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Ross's March Sky Guide:
Hello, and welcome to UK Astronomy's Sky Guide
Well, first of all I think need to talk about the meteor that was seen blazing across the UK skies
which was designated SAR2667 (Now known as 2023 CX1).
It was actually only discovered seven hours before impact through the earths atmosphere
and is only the seventh asteroid discovered before impacting earth successfully predicted.
Of course, it happened on the night I decided I was going to put my phone down, chill out and not look at it so I missed out.
So I woke up the next morning to loads of pictures and videos of this awesome asteroid burning up
and popping or exploding right next to the moon in the sky.
It was a really cool thing to see and I’m really pleased guys in the UK Astronomy Facebook Group
got some for people like me who didn’t get to see it.
I’m sure there will be lots more in the future we can hopefully predict have a look at and see burn up across our skies.
(John Berger added)
What you might not know about that one is they found the meteorite that caused it.
It was found by an 18 year old meteorite hunter called Lois LeBlanc
in the town of Saint-Pierre-le-Viger in Normandy, France.
She is part of a team called Fripon/Vigie-Ciel that went in search for the meteorite
and plan on scouring area with local residents to look for more fragments.
Now to something else that's been seen in the sky, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
Absolutely loads of people have been out taking pictures seeing and enjoying this beautiful phenomena.
Although it looks beautiful they are actually quite dangerous.
It’s where the energy and small particles from coronal mass explosions from the Sun hit our magnetic field lines
to the north and south into Earths atmosphere.
Where the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky.
So, luckily for us, our planet actually looks after us and saves us from his harmful rays
giving us something really nice to look at instead.
If you’re interested in trying to see the aurora, there is a cool app you can get called AuroraWatch UK (ios) (Android)
which can notify you about any high disturbances, letting you know what the chances are to see it the UK.
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Now it’s onto the month's highlights. Venus is up and can’t be missed as soon as the Sunsets, Jupiter is now getting lower having passed Venus in a close conjunction a few days ago. Mars is still high and visibly red, Uranus is right by Venus but is a hard spot with Neptune, Mercury and Saturn being pretty close to the Sun. There are a few passes of the ISS this month that we will be posting on the UK Astronomy Facebook Group as they happen. There is an official NASA Spot The ISS website too. |
The Moon's south side is tipped towards us so we get to see a bit more of this side.
This area is riddled in craters for you to move your scope across.
A moon filter can help you dim it down so you can see more details across this bright phase.
The Moon's south side is tipped towards us so we get to see a bit more of this side.
This area is riddled in craters for you to move your scope across.
A moon filter can help you dim it down so you can see more details across this bright phase.
This evenings full moon rises around 18:30
making a great time to pop out somewhere with a clear Easterly view.
With the Sun setting 15 minutes before, it should rise in a lovely sunset sky.
This evenings full moon rises around 18:30
making a great time to pop out somewhere with a clear Easterly view.
With the Sun setting 15 minutes before, it should rise in a lovely sunset sky.
As the Lunar Libration tilts it's northwestern side
see if you can spot the crater Hermite, right on the Moon's edge.
It is around 3.91 billion years old and it's southwestern edge is recorded as the coldest place currently in the solar system. To compare, Plutos surface gets down to -229oc whilst Hermite reaches -247oc.
As the Lunar Libration tilts it's northwestern side
see if you can spot the crater Hermite, right on the Moon's edge.
It is around 3.91 billion years old and it's southwestern edge is recorded as the coldest place currently in the solar system. To compare, Plutos surface gets down to -229oc whilst Hermite reaches -247oc.
With the Moon slipping out of the way the next few days are great to spot fainter objects
including a rare phenomenon called the Zodiacal light.
Seen to the Western sky just after the Sun sets you may spot a very subtle cone of light
which is where the Sun's light is scattered by interplanetary dust which is said to be from dying stars as they burn out.
You will need to pop to the darkest area as you can to spot it
as it is best seen in Feb\March, when the Moon is out the way each year.
