THE ALTAR the constellations
Ara INCENSE BURNER 2
Ara, the celestial altar, is oriented
SIZE RANKING 63 with its top facing south. Incense
burning on the altar might give off the
BRIGHTEST STARS Alpha “smoke” of the Milky Way above it.
(α) 2.8, Beta (β) 2.8
GENITIVE Arae
ABBREVIATION Ara
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
June–July
FULLY VISIBLE
22°N–90°S
Ara was visualized by the ancient THE ALTAR
Greeks as the altar on which the gods
of Olympus swore an oath of
allegiance before their battle with the
Titans for control of the Universe (see
MYTHS AND STORIES panel, left).This southern constellation
lies within the Milky Way and is
TITANOMACHIA situated south of Scorpius.
Titanomachia, or the Clash of the SPECIFIC FEATURES
Titans, was the ten-year war for The attractive open cluster NGC
dominance of the Universe between 6193 consists of about 30 stars of
the gods on Mount Olympus, led 6th magnitude and fainter. It can
by Zeus, and the Titans on Mount be viewed through binoculars.
Othrys. In gratitude for their
victory, Zeus placed the altar of NGC 6397 is among the closest
the gods in the sky. globular clusters to us, being around
10,000 light-years away, and is well
VICTORY PANEL seen through binoculars or a small
Part of the battle of the gods and Titans is telescope. Like NGC 6193, it appears
here depicted in the Zeus Altar of Pergamon, relatively large – both being over half
which was sculpted in Greece c.180 BC. the apparent width
of the full Moon.
Ara contains no
stars of particular
interest to users of
small telescopes.
NGC 6397 15
The globular cluster NGC
6397 has a condensed
centre and scattered
outer regions in which
chains and sprays of
stars can be traced.
THE SOUTHERN CROWN SPECIFIC FEATURES SOUTHERN ARC 2 THE NIGHT SKY
Gamma (γ) Coronae Australis is a Corona Australis is an
Corona Australis binary star with components of 5th attractive arc of stars
magnitude.The pair orbit each other that represents a crown
SIZE RANKING 80 every 122 years, and they are slowly or laurel wreath.
BRIGHTEST STARS Alpha moving apart as seen from Earth.This
(α) 4.1, Beta (β) 4.1 means the components are THE SOUTHERN
GENITIVE Coronae becoming easier to view CROWN
Australis individually. Meanwhile, a
ABBREVIATION CrA 100mm (4in) aperture is
needed to divide this
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM challenging star.
July–August Kappa (κ) Coronae
Australis is an unrelated
FULLY VISIBLE double with components of
6th magnitude, which are
44°N–90°S readily divided through a
small telescope.
The small southern constellation of
Corona Australis lies under the feet The modest globular
of Sagittarius. It comprises stars of cluster NGC 6541 covers
4th magnitude and fainter, and it about one-third the
was one of the 48 constellations apparent diameter of
recognized by the ancient Greek the full Moon. It is
astronomer Ptolemy (see p.85). visible through a
small telescope
or binoculars.
the constellations
THE TELESCOPE were refractors with extremely long LONG VIEW 2
focal lengths – to reduce chromatic Telescopium depicts an early design
Telescopium aberration – suspended from tall poles of refracting telescope with a long
by ropes and pulleys. tube supported by a flimsy mounting
SIZE RANKING 57 – a far cry from the massive
SPECIFIC FEATURES reflectors of today.
BRIGHTEST STAR Delta (δ) Telescopii is an unrelated
pair of stars with components of
Alpha (α) 3.5 5th-magnitude. It
GENITIVE Telescopii can be divided
ABBREVIATION Tel with binoculars
or even good
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM eyesight.
July–August
FULLY VISIBLE
33°N–90°S
Telescopium is an almost entirely THE
undistinguished southern constellation TELESCOPE
near Sagittarius and Corona Australis.
It was invented by the French
astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille
(see p.406) to commemorate the
telescope. Its pattern of stars
represents one of the aerial telescopes
used at the Paris observatory.These
THE INDIAN with a spear and arrows, although it EXPLORING SPACE
remains unclear whether this is
Indus supposed to be a native of the East DUTCH VOYAGES OF DISCOVERY
Indies (as discovered by the Dutch
SIZE RANKING 49 explorers during their expeditions) As well as exploring the southern oceans, Dutch FAMILY OF EXPLORERS
or a native of the Americas.
BRIGHTEST STAR Alpha traders and navigators also charted the southern sky. The first Dutch expedition
(α) 3.1 SPECIFIC FEATURES On the first Dutch expedition to the East Indies in to the East Indies
GENITIVE Indi Fifth-magnitude Epsilon (ε) Indi is consisted of four ships
one of the closest stars to us, being 1595 were two Dutch navigator–astronomers, Pieter and was led by Cornelis
ABBREVIATION Ind 11.8 light-years away. Somewhat Dirkszoon Keyser (c.1540–96) and Frederick de de Houtman, the brother
smaller and cooler than the Sun, it
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM appears pale orange in colour. Houtman (1571–1627). Keyser died during the voyage, of Frederick, who was on
but his celestial observations, along with those of de the trip as a navigator.
August–October Theta (θ) Indi is a 4th-magnitude
star with a companion of 7th Houtman, were returned to the Dutch
FULLY VISIBLE magnitude that can be identified
through a small telescope. cartographer Petrus Plancius (see
15°N–90°S
CONCEALED FIGURE 2 p.342) and formed the basis for 12
Only a vivid imagination could discern the
figure of a human in the constellation of new constellations, all of which
Indus, which comprises a few faint stars next
to the distinctive figures of Grus and Tucana. are still recognized.
This southern constellation was
introduced in the late 16th century
by Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and
Frederick de Houtman (see panel,
right). It represents a human figure
THE
INDIAN
THE NIGHT SKY
the constellations
THE CRANE
Grus
SIZE RANKING 45
BRIGHTEST STAR
Alnair (α) 1.7
GENITIVE Gruis
ABBREVIATION Gru
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
September–October
FULLY VISIBLE
33°N–90°S
Grus represents a long-necked wading
bird – a crane – although it has also
been depicted as a flamingo. It is a
constellation of the southern sky and
is situated between Piscis Austrinus
and Tucana. Grus was introduced at
the end of the 16th century by the
Dutch navigator–astronomers Pieter
Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de
Houtman (see panel, opposite).
SPECIFIC FEATURES THE CRANE
Delta (δ) Gruis is a pair of 4th-
magnitude giants, with one yellow SHOWING THE WAY 2
Two wide doubles – Delta (δ)
component and one red one, while and Mu (μ) Gruis – appear
Mu (μ) Gruis is a pair of 5th- along the extended neck of
magnitude yellow giants. Both pairs Grus, the Crane, which points to
the lower right in this image.
are divisible with the naked eye.They
appear double due to chance
alignments and are not true binaries.
Beta (β) Gruis is a red giant whose
brightness ranges from magnitude 2.0
to 2.3, with no set period.
THE PHOENIX MYTHS AND STORIES
Phoenix MYTHICAL BIRD
SIZE RANKING 37 According to legend, the phoenix was said to
BRIGHTEST STAR live for 500 years. At the end of its life span, it
Ankaa (α) 2.4 built a nest of cinnamon bark and incense on
GENITIVE Phoenicis
which it died, some say in fire. A baby phoenix
ABBREVIATION Phe
was born from its ancestor’s remains.The death
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
and rebirth of the FUNERAL PYRE
October–November phoenix has been The phoenix is consumed
seen as symbolic of by fire in this 18th-century
FULLY VISIBLE the daily rising and German copper engraving
32°N–90°S setting of the Sun. from Bilderbuch für Kinder.
Phoenix lies at the southern end of PHOENIX THE NIGHT SKY
Eridanus, next to that constellation’s FALLING 2
brightest star, Achernar. It is the The stars of
largest of the 12 southern Phoenix sink
constellations introduced during towards the
the late 16th century by the Dutch western horizon
navigator–astronomers Pieter in the morning
Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de sky, with Grus
Houtman (see panel, opposite). It below it. North
represents the mythical bird that was is to the right in
supposedly born from the ashes of this photograph.
its predecessor (see panel, right).
THE
SPECIFIC FEATURES PHOENIX
Zeta (ζ) Phoenicis is a variable double
consisting of a 4th-magnitude star
with an 8th-magnitude companion.
The brighter star is an eclipsing
binary and varies between magnitudes
3.9 and 4.4 every 1.7 days.
the constellations
THE TOUCAN telescope. In the entire sky, only THE SMC 215
Omega (ω) Centauri is a more This neighbouring mini-galaxy, the
Tucana impressive globular cluster than 47 Small Magellanic Cloud, appears
Tucanae. NGC 362, the other noticeably elongated. To its right in
SIZE RANKING 48 globular cluster in Tucana, is smaller this image lies 47 Tucanae, or NGC
and fainter and requires binoculars or 104, a globular cluster in our galaxy.
BRIGHTEST STAR a small telescope to be seen.
Alpha (α) 2.9 Beta (β) Tucanae is a naked-eye
GENITIVE Tucanae or binocular double with stars of 4th
and 5th magnitudes.The brighter
ABBREVIATION Tuc component can be further separated
through a telescope. Kappa (κ)
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM Tucanae, near NGC 362, is a double
star of 5th and 7th magnitudes
September–November divisible through a small telescope.
FULLY VISIBLE
14°N–90°S
This far-southern constellation is to
be found at the end of the celestial
river, Eridanus. It represents the large-
beaked tropical bird that is native to
South and Central America.
Tucana was introduced in the
late 16th century by the Dutch
navigator–astronomers Pieter
Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick
de Houtman (see p.400).
SPECIFIC FEATURES 47 TUCANAE 215
Tucana contains the Small Magellanic This bright globular
Cloud (see p.301), the lesser of the cluster looks like
two satellite galaxies that accompany a fuzzy star on wide-
our own galaxy.To the naked eye, it angle photographs
appears like a detached patch of the like the one above
Milky Way and is seven times wider right, but telescopes
than the apparent diameter of the full reveal it to be an
Moon. Star fields and clusters within immense swarm
the Small Magellanic Cloud can be of stars.
detected through binoculars or a small
telescope. It is about 190,000 light- THE
years away. TOUCAN
Two globular clusters lie near the
Small Magellanic Cloud, although
both are actually foreground objects
in our galaxy and so are not
associated with the Cloud.The more
prominent of the two is 47 Tucanae
(see p.288), which looks like a hazy
4th-magnitude star to the
naked eye. It apparently
covers the same area of sky
as the full Moon when
viewed through binoculars
or a small
THE NIGHT SKY BIRD OF THE SOUTHERN SKIES 2
The Toucan’s huge beak points
downwards as the constellation sets
towards the western horizon. North is to
the right in this picture.
the constellations
THE LITTLE WATER SNAKE SPECIFIC FEATURES HYDRUS AND ACHERNAR 2
Pi (π) Hydri is a wide double of 6th- The sinuous little water snake winds its way
Hydrus magnitude red giants, although they across southern skies between the two
Magellanic Clouds. The brightest star near it
SIZE RANKING 61 lie at different distances from us and is Achernar in Eridanus (top, right.)
