Comet McNaught, Spectacle of the Far-Southern Sky
As of January 18th, Comet McNaught is barely visible from the Northern Hemisphere, but the show is just beginning for observers at mid-southern latitudes.
Comet McNaught Heading South
If you live in the Northern Hemisphere, Friday was your last good opportunity to catch Comet McNaught in the evening twilight — though January 13th isn't completely out of the question. On January 14th or 15th, the comet will become a showpiece for observers in the Southern Hemisphere.
Your Comet McNaught Images
Although Friday is the last good chance for folks in the northern hemisphere to catch Comet McNaught, the reports are streaming in and the comet is clearly a hit! Check out our McNaught photo gallery. We've posted more than three dozen of your pictures already — and we are anxious to see more.
S&T Observes Comet McNaught
At latitude 42° north, Sky & Telescope's offices are fairly well placed for viewing Comet McNaught. And since we're in the eastermost major city in North America, we get to see the comet slightly ahead of most of our readers. Here are some of the observations made by S&T editors.
Comet McNaught Brightening
Comet McNaught has brightened rapidly in the last few days. It's now bright, beautiful, and, if you're fairly far north, easy to see at dawn and dusk — if you know where to look and have an unobstructed horizon and perfect conditions. It's now a naked-eye spectacle from far northern latitudes, where the observing geometry is most favorable. The farther south you live, the lower the comet is in the twilight.
The Ringed Planet Returns
After several months with no bright planet well placed in the evening sky, Saturn returns to easy visibility in January, making a striking formation together with the Sickle of Leo. And on Saturday, North Americans can witness a close conjunction of the Moon and Regulus, Leo's brightest star.
January's Surprise Comet
A major comet, known as Comet McNaught or C/2006 P1, is right now making its way through the inner solar system. It’s already as bright as the brightest stars, but it is also sticking close to the glare of the Sun.
Tour January's Sky by Ear
January nights may be cold, but they boast a spectacular array of constellations. Our podcast will guide you through this month's sky with no need to fuss with paper or red flashlights.
Sky Highlights of 2007
As in any year, the starry heavens unroll with the seasons, and our solar system provides ever-changing sights much closer to home. Here's a taste of special events to watch for in 2007.
Celestial Omens
Go out at dusk to see Venus and the crescent Moon pair up. It is always a sight to behold when the brightest objects in the evening sky get together.
A Reason to Rise
Most of us consider weekends a time for sleeping in, but skywatchers who get up before the Sun are presently in for a treat. A trio of planets will dance with the bright star Antares, and on the mornings of the 17th and 18th there will be a guest appearance by the waning crescent Moon. The performance is free, but clear skies and an unobstructed southeastern horizon are required.
Aurora Watch!
Talk about a red-letter night for astronomy. Not only are Geminid meteors still raining down from the skies, there is a major aurora alert in effect for Thursday and Friday. No telescope needed. Just get outside and look up.
Best Meteor Shower of 2006
With only minor interference from the Moon, the Geminids should put on a great display late Wednesday night and Thursday morning. What's more, a major solar flare just erupted, providing a strong chance for a tremendous northern lights show on Thursday or Friday.
Triple Conjunction
Don't miss the conjunction of three bright planets, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter in the morning twilight. Early risers will be treated to a planetary triangle at dawn, the best observable triple-conjunction of the bright planets until 2029.
Sunspot Watch!
Grab your solar telescopes and Mylar filters — a major sunspot group has just come around the limb of the Sun and into view. What's more, on December 5th this spot produced a major solar flare. If it erupts again soon, we could be in for dazzling auroral light shows.
Take a Sky Tour This Month
If you're willing to brave the cold, December is a great month for stargazing. Short days also mean long nights, and some great, albeit frigid, observing conditions.
Tour October's Evening Skies in 2006
Why is this month's full Moon called the "Harvest Moon"? And what two star patterns form a sandwich with Polaris, the North Star? Find out when you download this MP3 file to your iPod or other handheld device. (5.1MB file; hosted by Kelly Beatty, editor of Night Sky magazine.)
Tour September's Evening Sky in 2006
This is a great time of year to do a little stargazing. Just download this MP3 file to your iPod or other handheld device, and you'll get a guided tour of the evening sky. (4.9MB file; hosted by Kelly Beatty, editor of Night Sky magazine.)
Tour August's Evening Sky in 2006
Download this MP3 file to your iPod or other handheld device, and you'll be guided to Jupiter, the constellation Scorpius, the Milky Way, and more! You'll also get tips on when and how to watch the Perseid meteor shower. (5.5MB file; hosted by Kelly Beatty, editor of Night Sky magazine.)
Tour July's Evening Sky In 2006
Track down dazzling Jupiter and the trio of bright stars that comprise the Summer Triangle. (4MB MP3 file; hosted by Kelly Beatty, editor of Night Sky magazine.)