Today is officially the Spring Equinox here in the UK.
Where the centre of the Sun crosses the celestial equator at 21:25, making today and night an equal length.
To our ancestors, the druids, it signified fertility and new beginnings.
Today is officially the Spring Equinox here in the UK.
Where the centre of the Sun crosses the celestial equator at 21:25, making today and night an equal length.
To our ancestors, the druids, it signified fertility and new beginnings.
This evening, a very thin crescent Moon will have Jupiter atop of it in the sky
literally as the Sun sets, you will have have maybe half an hour to spot it and a good clear western horizon.
Venus will be easily seen above left, with the ISS also passing to its left, around 18:47 but it may still be to bright to see.
But you never know!
This evening, a very thin crescent Moon will have Jupiter atop of it in the sky
literally as the Sun sets, you will have have maybe half an hour to spot it and a good clear western horizon.
Venus will be easily seen above left, with the ISS also passing to its left, around 18:47 but it may still be to bright to see.
But you never know!
Watch the Moon creep towards then past Venus over these two evenings
with the crescent Moon being closest to the goddess of beauty on the 24th, giving you an amazing view.
Watch the Moon creep towards then past Venus over these two evenings
with the crescent Moon being closest to the goddess of beauty on the 24th, giving you an amazing view.
Tonight’s fuller crescent Moon sits just below the stunning naked eye cluster called M45
which is also known as the Pleiades or seven sisters.
It's even better through binoculars.
These bright blue stars are around 444 light years away and is the the closest cluster to Earth.
This will make a great photo opportunity.
Tonight’s fuller crescent Moon sits just below the stunning naked eye cluster called M45
which is also known as the Pleiades or seven sisters.
It's even better through binoculars.
These bright blue stars are around 444 light years away and is the the closest cluster to Earth.
This will make a great photo opportunity.
Early on 26th, British Summer Time begins with the clocks going forwards at 1am
marking shorter nights and longer days for us astronomers.
Early on 26th, British Summer Time begins with the clocks going forwards at 1am
marking shorter nights and longer days for us astronomers.
The Moon moves from below right of Mars to just above left of it over the next two nights.
With them being closest in the sky on the 28th
A great opportunity to see the red planet using the Moon as a sign post to the God of War.
The Moon moves from below right of Mars to just above left of it over the next two nights.
With them being closest in the sky on the 28th
A great opportunity to see the red planet using the Moon as a sign post to the God of War.
As the Moon moves further left, Mars sits close to the cluster designated M35.
This cluster actually contains two clusters for you to see, a large open cluster of bright blue stars
and to it's bottom right is a packed globular cluster of older more yellower stars making a really nice contrast of colours. Just off the feet of Castor, one of the twins in the constellation Gemini. Pollux being the other twin
So that is everything that's going on this month.
Loads to see and hopefully we might see some meteors and some more Aurora
So clear skies guys and remember there's a billion Worlds in your back garden.
Wil's Objects of The Month:
Hello everyone it’s Wil from Twice Brewed Stargazing and Wil Photography.
If you haven’t yet visited me at Twice Brewed Inn in Northumberland Dark Sky Park, then you should.
We have lots of telescopes and a brand new planetarium! It’s really awesome!
Also, there is my photography page on Facebook.
I host lots of Live Streams on there, sharing interesting things to see like the Aurora.
So I would love a follow, if you haven’t yet.
so I’ve been asked to start sharing my astronomical objects of the month
and there are so many cool things to see, especially in the month of March.
Naked Eye Object:
So let’s get started with my naked eye visible object of the month, The Spring Triangle.
We have of course of heard of constellations, these are official patterns of stars.
There are 88 constellations in the night sky, but alongside constellations
there are lots of unofficial patterns called Asterisms.
There are actually some really well known ones that you might have heard of
The Plough (The Big Dipper) or Orion‘s Belt, for example.
These are just unofficial patterns and seasonal ones as well, and one of the most famous one in the spring months
is the Spring Triangle, which is visible by the naked eye.
