Download Star Maps for beginners - Keighley Astronomical Society

Star Maps for beginners
October to December. The Night sky to the South. At
8pm
The Best way of finding your way around anywhere new to you is to make a
note of a few prominent objects. In the Sky, too we have certain very
conspicuous objects, which can be used as guides, which we have highlighted
in this small series of beginners guides.
October to December. The Night sky to the South. At 8pm
1
Can you spot the great square of the constellation of PEGASUS.
Actually the square is not so prominent as might be thought from the
above map but it should be easy to find, as it is high in the south sky
at this time of year. One of its stars ‘51 Pegasi’ was the first star to
be found that has an extra solar planet, now named Bellerophon.
However the planet is far too faint to be observed with the naked-eye
2
Look for the star cluster known as the Pleiades or the seven sisters,
on the outer eastern edge of the constellation TAURUS. If you have
good eyesight you will see more than seven stars. The record is
seventeen. Binoculars will show further members of the group. Using
a low power telescope around 250 stars can be seen.
3
Using the three stars of ORION’s belt and following the line from them
up and right, try to locate the orange coloured star Aldebaran, in the
constellation of TAURUS or the BULL. A ‘V’ shaped cluster of stars
called the Hyades lies to the right of Aldebaran.
4
Other constellations nearby to take a look at are PERSEUS, and
ARIES, which has a splendid double star called Mesartim. Easily
seen with a small telescope. Also ANDROMEDA, CASSIOPEIA and
CYGNUS.
Dominic Curran
Keighley astronomical society