The start of the calendar year is a great time to brave the cold and check out “what’s up there” in the night sky. It has been especially good recently with the clear skies we’ve been getting in Caithness. Below is a selection of interesting items/events to look out for in the Caithness skies now (Feb 06) or in the near future. To compliment the brief info provided some relevant web links have been included that will provide, if nothing else, something to view when the skies inevitably cloud over.

Epsilon Eridani
To the right of the star chart above you'll see the star Epsilon Eridani labelled. The interesting thing about this star is not just that it is one of our nearest neighbours (it's just over 10 light years away) but that it is thought to have planets forming around it.

Sirius
This is the brightest star in the sky and can be found by following an imaginary line downwards from the 3 stars of Orions belt. Sirius has a white dwarf companion star, but this is not visible without a very powerful telescope.

Taurus
This constellation can be found above and to the right of Orion. Following the line of Orions belt upwards will lead you to the bright star Aldebaran which nestles amongst an open cluster of stars known as the Hyades. Continuing upwards from this can be found a compact cluster of stars visible that to the naked eye known as the Pleiades (M45). The stars of the Pleiades are very young by stellar standards and make a fine sight in binoculars - to me they resemble the shape of a saucepan. During Feb '06 the planet Mars is to be found just below the Pleiades.

Gemini
The two bright stars in Gemini are Castor and Pollux. Although Pollux is the brighter of the two it is Castor that is by far the more interesting. Through a small telescope it can be revealed to consist of two separate stars, but this is not the full story. Castor actually consists of a complex system of 6 stars!

Beehive Cluster (M44)
To the left of Castor and Pollux is the inconspicuous constellation of Cancer. This constellation is home to the “Beehive” open star cluster that is just visible to the naked eye on clear dark nights. This cluster is well worth looking at through binoculars or a small telescope. One added bonus at present is that fact that Saturn is very close by (to the right of the cluster in the photo opposite).

Beehive Cluster & Saturn (15th Feb06)

Mars
Following its close approach to the Earth late last year it has now moved far enough away to mean that surface detail is difficult to see without using larger telescopes. It currently appears as a prominent orange/red object near the Pleiades.

Jupiter
Jupiter is currently visible as a bright object low in the sky to the south in the early hours of the morning. It is possible to see the four brightest moons of Jupiter with binoculars and a small telescope will show up the cloud bands on the planet itself.

Jupiter through a small telescope

Saturn
Saturn is visible most of the night and although just past its brightest a small telescope will allow it magnificent rings to be seen. This is a sight that once seen will never be forgotten. Saturns rings are currently fairly open when viewed from Earth, but will steadily tilt until they become edge on in 2009, so this year will be the best chance to view them for some years. The fact that they are currently very close to the Beehive Cluster adds to the viewing appeal.

http://www.delscope.demon.co.uk/astronomy/glossary.htm

G Mackie,
Feb 2006