The Scruffy Astronomer

With the winter solstice coming up, it's time to send around my regular viewing list. Those of you who have small telescopes or (like me) are stuck in the city, start by searching for clusters, either open clusters (which are pretty groups of stars) or globular clusters (which are tight spectacular swarms). Once you've done that, start looking for double stars, which are pretty in a different way. One day I'll get around to photographing some... For planets, Saturn and Jupiter are currently your best bet. Here's a photo I took of Saturn. I used budget equipment (about $1000), which I was testing for work. Open cluster: Mel 111 - Coma Berenices Star Cluster (06:55 PM) Galaxy: M 87 - Virgo A (01:55 AM) Galaxy: M 104 - Sombrero Galaxy (02:09 AM) Dark nebula: C 99 - Coalsack Nebula (02:24 AM) Open cluster: NGC 4755 - Jewel Box Cluster (02:24 AM) Galaxy: NGC 5128 - Centaurus A (02:52 AM) Globular cluster: NGC 5139 - Omega Centauri (02:52 AM) Galaxy:...

Today's summer solstice post is overshadowed a little by the Grand Conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn. I know you'll all be out watching that - weather permitting, of course, I wrote this post a week or so beforehand. After that, Saturn and Jupiter will go hiding behind the sun, but there are still plenty of things to watch in the sky, including Mars, which is still high, although it's beginning to get small as it moves away from the Earth. I've added a couple of clusters to my list this time. I got both of them from my light-polluted back yard a week or two back. This is my photo of M41, which I took from my back yard using a saxon 1021 doublet refractor of the type that many of you have bought for Christmas. It's very similar to our most popular refractor, the saxon 909AZ3, just a tiny bit bigger. I had it on a tracking mount though, my own NEQ6. This photo gives you an idea what you're likely to see with a small telescope. The photo also shows a fair a...

Something is coming up that you'll probably want to know about. Jupiter and Saturn are going to meet just before Christmas. Will it be the end of the world? A planetary conjunction is when two planets appear very close to each other in the sky (from the Earth's point of view). They're not particularly uncommon, mainly because planets don't stray far from the Ecliptic, which is a little like the Sun's equator. However, this one's going to be pretty special. On 21 December, just after sunset, Jupiter and Saturn will appear in the sky only one tenth of a degree apart. If you've got - meh - fairly dodgy eyesight like I do, you may not be able to tell they're separate. They'll be very close to the horizon in the South West. I've added a few screenshots from the free planetary software program, Stellarium, to show you what it's going to be like.  This wide field, showing the various constellations as well as the horizon will give you an idea...

It's planet season! Jupiter is blazing away in the evening, pretty much unmissable high in the East just after dinner, and Saturn isn't far behind it. If you're up much later you'll see Mars approaching opposition. I had a good look the other night using a saxon 909AZ3 and Mars is about the same apparent size as Saturn without its rings. My mate Paul just got this shot of Neptune, which is difficult, but a beautiful blue. There are plenty of bright clusters like 47 Tuc, and dimmer objects like the Helix Nebula. or the Sculptor Galaxy. Far into the North, the Ring Nebula will challenge you. Here’s the  list of springtime objects. It spans 12 to 20 hours in RA, and is biased to the southern objects. Because we're locked down in Melbourne, it won't be easy for you to see the dimmer objects. The list is ordered by the time targets pass the meridian – that is, their highest point of the night. The Omega Nebula is past the zenith before 7pm, so go for that one first. ...

The Winter Solstice is on Monday, the 21st. In many countries, the Solstice is the official start to Winter. After this, while the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight, the cooling by radiation into space is still greater, meaning the coldest weather is just starting. This date coincides with the new Moon - so it's a great weekend for astronomy - weather permitting. I've prepared a list of things for you to find. If you’ve got a small scope, look for the Moon, larger planets and star clusters. If you've got a Dobsonian, you can see dimmer objects. My target this season is the Lagoon Nebula. I've never got that before. This one is Josh Carnovale's. I've sorted the list by the time each object passes the meridian, so start at the top of the list. Clear skies! ⦁    Mel 111 - Coma Berenices Star Cluster (06:55 PM) ⦁    M87 - Virgo A Galaxy (06:55 PM) ⦁    M104 - Sombrero Galaxy (07:09 PM) ⦁    NGC4755 - Jewel Box Cluster (07:24 P...

