Skyguide - 2011 October by Russell Eberst
Sunset and evening twilight (B indicates British Summer time) otherwise GMT.
October 1 Sunset Twilight October 31 Sunset Twilight (9° below
horizon)
London 18.39B 19.32B 16.36 17.31
Leeds 18.44B 19.39B 16.35 17.34
Perth 18.50B 19.49B 16.35 17.37
Objects for observation:
The Moon is well placed in the evening sky from October 1-15 and on the last two evenings of the Month. The giant planet Jupiter is rising in the eastern sky. binoculars will show some of its four largest moons.
The brightest stars visible are Capella, Vega and Arcturus. The latter moves towards setting in the west, and rises again in the east before dawn.
Vega is the brightest member of the 'Summer triangle', still visible despite it being well into Autumn. The other two members are Deneb and Altair.
True Autumn constellations such as Pegasus and Andromeda are well placed in the SE. In the northern half of the sky we find the Plough (in Ursa Major) low in the north, and the familiar "W" shape of Cassiopeia high in the NE.
Andromeda houses the Galaxy that is the nearest large galaxy to our own.
It should just about be visible to the unaided eye on moonless nights from a really dark site. If the Andromeda galaxy is readily visible, you might like to try for the 'Pinwheel' galaxy in the neighbouring constellation of Triangulum.
The Orionid meteor shower occurs around October 21, but is best seen in the hours before dawn. Predictions have been made of a possible meteor storm on October 8, with hundreds of meteors each hour issuing from the constellation of Draco, almost overhead in the evening. Whether these predictions are fulfilled will only be known if you observe. The second half of October will see several passes of the I.S.S. in the early evening. Precise data for your location can be obtained from Heavens-Above.com after inputting your position.
Moon phases: Full Moon: October 12 New Moon: October 26.
Skyguide - 2011 November by Russell Eberst
Sunset and evening twilight All times GMT.
November 1 Sunset Twilight November 30 Sunset Twilight (9°
below horizon)
London 16.34 17.29 15.56 16.56
Leeds 16.33 17.32 15.51 16.55
Perth 16.33 17.35 15.44 16.54
Objects for observation:
The Moon is well placed in the evening sky from November 1-14 and on the last three evenings of the Month. The planet Venus may be glimpsed low in the SW after sunset. The giant planet Jupiter (with its 4 big moons) is rising in the eastern sky, getting higher as the night progresses.
The brightest stars visible are Capella and Vega. Vega is in the constellation of the Lyre, and is dropping towards the NW during the evening.
The Autumn constellations such as Pegasus and Andromeda are well placed in the South. In the northern half of the sky we find the Plough (in Ursa
Major)
low in the north, and the familiar "W" shape of Cassiopeia high in the South.
Andromeda houses the Galaxy that is the nearest large galaxy to our own.
It should just about be visible to the unaided eye on moonless nights from a really dark site. Following Andromeda across the sky is Perseus, the hero.
Look out for Algol, the demon star in Perseus. It is normally the second brightest star in that constellation, but every 2 days and 21 hours it drops markedly in brightness for a few hours. To the south of Perseus, it's possible to sight a compact star cluster known as the Pleiades, or "Seven Sisters".
How many stars can you see with your unaided eye in this group? It's in the constellation of Taurus, the bull, not far from the "V" shaped Hyades cluster.
The Moon is near the Hyades and Pleiades on November 11 and 12.
Moon phases: Full Moon: November 10 New Moon: November 25.
Skyguide - 2011 December by Russell Eberst
Sunset and evening twilight All times GMT.
December 1 Sunset Twilight December 31 Sunset Twilight (9°
below horizon)
London 15.55 16.56 16.01 17.03
Leeds 15.50 16.55 15.54 17.01
Perth 15.43 16.53 15.46 16.59
Objects for observation:
The Moon is well placed in the evening sky from December 1-12 and on the last four evenings of the Month. The planet Venus may be found low in the SW after sunset. On December 27, it's below the thin crescent Moon.
The giant planet Jupiter (with its 4 big moons) is well positioned throughout the evening. It's located in the southern part of Aries, the Ram. Some sharp-eyed people can see the moons without optical aid, but for most of us binoculars are required. The Moon is close to Jupiter on the evening of December 6 The planet Mars is becoming very prominent, but does not rise until around midnight. The star Capella, the third brightest in the northern half of the sky, is in the constellation of Auriga, the charioteer. To the south of the charioteer are the wonderful and readily identifiable stars of Orion, the hunter. The contrasting colours of Betelgeuse at the top left of the Orion rectangle, and Rigel at the bottom right, are easily distinguished.
Surrounding Orion there are constellations such as Gemini, Taurus, and Canis Major and Minor. A total eclipse of the Moon on December 10 will be finishing by the time of moonrise in the U.K. The Geminid meteor shower on December 13 will suffer the glare of the moon's light, but brighter meteors will be seen.
The International Space Station will be visible during the last ten evenings of December. Times of passes can be found on Heavens-Above.com website.
Moon phases: Full Moon: December 10 New Moon: December 24.
Skyguide - 2012 January by Russell Eberst
Sunset and evening twilight All times GMT.
