TGP NOMINAL Xtra - January Skies 2020
Ross HockHam's January Sky Guide:
Now the main thing this month that people been talking about the Star Betelgeuse,
which is in the Orion constellation.
It has actually begun to dim so it’s got less and less bright in the Sky getting people very excited,
because it is a massive star a red giant that is about to explode anytime.
They think the dimming of it maybe it contracting or going into a Pre-Supernovae State.
Perhaps to then go supernova and explode, but it is actually variable star so has dimmed before,
but this seems to be the dimmest in years.
If it blows in the Sky they say it’s going to be really bright so bright that you actually going to see it during the day.
Possibly as bright as the Moon...what a sight to see.
Now onto The Month ahead
The Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaked between the 3rd third and 4th of January but carries on into mid January.
They are at their best in the early and boasts about 120 meteors per hour (at its peak).
The radiant being below the Plough (Big Dipper) in between it Bootes and Hercules.
They are best seen in early morning, so probably from about 4 till 6 o’clock
Ross's Cousins in Norfolk saw a green fireball on the 6th of January, so you never know.
On the evening of the 10th, the full moon will pass through the weak outer part of the Earth's shadow in space,
giving rise to an event known as a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.
It will be difficult to see with the naked eye but possible to record with a camera.
The moon begins to enter the shadow around about 5pm and it’s greatest eclipse will be around 7pm.
The moon leaves the shadow at 9pm.
So you might see the top of the moon look slightly darker compared to the rest of it.
If you weren't able to view the Eclipse Live, here is a video of a LIVE stream via the Slooh Community Obsersatory.
giving rise to an event known as a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse.
It will be difficult to see with the naked eye but possible to record with a camera.
The moon begins to enter the shadow around about 5pm and it’s greatest eclipse will be around 7pm.
The moon leaves the shadow at 9pm.
So you might see the top of the moon look slightly darker compared to the rest of it.
If you weren't able to view the Eclipse Live, here is a video of a LIVE stream via the Slooh Community Obsersatory.
On the 12th a (Near) Full Moon is not far from the open cluster called the (M44) Beehive Cluster, around about 12:20am.
For a better opportunity to see things like the beehive cluster, (M42) Orion Nebula, possibly the (M57) Ring Nebula,
and other deep Sky objects like the galaxies dotted around, the 16th is probably your best bet,
because the Moon heading off into the morning Sky.
On the 18th, in the morning, Mars will meet its rival, a star called Antares, which also shines red,
and is often mistaken for the Red Planet
If you missed Mars and Antares, you can see them again on the 20th,
but there would also be a Waning Crescent Moon grouped together.
On the 21st, the Moon is now completely out of the way today so an even better time to go out and see some of those deep space objects. On the 23rd, this morning you may see a very thin Crescent Moon not far from the king of the planets Jupiter. Very low in the South East Dawn around 7:40am |
On the night of the 26th, comet C/2017 T2 (PANSTARRS) will be passing the Double Cluster in Perseus,
and over the next few nights it should be great opportunity for Astro photography.
Although this comet is brightening they don’t think that its actually gonna be bright enough to be a naked eye object.
It's brightest peak will be around May as it moves along, curving up past the Double Cluster,
in between the Constellations Perseus and Cassiopia
and over the next few nights it should be great opportunity for Astro photography.
Although this comet is brightening they don’t think that its actually gonna be bright enough to be a naked eye object.
It's brightest peak will be around May as it moves along, curving up past the Double Cluster,
in between the Constellations Perseus and Cassiopia
On the evening of the 27th, the solar system’s dimmest planet seen from Earth lies close to its brightest,
With Neptune not far from Venus.
And finally on the 28th, you may be able to see a thin Crescent Moon by the planet Venus (actually in the daylight Sky)
It’s quite hard to find, but in evening the pair moving apart in the Sky.
So you might be able to catch them then.
With Neptune not far from Venus.
And finally on the 28th, you may be able to see a thin Crescent Moon by the planet Venus (actually in the daylight Sky)
It’s quite hard to find, but in evening the pair moving apart in the Sky.
So you might be able to catch them then.