The Night Sky 2023
Astronomy with your mobile.
Yes - it is possible! You can get a decent image of the moon and some of the brighter stars with a handheld mobile, particularly if you have night mode. This will remove camera shake and cope with the vastly differing light level. Better still, you can buy an attachment for a tripod or even a gadget to add a lens to the front that will allow you to zoom in. If you do have a telescope, it is possible to get an adapter to hold it in position over the eye piece to get some amazing results. Below is a link that may give you some ideas that you may want to try.
Imaging is a bit of a rabbit hole and can divert you away from just pure observing - but you will then have a record and something you can share with others!
Looking at the night sky this month.
Looking North February 20th at 10pm (or 6th Feb at 11pm)
Triangulum Galaxy
This is close by the Triangulum constellation looking low in the NW. Three stars form this triangle and I suppose any three would do it! But it seems these particular stars and shape were known and recorded by the Greeks 2000 years ago. It may be because there are many interesting objects close by the shape.
The Triangulum Galaxy
M33 or NGC 598
Under dark skies the galaxy is just visible to the naked eye. Within this region is a huge region of starbirth or stellar nurseries.
Photo Milan Davidovic
Embsay 2020
Update . Also the comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) may become visible to the naked eye . At its closest to us and given favourable conditions it will appear green with a tail (evening of Feb 1st), Between the horizon and the moon looking north.
There is plenty to look at in this region.
Looking South February 20th at 10pm (or 6th Feb at 11pm)
When looking south, the imaginary line of the ecliptic (see last month’s article) runs half way up the sky from east to west. Mars is now moving from west to east along this path and beginning to fade as its distance from us increases.
Last month I wrote about the Quadrantids meteor shower. Some lucky people across the country were able to see a possible fireball from this shower as it entered the earth’s atmosphere burning up as it did so. https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/huge-shooting-star-meteor-trail-25935522
Full Moon 5th February
New Moon 20th February
Clear Skies
Milan Davidovic
Opmerkingen