BRIGHTEST STAR hence are unrelated. It can be split
Beta (β) 2.8 readily through binoculars.
GENITIVE Hydri Pi-1 (π1) is of magnitude 5.6
ABBREVIATION Hyi
and is to be found about 740
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM light-years away. Pi-2 (π2) lies
much closer to us, being
October–December
about 470 light-
FULLY VISIBLE
years away;
8°N–90°S
it is of
magnitude
5.7.
Hydrus was introduced in the THE LITTLE WATER SNAKE
late 16th century by the Dutch
navigator–astronomers Pieter
Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de
Houtman (see p.400). It is a
constellation of the far-southern sky
and is situated between the Large
Magellanic Cloud (see p.300) and the
Small Magellanic Cloud (see p.301).
This constellation represents a
small water snake. It should not be
confused with the larger constellation
Hydra, also identified as a water
snake, which has been recognized
since the time of the ancient Greeks.
THE PENDULUM CLOCK NGC 1261 is a modest globular from the Sun, being nearly 400,000 THE
cluster dimly detectable through light-years away. Because it is of 16th PENDULUM
Horologium a small telescope. magnitude, a large telescope is needed CLOCK
to detect it.
SIZE RANKING 58 Arp–Madore 1 (AM1) is another
globular cluster of note within the
BRIGHTEST STAR constellation Horologium. It is the
most distant known globular cluster
Alpha (α) 3.9
GENITIVE Horologii
ABBREVIATION Hor
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
November–December
FULLY VISIBLE
23°N–90°S
Horologium represents a pendulum STELLAR CLOCK 2 THE NIGHT SKY
clock, as used in observatories. Some The shape of Horologium is
depictions show its brightest star, reminiscent of a clock with a
Alpha (α) Horologii, marking the long pendulum – unlike many
clock’s pendulum (as in the of the shapeless constellations
illustration here), while others include invented by de Lacaille.
it as one of the clock weights.
This faint and unremarkable
constellation of the southern sky lies
near the foot of Eridanus and was
introduced by the French astronomer
Nicolas Louis de Lacaille (see p.406).
SPECIFIC FEATURES
R Horologii is a red-giant
variable star of the same
type as Mira (in Cetus). It
ranges between 5th and
14th magnitudes every
13 months or so.
NGC 1261 54
The best deep-sky object
in Horologium for amateur
instruments is NGC 1261, a
compact globular cluster of
8th magnitude more than
50,000 light-years from us.
the constellations
THE NET
Reticulum
SIZE RANKING 82
BRIGHTEST STAR
Alpha (α) 3.3
GENITIVE Reticuli
ABBREVIATION Ret
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
December
FULLY VISIBLE
23°N–90°S
Reticulum is a small constellation THE NET
in the southern sky, near the Large CASTING THE NET 2
Magellanic Cloud (see p.300). It was
introduced by the French astronomer This rhomboidal group of stars lies near the
Nicolas Louis de Lacaille (see p.406) Large Magellanic Cloud, which is too faint to
and represents the reticule, or grid, in be seen here in the morning sky. The star at
his eyepiece, which he used for upper right is Achernar (in Eridanus).
measuring star positions.
DIVIDING LINE 2
SPECIFIC FEATURES Pictor consists of little more than a
Zeta (ζ) Reticuli is a yellow double crooked line of stars between brilliant
star. Its 5th-magnitude components Canopus (in Carina), seen here on the
can be split through binoculars. left, and the Large Magellanic Cloud.
THE PAINTER’S EASEL
Pictor
SIZE RANKING 59
BRIGHTEST STAR
Alpha (α) 3.2
GENITIVE Pictoris
ABBREVIATION Pic
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
December–February
FULLY VISIBLE
26°N–90°S
Pictor was invented by the French BETA PICTORIS 43
astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille The bright areas on this professional false-
(see p.406), who imagined it as an colour image indicate the circumstellar disc.
artist’s easel, complete with palette. Distortions in the shape may be due to a
He originally called it Equuleus planetary system forming around the star.
Pictoris, although that name has
since been shortened. It is a faint
constellation of the southern sky, and
it is situated beside the constellations
Puppis and Columba.
THE NIGHT SKY SPECIFIC FEATURES THE
Beta (β) Pictoris is 63 light-years PAINTER’S
away. It is of special interest because, EASEL
in 1984, astronomers discovered a
disc of dust and gas orbiting this
blue-white star of magnitude 3.9.
The circumstellar disc is thought
to be a planetary system in the
process of formation.The planets
of our solar system are believed
to have developed from a
similar disc that existed
around the Sun shortly after
its formation.
Iota (ι) Pictoris is a double
star with components of
6th magnitude.These are
readily separated through
a small telescope.
the constellations
THE GOLDFISH SUPERNOVA 1987A 3
This supernova has faded
Dorado since its dramatic flare-up
in 1987. To its upper left
SIZE RANKING 72 in this image is the spider- THE LMC 215
like Tarantula Nebula. The brighter of the
BRIGHTEST STAR two mini-galaxies that
view through accompany our own,
Alpha (α) 3.3 binoculars the Large Magellanic
GENITIVE Doradus or a small telescope. Cloud appears
elongated in shape. It
ABBREVIATION Dor A remarkable includes the Tarantula
object in the Large Magellanic Cloud Nebula (here on its
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM is the Tarantula Nebula, or NGC upper-left edge).
2070. It is bright enough to be visible
December–January with the naked eye and can be well HEADING SOUTH 2
seen through binoculars. A cluster Dorado, the Goldfish,
FULLY VISIBLE of newborn stars at the heart of the swims through the
Tarantula Nebula can be detected southern skies,
20°N–90°S through binoculars or a small apparently on its
telescope, while photographs show way to the south
Dorado is one of the southern its looping extremities, like a spider’s celestial pole.
constellations introduced in the legs, from which this large nebula
late 16th century by the Dutch of glowing gas gets its popular name.
navigator–astronomers Pieter
Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de In February 1987 a supernova
Houtman (p.400). Although known as flared up in the Large Magellanic
the goldfish, Dorado in fact represents Cloud. Supernova 1987A, as it was
the dolphinfish found in tropical called, reached 3rd magnitude in May
waters, and not the fish common to of that year, and this made it the
aquaria and ponds.The constellation brightest supernova visible from Earth
has also been depicted as a swordfish. since 1604. It remained visible to the
naked eye for 10 months.
Most of the Large Magellanic
Cloud (see p.300) is contained within Beta (β) Doradus is one of the
Dorado, although this mini-galaxy brightest Cepheid variables, ranging
also extends into Mensa.The first between magnitudes 3.5 and 4.1 every
recorded mention of the Large 9.8 days, while R Doradus is an erratic
Magellanic Cloud is credited to red giant that varies from 5th to 6th
al-Sufi (see panel, below). magnitude every 11 months or so.
SPECIFIC FEATURES
The Large Magellanic Cloud is a
satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. It
is situated some 170,000 light-
years away from the Earth and, at
first sight, looks like a detached
part of the Milky Way. Its
numerous star clusters and
nebulous patches are brought into
AL-SUFI
Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi (903–86),
known also by his Latinized name,
Azophi, was an Arabic astronomer.
Around AD 964, he produced the
Book of the Fixed Stars – an
updated version of Ptolemy’s
Almagest – which introduced many
star names still in use today. Later
editions of the book contained
Arabic illustrations of the
constellations (like the one below).
CONSTELLATION PORTRAIT
A version of al-Sufi’s Book of the Fixed Stars
was produced in the 16th century by a Persian
artist. It included this image of Boötes.
THE GOLDFISH THE NIGHT SKY
the constellations
THE FLYING FISH magnitude Gamma (γ) Volantis, which
is jointly the brightest star in the
Volans constellation.This orange star has a
yellow companion, of 6th magnitude.
SIZE RANKING 76 They form a beautiful double when
viewed through a small telescope.
BRIGHTEST STARS Beta
(β) 3.8, Gamma (γ) 3.8 Epsilon (ε) Volantis is another
interesting double, although it is
GENITIVE Volantis not as colourful as Gamma. Its
components, which are of 4th and
ABBREVIATION Vol 7th magnitudes, can be detected
readily through a small telescope.
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
January–March
FULLY VISIBLE
14°N–90°S
This small and faint constellation FISH IN FLIGHT 2
of the southern sky between Carina The Flying Fish leaps into the evening
and the Large Magellanic Cloud (see sky above the eastern horizon.
p.300) was introduced in the late Beneath it here are the Milky Way
16th century by the Dutch and the stars of Carina and Vela,
navigator–astronomers Pieter with the False Cross at left.
Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick
de Houtman (see p.400). It represents THE FLYING FISH
the tropical fish that uses
its outstretched fins as wings to glide
through the air.
SPECIFIC FEATURES
Although it lies on the edge of the
Milky Way,Volans is surprisingly
bereft of deep-sky objects. It does,
however, contain two good double
stars, one of them being 4th-
THE TABLE MOUNTAIN
Mensa
SIZE RANKING 75
BRIGHTEST STAR
Alpha (α) 5.1
GENITIVE Mensae
ABBREVIATION Men
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
December–February
FULLY VISIBLE
5°N–90°S
The French astronomer Nicolas TABLE TOP 2
Louis de Lacaille (see panel, right) The far-southern
introduced this constellation. It constellation Mensa
commemorates Table Mountain near appears in this
the modern Cape Town, South Africa, photograph above pink-
which is close to where he set up his tinged clouds in the dawn sky.
observatory.When viewing the wispy
appearance of the Large Magellanic THE TABLE MOUNTAIN
Cloud (see p.300) in Mensa, de
THE NIGHT SKY Lacaille may have recalled the clouds NICOLAS LOUIS DE LACAILLE
sometimes seen over the real Table
Mountain. It is the only constellation This French astronomer charted the southern
that de Lacaille did not name after a skies in 1751–52 from Cape Town, South Africa.
scientific or artistic tool. Nicolas Louis de Lacaille (1713–62) observed
the positions of nearly 10,000 stars, producing a
Mensa is the faintest of all 88 catalogue and star chart on which he introduced
constellations, and its brightest star, 14 new constellations. Most of these represented
Alpha (α) Mensae, is of only 5th instruments of the arts and sciences.
magnitude. Its main point
of interest is that part of the Large SOUTHERN VIEWPOINT
Magellanic Cloud overlaps into it Lacaille observed the stars
from neighbouring Dorado. Other from near Table Mountain,
than this Cloud, there is nothing to which is covered by an
attract the casual observer to this attractive “tablecloth” of
small constellation of the south-polar clouds in this photograph.
region of the sky.
