Observing – Page 48 – Astronomy Now

Planets Mars and Uranus meet in the evening sky

11 March 2015 Ade Ashford

Exactly a week after its close encounter with dazzling Venus, outer planet Uranus lies close to Mars on the evening of Wednesday, March 11th — but you’ll need to time your observation carefully in the dusk twilight twilight to ensure success.

See the smallest Full Moon of 2015 tonight

5 March 2015 Ade Ashford

If you feel that tonight’s rising Full Moon is that bit smaller than usual then you’d be right, for this is a so-called Micromoon — one that occurs close to the point in the Moon’s orbit where it is furthest from the Earth.

Planets Venus and Uranus in close conjunction

4 March 2015 Ade Ashford

On Wednesday, March 4th, planets Venus and Mars will be easy naked-eye objects in the western sky at dusk, but in a telescope you’ll have the added bonus of spotting gas giant Uranus very close to Venus.

The Moon meets Jupiter in the evening sky

2 March 2015 Ade Ashford

The waxing gibbous Moon passes close by the Solar System’s largest planet, Jupiter, on the nights of March 2nd and 3rd. Jupiter was at opposition last month, but it’s still big, bright and offers much to see in a telescope.

See Comet Lovejoy in Cassiopeia throughout March

1 March 2015 Ade Ashford

Now that the Moon has returned to evening skies, observers have to wait a little longer to view Comet Lovejoy in a dark sky. Fortunately, it’s a circumpolar object for observers in the British Isles, near the familiar W-shaped constellation asterism of Cassiopeia during March.

Jupiter set to enthral observers on the night of February 26th

26 February 2015 Ade Ashford

Currently the third brightest celestial object in the night sky of the British Isles after the Moon and Venus, Jupiter presents a cornucopia of phenomena for observers with medium to large telescopes tonight.

First Quarter Moon invades the Hyades

22 February 2015 Ade Ashford

On the evening of February 25th, the Hyades open cluster that forms the head of Taurus plays host to the First Quarter Moon, providing a very attractive binocular target.

Venus and Mars get close in the evening sky

13 February 2015 Ade Ashford

Observers with a clear western horizon from the middle to the third week of February can enjoy the closing gap between planets Mars and Venus in the early evening sky.

Jupiter keeps observers’ busy during March

2 February 2015 Ade Ashford

The Solar System’s largest planet reached opposition on February 6th, but it’s still big and bright in the March sky. Here’s our quick guide to Jupiter at its best for 2015.

1st Feb: see the Moon occult λ Geminorum

31 January 2015 Ade Ashford

The current monthly cycle featuring occultations of naked-eye star Lambda Geminorum continues with an early evening event for the British Isles on Sunday, 1st February.