- Best autumn constellations<\/a><\/li>\n
- Patrick Moore\u2019s top 5 autumn galaxies<\/a><\/li>\n
- Top autumn binocular targets<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
September 2021<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n
![\""In\"]( "\\"\"In\\"")
<\/div>In September use the Plough to locate Arcturus and the Summer Triangle. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n With September here, the long summery days are gradually changing into early nights. Indeed, we\u2019ll see spring and summer\u2019s stars making way for the dark-sky season as autumn approaches.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s begin our dark-sky adventure at a well-known asterism<\/a>, the Plough<\/span>, sitting upright just above the northern horizon. The next bright star to its south-southeast is Arcturus<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Bo\u00f6tis), which we usually think of as a springtime star.<\/p>\n
Next, high overhead, we find the Summer Triangle<\/span>\u2019s stars: Vega<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Lyrae), Altair <\/span>(Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Aquilae) and Deneb<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Cygni), and then drop towards the east for the Great Square of Pegasus<\/span>.<\/p>\n
Maybe we can spot Capella<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Aurigae), just above the northern horizon.<\/p>\n
![\""You\"]( "\\"\"You\\"")
<\/div>Use the Great Square of Pegasus to help you find the Andromeda Galaxy. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n With binoculars, let\u2019s look for the Andromeda Galaxy<\/a>, M31<\/span>, just to the northeast of Pegasus, the Winged Horse<\/span>, and then the Double Cluster<\/span><\/a> in Perseus, the Hero<\/span> a bit further northeast.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Moon<\/span> catches up with Jupiter <\/span>and Saturn<\/span> on 17 September 2021<\/strong>. With good telescopes, we may be able to see deep, blue Neptune<\/span> to their east. The planet reaches opposition<\/a> on 14 September<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
This month\u2019s challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Try and spot Neptune with a telescope when it\u2019s at opposition \u2013in the opposite position on the sky to the Sun \u2013 on 14 September 2021<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
October 2021<\/strong><\/h1>\n
![\""October\u2019s\"]( "\\"\"October\u2019s\\"")
<\/div>October\u2019s starry delights include Fomalhaut and Diphda. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n With the autumn equinox<\/a> (22 September 2021) behind us, there\u2019s more night than day now for the first time since March, and it\u2019ll stay that way until March 2022.<\/p>\n
Fomalhaut<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Piscis Austrini) is almost due south at mid-evening. It\u2019s the southernmost first-magnitude star we can see in the Northern Hemisphere, in a part of the sky without many other bright stars.<\/p>\n
With so little happening nearby, it appears as a slightly oddball light a few degrees above the horizon. Diphda<\/span> (Beta (\u03b2<\/span>) Ceti), also known as Deneb Kaitos, is about 25\u00b0 east of Fomalhaut.<\/p>\n
The waxing gibbous Moon<\/span><\/a> meets up with Jupiter<\/span> and Saturn<\/span> on 14 October 2021<\/strong>, about 25\u00b0 to Fomalhaut\u2019s west. Through binoculars, we can see the shadows reaching across the Moon\u2019s face as lunar dawn breaks along its mid-section.<\/p>\n
On 23 October<\/strong> the Moon glides between the Hyades<\/span> and the Pleiades<\/span><\/a> star clusters, and starts moving across the Winter Hexagon<\/span>. Venus<\/span> reaches greatest elongation, about 46\u00b0 east of the Sun, on 29 October<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Back in the north, the starry constellation of Cassiopeia<\/a>, the Queen<\/span> is high overhead with Cepheus, the King<\/span> to its west, Perseus, the Hero<\/span> to its east and the Milky Way<\/span><\/a> running through them all.<\/p>\n
This month\u2019s challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The peak of the Orionid meteor shower<\/a> takes place on the night of 21\/22 October<\/strong>. With the Moon out of the way and an expected ZHR (zenithal hourly rate) of 20, it should be favourable for naked-eye observing.<\/p>\n\n
November 2021<\/strong><\/h1>\n
![\""\u00de\"]( "\\"\"Winter\\"")
<\/div>November offers the perfect opportunity to explore the stars in the Winter Hexagon, including Aldebaran, a useful marker for the Hyades and the Pleiades star clusters. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Deeper into autumn, the Plough is low above the northern horizon. Arcturus has departed now, but let\u2019s follow the line between Megrez<\/span> (Delta (\u03b4<\/span>) Ursae Majoris) and Dubhe<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Ursae Majoris), across the top of the blade to Capella<\/span>, whose golden colour is stunning on these stark nights.<\/p>\n
Widening our gaze, we can see most of the Winter Hexagon<\/span>: the asterism of six of the sky\u2019s brightest stars<\/a>, one each in six constellations, covering a patch of sky so enormous that the Moon needs four nights to cross it.<\/p>\n
Anti-clockwise around it are Capella<\/span>, then Pollux<\/span> (Beta (\u03b2<\/span>) Geminorum), Procyon<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Canis Minoris), Sirius<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Canis Majoris), Rigel <\/span>(Beta (\u03b2<\/span>) Orionis), and Aldebaran<\/span> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Tauri).<\/p>\n