THE CHAMELEON The constellation was introduced at
the end of the 16th century by the
Chamaeleon Dutch navigator–astronomers Pieter
Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de
SIZE RANKING 79 Houtman (see p.400).
BRIGHTEST STARS Alpha SPECIFIC FEATURES
(α) 4.1, Gamma (γ) 4.1 Delta (δ) Chamaeleontis is a wide
pair of unrelated stars of 4th and 5th
GENITIVE magnitudes.They are easily seen
through binoculars.
Chamaeleontis
NGC 3195 is a planetary nebula
ABBREVIATION Cha of similar apparent size to Jupiter, but
it is relatively faint and so requires a
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM moderate-sized telescope to be seen.
February–May
FULLY VISIBLE
7°N–90°S
THE CHAMELEON
Chamaeleon was named after the
lizard that can change its skin colour
to match its surroundings. It is a
small, faint constellation of the south-
polar region of the sky.
CAMOUFLAGE ARTIST 2
Chamaeleon lies close to the south
celestial pole, which is to the left of
it in this picture. To the north of this
constellation are to be found the rich
Milky Way star fields of Carina.
THE BIRD OF PARADISE
Apus
SIZE RANKING 67
BRIGHTEST STAR
Alpha (α) 3.8
GENITIVE Apodis
ABBREVIATION Aps
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM
May–July
FULLY VISIBLE
7°N–90°S
The constellation Apus is situated THE BIRD THE NIGHT SKY
in the almost featureless area around OF PARADISE
the south celestial pole. It was
invented in the late 16th century by EXOTIC BIRD 2
the Dutch navigator–astronomers Apus, which is south of the distinctive
Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Triangulum Australe, represents a bird of
Frederick de Houtman (see p.400). paradise but is a disappointing tribute to
such an exotic bird.
SPECIFIC FEATURES
Delta (δ) Apodis is a wide pair of
unrelated 5th-magnitude red giants,
while Theta (θ) Apodis is a red giant
that varies somewhat erratically
between 5th and 7th magnitudes
every 4 months or so.
the constellations
THE PEACOCK peacock of southeast Asia, which head and set Io free. In his memory, visibility but readily located through
the Dutch explorers encountered on Hera then placed the eyes of Argus on binoculars. It covers half the apparent
Pavo their travels. In more recent times, the peacock’s tail. width of the full Moon. A telescope
its brightest star, 2nd-magnitude with an aperture of 75mm (3in) or
SIZE RANKING 44 Alpha (α) Pavonis, was given the The constellation Pavo is to be more will resolve its brightest
name Peacock. found on the edge of the Milky Way individual stars.
BRIGHTEST STAR south of Sagittarius and next to
In Greek mythology, the peacock another exotic bird, the toucan (the The large spiral galaxy NGC 6744
Peacock (α) 1.9 was the sacred bird of Hera, wife of constellation Tucana). is presented virtually face-on to the
GENITIVE Pavonis Zeus, who travelled through the air in Earth. It is visible as an elliptical haze
a chariot drawn by these birds. It was SPECIFIC FEATURES in a telescope of small to moderate
ABBREVIATION Pav Hera who placed the markings on the Kappa (κ) Pavonis is one of the aperture. NGC 6744 lies about 30
tail of the peacock after an episode brighter Cepheid variables. Its million light-years away.
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM involving Zeus and one of his illicit fluctuations, between magnitudes 3.9
loves, Io. Although Zeus had disguised and 4.8 every 9.1 days, can be
July–September Io as a white cow, Hera suspected followed with the naked eye.
something was amiss and set the 100-
FULLY VISIBLE eyed Argus to keep watch on the Xi (ξ) Pavonis is a double star with
heifer. Her husband retaliated by components of unequal brightness –
15°–90°S sending his son Hermes to release Io. 4th and 8th magnitudes.The fainter
In order to overcome Argus, Hermes star is difficult to identify with the
Pavo is one of the far-southern told him tales and played music on his smallest-apertured telescopes as its
constellations that were introduced at reed pipe until the watchman’s eyes brighter neighbour overwhelms it.
the end of the 16th century by the closed one by one.When Argus was
Dutch navigator–astronomers Pieter finally asleep, Hermes chopped off his NGC 6752 is one of the largest
Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de and brightest globular clusters in the
Houtman (see p.400). It represents the sky. It is just at the limit of naked-eye
NGC 6744 54
This beautiful barred spiral
galaxy in Pavo is detectable
through a small telescope.
The Milky Way might appear
like this when viewed from
the outside.
NGC 6752 54
The fine globular cluster NGC
6752 remains little-known
because of its far-southern
declination. The bright star seen
above right of it in this image is
a foreground object in our galaxy.
THE NIGHT SKY THE
PEACOCK
CELESTIAL DISPLAY 2
The constellation Pavo, the Peacock,
is depicted fanning its tail across the
southern skies, in imitation of a real-life
peacock when attracting a mate.
THE OCTANT changing. As a result, the south the constellations
celestial pole is moving farther away
Octans from Sigma and towards the SOUTHERN STAR TRAILS 2
constellation of Chamaeleon.There Curving star trails, drawn out by the Earth's
SIZE RANKING 50 are no bright stars in this area either, rotation on this long-exposure photograph,
so the region of the south celestial emphasize the barren nature of the area around
BRIGHTEST STAR pole will remain blank for another the south celestial pole.
1,500 years, when the pole will pass
Nu (ν) 3.8 just over a degree away from 4th- THE OCTANT
GENITIVE Octantis magnitude Delta (δ) Chamaeleontis.
EXPLORING SPACE
ABBREVIATION Oct Octans represents an instrument
known as an octant, which was used NAVIGATION
HIGHEST IN SKY AT 10PM by navigators to help them find their
position (see panel, right). It was In 1731, the British mathematician
October invented by the English instrument John Hadley built a device called a
maker John Hadley (1682–1744). doubly reflecting octant.The
FULLY VISIBLE navigator sighted the horizon
SPECIFIC FEATURES through a telescope and adjusted
0°–90°S Lambda (λ) Octantis is a double star a movable arm until the reflected
that is divisible with a small telescope. image of the Sun or a star overlay
This constellation, which originally The components are of 5th and the direct view of the horizon.
was also known as Octans Nautica 7th magnitudes. The altitude of the Sun or star
or Octans Hadleianus, contains the could be read off a scale, from
south celestial pole. It was introduced
in the 18th century by the French which the navigator could
astronomer Nicolas Louis de Lacaille deduce his latitude.
(see p.406).
OCTANT
The area of sky in which Octans This wood and brass octant is by Browning of
lies is quite barren.Within naked-eye Boston. In later designs, the arc was extended
range, the nearest star to the south from one-eighth of a circle to one-sixth, and
celestial pole is Sigma (σ) Octantis. It the octant became the modern sextant.
is of only magnitude 5.4 and hence
far from prominent. AT THE POLE 2
Octans comprises only a scattering of
Because of the effect of faint stars. There is no bright star to
precession (see p.60), the positions mark the southern pole, which lies
of the celestial poles are constantly centre left in this picture.
THE NIGHT SKY
MONTHLY SKY GUIDE
“If the stars should appear one night in a
thousand years, how would men believe and adore;
and preserve for many generations the remembrance of
the city of God which had been shown! But every
night come out these envoys of beauty, and light the
universe with their admonishing smile.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
AS THE EARTH MAKES its year-long journey
around the Sun, the night sky changes its appearance
and the stars seem to move from east to west.
Depending on the observer’s location, some stars are
circumpolar and always visible, but others are seen
only at certain times of the year. For example, some
stars are seen well in the evening sky in January, but
are invisible six months later, when the Earth has
moved around its orbit to the opposite side of the
Sun.The following section tracks seasonal changes
in the night sky for observers in both the northern
and southern hemispheres. As well as covering the
regular annual cycles of the stars and constellations,
it charts the positions of the planets and provides an
observer’s guide to celestial events, such as meteor
showers and eclipses of the Sun and Moon.
THE LEONID METEORS
This composite image shows the Leonid meteor
shower that occurs in November each year.
Also visible are the Sickle, a distinctive group
of stars in the constellation Leo (top left), and
the planet Jupiter (centre).
MONTHLY SKY GUIDE
412 monthly sky guide
using the sky guides
58–59 The celestial sphere this month-by-month guide to the night sky features charts that show the whole sky
60–61 Celestial cycles as it appears from most places on the Earth’s surface. It complements the constellations
64–65 Planetary motion section, in which detailed maps show smaller areas of sky. For each month, text, tables, and
66–67 Star motions and patterns supporting charts identify good objects for observation and show the positions of the planets.
special events monthly highlights and planet locators
phases of the moon For each month of the year, a double-page introduction introductory pages also feature a planet locator chart.
highlights different phenomena in the sky. Dates of special This map shows the band of sky that lies either side of
fu ll m o o n mwnoeon events, such as phases of the Moon and eclipses, are listed the ecliptic, the plane close to which the planets always
year-by-year in a table.The main text describes those appear.These charts should be used in conjunction with
2006 14 January 29 January stars, deep-sky objects, and meteor showers that feature the extra information supplied in the Special Events table,
prominently in that particular month – this text as well as the whole-sky charts and the individual
2007 3 January 19 January complements the whole-sky charts that follow.The constellation entries (see pp.338–409).
