If you're looking for a good beginner's guide to backyard
astronomy, try one of these two excellent selections:
astronomy, try one of these two excellent selections:
You can begin to enjoy
backyard astronomy
with no other tools than
your own two eyes.
However, a good pair of
binoculars will help take
you to the next level.
These Bushnell
Binoculars are ideal for
observing the night sky.
backyard astronomy
with no other tools than
your own two eyes.
However, a good pair of
binoculars will help take
you to the next level.
These Bushnell
Binoculars are ideal for
observing the night sky.
Astronomy - The Sky Tonight
Pegasus Flies Again - Exploring the Autumn Sky
If you have read our Introduction to Backyard Astronomy in 4 Easy Steps, then it is time to
begin exploring some of the treasures of the night sky. This guide focuses on the autumn
sky, September - November, a time of year when the warm humid nights of summer begin
to give way to those cooler and clearer skies that are perfect for stargazing while offering
some interesting attractions.
The bellwether constellations of the autumn skies in the Northern Hemisphere are
Andromeda and Pegasus. Where they meet, they form an asterism (star pattern) known as
the "Great Square". The Great Square is visible in the center of our star chart.
If you have read our Introduction to Backyard Astronomy in 4 Easy Steps, then it is time to
begin exploring some of the treasures of the night sky. This guide focuses on the autumn
sky, September - November, a time of year when the warm humid nights of summer begin
to give way to those cooler and clearer skies that are perfect for stargazing while offering
some interesting attractions.
The bellwether constellations of the autumn skies in the Northern Hemisphere are
Andromeda and Pegasus. Where they meet, they form an asterism (star pattern) known as
the "Great Square". The Great Square is visible in the center of our star chart.
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None of the stars comprising Pegasus, Andromeda and the Great Square are
unusually bright, but the Square is very recognizable and when you see it for the first
time each year, you'll know that summer is swiftly coming to an end. What makes this
area of the sky notable, however, is the presence of a fuzzy patch of light just to the
upper left of the top-left corner of the Square. This is the Andromeda Galaxy, shown
here as "M31". (The 31st entry in the Messier catalog, established by Charles Messier
in the late 1700's.) Andromeda is a neighboring galaxy, much like our own Milky Way,
at a distance of 2.2 million light-years. It is a vast swirl of some 100 billion stars, held
together by gravity. A small telescope will show Andromeda as an oval looking object,
brighter at the center.
Interested in learning more? Check out this inexpensive complete ASTRONOMY
STARTER KIT from the Discovery Channel Store, packed with all the essential
information and tools you need to get started!
Copyright 2006-07 NewExplorations.Net
All rights reserved.
unusually bright, but the Square is very recognizable and when you see it for the first
time each year, you'll know that summer is swiftly coming to an end. What makes this
area of the sky notable, however, is the presence of a fuzzy patch of light just to the
upper left of the top-left corner of the Square. This is the Andromeda Galaxy, shown
here as "M31". (The 31st entry in the Messier catalog, established by Charles Messier
in the late 1700's.) Andromeda is a neighboring galaxy, much like our own Milky Way,
at a distance of 2.2 million light-years. It is a vast swirl of some 100 billion stars, held
together by gravity. A small telescope will show Andromeda as an oval looking object,
brighter at the center.
Interested in learning more? Check out this inexpensive complete ASTRONOMY
STARTER KIT from the Discovery Channel Store, packed with all the essential
information and tools you need to get started!
Copyright 2006-07 NewExplorations.Net
All rights reserved.
Once the sky is completely
dark, face east and look
half-way up from the horizon.
The Great Square will be easy
to find. To the right
(southeast) is Pegasus, the
winged horse. To the left
(northeast) is the constellation
Andromeda. From Greek
mythology, Andromeda was
the daughter of Cepheus and
Cassiopeia, the king and
queen of Ethiopia. She was
chained to a rock by the sea
as a sacrifice in an attempt to
save the country from an
attack by an angry Neptune,
god of the sea.
dark, face east and look
half-way up from the horizon.
The Great Square will be easy
to find. To the right
(southeast) is Pegasus, the
winged horse. To the left
(northeast) is the constellation
Andromeda. From Greek
mythology, Andromeda was
the daughter of Cepheus and
Cassiopeia, the king and
queen of Ethiopia. She was
chained to a rock by the sea
as a sacrifice in an attempt to
save the country from an
attack by an angry Neptune,
god of the sea.
Star Chart
shows the location of the stars,
constellations and planets
relative to the horizon for the
exact hour and date you
determine.
shows the location of the stars,
constellations and planets
relative to the horizon for the
exact hour and date you
determine.