Astronomy

It remains cool enough to offer crisp clear views even though the length of our observation hours and period of true darkness begin to shorten each night. The astronomical calendar is marked this month with the passing of the Equinox. More specifically the Vernal Equinox. This occurs on the 20th. It marks a time in the year when day and night will be almost exactly the same length. The positions of the Sun at this point in the calendar will help you to mark your east and west compass points for future observing. The Sun will rise due east and set due west so you can make a mental note of something on each horizon; a tree, telegraph pole, church spire for example. Knowing these directions as a starting point really helps to locate things in the night sky. After this date the nights will begin to shorten slightly. The Moon will continue to point us towards some beautiful objects as it passes through its many phases over the course of the month.

Shining a Light on Astronomy Jargon - ’MAGNITUDE’

This word, often abbreviated to 'Mag' in most important to astronomers. Polaris is astronomy circles is used to describe the 30 times the width of our Sun. It is the brightness of a Star, Planet or other object Alpha star in the constellation of Ursa in the night sky. A scale is used so that it is Minor - of which more in the next section possible to make a comparison between and it is also referred to as the North Star. two or more objects and also to make As our Earth travels around the Sun, it is measurements should an object's always tilted over 23.5 degrees and if 'magnitude' change over a we drew a line through period of time. Every the North and South object will have a 'True Knowing these directions Poles this would Magnitude' and as a starting point really extend out towards the an 'Apparent Magnitude'. helps to locate things in same point in the sky The apparent magnitude is what is used on a scale the night sky throughout the year. This is a point to describe how we extremely close to the experience its brightness from here on star Polaris. It is also therefore known as Earth. Brighter objects have a negative the Pole Star. As its position points number , for example Sirius is magnitude towards the North in this way it is a star -1.4 while our Sun has a magnitude of - which has helped with navigation. 26.7 and the Moon is recorded as having a Standing at the North Pole Polaris will be magnitude of -12.6. It is said that the directly overhead. Standing at your front faintest stars our eyes can see, in clear door, the angle of Polaris above you will conditions are around 'mag' 6.0. tell you what your latitude is. This can be Object of the Month - POLARIS useful to know when setting up some telescopes too. Finding Polaris in the Polaris, although not one of the northern hemisphere can also help us to brightest stars in the northern hemisphere navigate towards everything else in our (its magnitude is only 2.0), is one of the night sky. Once you know where Polaris is,

By Claire Wardlaw

Claire Wardlaw, originally from Edinburgh, lives in the Charente with her husband. Since their move over 4 years ago, Claire has become passionate about astronomy.

The Night Sky

WELCOME SPRING WELCOME! ALONG WITH THE MANY OTHER DAYTIME SPRING DELIGHTS TO BE ENJOYED OVER THESE NEXT FEW WEEKS, WE WILL BE ABLE - WEATHER ALLOWING - TO GO OUTSIDE AND LOOK UP AT THE NIGHT SKY

it is possible to search out other constellations and Planets as you have established where North is. The simplest way to locate Polaris is by using Ursa Major, or the Great Bear. Part of this bear looks a bit like a pan and handle. If you can draw out an imaginary line through the two stars in the bowl part of the pan, Merak and Dubhe, then continue this line on you will arrive at Polaris in Ursa Minor.

'Constellation of the Month' - Ursa Minor

Continuing on from our little focus on the star Polaris we find ourselves in the constellation of Ursa Minor, otherwise known as the Little Bear. This smaller version of the pan form seen in Ursa Major is surrounded by a 'dragon'! A very good indication as to how clear your skies are when you go out to observe is to see how many stars are visible in Ursa Minor. Its form is made up of seven stars. If you can locate all seven having let your eyes become adjusted to the night sky, then you have a lovely clear sky to do a little astronomy. Ursa Minor is ranked 56th, so not one of the biggest of the constellations. Draco, or The Dragon, curls its tail around the Little Bear, keeping it separate from the Great Bear constellation. The very pretty visual 'double star' Pherak should be visible to the naked eye on a clear night. Pherak and its companion star can be seen spinning round Polaris throughout the night. If you want to try out a little astrophotography, even using your mobile phone on a small tripod, a great and simple starting point is to set the camera pointing towards Ursa Minor and to take a series of images over the course of an hour or so. It is possible to stack all of these pictures and to recreate the turning of the Earth, turning seemingly around Polaris.

when the earthworms rise in the spring. The New Moon, the period with the darkest skies, will be on the 13th. In the early morning of the 5th and 6th the stars Antares and Sabik will be joined by an almost last quarter waning Moon. You can see the grouping low in the southsoutheast. A truly A great and simple starting spectacular view can be point is to set the camera enjoyed on the evening of pointing towards Ursa Minor and to take a series of images the 22nd at around 11pm when The Pleiades and Aldebaran will be passed over the course of an hour or so by the planet Mars and the Moon. If you are observing for a few nights prior to and after this date you will be able to mark this journey as their positions change. It will be a beautiful imaging opportunity for me I hope. Before the sky becomes too light on the morning of 5th it may be possible to spot a lovely grouping The Moon and Planets in March of the three Planets Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn rising ahead of the Sun in the eastThe Moon will be full on the 28th. It will southeast. Jupiter and Mercury will be be 100% full in the evening at 7.50pm! The particularly close together with Saturn a full Moon this month has also been known little higher and to the right. Make sure as The Full Worm Moon as this is the time not to look towards the sun!