Posted by KeighleyAstro on Aug 27, 2020 in Main |

The September night sky So what do we have to look at above us as we moved from summer and into autumn. The nights become longer, which mean longer nights for observing, but that is often curtailed as we move towards unsettled weather. Constellations The host of watery constellations in this month’s celestial tableau matches the theme of unsettled...

Posted by KeighleyAstro on Jul 30, 2020 in Main |

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...

Posted by KeighleyAstro on Jul 14, 2020 in Main |

Comet 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...

Posted by KeighleyAstro on Jun 27, 2020 in Main |

These 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...

Posted by KeighleyAstro on May 28, 2020 in Main |

This 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...

Posted by KeighleyAstro on Apr 30, 2020 in Main |

We 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...