2008 22 January 8 January
2009 11 January 26 January
2010 30 January 15 January
2011 19 January 4 January each month of the the text highlights the most observation from northern photographs illustrate some
2012 9 January 23 January year has its own prominent stars, deep-sky and southern latitudes is of the most interesting
introductory pages features to be observed
414-415 SGuide-Jan.qxd 6/8/08 78:5034 pm Page 414 objects, and meteor showers covered separately in the text
(TEXT BLACK plate) 414-415 SGuide-Jan.qxd 6/8/08 78:5048 pm Page 415 (TEXT BLACK plate)
special events 414 Monthly sky guide january 415 neptune
calendar
The introduction to special events JANUARY SOUTHERN LATITUDES AQUARIUS
each month contains
a Special Events PHASES OF THE MOON THE STARS ORION NEBULA 12 11 10 09 08 07 06
table, which lists M41 is visible to the
the dates of full and FULL MOON NEW MOON In both the northern and southern hemispheres, the January evening sky is The two brightest stars in the entire naked eye as a hazy CAPRICORNUS
new Moons, and dominated by the magnificent constellation of Orion, the hunter. He is depicted sky, Sirius in Canis Major and patch of light, but its
events such as lunar 2006 14 January 29 January with raised club and shield, facing Taurus the bull, with his two dogs, Canis Major Canopus in Carina, blaze high in full complexity and the outer
and solar eclipses, 2007 3 January 19 January and Canis Minor, following at his heels.The hazy band of the Milky Way arches the sky for southern observers this beauty is brought out planets
and planetary 2008 22 January 8 January from southeast to northwest in northern skies, while in the southern hemisphere month. Orion’s brightest members, only on long-exposure The two outermost
conjunctions and 2009 11 January 26 January the Large Magellanic Cloud lies high up in the sky. Rigel and Betelgeuse, are also high photographs and on planets, Uranus and
transits (see p.65). 2010 30 January 15 January up, and Aldebaran, the brightest star CCD images. Neptune, are shown
This table also lists 2011 19 January 4 January in Taurus, glistens a ruddy colour on magnified insets
the dates when 2012 9 January 23 January lower in the north. Closer still to M41, a large star cluster near of the main chart
Mercury is at the northern horizon, Capella is Sirius, sits on the zenith for because they move
greatest elongation. THE PLANETS NORTHERN LATITUDES best placed for observation on observers around 20°S. Under relatively slowly
2006: 27 January Saturn is at January evenings.The rich Milky good conditions, M41 is just through our sky.
ecliptic opposition, magnitude -0.2. THE STARS belt.The nebula is easily visible their peak is short, lasting only a Way starfields of Carina and visible to the naked eye.
Earth’s 2008: 22 January Mercury is at greatest through binoculars at most few hours, and their radiant Centaurus lie in the southeast. By arrow indicates
axis of evening elongation, magnitude -0.4. Sirius, the brightest star in the northern latitudes, and even under remains low in the northeastern comparison, the western half of The Large Magellanic Cloud that the planet is
rotation 2009: 4 January Mercury is at greatest entire sky, is well displayed on average skies it can be seen with sky until well after midnight. the sky appears almost barren, for (see p.300) in Dorado looks like a in retrograde
evening elongation, magnitude -0.4. January evenings, twinkling above the naked eye as a hazy patch. it contains only a scattering of stars detached scrap of the Milky Way motion (see p.64)
2009: 14 January Venus is at greatest the southern horizon at mid- that are easily visible to the naked lying on the meridian (an
evening elongation, magnitude -4.5. northern latitudes. Sirius forms the Three open star clusters in eye, the most prominent being imaginary line passing north to
2010: 27 January Mercury is at greatest southern apex of a group of three Auriga – M36, M37, and M38 – 1st-magnitude Achernar, in the south through the zenith) on
morning elongation, magnitude -0.1. stars known as the Winter Triangle can be picked out with binoculars. southwest at the end of Eridanus. January evenings. Prominent
2010: 29 January Mars is at opposition, (see p.420), which is completed by among its mass of stars is the
magnitude -1.2. Procyon and Betelgeuse. METEOR SHOWERS DEEP-SKY OBJECTS Tarantula Nebula, which appears
2011: 8 January Venus is at greatest Northern observers can observe to the naked eye as a glowing
morning elongation, magnitude -4.4. Directly overhead for mid- the Quadrantid meteors around The Orion Nebula is ideally patch as large as the full Moon.
2011: 9 January Mercury is at greatest northern observers is the yellowish 3–4 January every year.The meteors placed for all southern observers The Small Magellanic Cloud (see
morning elongation, magnitude -0.2. star Capella, which is the most radiate from a point near the handle this month, as it is high in the sky. p.301) in Tucana lies closer to the
northerly first-magnitude star and of the Plough in Ursa Major, an southwestern horizon.
ECLIPSES the brightest member of Auriga. In area which was once occupied by URANUS ORION’S BELT
2009: 26 January An annular eclipse of the northeast, the Plough stands on the now-obsolete constellation A chain of three stars forms Orion’s belt,
the Sun is visible from the Indian Ocean its handle, and the Square of Quadrans, hence their name. OPEN CLUSTERS PISCES south of which can be seen the nebulosity
and Indonesia; a partial eclipse is visible Pegasus sinks low in the western Although numerous – peaking at M36 (centre), M37 (left), and M38 (right) of M42. North is to the top of this picture.
from southern Africa, southern and eastern sky. In the northwest, the Milky around 100 an hour – the meteors in Auriga can be picked out from the NEPTUNE
Asia, and western and southern Australia. Way passes through Auriga into are faint, so not many can be seen Milky Way with
2010: 15 January An annular eclipse of Perseus and Cassiopeia. from urban areas. Other binoculars. MIDNIGHT 9PM AQUARIUS
the Sun is visible from eastern Africa, the drawbacks are MIDNIGHT Capella
Indian Ocean, southern India, and south- DEEP-SKY OBJECTS that 12 12 11 10 09 08 07 06
eastern Asia. A partial solar eclipse is 11
visible from southern and eastern Africa, One of the most-photographed 6AM 10
the Middle East, and central, southern, and sights in the sky, the Orion Nebula 6PM 09
southeastern Asia. (see p.239), lies south of the 08
2011: 4 January A partial eclipse of the chain of three stars that 3AM CETUS 07 06
Sun is visible from northern Africa, Europe, makes up Orion’s
the Middle East, and central Asia. AQUARIUS
Castor 3PM CAPRICORNUS
CANCER GEMINI 08 TAURUS PLEIADES 11
06 09
NOON 10 Aldebaran ARIES NOON
10° HYADES 06
9AM
Bellatrix
Arcturus LEO 07
12 08 12 PISCES A1lt0a°ir
09 Regulus 0°
Betelgeuse
Procyon
0° 10 AQUARIUS
OPHIUCHUS VIRGO 11 Mira
12 Spica
Rigel
06
-10° -10°
-20°
06 EVENING SKY 10 08 09 -30°
12 07 11
11
-20° 10 11 08 07 LIBRA
09 07
THE NIGHT SKY 08 Antares POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS 09 10 THE NIGHT SKY
-30° This chart shows the positions of the planets in January from 2006 to 2012. The planets are Fomalhaut CAPRICORNUS
SAGITTARIUS represented by coloured dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets
SCORPIUS SKY apart from Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on 15 January. Mercury is shown only
-40° Shaula when it is at greatest elongation (see p.64) – for the specific date, refer to the table, left.
MORNING Mercury Mars Saturn Neptune -40°
Venus Jupiter Uranus
-50° EXAMPLES -50°
09 Saturn’s position on
09 Mars’s position on 15 January 2009. The arrow indicates
15 January 2009 that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.64)
celestial sphere key to the coloured time of night 9pm
celestial equator planet icons (in local time) Capella
position of planet shown when this area
by coloured dot of sky lies on
the meridian
(an imaginary 50º 6pm
line running 40º
north–south)
declination
coordinates
the night sky Pollux 30º Castor
the planet locator chart shows ecliptic GEMINI 08 TAURUS PLEIADES
a portion of the celestial sphere CANCER
on either side of the ecliptic 20º Aldebaran ARIES
10 06 HYADES
LEO 06
Arcturus
planet locator charts the inner planets 07 celestial equator
PISCES
These charts show the positions of the planets The six planets clo1s2est to the 0So8uf nthaRereegulus 10º 12
at 10pm local standard time on the 15th day of represented on the m09ain body Betelgeuse Bellatrix Mira
time when an Procyon Rigel
the month. Each planet is represented by a cinhdaircta. tBeainn1d0lsocaalol ntigmtehewthoepnatnhdatbaortetoam area of sky is
tdhifefedOroePtnHrtelIyUfeCcroHsloUtouSraedpadrotti,cualnadr the number inside visible: evening 0º
year. EachVcIRhaGrOt sky (from sunset
shows the planets’ positions in relation to the 12 o1f1sky is highest in the sky. However, to midnight) or
local sunset and sunrise times will morning sky
13 constellations along the ecliptic (see p.61), Sapficfaect the darkness of the sky, and (from midnight -10º
to sunrise)
06 the area in which the planets are a06lways found. thus the visibility of the planets.
11
evening sky
09 10 08 11 08 07 LIBRA
07
Antares
using the sky guides 413
the whole-sky charts star-motion diagrams
These diagrams show the direction in
The introduction to each month is followed by two which the stars appear to move as the
whole-sky charts.These show the position of the stars night progresses. Stars near the equator
at 10pm local time on the 15th day of the month, appear to move from east to west, while
for both the northern and southern hemispheres.They circumpolar stars circle around the
project the half of the celestial sphere (see pp.58–59) celestial poles without setting.
that would be visible to a viewer under perfect
conditions – that is, without any obstruction to the Northern southern
horizon. Any given star rises four minutes earlier each LATITUDES LATITUDES
night compared to the previous night.Thus, the night
sky changes subtly from one night to the 417 THE NIGHT SKY
next and even more dramatically from one
month to another.To use the whole-sky 20°N Ecliptic 40°N 60°N POINTS OF REFERENCE Planetary Diffuse Open Globular Galaxy Variable STAR MAGNITUDES
charts, determine the colour-coded horizon Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths nebula nebula cluster cluster star -1 0 1 2 3 4 5
and zenith for your location (below), turn to
the appropriate month, and position yourself DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
and the whole-sky chart (right).
South
LOOKING SOUTH orientation
JANUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES
SOUTH To view the sky to the north, turn
horizon zenith LMC northwards and hold the map flat, with
North DORADO RETICULUM PUPPIS the north label closest to your body. One
CARINA
Star Motion Canopus
PICTOR
SOUTH HOROLOGIUM HEAST of the colour-coded lines around the near
WEST CAELUM VELA SOUT
COLUMBA edge of the map will relate to the horizon
PHO in front of you. To view the south, turn
ENIX around and reposition the map.
