster which Hercules was tasked with destroying. Almost on the opposite side of the sky you will find the easily recognisable Cassiopeia, which looks like a 'w'. There are plenty of deep sky objects in and around this constellation for you to look out for, most notably the two open clusters of M52 and M103 which you will need binoculars to see. Look at our chart to see where to find them.

Nightwatch Feature February 2011

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm,15 February 2011 - see larger version

As you can just see from our star chart the ringed gas giant Saturn is coming into view from 9pm onwards this month. Saturn makes a wonderful object for telescopic viewing; binoculars are also fine but you need to have them mounted on a tripod otherwise you won’t be able to keep the image still.

Jupiter is still shining brightly in the night sky but is disappearing earlier each night into the western horizon. Look for Jupiter low down in the south. As you can see form our chart Orion is dominant in the sky but let’s look around Orion for some celestial gems. To the upper right of Orion we have Taurus the bull and as you can see there is a distinct 'V' which makes up the face. This 'V' is called the Hyades, which is ancient Greek for 'the rainy ones' and the Hyades were said to be sisters who brought about the rain. Just above, on the shoulder of Taurus, is a second cluster named after another bunch of sisters called the Pleiades. They were said to be the seven daughters of the titan Atlas and the sea-nymph Pleione and this is where the cluster gets its common name of the 'seven sisters'.

Above and to the left of Orion is the constellation of Gemini the twins. The twin stars that give this constellation its name are called Castor and Pollux but the two are nothing alike. Castor is a sextuple star system while Pollux is a single cool orange giant which interestingly has an extrasolar planet revolving around it. Another interesting star in Gemini is Makbuda which is 220,000 times the size of our sun.

Nightwatch Feature January 2011

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 January 2011 - see larger version

Jupiter is still a conspicuous sight in the evening sky throughout January. It is starting to set in the west earlier each night though, so make the most of it while you can. You will find the gas giant low down in the south. Next on the list of our planetary menu is the morning star Venus. You cannot miss this ultra bright object as it shines brighter than anything other than the moon. Look for Venus low down in the south-east just before sunrise.

Just a couple of degrees away from Venus is the ringed planet Saturn. If you don’t get to see it before the sun comes up, don’t worry, as over the next couple of months Saturn will be in the night sky at a more reasonable time for viewing. The winter constellations dominate now with Orion playing centre stage in the sky. Check out the Orion nebula just below the three stars that make up Orion’s belt which is a vast expanse of gas and dust where new stars and planets are being born.

Another interesting constellation for you to look out for is Perseus. One of the more noteworthy stars of this constellation is the eclipsing binary Algol. Algol has a companion star which passes in front of the main star making it appear to wink every 2.4 days then brighten again 4 hours later. This star is called the demon star as it is said to represent the pulsating eye of the gorgon medusa. Just to the right of Perseus is the Triangulum constellation. This is a beautiful little star pattern and has the famous Pinwheel galaxy in its borders. Check out our star map above to find out where to look.

Nightwatch Feature December 2010

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 December 2010 - see larger version

As you van see from our chart above, Jupiter is still on show and makes a beautiful sight through a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Look for the four huge moons orbiting around this gas giant. Another beautiful object this month is the planet Venus which makes a conspicuous sight in the very early morning just before the sunrise. Just next to Venus is the ringed planet Saturn.

As the months go by, Saturn will be on show at a more reasonable time for viewing but if you are an early riser, look for both of these planets in the constellation of Virgo. Also this month there are two meteor showers, the first is the Geminids which peaks in the early hours of the 14th and is one of the best meteor showers of the year with a rate of 75 meteors per hour. Next up on the 22nd is the Ursids, and with an hourly rate of 5, not as spectacular as the Geminids but still well worth a look. Taurus and Orion are starting to dominate the night sky now and they are two of the most interesting constellations there is. Taurus with the red giant star Aldebaran marking out the bull’s eye in the 'V' shape of the face, which is called the Hyades. On the shoulder of the bull is the beautiful star cluster, the Pleiades, also known as the seven sisters.

