In partnership with Raygill Astronomy Club
Although the nights are still short they are slowly lengthening. This August will be a spectacular month so far as the night sky is concerned. If you have wanted to spot all eight planets of the Solar System in a single night, here is your chance. You can’t miss Jupiter, Saturn and Mars in the evening sky, and a good pair of binoculars will assist you to...
Read MoreComet Neowise, which was discovered in late March by a space telescope, is going to be visible in the UK with the naked eye throughout July. The comet is rare in that it survived a close encounter with the sun, passing at roughly the same distance as Mercury. During its closest approach to Earth Neowise will be about 64 million miles away – or about 400...
Read MoreThese short summer nights are illuminated by a pair of brilliant planets, Jupiter and Saturn. They are located down in the southern sky among the stars of Sagittarius and Scorpius, which are embedded in the glorious heart of the Milky Way. Higher in the sky, is the prominent Summer Triangle. The Plough is in the north west as the Summer Triangle reaches...
Read MoreThis is the mid point of the year and the night sky is never quite getting dark, especially in Yorkshire. It’s not the greatest month for spotting faint stars. Only the brightest stars can be seen. You can take advantage of the soft, warm weather to acquaint yourself with the summer constellations of Hercules, Scorpius, Lyra, Cygnus and Aquila. Look for...
Read MoreWe have not just one, but two evening stars this month, as brilliant Venus is joined by the elusive little planet Mercury. Stars May is the first month when the constellation of Orion is absent from the night sky altogether, and of the prominent winter stars only Capella in Auriga the Charioteer and Castor and Pollux in Gemini remain above the western...
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