416-417 jan N Lat.qxd 8/8/08 2:4550 pm Page 417 (TEXT BLACK plate) Y
Adhara M
I
zenith CETU M42 A
FORNAX Rigel PYXIS
ERIDANUS Sirius M47 M46 ANTLIA asterism constellation
LEPUS M41 MCAAJNOIRS M93 name name
SCULPTOR M50
Mira Bellatrix NOCEROS Castor MO NORProcyConANIS MI M44 CANCER M48 HYDR UMRASJAOR
S
THE PLOUGH
WEST TAURUS AldebaranHYADES Betelgeuse EAST
ORION
ARIES SEXTANS 81
PISCES
M1 M67 star
CVAENNEASTnICame
PERSEUS AURIGA M35 GEMINI Regulus
PLEIADES LEO deep-sky
M38 M37 ECLIPTIC object
M36 name or
Pollux number
horizon
celestial sphere viewer TRIANGULUM Capella
M33 AURIGA
Each whole-sky chart shows an area that equals more M34 PERSE LEO
PISCES US LYNX
MILNEOOR Mizar M51
than half a celestial sphere because it combines three PEGASUS
different projections of the night sky, as seen from three WEST M31 NGC M87
ANDROMEDA 884 EAST
CASSIOPEIANGC 869 M101
M103
different latitudes on Earth. Each month, the sky charts CAMELOPARDALIS M81 UMRASJAOR M6B4ERCEONIMCAES
THE PLOUGH
show the night sky as it appears from 60°–20°N, on the CVAENNEASTICI main features
northern hemisphere chart, and from 0°–40°S, on the LACERTA M52 Polaris M53 All 88 constellations are featured on the
M39 CEPHEUS URSA
southern hemisphere chart. MINOR wdeheopl-es-ksykyobchjeacrttss,waisthwineltTlhEaeSsir any notable
boundaries.
Mizar M3
M101
M51
Deneb Well-known and easily recognizable
M29 CYGNUS stars, star clusters, and asterism
horizons and zeniths M52 416-417 jan N Lat.qxd 8/8/08 2:449 pm Page 416 (TEXT BLACK plate) NORT DRACO BOOTES AST patterns (see p.68) are also labelled.
The stars located near 416 CBOORROENAALIS
the centre of each chart CEPHEUS HWEST LYRA NORTHE
can be seen on the
zenith (the point directly Vega M92
overhead), while the HERCULES
stars near the chart’s M13
edge appear close to
the horizon. Colour- M57
coded lines and crosses
are used to identify the OBSERVATION TIMES
horizon and zenith on
each of the three NORTH Date Standard Daylight- OBSERVING TIMES
latitude projections on time saving time
each monthly chart. LOOKING NORTH
15 December Midnight 1am Date Standard Daylight-
JANUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES 1 January 11pm Midnight time saving time
15 January 10pm 11pm
1 February 9pm 10pm 1am
15 February 8pm 9pm Midnight
11pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE 15 December Midnight 10pm
-1 0 1 2 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths 1 January 11pm 9pm
34 5 Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic 15 January 10pm
star cluster cluster nebula nebula 1 February 9pm
15 February 8pm
THE NIGHT SKY
b DEEP-SKY Observing times
OBJECTS Each chart shows the sky as it appears at
60°n star magnitude Icons are used to 10pm local standard time, mid-month. the night sky
Stars that appear represent a selection However, this view can also be seen at
40°n brighter than magnitude of deep-sky objects other times of the month, as well as one
20°n 6 are illustrated on of interest to the hour later when local daylight-saving
0° the whole-sky charts. amateur astronomer. time is in use. To view the sky at a time
20°s This key can be used before or after 10pm, you may need to
40°s to gauge their consult a different monthly chart.
magnitude. About 25
prominent stars are DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
also labelled with
their popular names. Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary
cluster cluster nebula nebula
lines of latitudes STAR MAGNITUDES Variable
Determine the latitude line that is closest to your -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 star
geographical location, and use the colour-coding on
the sky charts to find the view from your location.
Note that a 10° difference in latitude has little
effect on the stars that can be seen.
Monthly sky guide
special events JANUARY
PHASES OF THE MOON
FULL MOON NEW MOON In both the northern and southern hemispheres, the January evening sky is
dominated by the magnificent constellation of Orion, the hunter. He is depicted
2006 14 January 29 January with raised club and shield, facing Taurus the bull, with his two dogs, Canis Major
2007 3 January 19 January and Canis Minor, following at his heels.The hazy band of the Milky Way arches
2008 22 January 8 January from southeast to northwest in northern skies, while in the southern hemisphere
2009 11 January 26 January the Large Magellanic Cloud lies high up in the sky.
2010 30 January 15 January
2011 19 January 4 January
2012 9 January 23 January
THE PLANETS NORTHERN LATITUDES
2006: 27 January Saturn is at THE STARS belt.The nebula is easily visible their peak is short, lasting only a
opposition, magnitude -0.2. through binoculars at most few hours, and their radiant
Sirius, the brightest star in the northern latitudes, and even under remains low in the northeastern
2008: 22 January Mercury is at greatest entire sky, is well displayed on average skies it can be seen with sky until well after midnight.
evening elongation, magnitude -0.4. January evenings, twinkling above the naked eye as a hazy patch.
the southern horizon at mid-
2009: 4 January Mercury is at greatest northern latitudes. Sirius forms the Three open star clusters in
evening elongation, magnitude -0.4. southern apex of a group of three Auriga – M36, M37, and M38 –
stars known as the Winter Triangle can be picked out with binoculars.
2009: 14 January Venus is at greatest (see p.420), which is completed by
evening elongation, magnitude -4.5. Procyon and Betelgeuse. METEOR SHOWERS
2010: 27 January Mercury is at greatest Directly overhead for mid- Northern observers can observe
morning elongation, magnitude -0.1. northern observers is the yellowish the Quadrantid meteors around
star Capella, which is the most 3–4 January every year.The meteors
2010: 29 January Mars is at opposition, northerly first-magnitude star and radiate from a point near the handle
magnitude -1.2. the brightest member of Auriga. In of the Plough in Ursa Major, an
the northeast, the Plough stands on area which was once occupied by
2011: 8 January Venus is at greatest its handle, and the Square of the now-obsolete constellation
morning elongation, magnitude -4.4. Pegasus sinks low in the western Quadrans, hence their name.
sky. In the northwest, the Milky Although numerous – peaking at
2011: 9 January Mercury is at greatest Way passes through Auriga into around 100 an hour – the meteors
morning elongation, magnitude -0.2. Perseus and Cassiopeia. are faint, so not many can be seen
from urban areas. Other
ECLIPSES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS drawbacks are OPEN CLUSTERS
that
2009: 26 January An annular eclipse of One of the most-photographed M36 (centre), M37 (left), and M38 (right)
the Sun is visible from the Indian Ocean sights in the sky, the Orion Nebula 6AM
and Indonesia; a partial eclipse is visible (see p.239), lies south of the in Auriga can be picked out from the
from southern Africa, southern and eastern chain of three stars that
Asia, and western and southern Australia. makes up Orion’s Milky Way with
2010: 15 January An annular eclipse of binoculars. MIDNIGHT
the Sun is visible from eastern Africa, the
Indian Ocean, southern India, and south- 3AM
eastern Asia. A partial solar eclipse is
visible from southern and eastern Africa,
the Middle East, and central, southern, and
southeastern Asia.
2011: 4 January A partial eclipse of the
Sun is visible from northern Africa, Europe,
the Middle East, and central Asia.
NOON 9AM
THE NIGHT SKY SKY
ORNING
M
SOUTHERN LATITUDES january
THE STARS ORION NEBULA URANUS ORION’S BELT
M41 is visible to the A chain of three stars forms Orion’s belt,
The two brightest stars in the entire naked eye as a hazy south of which can be seen the nebulosity
sky, Sirius in Canis Major and patch of light, but its of M42. North is to the top of this picture.
Canopus in Carina, blaze high in full complexity and NEPTUNE
the sky for southern observers this beauty is brought out
month. Orion’s brightest members, only on long-exposure 3PM
Rigel and Betelgeuse, are also high photographs and on NOON
up, and Aldebaran, the brightest star CCD images.
in Taurus, glistens a ruddy colour
lower in the north. Closer still to M41, a large star cluster near
the northern horizon, Capella is Sirius, sits on the zenith for
best placed for observation on observers around 20°S. Under
January evenings.The rich Milky good conditions, M41 is just
Way starfields of Carina and visible to the naked eye.
Centaurus lie in the southeast. By
comparison, the western half of The Large Magellanic Cloud
the sky appears almost barren, for (see p.300) in Dorado looks like a
it contains only a scattering of stars detached scrap of the Milky Way
that are easily visible to the naked lying on the meridian (an
eye, the most prominent being imaginary line passing north to
1st-magnitude Achernar, in the south through the zenith) on
southwest at the end of Eridanus. January evenings. Prominent
among its mass of stars is the
DEEP-SKY OBJECTS Tarantula Nebula, which appears
to the naked eye as a glowing
The Orion Nebula is ideally patch as large as the full Moon.
placed for all southern observers The Small Magellanic Cloud (see
this month, as it is high in the sky. p.301) in Tucana lies closer to the
southwestern horizon.
MIDNIGHT 9PM
6PM
EVENING SKY
POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS THE NIGHT SKY
This chart shows the positions of the planets in January from 2006 to 2012. The planets are
represented by coloured dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets
apart from Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on 15 January. Mercury is shown only
when it is at greatest elongation (see p.64) – for the specific date, refer to the table, left.
Mercury Mars Saturn Neptune
Venus Jupiter Uranus
EXAMPLES Mars’s position on 15 January 2009. The arrow indicates
that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.64)
Saturn’s position on
15 January 2009
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 January Midnight 1am
1 February 11pm Midnight
FEBRUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES 15 February 10pm 11pm
1 March 9pm 10pm
15 March 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
JANUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 December Midnight 1am
1 January 11pm Midnight
JANUARY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 15 January 10pm 11pm
1 February 9pm 10pm
15 February 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
JANUARY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
monthly sky guide
special events FEBRUARY
PHASES OF THE MOON
FULL MOON NEW MOON Castor and Pollux, the brightest stars in the northern zodiacal constellation of
Gemini, lie close to the celestial meridian (the imaginary north–south line in the
2006 13 February 28 February sky) on February evenings, as does Procyon in Canis Minor, which adjoins Gemini
2007 2 February 17 February to the south. In the southern hemisphere, Carina, Puppis, and Vela – the three
2008 21 February 7 February constellations that once formed the large ancient Greek constellation Argo Navis,
2009 9 February 25 February ship of the Argonauts – are high in the sky.
2010 28 February 14 February
2011 18 February 3 February
2012 7 February 21 February
PLANETS NORTHERN LATITUDES
2006: 24 February Mercury is at
greatest evening elongation, magnitude
-0.4.
