Quick pointers on star hopping

[Eric Mc]

King David said:

So I will find the Andromeda Galaxy withing the Andromeda constellation? Am I right in thinking that some of the stars that make up Pegasus also make up Andromeda? Do stars often make up more than one constellation?

Some stars are shared by constellations. Don't forget, constellations are totally arbitary constructs made up by the ancients playing celestial "joining the dots". The Andromeda Galaxy is so called precisely because it is in the constellation Andromeda. Just like the Orion Nebula is so called because it is in the constellation Orion.

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 14th December 13:33

[PHmember]

King David said:

Can't wait to be on a mountain looking up with no light pollution and very little to obscure the view.

It's amazing to see a clear night sky without any light pollution, it'll take your breath away if you haven't seen it before.

[King David]

I've seen it before on hiking trips and a couple of times out at sea, but never with the first clue as to what I have been looking at. Always jsut looked up in wonder and promised myself that I would learn. Now I have finally taken the first steps towards it I feel like I will looking up at a blank canvas and filling it in.

[Eric Mc]

Well done you.

Being aware of what is in the night sky is extremely rewarding.

[nellyleelephant]

Nothing reminds you how insignificant you are than looking up!

Get along to a local society if you want to learn more. Don't know how close you are to Bedford but feel free to come along.

[King David]

A few hours away from Bedford unfortunately, located in the West Midlands. Didn't get to look at anything last night as there was quite a lot of cloud cover each time I checked outside.

Having lookied at Met Check it seems that I might be unlucky this weekend as well as Llanbaris is looking like every night will be cloudy. No matter, I will keep my eyes open and next time I get teh chance I will go out and try to aquaint myself with some more of the sky. I have to admit that I really am looking forward to seeing the Andromeda Galaxy and Orion Nebula, I think it is the idea of seeing something that I have never seen before in my life that appeals to me.

[Eric Mc]

The sky was clear for an hour or so here in the south last night so I spent about 20 minutes searching for a few remnants of the Geminid meteor shower. Saw two.

Orion, Taurus, Gemini, he Plough, Cassaeopia and the Pleiades were all beautifully clear, even in the light polluted skies of Farnborough.

[nellyleelephant]

King David said:

A few hours away from Bedford unfortunately, located in the West Midlands. Didn't get to look at anything last night as there was quite a lot of cloud cover each time I checked outside.

Having lookied at Met Check it seems that I might be unlucky this weekend as well as Llanbaris is looking like every night will be cloudy. No matter, I will keep my eyes open and next time I get teh chance I will go out and try to aquaint myself with some more of the sky. I have to admit that I really am looking forward to seeing the Andromeda Galaxy and Orion Nebula, I think it is the idea of seeing something that I have never seen before in my life that appeals to me.

If you want to get an idea of what you will see, have a look at stargazers lounge. Under the imaging section there is a subforum for sketches. It will give a good detail of the level of detail to expect......obviously dependant on equipment used!

Also, download the free Stellarium, this will give you the times that objects are rising for a given location. The Orion Nebula will still currently be low in the sky (bad-lots of atmoshphere to look through) until maybe 11pm?

Also good through binoculars, even lower power ones are M36, M37 and M38. Three star clusters that are reasonably close together, from a dark site you may just make out a smudge with your eyes.

Edited by nellyleelephant on Wednesday 15th December 09:27