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...

Posted by KeighleyAstro on Apr 12, 2020 in Main |

Mr Mark Ridley, The guest speaker at the January 2020 society meeting together with another good friend of Keighley astronomical society , Dr Sue Bowler are spearheading a campaign to make vital protective equipment for frontline NHS workers has been launched in Otley. Plastic face shields and scrubs are being made by Otley Maker Space – and the...

Posted by KeighleyAstro on Mar 29, 2020 in Main |

The April night sky I think we are in for a real treat this month. We have the biggest full moon of the year, on the 8th; the planet Venus at its most brilliant and a display of shooting stars. April also sees the seasonal change from winter constellations to spring constellations is more or less complete. The Plough is practically overhead, with the...