2007: 7 February Mercury is at greatest THE STARS stars three times wider than the
evening elongation, magnitude -0.5. full Moon; under ideal conditions,
Gemini is almost overhead as seen it can be glimpsed by the naked
2007: 10 February Saturn is at from mid-northern latitudes in eye as a hazy patch – it was known
opposition, magnitude 0.0 February, with the faintest of the to the ancient Greeks.
zodiacal constellations, Cancer,
2008: 1 February Venus and Jupiter are close by but slightly lower in the The Milky Way runs through
0.6° apart in the eastern dawn sky. sky. South of Gemini, the sparkling Monoceros, an often-overlooked
Winter Triangle formed by Sirius constellation framed by the Winter
2008: 24 February Saturn is at (in Canis Major), Betelgeuse (in Triangle, which contains several
opposition, magnitude 0.2. Orion), and Procyon (in Canis open star clusters. One of the most
Minor) remains prominent.Taurus, notable of these clusters, NGC
2008: 27 February Mercury and Venus the Bull, backs away from Orion 2244, is visible through binoculars.
are 1.1° apart in the eastern dawn sky. towards the western horizon, with It is located at the heart of the
Auriga and Perseus higher above elusive Rosette Nebula, which is
2009: 13 February Mercury is at it. Close to the northwest horizon seen well only in photographs.
greatest morning elongation, magnitude is the W-shaped Cassiopeia. Leo,
0.0. the Lion, is moving into the eastern NEPTUNE
sky, with the familiar figure of the
2009: 17–18 February Jupiter and Mars Plough above it in the northeast.
are 0.6° apart in the eastern dawn sky.
2009: 24 February Jupiter and Mercury THE WINTER TRIANGLE
are 0.6° apart in the eastern dawn sky. Brilliant Sirius (bottom) forms a prominent
triangle in the northern winter sky with
ECLIPSES Procyon (top, left) and Betelgeuse (top, right).
2008: 7 February An annular eclipse of DEEP-SKY OBJECTS MIDNIGHT
the Sun is visible from Antarctica. A partial 3AM
solar eclipse is visible from New Zealand M35, a large open star cluster at
and southeastern Australia. the feet of Gemini, is easily seen
through binoculars.The Beehive
2008: 21 February A total eclipse of the Cluster (see p.286) – also known
Moon is visible from western Europe, as M44 or Praesepe – lies nearby
Africa, and North and South America. in Cancer.Through binoculars, the
Beehive is visible as a scattering of
NOON
6AM
9AM
THE NIGHT SKY MORNING SKY
february
SOUTHERN LATITUDES
THE STARS DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
Sirius (see p.264) and Canopus, The Milky Way, which meanders FINDING THE SOUTH CELESTIAL POLE URANUS
the two brightest stars in the from southeast to northwest this The south celestial pole (left) is not marked by a
entire sky, remain high for month, contains numerous star bright star, but it can be located by intersecting two
southern observers throughout clusters, of which M46 and M47, imaginary lines. One is the extension of the long
February, while Achernar, the adjacent in Puppis, are prominent. axis of Crux. The other is at right angles to the line
1st-magnitude star at the end of Both clusters are at the edge of joining Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri.
the celestial river Eridanus, sinks naked-eye visibility and look
towards the southwestern horizon. superb through binoculars.Two
In the southeast, Crux, the other open clusters that can be
Southern Cross, enters the scene, seen excellently through
followed by the bright stars of binoculars are NGC 2451 and
Centaurus. Higher up is the False NGC 2477, also in Puppis; farther
Cross, which is formed by four south, in Vela, IC 2391 and IC
stars in Vela and Carina and is 2395 are also good examples.
sometimes mistaken for the true
Southern Cross. Outside the boundaries of the
Milky Way, the open cluster M41
Due north lie Castor (see is found south of Sirius, while in
p.272) and Pollux in Gemini. the north, the Beehive Cluster (see
Orion is also high in the sky, with p.286), or M44, is well positioned
Taurus lower in the northwest. As for observation in both February
seen from the most southerly and March. In Carina, another
latitudes, Perseus has already set open cluster, NGC 2516, is
and Auriga is following. prominent.The Large Magellanic
Meanwhile, looking northeast, the Cloud and the Tarantula Nebula
distinctive shape of Leo, the Lion, are on view, south of Canopus,
has come into view. in the constellation Dorado.
9PM
6PM
MIDNIGHT
3PM
NOON
EVENING SKY
POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS THE NIGHT SKY
This chart shows the positions of the planets in February from 2006 to 2012. The planets are
represented by coloured dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets
apart from Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on 15 February. Mercury is shown only
when it is at greatest elongation (see p.64) – for the specific date, refer to the table, left.
Mercury Mars Saturn Neptune
Venus Jupiter Uranus
EXAMPLES Mars’s position on 15 February 2009. The arrow indicates
that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.64)
Saturn’s position on
15 February 2009
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 January Midnight 1am
1 February 11pm Midnight
FEBRUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES 15 February 10pm 11pm
1 March 9pm 10pm
15 March 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
FEBRUARY | NORTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 January Midnight 1am
1 February 11pm Midnight
FEBRUARY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 15 February 10pm 11pm
1 March 9pm 10pm
15 March 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
FEBRUARY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
monthly sky guide
special events MARCH
PHASES OF THE MOON
FULL MOON NEW MOON Nights grow shorter in the northern hemisphere, but longer in the southern
hemisphere, as the Sun moves towards the equinox on March 20. On that date, the
2006 14 March 29 March Sun lies exactly on the celestial equator, and all over the world day and night are of
2007 3 March 19 March equal length. For northern observers, Orion and the other brilliant constellations of
2008 21 March 7 March winter are departing towards the western horizon, while for southern observers the
2009 11 March 26 March rich star fields of Carina and Centaurus are moving to centre stage.
2010 30 March 15 March
2011 19 March 4 March
2012 8 March 22 March
PLANETS NORTHERN LATITUDES
2006: 25 March Venus is at greatest THE STARS the bright star Arcturus, in Boötes,
morning elongation, magnitude -4.4. which is the harbinger of northern
The distinctive sickle-shaped spring. Closer again to the horizon
2007: 22 March Mercury is at greatest group of stars that makes up the is Spica in Virgo. In the west, the
morning elongation, magnitude 0.3. head of Leo, the Lion, takes pride stars of Gemini and Auriga remain
of place in the northern evening high, with Taurus and Orion lower
2008: 3 March Mercury is at greatest sky this month, with the fainter down. Sirius twinkles near the
morning elongation, magnitude 0.1. stars of Cancer to its right. Below southwest horizon.
it, in the south, lies a blank-
2009: 8 March Saturn is at opposition, looking area of sky occupied by DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
magnitude 0.5. the faint constellations Sextans,
Crater, and Hydra.The only The beautiful spiral galaxy M81
2010: 22 March Saturn is at opposition, notable star in this area is 2nd- (see p.304) in northern Ursa
magnitude 0.5. magnitude Alphard (in Hydra) – Major, lies near the north–south
which appropriately means “the meridian on March evenings and
2011: 23 March Mercury is at greatest solitary one”– lying on the is detectable through binoculars in
evening elongation, magnitude 0.0. north–south meridian. clear skies. Farther south, the
Beehive cluster (see p.286), or
2012: 3 March Mars is at opposition, The saucepan shape of the M44, in Cancer remains well
magnitude -1.2. Plough rides high in the northeast, positioned for observation.
its handle pointing down towards
2012: 5 March Mercury is at greatest
evening elongation, magnitude -0.3.
2012: 27 March Venus is at greatest
evening elongation, magnitude -4.3.
ECLIPSES THE SICKLE OF LEO
The stars that represent the head and neck
2006: 29 March A total eclipse of the of Leo, the Lion, form a distinctive shape like
Sun is visible from western and northern a sickle or a reversed question mark.
Africa, Turkey, and central Asia. A partial
solar eclipse is visible from Europe, Africa NEPTUNE
(excluding the extreme south and east), the
Middle East, and western Asia. MIDNIGHT
2007: 3–4 March A total eclipse of the
Moon is visible from Asia, Europe, Africa,
and eastern North and South America.
2007: 19 March A partial eclipse of the
Sun is visible from central, eastern, and
southeastern Asia.
3AM
6AM
THE NIGHT SKY Y
SK
MORNING
March
SOUTHERN LATITUDES
THE STARS DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
Leo, the Lion, and its brightest star An open star cluster popularly
Regulus (see p.249) are high in the known as the Southern Pleiades,
northern half of the sky for all IC 2602 lies close to the meridian
southern observers, with Castor on March evenings. Its brightest
(see p.272) and Pollux in Gemini member, 3rd-magnitude Theta (θ)
lower in the northwest. Sirius (see Carinae, is easily visible to the
p.264) still sparkles high in the naked eye, and binoculars reveal at
western sky but Orion sinks on its least two dozen more members.
side towards the western horizon.
Almost overhead for observers in Four degrees to the north of
mid-latitudes is Alphard, the the Southern Pleiades lies a large
brightest star in the constellation glowing region visible to the
Hydra, which sprawls across an naked eye, NGC 3372, also known
otherwise barren region of sky as the Carina Nebula (see p.245),
towards the southeast horizon. which contains the erratic variable
star Eta (η) Carinae (see p.258).
Spica, the brightest star in Farther north, between Antlia and
Virgo, is well-placed in the east, Vela, telescopes will pick up the
and Canopus, in Carina, is planetary nebula NGC 3132, also
prominent in the southwest sky. known as the Eight-Burst Nebula.
However, the main focus of On view in the southwest sky are
attention is in the southeast, where the Large Magellanic Cloud and
the Southern Cross, Crux, now the Tarantula Nebula (in Dorado).
rides high along with brilliant
Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri – URANUS
Rigil Kentaurus (see p.248) and
Hadar – which point towards it.
THE FALSE CROSS 9PM 6PM
Two stars in Vela (top left and centre 3PM
right) and two in Carina (centre left
and bottom right) form the
False Cross in the
southern sky.
MIDNIGHT
NOON
EVENING SKY POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS THE NIGHT SKY
This chart shows the positions of the planets in March from 2006 to 2012. The planets are
represented by coloured dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets
apart from Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on 15 March. Mercury is shown only
when it is at greatest elongation (see p.64) – for the specific date, refer to the table, left.
