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2024 Stargazing planner
Here’s your 2024 stargazing planner. The darkest areas on the calendar indicate the best times for viewing the deep sky, nebulae, clusters and galaxies. New moon ( the darkest night of the month) is shown as BLACK, with a period of around 1 week on either side suitable for stargazing and a sliver of moon […]
December 2022 Starcast
Greetings Stargazers. There hasn’t been a starcast for some time now, but with three bright planets gracing our skies, its time to update you. Its midsummer, so we’re looking upwards well after sunset, say about 21h30. This time I’m going to orientate you using the brightest object in the sky (except the moon), which is […]
December 2022 Starcast
Greetings Stargazers. There hasn’t been a starcast for some time now, but with three bright planets gracing our skies, its time to update you. Its midsummer, so we’re looking upwards well after sunset, say about 21h30. This time im going to orientate you using the brightest object in the sky (except the moon), which is […]
The head of Taurus
6 March 2021 For the last few weeks we’ve been looking at the north west, first with the Pleiades, then Orion. Let’s fill the gap between the two and look at the Hyades star cluster in Taurus. This “V” shaped cluster forms the head of Taurus the bull. Look up to find Orion. ( look […]
The Beehive
So, last time we had a look at the twins in Gemini – the stars Castor and Pollux. Tonight we’re looking at a nice feature in the constellation of Cancer, just to the right and above the twins. Looking due north at around 9.oo pm you should be able to clearly make out the […]
Where is Comet Leonard
Dec 27 2021. So, where is Comet Leonard? In the event that we actually get a clear evening, these directions will work for about the next three days. Look west at about 20h45. You should see a bright Venus very low on the horizon. The next brightest object is Jupiter, at around 45 degrees above […]
Best times to book a stargazing tour: 2022
yearmatrix2022 This table allows you to plan for the darkest skies. The best time for stargazing is around new moon. A few days either side of new moon provides an opportunity to view most deep sky objects and also get a little sliver of moon. First and last quarter moon provides a good opportunity to […]
Starcast August 2021
Hi there stargazers Its starcast time. The last month has given us some good dark nights. Unfortunately we’re now heading back towards the Spring equinox, with the nights getting shorter. Darkskyes sessions starting at 18.30 will soon be a thing of the past. But this is a great month for planetary viewing and on 22 […]
Starcast 9: July 2021
Greetings curfew-bound stargazers Its the time of the month when a starcast is due. Given that you’re all curled up at home by 21h00, what better way to use your time on a cool winters night, than to prepare some gluwein, settle into your garden recliner with a warm foot-blanket and a pair of binoculars, […]