Know what to look out for in the night sky! These short articles by MPAS appear every month in the Mornington Peninsula Magazine.
- Meteor shower among November’s astronomical highlights
There is a lot to see in the southern skies this month with just the naked eye or basic equipment. Start off by looking for the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC)… Read more: Meteor shower among November’s astronomical highlights - Plenty of good viewing in the October sky
After the wonderfully rich views of the southern winter, October night skies look rather empty, with exception to the bright planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. However, this does not mean… Read more: Plenty of good viewing in the October sky - September: Rich pickings when you look to the west
There are a few interesting targets in the sky at the moment in Aquarius. The globular cluster M2 appears as a fuzzy star through binoculars and is near the star… Read more: September: Rich pickings when you look to the west - August: Archer a tempting target for astronomers
In the August skies you can find Sagittarius, the Archer, lying almost overhead; to its south-west lies Scorpius the Scorpion. When you look towards these constellations on a clear night,… Read more: August: Archer a tempting target for astronomers - July: Winter night viewing to warm the heart
In July, if you look towards the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius on a clear night, you are looking in the direction of the very heart of our galaxy. Sagittarius, the… Read more: July: Winter night viewing to warm the heart - Rich pickings in June for night-sky observers
June is a wonderful time for night-sky observers in the southern hemisphere. The rich star fields of the Milky Way galaxy stretch right across the sky from the south-west to… Read more: Rich pickings in June for night-sky observers - May: Winter’s approach produces some cool views
The Milky Way rises high in the south this month, with Sagittarius and Scorpius sitting in the east – a clue that winter is on its way in the southern… Read more: May: Winter’s approach produces some cool views - April: Our home galaxy makes impressive viewing
By far the most impressive sight to see this month is the great arc of the Milky Way galaxy. It stretches all the way from the magnificent region in the… Read more: April: Our home galaxy makes impressive viewing - March: Eye-catching constellations steal the show
Observing the stars in March, your eyes will undoubtably be drawn to the constellations sitting in the south-east, centred around the Southern Cross (Crux) and Centaurus. Just above Crux, a… Read more: March: Eye-catching constellations steal the show - February: Sirius and Canopus a bright sight for your eyes
Observing the southern skies this month you will find two stellar beacons shining away high in the sky. These are the two brightest stars in the night sky: Sirius and… Read more: February: Sirius and Canopus a bright sight for your eyes - January: The Hunter and his dogs roam the summer sky
This month the constellation Orion is ideally placed high in the sky. While exploring it you will see the Orion Nebula, M42, a bright, deep-sky object lying north of the… Read more: January: The Hunter and his dogs roam the summer sky - December: Constellations and clouds make great Christmas viewing
During December, the constellations Taurus, Gemini, Orion and Auriga are visible. Looking towards the north you can see the distinct upside-down ‘V’ shape of the Hyades open star cluster, which… Read more: December: Constellations and clouds make great Christmas viewing - November: Orion makes its return to our summer night sky
In November, the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius are slowly leaving our night skies to be replaced by Orion and its nebulae, and the bright star Sirius. Looking towards the direction… Read more: November: Orion makes its return to our summer night sky - October: Meteors, constellations, and sights in the clouds
After the wonderfully rich views of the southern winter, October night skies look rather empty, with the exception of the bright planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. However, this does not… Read more: October: Meteors, constellations, and sights in the clouds - September: See them before they’re gone
Be sure to enjoy the rich regions of Scorpius and Ophiuchus this month before they sink below the western horizon. Just above them lies an area around the heart of… Read more: September: See them before they’re gone - August: The Archer makes a great target for astronomers
In the August skies you can find Sagittarius, the Archer, lying almost overhead, and to its southwest lies Scorpius, the Scorpion. When you look towards these constellations on a clear… Read more: August: The Archer makes a great target for astronomers - July: Sights of Sagittarius might be your cup of tea
Looking north in July, the wonderful globular cluster M5 is high in the sky. It is roughly 25,000 light-years away from Earth, towards the constellation Serpens Caput. A small telescope… Read more: July: Sights of Sagittarius might be your cup of tea - Open your eyes to stunning open clusters in June
This month there is no shortage of interesting objects to view from southern latitudes. A good place to start is the constellation Scorpius, which contains the stunning open clusters M6 and… Read more: Open your eyes to stunning open clusters in June - May: Winter is coming – it’s written in the stars
The Milky Way rises high in the south this month, with Sagittarius and Scorpius sitting in the east – a clue that winter is on its way in the southern… Read more: May: Winter is coming – it’s written in the stars - April: Omega Centauri the star of the show
The most impressive sight when looking up this month is the great arc of the Milky Way galaxy. It stretches all the way from the magnificent region in the east… Read more: April: Omega Centauri the star of the show - Constellations draw the eyes in March
Observing the stars in March, your eyes will undoubtedly be drawn to the constellations sitting in the southeast, centred around the Southern Cross (Crux) and Centaurus. Just above Crux, a… Read more: Constellations draw the eyes in March - February: Tips and tricks on offer during Telescope Learning Day