Mercury Mars Saturn Neptune
Venus Jupiter Uranus
EXAMPLES Mars’s position on 15 March 2009. The arrow indicates
that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.64)
Saturn’s position on
15 March 2009
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 February Midnight 1am
1 March 11pm Midnight
MARCH | NORTHERN LATITUDES 15 March 10pm 11pm
1 April 9pm 10pm
15 April 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
MARCH | NORTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 February Midnight 1am
1 March 11pm Midnight
MARCH | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 15 March 10pm 11pm
1 April 9pm 10pm
15 April 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
MARCH | SOUTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
432 monthly sky guide
special events april
phases of the moon
full moon new moon One of the most familiar patterns in the sky, the seven stars that make up the
2006 13 April
2007 2 April 27 April Plough lie overhead from mid-northern latitudes, with the crouching figure of Leo,
2008 20 April 17 April
2009 9 April 6 April the Lion, reigning further south. In the eastern sky, the daffodil-coloured Arcturus,
2010 28 April 25 April
2011 18 April 14 April in Boötes, announces the arrival of spring in the north. In southern latitudes, the
2012 6 April 3 April Southern Cross lies close to the north–south meridian, and Alpha (α) and Beta (β)
21 April Centauri – Rigil Kentaurus and Hadar – are high in the southeast.
planets Northern latitudes
2006: 8 April Mercury is at greatest THE STARS large open star cluster
morning elongation, magnitude 0.4. worthy of attention can
On April evenings, the Plough is be found in Coma
2009: 26 April Mercury is at greatest high in the sky.The stars in the Berenices and consists of a
evening elongation, magnitude 0.3. bowl point north to Polaris (see scattering of stars of 5th
pp.274–75), the north Pole Star, magnitude and fainter
2010: 8 April Mercury is at greatest while following the curve of its fanned out over an area of
evening elongation, magnitude 0.0. handle leads to Arcturus, in Boötes, sky several times wider
which is the brightest star north of than the full Moon.
2011: 4 April Saturn is at opposition, the celestial equator. Continuing Known as the Coma Star
magnitude 0.4. this curve leads to Spica, the Cluster, this is best viewed
brightest star in Virgo, close to the through wide-angle
2012: 15 April Saturn is at opposition, southeastern horizon. South of binoculars.
magnitude 0.2. Leo and Virgo, the sprawling figure To its south is the Virgo Cluster
of Hydra occupies a large but (see p.319); a telescope is needed
2012: 18 April Mercury is at greatest mostly blank area of sky. By April, to see its numerous but faint
morning elongation, magnitude 0.5. most of the stars of winter have member galaxies.
disappeared in the west, although
uranus Gemini remains on view and neptune The plough
Capella, in Auriga, twinkles in the The familiar shape of the Plough, or the Big
PISCES northwest. AQUARIUS Dipper, can be seen high in the sky on
northern spring evenings.
12 11 DEEP-SKY OBJECTS 12 11 10 09 08 07 06
METEOR SHOWER
10 09 M81 (see p.304), the beautiful CAPRICORNUS
spiral galaxy in northern Ursa One of the weaker annual meteor
08 07 Major, is well placed for showers, the Lyrids reaches its peak
observation this around 21–22 April, when a dozen
CETUS 06 9am month. A or so meteors per hour can be
seen radiating from a point near
AQUARIUS Vega (see p.249) in Lyra. Although
not numerous, Lyrids are bright
40° and fast. Rates are highest towards
dawn, when Vega is highest in the
30° sky, and they are much lower for a
day or so either side of the peak.
Midnight
20° 6am 3am
10° Altair
Arcturus
0°
-10° PISCES
11 11 09
08
12 11 10 AQUARIUS OPHIUCHUS VIRGO 11
09 06 Spica
06 12
07
06
-20° 09 08
LIBRA
CAPRICORNUS SAGITTARIUS
The night sky 07
Antares
Fomalhaut SCORPIUS
Shaula
morning sky
april 433
Southern latitudes
THE STARS the Jewel Box cluster (see p.288),
or NGC 4755, which looks like a
In the southern hemisphere, Crux hazy star to the naked eye.
lies almost on the north–south
meridian line, with Rigil On show in Carina is the
Kentaurus (see p.248) and Hadar – cluster IC 2602 and the Carina
Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri – Nebula (see p.245), or NGC 3372.
slightly to its lower left. Antares, in To the east, among the rich star
Scorpius, is rising in the southeast fields of Centaurus, is the globular
while Canopus, in Carina, sinks cluster NGC 5139 or Omega (ω)
low in the southwest. Hydra’s long Centauri, which looks like a hazy
body meanders overhead, its head 4th-magnitude star. In the north
adjoining Cancer in the northwest of the sky, members of the Virgo
and its tail ending between Libra Cluster are well placed for
and Centaurus in the southeast. telescopic observation this month.
Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, is
high in the east. Leo lies in the the coalsack
north with Arcturus, in Boötes, in This dark cloud of dust (centre left), next to
the northeast. Observers north of the Southern Cross, is silhouetted against
latitude 40°S can see the Plough the bright background of the Milky Way.
low on the northern horizon.
the carina Nebula
This huge nebula in the southern Milky DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
Way is visible to the naked eye. Eta Next to the Southern Cross, an
(η) Carinae (centre, left) is a peculiar apparent gap in the rich stream of
variable star, which is surrounded by the Milky Way is visible to the
naked eye.This is, in fact, a dark
a glowing shell of gas. nebula, known as the Coalsack,
which obscures the light of the
background stars. On its edge is
6pm 3pm
9pm noon
Capella
Midnight 40°
30°
Castor 20°
10°
Pollux GEMINI 12 PLEIADES ARIES 0°
10 06 07 09 -10°
08 06
Arcturus LEO 07 Aldebaran TAURUS 10 10
VIRGO 12 08 HYADES 12
12 09 Regulus CANCER Betelgeuse Bellatrix
RA Procyon
10
the night sky
11
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 Mira
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09Rigel
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
Spica
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 -20°
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
This chart shows the positions of the planets in April from 2006 to 2012. The planets are
represented by coloured dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets
apart from Mercury, the dot indicates the planet's position on 15 April. Mercury is shown only
when it is at greatest elongation (see p.64) – for the specific date, refer to the table, left.
sky Mercury Mars Saturn Neptune
09 Ju0p9iter 09 09 0U9ranus 09 09 09
evening Venus
exam ples
09 09 09 09 09 Sat0u9rn’s po0si9tion on09 09 09 09 Ma0r9s’s pos0it9ion on 0159 April 200909. The09arrow indicates
15 April 2009 that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.64)
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 March Midnight 1am
1 April 11pm Midnight
APRIL | NORTHERN LATITUDES 15 April 10pm 11pm
1 May 9pm 10pm
15 May 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
APRIL | NORTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 March Midnight 1am
1 April 11pm Midnight
APRIL | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 15 April 10pm 11pm
1 May 9pm 10pm
15 May 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
APRIL | SOUTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
monthly sky guide
special events MAY
PHASES OF THE MOON
FULL MOON NEW MOON As summer approaches, the days get longer in the northern hemisphere, restricting
early evening observation, while in the southern hemisphere the opposite is true as
2006 13 May 27 May the days become shorter and the nights longer. For northern observers, the Plough
2007 2 May 16 May is high up in the sky and Virgo is due south. Observers south of the equator are
2008 20 May 5 May treated to the sight of the brilliant stars of Centaurus (the Centaur) and Crux (the
2009 9 May 24 May Southern Cross) at their highest.
2010 27 May 14 May
2011 17 May 3 May
2012 6 May 20 May
PLANETS NORTHERN LATITUDES
2006: 4 May Jupiter is at opposition, THE STARS DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
magnitude -2.5.
The tip of the handle of the Two large and relatively bright
2008: 14 May Mercury is at greatest Plough lies on the north–south galaxies are well positioned for
evening elongation, magnitude 0.4. meridian this month.The second observation in May. South of the
star in the handle, Mizar, has a Plough’s handle is the Whirlpool
2010: 26 May Mercury is at greatest fainter companion, Alcor, which is Galaxy (see p.305), or M51, while
morning elongation, magnitude 0.5. visible to the naked eye (see to the north of the handle is
p.272).The curved handle of the M101, which is larger but less
2011: 1 May Mars and Jupiter are 0.4° Plough points towards orange prominent. On clear nights, each
apart in the eastern dawn sky. Arcturus in Boötes, also high up. appears as a faint patch of light
Almost due south is Spica, the through binoculars; a telescope is
2011: 7 May Mercury is at greatest brightest star in Virgo. needed to see their spiral structures.
morning elongation, magnitude 0.5. The fan-shaped Coma Star Cluster
Gemini, the last of the winter is well positioned, as is the Virgo
2011: 7–20 May Mercury and Venus are constellations, begins to set in the Cluster of galaxies (see p.319).
1.5° apart in the eastern dawn sky. northwest. As it departs, the stars
of summer rise in the east, led by
2011: 11 May Venus and Jupiter are 0.6° the brilliant blue-white star Vega
apart in the eastern dawn sky. (see p.249) in Lyra. For those
observers at lower northerly
2011: 21 May Mercury and Mars are 2.1° latitudes, Antares and the stars of
apart in the eastern dawn sky. Scorpius begin to appear over the
southeastern horizon.
2011: 23–24 May Venus and Mars are 1°
apart in the eastern dawn sky.
ECLIPSES METEOR SHOWER FINDING THE POLE STAR
Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Ursae Majoris, in the
2012: 20–21 May An annular eclipse of The Eta Aquarid meteor shower bowl of the Plough, point towards the north
the Sun is visible from the northern Pacific is visible this month, but because pole star, Polaris (in green box).
Ocean, southern Japan, and the western the radiant lies virtually on the
United States. A partial solar eclipse is celestial equator the shower is not NEPTUNE
visible from northeast Asia, the northern seen well in far northerly latitudes.
Pacific Ocean, and western North America.
9AM URANUS
THE NIGHT SKY
MORNING SKY
m ay
SOUTHERN LATITUDES
THE STARS 4th-magnitude star lying virtually best seen from equatorial and RICH STAR FIELDS
on the north–south meridian this southerly locations, where May Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri (left) point
The constellation Crux and the month.To the north of it lies nights are longer.The Eta Aquarids towards the constellation Crux (right). The
two bright stars in Centaurus that NGC 5128, a peculiar radio- are caused by dust from Halley’s Coalsack nebula (bottom, right), most of
act as a pointer to it, Alpha (α) emitting galaxy also known as Comet (see p.218). which lies within Crux, obscures a large
Centauri – or Rigil Kentaurus (see Centaurus A (see p.312), area of stars in the Milky Way.
p.248) – and Beta (β) Centauri –
Hadar, are high in the southern which is one of the easiest
sky in May. Crux is to the west of galaxies to find with
the north–south meridian, and binoculars. Another bright
Rigil Kentaurus and Hadar are on galaxy located near the
the eastern side. Although Rigil meridian is M83, a spiral
Kentaurus is usually described as galaxy that is positioned
the closest naked-eye star to the face-on to the Earth.