Orion is full of interesting objects, including the red giant star called Betelgeuse which if put in place of our sun would swallow up the inner planets as far as Mars. And below the three stars that make up Orion’s belt is the Orion nebula where stars and planets are being born that will one day form into solar systems like our own. So rap up warm and take advantage of the best time of year for star gazing.

Nightwatch Feature November 2010

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 November 2010 - see larger version

There are three meteor showers this month for your celestial pleasure starting with the Taurids, which have a rate of 10 meteors per hour. The Taurids reach their peak on the 11th of the month. Next up is the Leonids which peak on the 17th and have an hourly rate of 15 meteors per hour. Finally - just to spoil us - on the 25th we have the Andromadids with a rate of 5 meteors per hour.

These annual meteor showers are best viewed in the early hours of these dates. Jupiter still makes a magnificent sight in the night sky and chances are you have already seen it but may not have realised just what it is. Simply look for the brightest object in the sky (apart from the moon) and you are now looking at the king of planets. With a pair of binoculars you should be able to make out the four huge Galilean moons orbiting around it. Look for this in the south.

As you can see from the sky map above, Orion is starting to make his way into view and will soon dominate the night sky. The summer triangle is still visible to the west so try and explore this region of the sky before it disappears until next summer. Also dominant right now is the almost perfect square which makes up the body of Pegasus the flying horse.

Nightwatch Feature October 2010

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 10.30pm, 15 October 2010 - see larger version

There are two meteor showers to check out during October. The first is the Draconids which has a varied hourly rate that is usually quite weak but still worth a look at their peak on the 8th of the month. The next is the Orionids which reach their peak on the 22nd, and with an hourly rate of 25 you stand a very good chance of seeing multiple shooting stars.

Obviously we need a clear sky to enjoy these, but if it is clear lie yourself down on a sun lounger and look directly above. The prince of planets, Jupiter, is dominating the sky right now and chances are that you have already seen it but just thought it was a very bright star. You can’t miss it low down in the south at anytime in the early evening. Almost in the same field of view as Jupiter is the planet Uranus but you will need a telescope or powerful binoculars to see it. It’s a good time to look at the night sky now as we can still see some of the summer constellations but are also able to see the winter patterns coming into view.

The three constellations that make up the summer triangle are in the south-west and on the eastern side of the sky is the mighty Orion, probably the best known of all the constellations. Dead centre is the square of Pegasus helping us point to the Andromeda galaxy.

Nightwatch Feature September 2010

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 September 2010 - see larger version

Jupiter is on full show this month, making its way across the southern night sky as soon as it gets dark. Chances are that you have already seen it but may not have realised as it is the brightest object in the sky apart from the moon. A good pair of binoculars will show off the four huge moons called the Galileans after the man who discovered them, Galileo Galilei. If you are ready at the right time you may catch a glimpse of Venus setting in the west in the early evening. Again it can’t be missed as it is so bright. As usual the summer triangle dominates the sky at this time of the year with the square of Hercules’ keystone to the right of Lyra and another square of stars, this time to the left of Cygnus that makes up the body of Pegasus the flying horse.

A few circumpolar constellations to look out for are Ursa Major, Cassiopeia and Cehpeus. Circumpolar constellations can be seen anytime of the year as they never set below the horizon whilst circling the North Star. Cepheus is a constellation in the northern sky and is named after a King of Ethiopia from Greek mythology. Cassiopeia was said to be his queen and their daughter was the beautiful Andromeda. Ursa Major is probably one of the best known constellations in the whole night sky and is also known as the Plough which makes a perfect pointer constellation to find your way around the sky.

Nightwatch Feature July 2010

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 July 2010 - see larger version

July affords the opportunity of viewing no less than 5 of our solar systems planets. You will need to be quick to see Mercury as it sets not long after the sun; but be careful not to catch a glimpse of the sun in your telescope or binoculars as it could permanently damage your eyes.

Next up is Venus, but you won’t be able to miss our sister planet as it is the brightest object in the entire sky apart from the moon. Venus will drop below the western horizon about two hours behind the sun. Almost on a straight line below Venus the red planet Mars should be easy to spot because of its distinctive colour, but as you can see from our chart below, around about the 15th Mars will be very close to the moon and the moonshine will probably make it difficult to see. Try and view it before or after this date.