January 1 Sunset Twilight January 31 Sunset Twilight (9°
below horizon)
London 16.02 17.04 16.47 17.44
Leeds 15.55 17.02 16.45 17.45
Perth 15.47 17.00 16.42 17.47
Objects for observation:
The Moon is well placed in the evening sky from January 1-12 and on the last four evenings of the Month. The planet Venus becomes prominent low in the SW after sunset. On January 26, look below the thin crescent Moon.
The giant planet Jupiter (with its 4 big moons) is well positioned throughout the evening. It's located in the southern part of Aries, the Ram. Some sharp-eyed people can see the moons without optical aid, but for most of us binoculars are required. The Moon is close to Jupiter on the evenings of January 2-3 and again on the 30th. The planet Mars is very prominent, but does not rise until around 10 p.m. on the 1st, and 8.30 p.m. by the 31st.
It is just brighter than any star in the sky, except for Sirius. Saturn rises about two hours later. The two planets are located at either end of Virgo, the virgin. The star Capella, the third brightest in the northern half of the sky, is in the constellation of Auriga, the charioteer. To the south of Auriga is the readily recognisable shape of Orion, the hunter.
The colours of Betelgeuse at the top left of the Orion rectangle, and Rigel at the bottom right, should be compared. Between them are the three stars of the Belt. A line joining the three can be extended up to the right to Aldebaran and down to the left to Sirius. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, the Earth's atmosphere causing rapid twinkling and flashes of red, green and blue.
The Quadrantid meteor shower on January 3-4 will suffer from the glare of the moonlight, but the brighter meteors will be seen.
Moon phases: Full Moon: January 9 New Moon: January 23.
Skyguide - 2012 February by Russell Eberst
Sunset and evening twilight All times GMT.
February 1 Sunset Twilight February 29 Sunset Twilight (9°
below horizon)
London 16.49 17.46 17.40 18.33
Leeds 16.47 17.47 17.42 18.38
Perth 16.44 17.49 17.46 18.46
Objects for observation:
The Moon is well placed in the evening sky from February 1-10th, and from
February 24-29th. The planet Venus is very prominent in the west after sunset.
On February 25, it's just below the crescent Moon. Some 16° to the upper left is the giant planet Jupiter (with its 4 big moons). It's located in the southern part of Aries, the Ram. The Moon passes Jupiter on the evenings of February 26 and 27. The planet Mercury also puts in an appearance, and can be spotted in the twilight glow, low down, well below Venus and to its right. The planet Mars is very prominent in Leo, rising in the east at 8.30 on Feb. 1 and by 6 p.m. at the end of the month. Mars is not as bright as Venus and Jupiter, but far outshines any stars in its vicinity. The other naked-eye planet, Saturn does not rise until around 10.15 p.m. on the 29th, but will give observers the chance to spot all five bright planets in one evening. The stars are also displaying some of their brightest members. Among the stars of the first magnitude to be seen are Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, Castor and Betelgeuse.
Regulus is in the east, above Mars, and those familiar constellations, Ursa Major and Cassiopeia dominate the northern sky. Remember that the two end stars of the Plough can point down to Leo, or up to the pole star, Polaris. February provides us with the best night sky of the year, so we are unlikely to ignore the fact that there are no major meteor showers this month.
Moon phases: Full Moon: February 7 New Moon: February 21.
Skyguide - 2012 March by Russell Eberst
Sunset and evening twilight All times GMT except those marked B = BST
March 1 Sunset Twilight March 31 Sunset Twilight (9°
below horizon)
London 17.42 18.34 19.33B 20.27B
Leeds 17.44 18.40 19.41B 20.38B
Perth 17.48 18.48 19.51B 20.53B
Objects for observation:
The Moon is well placed in the evening sky from March 1-11th, and from March 24-31st. The planet Venus is very prominent in the west after sunset.
It races past the giant planet Jupiter (with its 4 big moons). They are located in southern Aries, the Ram. The two are closest on the evening of March 14, when they are 3° apart. This will grab a lot of attention, and generate UFO reports.
The Moon passes Jupiter, then Venus, on the evenings of March 25 and 26.
On the 26th
Venus is close to the star zeta Arietis. It is interesting to compare the times taken for light to reach us from the members of this group. The Moon:
1.4 seconds,
Venus: 5.93 minutes, Jupiter: 47.95 minutes, zeta Ari: 259 years, Pleiades:420 years.
Venus speeds towards the Pleiades (or Seven Sisters) and passes through the cluster early in April. Early in March, Mars reaches opposition and its closest approach during the present apparition. It is very prominent in Leo, rising in the east at 6.00 p.m on March 1 and before sunset by the end of the month. Its magnitude of -1.2, means that it almost rivals Sirius, the Dog star, twinkling colourfully in the south.
The other bright planet, Saturn, rises around 9.00 p.m. BST on the 31st, but will mean that four bright planets can be seen in one evening. The bright stars on view are Capella, Aldebaran, Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, Castor and Betelgeuse.
Regulus is in the east, above Mars, and those familiar constellations, Ursa Major and Cassiopeia dominate the northern sky. Follow the arc of three stars that form the handle of the Plough, curving round to reach Arcturus first, and then continue on to Spica, which is not far from Saturn in the SE. March is a great month to start to learn the constellations patterns, and the names of many of the bright stars.
Moon phases: Full Moon: March 8 New Moon: March 22.