Sun, it actually consists of two In Crux, the dark
yellowish stars, which form a Coalsack Nebula and the
double star that is easily divided sparkling Jewel Box (see
through a small telescope.The p.288) remain prominent.
brightest member of the Southern
Cross, Acrux – Alpha (α) Crucis – METEOR SHOWER
is also a double star that is divisible The Eta Aquarid meteor
with a small telescope, but its shower reaches its peak
component stars are blue-white. around 5–6 May, when 30
Spica, in Virgo, lies high or so fast-moving meteors
overhead with orange Arcturus, in can be seen radiating each
Boötes, in the north. Leo sinks hour from near the star Eta
towards the northwestern horizon, (η) Aquarii, located almost
while in the southeast Scorpius exactly on the celestial
and Sagittarius are coming into equator. However, this part
view – a sign that the southern of the sky does not rise very
winter is approaching. high until around 3am,
DEEP-SKY OBJECTS and the meteor 3PM
shower is NOON
The largest and brightest globular 6PM
cluster in the sky, NGC 5139,
or Omega (ω) Centauri,
appears to the naked
eye as a hazy
9PM
MIDNIGHT
POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS THE NIGHT SKY
This chart shows the positions of the planets in May from 2006 to 2012. The planets are
represented by coloured dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets
apart from Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on 15 May. Mercury is shown only when
it is at greatest elongation (see p.64) – for the specific date, refer to the table, left.
SKY Mercury Mars Saturn Neptune
EVENING Venus Jupiter Uranus
EXAMPLES Mars’s position on 15 May 2009. The arrow indicates that
the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.64)
Saturn’s position on
15 May 2009
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 April Midnight 1am
1 May 11pm Midnight
MAY | NORTHERN LATITUDES 15 May 10pm 11pm
1 June 9pm 10pm
15 June 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
MAY | NORTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 April Midnight 1am
1 May 11pm Midnight
MAY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 15 May 10pm 11pm
1 June 9pm 10pm
15 June 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
MAY | SOUTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
444 monthly sky guide
special events June
phases of the moon
full moon new moon Northern nights are at their shortest, and southern ones at their longest, around the
2006 11 June solstice on 21 June, the date on which the Sun reaches its farthest point north of
2007 1, 30 June 25 June the celestial equator. In the northern sky, Arcturus and the other stars of Boötes
2008 18 June 15 June stand high, and the giant Summer Triangle of Vega (in Lyra), Deneb (in Cygnus),
2009 7 June 3 June and Altair (in Aquila) lies in the eastern half of the sky. Southern observers enjoy a
2010 26 June 22 June rich band of constellations in the Milky Way during their long winter nights.
2011 15 June 12 June
2012 4 June 1 June
19 June
planets Northern latitudes
2006: 17 June Mars and Saturn are 0.6° THE STARS low in the southwest. In
apart in the western evening sky. the eastern sky, the
2006: 20 June Mercury is at greatest The bowl of the Little Dipper, bright stars Vega (see
evening elongation, magnitude 0.5. in Ursa Minor, stands high above p.249), Deneb, and Altair
2007: 2 June Mercury is at greatest the northern horizon with the (see p.248) mark the
evening elongation, magnitude 0.5. sinuous body of Draco, the corners of the Summer
2007: 5 June Jupiter is at opposition, Dragon, winding around it.The Triangle, best seen in late
magnitude -2.6. horseshoe shape of Corona summer and autumn.
2007: 9 June Venus is at greatest Borealis, the Northern Crown, lies Ruddy Antares and the
evening elongation, magnitude -4.3. on the north–south meridian with stars of Scorpius twinkle
2009: 13 June Mercury is at greatest the head of Serpens, the Serpent, low on the southern
morning elongation, magnitude 0.6. below it, while Arcturus, in Boötes, horizon – June and July
2009: 21–22 June Venus and Mars are is high in the western half of the are the best months of the year for
2° apart in the eastern dawn sky. sky. In this area of sky, Arcturus is far-northern observers to see
2012: 30 June Venus and Jupiter are the base of a large Y-shaped pattern Scorpius in the evening sky.
4.8° apart in the eastern dawn sky. of bright stars completed by
Epsilon (ε) and Gamma (γ) Boötis DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
eclipses and transits plus Alpha (α) Corona Borealis noctilucent clouds
The brightest globular cluster in These high-altitude clouds can be seen on
2010: 26 June A partial eclipse of the (also known as Alphecca). Leo northern skies, M13, is high up on summer nights, illuminated by the Sun’s rays
Moon is visible from the Pacific Ocean, is setting in the west, summer evenings. It can be found that come over the horizon around midnight.
Australasia, and eastern Asia. and Spica, in along one side of the Keystone of
2011: 1 June A partial eclipse of the Sun Hercules, a quadrangle of stars that 6th-magnitude star through
is visible from Greenland, northern North 9AM Virgo, is binoculars, and it can be glimpsed
America, and parts of northern and form the torso of the by the naked eye under good
northeastern Asia. constellation Hercules. conditions. It can be compared
2011: 15 June A total eclipse of the M13 appears as a with M5, another 6th-magnitude
Moon is visible from Australia, southern globular cluster visible through
Asia, the Indian Ocean, Africa, and Europe. 6am fuzzy binoculars. M5 lies in the head of
2012: 4 June A partial eclipse of the Serpens and is usually regarded as
Moon is visible from western North and the second-best northern globular
South America, the Pacific Ocean, cluster. Near the handle of the
Australasia, and eastern Asia. Plough, the spiral galaxies M51
2012: 5–6 June A transit of Venus across and M101 remain well positioned
the Sun is visible from North America, the
Pacific Ocean, Australasia, and Asia. for observation.
20° 12 11 ARIES 3am
12 11 Midnight
Aldebaran 09 06 09
HYADES 09 11 PISCES
10°
07 Altair
Bellatrix TAURUS
0°
10 AQUARIUS
Mira 09
Rigel
-10°
the night sky PISCES AQUARIUS 08 07
Antare
12 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 Fomalhaut CAPRICORNUS SAGITTARIUS
Shaula
11 10 CAPRICORNUS
neptune
09 08
07 06
CETUS
AQUARIUS morning
uranus sky
445
Southern latitudes
THE STARS the scorpion’s lair
Orange-red Antares, the star at
A rich band of constellations can the heart of Scorpius, and the
be seen across the sky, from curved line of stars marking the
southwest to northeast, along the Scorpion’s tail are distinctive
path of the Milky Way. Crux (the sights in June skies. Hovering
Southern Cross) and Centaurus over the “sting” in the tail are
(the Centaur), are in the southwest, two prominent star clusters, M6
to the right of the celestial and M7 (bottom, left).
meridian.The lesser-known
constellations Lupus, Norma, and magnificent open star
Triangulum Australe are on the clusters, M6 and M7, are
meridian. Ruddy Antares (see positioned near the end of
p.252) is overhead, with the the Scorpion’s tail. Both
curving tail of Scorpius, the clusters are visible to the
Scorpion, extending to the naked eye, and they appear
southeast. Next to its tail are the magnificent through
dense star fields of Sagittarius in binoculars. M7 is the
the Milky Way. Along the Milky larger and brighter of the
Way to the east is Altair (see p.248) two; it appears twice the
in the constellation Aquila, while width of the full Moon.
Vega (see p.249) is low in the Another prominent open
northeast. Arcturus and Spica are cluster in Scorpius is NGC
high in the northwest. 6231, positioned next to
Zeta (ζ) Scorpii.
DEEP-SKY OBJECTS
The globular cluster
Heading away from Scorpius and Omega (ω) Centauri, or
towards the Milky Way and the NGC 5139, and the
centre of the Galaxy, two peculiar galaxy NGC 5128,
or Centaurus A, remain
pluto well placed for observation noon
this month, as do the 3pm
SCUTUM 06 Coalsack Nebula and the
07 Jewel Box Cluster (see p.288),
11 10 09 08 in Crux, and the spiral
12 galaxy M83 (in the 50°
constellation
Hydra). 6pm
40°
SAGITTARIUS
Castor
Pollux 30°
20°
9pm GEMINI 07 08 10°
Arcturus Betelgeuse
07 06 10 06
Midnight LEO 07
08
Regulus 06
10 CANCER
09 08
10 12 Procyon
the night sky
OPHIUCHUS 11 0°
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
VIRGO 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
12 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
-10°
09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
06 Spica 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
07 LIBRA 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
Antares 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
POSITIONS OF THE PLANETS
SCORPIUS This chart shows the positions of the planets in June from 2006 to 2012. The planets are
represented by coloured dots, while the number inside each dot denotes the year. For all planets
Shaula apart from Mercury, the dot indicates the planet’s position on 15 June. Mercury is shown only
when it is at greatest elongation (see p.64) – for the specific date, refer to the table, left.
Mercury Mars Saturn Neptune
09 09 Ven0u9s 09 09 Ju09piter 09 Uranus Pluto
09
09 09 exam ples
09 09 09 09Ma0r9s’s09posi0ti9on09on 09 09 09 09 09 09 Pluto’s position on 15 June 2009. The arrow indicates
15 June 2009 that the planet is in retrograde motion (see p.64)
sky
evening 09 09 09 09 09 09 09 09
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 May Midnight 1am
1 June 11pm Midnight
JUNE | NORTHERN LATITUDES 15 June 10pm 11pm
1 July 9pm 10pm
15 July 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
Star Motion
North
LOOKING SOUTH
JUNE | NORTHERN LATITUDES
South
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 Horizons 60°N 40°N 20°N Zeniths
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary 60°N 40°N 20°N Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
OBSERVATION TIMES
Date Standard Daylight-
time saving time
LOOKING NORTH 15 May Midnight 1am
1 June 11pm Midnight
JUNE | SOUTHERN LATITUDES 15 June 10pm 11pm
1 July 9pm 10pm
15 July 8pm 9pm
STAR MAGNITUDES DEEP-SKY OBJECTS POINTS OF REFERENCE
-1 0 1 2 3 4 5
Variable Galaxy Globular Open Diffuse Planetary Horizons 0° 20°S 40°S Zeniths 0° 20°S 40°S Ecliptic
star cluster cluster nebula nebula
THE NIGHT SKY
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