Skywatch - 2021 - 73

ANDROMEDA: MASIL IMAGING TEAM; PEOPLE
AND SCOPES: BOB KING

subtle dark markings, and brilliant
white polar caps. Unfortunately, the
Red Planet only comes close to Earth
every two years, so much of the time its
disk is small and virtually featureless.
However, for several months around
closest approach, Mars brightens dramatically and becomes a wonderful telescopic sight rich with fascinating detail.
Its most recent showing was in October
2020, and the next time it'll be close to
Earth will be in December 2022.
Beyond the asteroid belt lies the solar
system's largest planet, Jupiter. A gas
giant world 11 times the diameter of
Earth, Jupiter is perhaps the fi nest telescopic planet of all. Its endlessly churning atmosphere includes several distinct
bands and the Great Red Spot, an anticyclone slightly larger than the size of
Earth and easily visible in 3-inch scopes.
Jupiter also has four large moons:
Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
These miniature worlds are visible in
the smallest telescope and can even be
glimpsed in binoculars. ( Jupiter has
many more moons, but they're mostly
beyond the reach of even large telescopes.) This year Jupiter is closest to
Earth in August.
Then there's Saturn. It's justifiably
famous for its remarkable ring system,
which is truly one of the most amazing
telescopic sights and can be seen in even
the smallest instruments. Like Jupiter,
Saturn has a huge collection of moons;
the biggest, Titan, is easy to spot in a
small telescope. Like Jupiter, this year
Saturn is at its best in August.
Next we come to Uranus. It's bright
enough to be plainly visible in binoculars but is so distant that it shows
a small blue-green disk in telescopes.
And fi nally the outermost planet, Neptune, is faintly visible in binoculars
and appears as a tiny bluish disk in
backyard scopes.
As for Pluto, it was demoted to
dwarf planet status in 2006. If you have
a 10-inch or larger telescope, you can

hunt for icy Pluto, which appears like a
faint star. Finder charts for locating all
these three remote worlds appear each
year in Sky & Telescope magazine.
Observing the Deep Sky
Well beyond the solar system there are
wonders of many types. Star clusters,
nebulae, and faraway galaxies are the
quarry of deep-sky hunters. Most of
these objects are very faint, which makes
seeking them out a challenging and fun
sport. Nonetheless, hundreds are within
reach of small instruments.
You'll generally want a moderatesize scope and a detailed star atlas (such
as Sky & Telescope's excellent Pocket Sky
Atlas) to plumb these depths. Start with
the Messier list, which includes many
of the best and brightest deep-sky targets. Once you've gained experience,
the sky's the limit! Each issue of Sky &
Telescope magazine includes loads of suggestions for deep-sky objects that span
the range from easy to extreme. The
Astronomical League hosts several lists
of observing challenges for all levels on
its website (astroleague.org).
Clear moonless nights are best for
deep-sky viewing. If you can't take your
telescope somewhere to escape from
light pollution, try to set up in a part of
your yard that oﬀers some shade from
the direct glare of streetlights. Draping
an opaque cloth, such as a towel, over
your head is an extremely eﬀective way
to block extraneous light and may work
wonders for improving the view. And
don't worry - no one will see what you
look like in the dark!
Another trick of the trade is something called averted vision, that is, looking
slightly to the side of your target. This

S The

farthest reaches Telescope enthusiasts often seek the faint and the fuzzy - distant
nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies. This image
shows the Andromeda Galaxy, a deep-sky object
some 2.5 million light-years away. Remarkably, it's
one of the closest galaxies to our Milky Way.

allows its faint light to fall on the most
sensitive part of your eye.
Clubs and Societies
Finally, I always recommend that beginners search the local library or the internet to fi nd the nearest astronomical society or local club. Most towns and cities
have active groups eager to warmly welcome newcomers such as yourself. It's
more fun learning new skills and pursuing a hobby with like-minded people.
I wish you well on your observing
journey. Astronomy is one of the few
hobbies in which amateurs can still
make discoveries and contribute valuable observations. So, who knows -
there may be a comet out there that will
forever bear your name. But even if your
goals are more modest, any time spent
under the stars is deeply enriching.
ADE ASHFORD has spent the last five
decades exploring the night skies of
Western Europe, North America, and
Australasia, writing extensively about
observing for magazines on both sides
of the Atlantic and in New Zealand.

X Join

the club! When it comes to enjoying
an evening under the stars, the more the merrier.
Observing with like-minded people makes an enriching experience even more so. Seek out a local
club and get connected.
SK Y WATCH 2021

http://www.astroleague.org

Skywatch - 2021

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