Observing

Mars meets Neptune in the evening sky

15 January 2015 Ade Ashford

Outermost planet Neptune is currently visible in binoculars if you know just where to look. Fortunately, Mars forms a convenient guide on the night of 19th January as the two planets appear close together in the early evening sky.

See asteroid 1630 Milet occult a star tonight

11 January 2015 Ade Ashford

Observers in China, Western Europe and the southern British Isles get a chance to see tiny asteroid 1630 Milet pass in front of a star visible in binoculars and small telescopes. We show you where and when to see it.

See Comet Lovejoy at its best

6 January 2015 Ade Ashford

With Full Moon past, opportunities to see Comet Lovejoy are improving again. So don’t miss the first bright comet of 2015 with our nightly observing guide.

Elusive Mercury and dazzling Venus together as evening stars

2 January 2015 Mark Armstrong

Inner planets Mercury and Venus are currently approaching conjunction, low to the southwest horizon shortly after sunset. If you have an extra clear sky, then Mars completes the scene.

Jupiter’s moon events enthral observers

2 January 2015 Ade Ashford

The continued edgewise orbital aspect of Jupiter’s large moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto means that they still regularly eclipse and occult each other. Multiple shadow transits also continue throughout January.

Don’t miss the Quadrantid meteor shower

2 January 2015 Mark Armstrong

The first shooting stars of 2015 belong to the the Quadrantids, a shower that peaks on the night of 3rd/4th January. Despite the interference of a gibbous Moon, expect some bright, sometimes blue and yellow coloured meteors that may leave glowing trails.

Mars meets Neptune in the evening sky

See asteroid 1630 Milet occult a star tonight

See Comet Lovejoy at its best

Elusive Mercury and dazzling Venus together as evening stars

Jupiter’s moon events enthral observers

Don’t miss the Quadrantid meteor shower

Get ready for Comet Lovejoy!

Utilities for telescopes and DSLR cameras

Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak

Double the fun as magnitude-3.6 star λ Geminorum is hidden by the Moon