Aldebaran marks the southeast end of the southern <\/span>arm of the V-shaped Hyades<\/span>, with the tiny, dipper-shaped Pleiades<\/span> a short hop away.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re among the closest star clusters<\/a> to us, about 150 and 450 lightyears away respectively.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re truly stunning in binoculars and worth observing for a good, long time. Aldebaran isn\u2019t part of the cluster, but it sits about halfway between the Hyades and Earth.<\/p>\n
The (almost, to first quarter) Moon<\/span> passes through on the 10 and 11 November<\/strong>, and the full Moon<\/a> splits the clusters on 19 November<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
When it comes to the planets, we can also catch Jupiter<\/span> and Saturn<\/span> in the early evening, and a pair of binoculars will help you spot Uranus<\/span>, which at mag. +5.7 is on the verge of naked-eye visibility, when it\u2019s at opposition on the 4th.<\/p>\n
This month\u2019s challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n
With binoculars look for the Hyades open cluster in Taurus, the Bull, Also in 2021, Uranus is at opposition on 4 October<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
December 2021<\/strong><\/h1>\n
![\""A\"]( "\\"\"Orion\\"")
<\/div>December is the time to get to know the sights in Orion, the Hunter. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n The start of winter is just three weeks away now, at the winter solstice on 21 December<\/strong>, so these are the year\u2019s longest nights.<\/p>\n
With sunset before 16:00 UT these are my favourite nights for observing in the year. Indeed, let\u2019s spend a little extra time simply soaking in that extra darkness without any worry about which star is which.<\/p>\n
This is also the start of Orion<\/span><\/a> season! All of the Hunter\u2019s seven famous stars are above the southern horizon by mid-evening, but can you remember their names?<\/p>\n
The red supergiant Betelgeuse<\/span><\/a> (Alpha (\u03b1<\/span>) Orionis), and Bellatrix<\/span> (Gamma (\u03b3<\/span>) Orionis) are his shoulders. Saiph <\/span>(Kappa (\u03ba<\/span>) Orionis), and icy blue Rigel <\/span>are his feet.<\/p>\n
The belt stars are Alnitak<\/span> (Zeta (\u03b6<\/span>) Orionis), Alnilam<\/span> (Epsilon (\u03b5<\/span>) Orionis), and Mintaka <\/span>(Delta (\u03b4<\/span>) Orionis).<\/p>\n
![\""A\"]( "\\"\"Trapezium\\"")
<\/div>A small telescope will show you the Trapezium Cluster in the middle of Orion\u2019s Sword. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Let\u2019s visit them as they rise a little earlier each night and make their way a little further to the west at the same time each night.<\/p>\n
Many of us also know the Orion Nebula<\/span><\/a>; the star-forming region in the middle of his sword, with the Trapezium Cluster<\/span> deep within it.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s look at his head too; Meissa<\/span> (Lambda (\u03bb<\/span>) Orionis) is the brightest star in the Caldwell 69<\/span> open cluster<\/a>.<\/p>\n
With binoculars, we can see a dusty glow there, as well as a beautiful ladder of three stars extending from Meissa.<\/p>\n
![\""A\"]( "\\"\"Meissa\\"")
<\/div>See if you can spot a ladder of three stars extending from the star Meissa within Orion\u2019s head. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Orion\u2019s Belt<\/span> is also part of a glowing cluster, Collinder 70<\/span>, with the Horsehead<\/span> and Flame Nebulae<\/span><\/a> nearby (Barnard 33 and NGC 2024). The first of these targets is a challenge, needing a large scope and dark skies.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Moon <\/span>is a waxing crescent when it joins the gas giants on 8 December<\/strong>, and it\u2019s full when it arcs above Betelgeuse on 19 December.<\/p>\n
This month\u2019s challenge<\/strong><\/h2>\n
- Patrick Moore\u2019s top 5 autumn galaxies<\/a><\/li>\n
![\""In\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/09\/Plough-Summer-Triangle-2640fb9.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C565"\" "\\"\"In\\"")
<\/div>![\""You\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2019\/12\/Find-Andromeda-Galaxy-20787e1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C463"\" "\\"\"You\\"")
<\/div>![\""October\u2019s\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/09\/Fomalhaut-Diphda-2f7b363.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C335"\" "\\"\"October\u2019s\\"")
<\/div>![\""\u00de\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/09\/Winter-Hexagon-36b1c22.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C490"\" "\\"\"Winter\\"")
<\/div>![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/09\/Orion-constellation-chart-00e715c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C518"\" "\\"\"Orion\\"")
<\/div>![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/09\/Trapezium-Cluster-Chart-d87965a.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C532"\" "\\"\"Trapezium\\"")
<\/div>![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/09\/Meissa-chart-d9de2cb.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C544"\" "\\"\"Meissa\\"")
<\/div>![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/09\/Auriga-constellation-f61cb81.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C533"\" "\\"\"Auriga\\"")
<\/div>![\""A\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2020\/09\/Beehive-Cluster-cancer-ffb1f11.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C449"\" "\\"\"Beehive\\"")
<\/div>![\""M44\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2019\/02\/M44-S@N-0885ea9-e1599055546878.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C414"\" "\\"\"Beehive_Open_001\"\\"")
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