Written and illustrated by astronomical experts, Storm Dunlop and Wil Tirion, and approved by the astronomers of the Royal Observatory Greenwich. In this photograph, the narrow lunar crescent (about two days old) has been over-exposed to show the Earthshine illuminating on the other portion of the Moon, where the dark maria are faintly visible. Yet another factor that affects the visibility of objects is the amount of moonlight in the sky. At Full Moon, it may be very difficult to see some of the fainter stars and objects, and even when the Moon is at a smaller phase it seriously interferes with visibility if it is near the stars or planets in which you are interested. A full lunar calendar is given for each month and may be used to see when nights are likely to be darkest and best for observing. Below Cancer is the very distinctive asterism of the ‘Head of Hydra’, consisting of five (or six) stars, that is the western end of the long constellation of Hydra, the largest constellation in the sky, that runs far towards the east, roughly parallel to the ecliptic. Alphard (α Hydrae) is south, and slightly to the west of Regulus in Leo and is relatively easy to recognize as it is the only fairly bright star in that region of the sky. North of Hydra and between it and the ecliptic and the constellation of Virgo are the two constellations of Crater and Corvus. Farther west, the small constellation of Sextans lies between Hydra and Leo. The image by Damian Peach was taken with a 14 inch telescope in Barbados where the seeing can be particularly good. This image won the "Astronomy Photographer of the Year" competition in 2011.

Night Sky for August 2023: Planets, Stars, and the Moon Night Sky for August 2023: Planets, Stars, and the Moon

March 22–24 • In the evening twilight, the narrow crescent Moon passes Jupiter and Venus (as seen from central USA). Follow the progress of constellations throughout the seasons with this beautiful companion to the night sky from Astronomy experts Collins. The highly distinctive (and widely recognized) constellation of Ursa Major with the distinctive asterism of the Plough (or Big Dipper) is now ‘upside down’ and near the zenith for observers in the far north, for whom it is particularly difficult to observe. At this time of year, it is high in the sky for anyone north of the equator. Only observers farther towards the south will find it lower down towards their northern horizon and reasonably easy to see. However, at 30°S, even the seven stars making up the main, easily recognized portion of the constellation are too low to be visible.

Image of the Month

The key constellation when learning the pattern of stars in the northern sky is Ursa Major, in particular the seven stars forming the asterism known to many as the 'Plough’ or to people in North America as the ‘Big Dipper’. As the chart shows, this is just circumpolar for anyone at latitude 40°N, except for Alkaid (η Ursae Majoris), the last star in the ‘tail’. Even so, the asterism of the Plough is low on the northern horizon between September and November, so it will be much easier to make out at other times of the year. For a precise view from your location, visit the free online planetarium Stellarium. Enter your location and the date of the event to see a replica of the sky where you live. The two stars Dubhe and Merak (α and β Ursae Majoris) are known as the ‘Pointers’, because they indicate the position of Polaris, the Pole Star (α Ursae Minoris), at about a distance of five times their separation. Following this line takes you to the constellation of Ursa Minor, the ‘Little Bear’ or ‘Little Dipper’, where Polaris is at the end of the ‘tail’ or ‘handle’. The charts in this book are designed to be used more-or-less anywhere in the world. They are not suitable to be used at very high northern or southern latitudes (beyond 60°N or 60°S). That is slightly less than the latitudes of the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, beyond which there are approximately six months of daylight, followed by six months of darkness. The design may seem a little complicated, but these diagrams should make their usage clear. The main charts are given in pairs, one pair for each month: Looking North and Looking South. The term conjunction is also used when a planet is either directly behind or in front of the Sun, as seen from Earth. (Under normal circumstances it will then be invisible.) The conditions of most favourable visibility depend on whether the planet is one of the two known as inferior planets (Mercury and Venus) or one of the three superior planets (Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) that are covered in detail. Brief details of the fainter superior planets, Uranus and Neptune, are given, especially when they come to opposition.

Night Sky Almanac 2023 | Storm Dunlop | download on Z-Library Night Sky Almanac 2023 | Storm Dunlop | download on Z-Library

The ‘base’ of the constellation of Cepheus lies on the edge of the stars of the Milky Way, but the red supergiant star Mu (μ) Cephei, called the ‘Garnet Star’ by William Herschel with its striking red colour remains readily visible. The groups of stars, known as the Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC 869 & NGC 884, often known as h and χ Persei), lying between Perseus and Cassiopeia, are well-placed for observation. As with all solar eclipses, view it safely only through proper solar filters. Otherwise, permanent eye damage will result. Oct 10, Nov 9 and Dec 9: Crescent moon meets Venus Some of the most eye-catching sky sights are when the moon glows near the brightest planet, Venus. Three such occasions will occur in fall’s morning sky. As dawn brightens on October 10, November 9 and December 9, look toward the eastern horizon for a dramatic scene. Venus will be unmistakable next to the waning crescent moon. What a sublime sight to start your day! Chart by John Goss/ EarthSky. Apart from the eclipse, Mercury comes to greatest eastern elongation on April 11, and may be glimpsed in the evening sky. Three meteor showers are active during the month. Two are best seen from the northern hemisphere, with one significant southern shower. The one moderate, northern shower is the Lyrids (often called the April Lyrids to distinguish them from several minor showers that originate in the constellation at various times during the year). In 2023 the shower begins on April 14, one day after Last Quarter, and comes to a weak maximum of 18 meteors per hour on April 22–23, 2–3 days after New Moon, so conditions are generally favourable. February 22 • The crescent Moon with Venus and Jupiter. Diphda (β Cet) is closer to the horizon (as seen from London). Mercury is too close to the Sun to be visible this month. It reaches superior conjunction, on the far side of the Sun, on March 17. Venus, in the evening sky, is very bright (mag. -3.9 to -4.0), but too close to the Sun to be readily seen. Mars is initially at magnitude 0.4 in Taurus, but moves into Gemini and fades to mag. 1.0. Jupiter is in Pisces, but is too close to the Sun to be readily visible this month. Saturn is in Aquarius and lies too far into the morning twilight to be seen. Uranus is in Aries at mag. 5.8 and Neptune (mag. 8.0) is in Pisces. That planet comes to superior conjunction on March 15.Beyond Crux, and on the other side of the Milky Way, lies the rest of Centaurus. Northeast of Crux is the finest and brightest globular cluster in the sky, Omega (ω) Centauri also known as NGC 5139. It is the largest globular cluster in our Galaxy and is estimated to contain about 10 million stars. Although appearing like a star, its non-stellar nature was discovered by Edmond Halley in 1677. But then the priests messed things up again. They started counting leap years every three years. The error was corrected by the emperor Augustus and by 8 CE the matter had been solved and the months and the Sun were in agreement. But then the Senate decided to rename one month in honour of Augustus – so the month of Sextilis became our August. Unfortunately, under Caesar’s scheme that month had just 30 days, whereas Caesar’s (our July) had 31 days. Obviously Augustus had to have the same number of days, so they pinched one from poor February, leaving it with 28 days, except in leap years. (At the same time, to avoid having three months with 31 days in succession they also tinkered with the lengths of the months after August, which is why September and November now have 30 days and October and December 31. Crux (the Southern Cross) is southeast of Carina and the two principal stars of Centaurus, Rigil Kentaurus (α Centauri) and Hadar (β Centauri). The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) lies west of these stars, on the other side of the meridian.