The Spring Triangle (As the name suggests) is made up of 3 stars that form a triangle.
Arcturus in the constellation Bootes (The Herdsman).
The star is so bright, I believe it’s the fourth brightest star overall in the night sky.
Then there is Spica in the constellation Virgo (the Virgin).
And then the final star is Regulus which is the heart of the constellation Leo (The Lion).
Now, this triangle is actually really big so some astronomers prefer to use the star Denobola instead of Regulus
so we have Arcturus, Spica and Denebola.
March is pretty much the start of seeing these three bright stars over the next few months
and will definitely be still visible in the sky‘s moving across to the south.
So check it out the Spring Triangle!
We have of course of heard of constellations, these are official patterns of stars.
There are 88 constellations in the night sky, but alongside constellations
there are lots of unofficial patterns called Asterisms.
There are actually some really well known ones that you might have heard of
The Plough (The Big Dipper) or Orion‘s Belt, for example.
These are just unofficial patterns and seasonal ones as well, and one of the most famous one in the spring months
is the Spring Triangle, which is visible by the naked eye.
The Spring Triangle (As the name suggests) is made up of 3 stars that form a triangle.
Arcturus in the constellation Bootes (The Herdsman).
The star is so bright, I believe it’s the fourth brightest star overall in the night sky.
Then there is Spica in the constellation Virgo (the Virgin).
And then the final star is Regulus which is the heart of the constellation Leo (The Lion).
Now, this triangle is actually really big so some astronomers prefer to use the star Denobola instead of Regulus
so we have Arcturus, Spica and Denebola.
March is pretty much the start of seeing these three bright stars over the next few months
and will definitely be still visible in the sky‘s moving across to the south.
So check it out the Spring Triangle!
Binocular object:
My next object is a bit challenging. I’m not gonna lie, It's my binocular object of the month.
But as long as you use the star charts properly, you will be able to find it.
It is a dwarf planet, we all aware of the eight planets in our solar system but Pluto, of course, used to be a major planet
until It got demoted to be a Dwarf Planet and there is a Dwarf Planet within the Asteroid Belt called Ceres.
This is a fairly big spherical object and to be honest with you it could’ve been a proper planet
if more of these similar size objects were not discovered.
So, Ceres is visible in March, and it’s actually just on the cusp of naked eye visibility
so with binoculars it shouldn’t be a problem.
It is located near the constellation Coma Berninces (Berenice’s Hair) which is actually within the Spring Triangle
and using the star chart should hopefully be able to see it.
Just really cool to be able to say that you could spot a Dwarf Planet
Telescope Object:
The telescope object of the month is Sirius.
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, but it's actually it’s Sirius B that I want you to see you see.
Sirius is actually a double star a Binary Star, so not just one but two so it’s split in two, Sirius A and Sirius B.
Sirius B is very difficult to spot because it’s very faint. In fact I believe Sirius A is about 50,000 times brighter than Sirius B
and when we see it with the naked eye it is the main star.
However in its 53 year orbit around Sirius A, we can, at times see it when it’s furthest from the main star.
2023 is the best year since 1970 to see it, so we’ve got to give it a go!
March will be one of the last months where we can see Sirius relatively high in the sky
because Sirius is a winter and early spring constellation.
It will literally be under the horizon before long, so now is the time to give it a go.
So what do you have to do to find Sirius?
It's fairly simple being such a bright star.
Follow the belt stars of Orion to the left and then move down to the very bright star.
Use a relatively powerful eyepiece (Minimum 10mm) on a 6 inch aperture telescope (minimum).
Now, the guide is 4 inches but I think 6 inches, just to be safe.
You should see, hopefully, a little dot next to Sirius, that is Sirius B.
Honestly folks give it a go, I would love to hear success stories of seeing this.
Well that’s it folks for this month and I'm very excited to share with you my objects for April
but for now, just remember to keep looking up you never know what you’re gonna see!
Various Images:
Various Videos:
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