Our volunteer stargazing enthusiast Bob Evans has sent us these notes of the January event (before the snow came) .....
The sky was cloudy during the day and the team were thinking of cancellation – but their positive nature kicked in and they decided to wait. As it was, the clouds cleared and there was a clear sky.
Our signed-up visitors enjoyed a very successful evening of stargazing linked to the BBC Stargazing Live TV series. Everyone was given a BBC star guide to the winter sky.
A signpost to the stars guide can be found and downloaded on the BBC Stargazing Live website here.
Using eyesight and binoculars only, the winter sky constellations of Orion (the hunter) along with his hunting dogs Canis Major and Canis Minor dominated the Southern sky. Overhead we saw the planet Jupiter (and 3 of its moons) in the constellation of Taurus. (Your guide will explain this).
Jupiter will be in Taurus and remain visible for many months to come.
Still keen –> what to do in February – perhaps from your garden or local safe place with no street lights (remember to go with a friend), and use your binoculars.
In February looking North is the Plough (Ursa Major) standing on its handle. Watch this throughout the year as it rotates around Polaris – the North Star.
February’s easy heavenly challenge ....
This month the winter sky is still dominated by Orion in the South, try to use his belt to identify – above and slightly right of the belt the red star Aldebaran in Taurus, close to the bright planet Jupiter. Below and to the left of the belt of Orion is Sirius in Canis Major, one of Orion’s hunting dogs. Help is in the guide.
Medium challenge: On February 11th, just after sunset, if the weather is good, try to find Mercury just to the lower left of the crescent moon in the West.
Harder challenge: There is also the possibility of seeing a 45m asteroid passing close to Earth (22000km away) on the 15th February at 7.26pm, best seen with binoculars.
For a useful sky chart and updated list of satellites (including the visible International Space Station -ISS- passes) try here.
Middleton RSPB play meadow is a great open space to see the night sky. And so if you still interested – we have moth and bat watching nights and will include skywatching if it's a clear night sky. So keep in-touch with the RSPB Middleton Lakes website events page.
A useful training source for finding constellations from the Plough and Polaris is here and here
Good luck and keep warm.
Thanks for these details - I missed the event and wanted a guide. It's very helpful - Jackie