The Autumn Equinox is tomorrow, the 21st of March. I've prepared a list of things for you to find. Remember, the the new Moon is on Tuesday (the 24th). If you’ve got a small scope, such as a refractor, star clusters work best for you. If you've got a larger aperture, you can see dimmer objects, such as my Running Chicken. I've ordered it by the time each object passes the meridian, so start at the top of the list. As to planets, Venus is low in the west in the evening, still bright enough to be seen in the sun’s glow, and a pleasing crescent. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are clustered before sunrise. Clear skies! Galaxy: Large Magellanic Cloud (06:43 PM) Globular cluster: M 79 - (06:43 PM) Bright nebula: M 1 - Crab Nebula (06:57 PM) Bright nebula: M 43 - De Mairan's (06:57 PM) Diffuse nebula: M 42 - Orion Nebula (06:57 PM) Bright nebula: NGC 1977 - Running Man (06:57 PM) Bright nebula: NGC 2070 - Tarantula Nebula (06:57 PM) Dark nebula: B 33 - Horsehead Nebula (07:12 PM) D...

20 December 2019 In my post on the Spring equinox I mentioned it was a pretty sparse time for astronomers. Well, that's over, and the Summer glut of things to catch is here! Start with 47 Tuc, the Pleiades, try the Sculptor Galaxy, then a bit later move to M42, the Great Nebula in Orion, and just go from there. The one I'm waiting for this year is the Rosette Nebula. The Rosette itself might be too dark to see with anything but a large telescope, but it also has a pleasant star cluster in the middle. It's also huge, 1.3 degrees, so you'll need the longest eyepiece you've got. This is suited to a Dobsonian telescope which has a low focal length and wide aperture. Here's the list - as usual I'm giving you the name as well as its rough transit time - the time on the 21st when it's highest in the sky. Some of them don't set. My poor photo is the Horsehead and Flame nebulas in narrowband. Globular cluster: NGC 104 - 47 Tucanae (07:55 PM) G...

The Spring Equinox might be great for bird watchers, but it’s pretty slim pickings for astronomers. The list of things to look for isn’t as long as at other times of the year. Not that there’s nothing to see, of course! Here’s my list of springtime objects. Remember, new Moon is the best time for seeing the dimmer targets such as the nebulas. Remember also that the size of the target will determine how well you’ll see it in any particular scope. Sometimes magnification isn’t your friend! The list is ordered by the time targets pass the meridian – that is, their highest point of the night. So the Omega Nebula is starting to set after 6:45pm, so look for that one first. Also, depending where you live, some of these targets are “circumpolar”, meaning they don’t set at all. To this list you can add a number of summer objects, as Orion is rising in the early morning even now.  I’ve already seen a few photos of the Orion and Horsehead nebulas published by keen astronomers. This...

  The Winter Solstice is here, and the nights are long and cold. For “normal” people, this is a bad thing, but for astronomers it means hours of viewing with cold crisp air making for good seeing conditions. If the clouds stay away, of course. I've prepared a list of things to look at in winter. Of course, new Moon is the best time for seeing the dimmer ones such as the nebulas. Remember also that the size of the target will determine how well you’ll see it in any particular scope. Sometimes magnification isn’t your friend! I've ordered it by the time each object reaches its highest point, so it'd be best to start at the top of the list, as these will be starting to set (some don't set at all). The picture is my unguided attempt at Rho Ophiuchus, the neighbour of the Dark Wolf nebula. This is highest at 10:10pm on the 21st of June - you’ll need a good dark site though. Dark nebula: C 99 - Coalsack Nebula (07:15 PM) Open cluster: NGC 4755 - Jewel Box Cluster (0...

22 March 2019 Welcome to the Autumn Equinox! For the stargazers among us, I've prepared a list of things to look at at this time of year - better when the Moon goes away, of course. Some are suited to larger scopes, but clusters work well in small ones. I've ordered it by the time each object reaches its highest point, so it'd be best to start at the top of the list, as these will be starting to set (some don't set at all, remember). For example, the picture is my dodgy effort at M83, which rises at 20:18 and sets at 09:45 tomorrow, reaching the meridian at about 3am. Good hunting! Galaxy: Large Magellanic Cloud (06:49 PM) Globular cluster: M 79 - (06:50 PM) Bright nebula: M 1 - Crab Nebula (07:00 PM) Bright nebula: M 43 - De Mairan's Nebula (07:01 PM) Diffuse Nebula: M 42 - Orion Nebula (07:01 PM) Bright nebula: NGC 1977 - Running Man Nebula (07:01 PM) Bright nebula: NGC 2070 - Tarantula Nebula (07:04 PM) Dark nebula: B 33 - Horsehead Nebula (07:06 PM) Diffuse nebu...