Again on an almost straight line below Mars lies the ringed planet Saturn. This always makes a beautiful target in the night sky and no matter how many times you have seen Saturn it never fails to blow you away. And if that is not enough, Jupiter can be seen from around 3am low down in the eastern sky.

A pair of good binoculars or a small telescope will be powerful enough to show you these planetary wonders.

July also sees the Delta Aquarids meteor shower make an appearance. Look for these in the early hours of the 28th, where you should be able to see upwards of 20 meteors per hour. They are usually faint meteors so a very dark sky is a must.

Nightwatch Feature June 2010

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 June 2010 - see larger version

June sees a hat-trick of planets, plus a meteor shower for your celestial viewing pleasure. The ringed planet Saturn can be found low down in the south directly below the constellation of Leo and a good pair of binoculars should allow you to see the rings.

The red planet Mars is again very close to Leo and actually looks like part of the constellation; but you won’t have any trouble distinguishing it from Leo’s stars on account of its red colour. Venus closely follows the Sun as it sets in the west but you should have no problem finding our near neighbour as it is the brightest object in the sky apart from the moon.

The June Bootids meteor shower is generally a hit or miss affair, with the shooting stars usually weak. But occasionally we are treated to a spectacular display like in 1998 when observers witnessed 100 meteors per hour over a seven hour period. Similar displays occurred in 1916, 1921 and 1927, so it is definitely worth a go. This meteor shower reaches its peak in the early hours of the 27th. The June Bootids radiate from the constellation of Boótes the Herdsman and the brightest star in this constellation, Arcturus, is one of the most luminous in the night sky. An easy way to find this star is to follow a slightly curving line away from the handle of the Plough. If you continue this line past Boötes you will eventually come to the second largest constellation in the whole night sky Virgo which has its own galaxy cluster.

Nightwatch Feature May 2010

Sat, 01 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 May 2010 - see larger version

Three easy-to-see planets for your viewing pleasure this month!

Firstly, the brightest object in the night sky apart from the moon is the planet Venus and this can be seen low down in the west following the Sun. Although Venus is said to be our sister planet, being of similar size and similar material, that’s where the similarities end. The Venusian atmosphere has clouds of 90% sulphuric acid. The surface temperature is hot enough to melt lead and the atmospheric pressure is equivalent to being a couple of kilometres under the ocean.

The red planet Mars is more or less directly above in the night sky from about 9pm. Mars has the biggest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, and is three times the height of Mount Everest with a surface area roughly the size of England. The beautiful ringed planet Saturn is also on display this month and is close to the constellation of Leo. A good pair of binoculars or a small telescope will show off the glorious ring system.

One of the best meteor showers of the year, the Eta Aquarids, will reach its peak in the early hours of the 5th. Provided you are in a dark viewing location, you should be able to see around 40 shooting stars per hour. A good constellation for you to target this month is Virgo, which you can find quite low down towards the horizon. There are a myriad of celestial gems in and around this constellation and due to a galaxy cluster in its borders there are many different types of galaxy to look for.

Nightwatch Feature February 2010

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Whole sky chart at 9pm, 15 February 2010 - see larger version

Orion is starting to disappear earlier each night now as we move toward spring so make the most of this, the king of constellations while you can. There are so many fascinating objects to look for in just this one star pattern, for example the red giant Betelgeuse on the right shoulder of the hunter, or the blue super giant Rigel at the left foot. Of course there is the famous Orion’s belt and the beautiful Orion nebula just below the belt where stars and planets are forming. All of these can be seen with the naked eye even from brightly lit streets. The red planet Mars is on full show now just beside the constellation Gemini and can’t really be mistaken as it is clearly red to look at and doesn’t twinkle.

The ringed planet Saturn is making its way across the sky now behind the constellation Leo and should make a beautiful target with a pair of binoculars or small telescope. The constellation of Auriga is quite central in the sky during February and has some great objects of its own. For instance the brightest star Capella is actually a star system itself with two sets of binary or double stars orbiting each other. Auriga has many open star clusters because the Milky Way runs through it. The three brightest open clusters are M36, M37 and M38, all of which are visible in binoculars or a small telescope in suburban skies. A larger telescope resolves individual stars.