Now is a good time to observe and admire the rich star fields of the Milky Way stretching across the southern skies. To scan these stars, you only need your eyes or a pair of binoculars. […] - January: See the stars come out at The Briars
When observing the skies this month, the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) in the constellation Dorado can be seen with binoculars in the evenings. Among its sparkling stars you will find… Read more: January: See the stars come out at The Briars - December: Many sights to delight on a summer night
If you are observing the sky with binoculars, there is a great deal to see looking south this month. NGC 3114 and NGC 2516 are both prominent open clusters worth… Read more: December: Many sights to delight on a summer night - November: Get a front-row seat for the total lunar eclipse
The constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius are slowly leaving our night skies to be replaced by Orion and its nebulae, and the bright star Sirius. Looking towards the celestial pole you… Read more: November: Get a front-row seat for the total lunar eclipse - October: Magellanic Clouds take celestial centre stage
Two of the celestial showpieces of the southern skies are on show this month, the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. These galaxies lie relatively close in space to the Milky… Read more: October: Magellanic Clouds take celestial centre stage - August: Wolf lies low in the winter night sky
Low on the horizon between the stars of Centaurus and Scorpius is the constellation Lupus, the Wolf. In the east the bright star Fomalhaut lies in the constellation Piscis Austrinus,… Read more: August: Wolf lies low in the winter night sky - July: Milky Way star fields a joy to explore
Scorpius is easy to spot sitting high in the sky this month, being one of the brightest constellations in the sky. Nearby are the constellations Sagittarius and the slightly less… Read more: July: Milky Way star fields a joy to explore - June: Open clusters make Scorpius a popular target
High in the south in June you will see the constellation Lupus, while the distinctive shape of Scorpius will help you get your bearings. Be sure to scan your eyes… Read more: June: Open clusters make Scorpius a popular target - May: Constellations, clusters and conjunctions
In the southern hemisphere this month you will be treated to the richness of the constellations Centaurus, Scorpius and Sagittarius. The Milky Way rises high in the south, with Sagittarius… Read more: May: Constellations, clusters and conjunctions - April: The Lion’s share of intriguing galaxies
Leo plays host to many interesting galaxies that can be seen with relatively modest amateur equipment. These include the Leo Triplet (the M66 Group), a group of galaxies that consists… Read more: April: The Lion’s share of intriguing galaxies - March: Leo on show and Lions fundraiser
The constellation Orion is gradually sinking out of view, so make the most of it before it disappears. Leo is very much still on show and can be found sitting… Read more: March: Leo on show and Lions fundraiser - February: Star clusters provide a rich viewing feast
Looking north, in the constellation Cancer, the Crab, look out for the wonderful star cluster M44, also known as the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe. Easy to locate, it sits at… Read more: February: Star clusters provide a rich viewing feast - January: Prime time for viewing deep sky objects
The constellations best seen in January are Caelum, Dorado, Lepus, Mensa, Orion, Pictor, Reticulum and Taurus. Two of these constellations – Orion and Taurus – are quite prominent in the… Read more: January: Prime time for viewing deep sky objects - December: Spectacular meteor shower makes its return
During December, the constellations Taurus, Gemini, Orion, and Auriga are visible. Looking towards the north you can spot the distinct upside-down ‘V’ shape of the Hyades open star cluster, which… Read more: December: Spectacular meteor shower makes its return - Constellations, clouds and comet debris dominate the November sky
This month, the constellations Eridanus and Cetus sit right above you. Eridanus, the River, is naturally long and winding and its end is marked by the bright star Achernar, which… Read more: Constellations, clouds and comet debris dominate the November sky - October: Settle in for Orionid meteor show
After wonderfully rich views during winter, our October night skies look rather empty – with the exception of the bright planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn. However, this does not mean… Read more: October: Settle in for Orionid meteor show - September provides a feast for the eyes
Be sure to enjoy the rich regions of Scorpius and Ophiuchus this month before they sink below the western horizon. Just above them lies an area around the heart of… Read more: September provides a feast for the eyes - August: Meteors star in Science Week talk
In the August skies you can find Sagittarius, the Archer, lying almost overhead; to its southwest lies Scorpius, the Scorpion. When you look towards these constellations on a clear night,… Read more: August: Meteors star in Science Week talk - July: Drink in the many sights around the Teapot
In July, if you look towards the constellations Sagittarius and Scorpius on a clear night, then you are looking in the direction of the very heart of our galaxy. Sagittarius,… Read more: July: Drink in the many sights around the Teapot - No shortage of star attractions for astronomers in June
June is a wonderful time for night-sky observers in the southern hemisphere. The rich star fields of the Milky Way galaxy stretch right across the sky from the southwest to… Read more: No shortage of star attractions for astronomers in June - May: Meteor shower among a cluster of highlights
The beautiful section of the Milky Way around Crux, the Southern Cross – including the dark nebula known as the Coalsack – takes centre stage looking south in May. There… Read more: May: Meteor shower among a cluster of highlights - April: Magnificent arc shows the Way
As the skies get dark this month you will notice that the constellations scattered along the arc of the Milky Way come into view. Crux, also known as the Southern… Read more: April: Magnificent arc shows the Way - March: Southeast constellations catch the eye as Orion slips from view
Observing the stars in March, your eyes will undoubtably be drawn to the constellations sitting in the southeast, centered around the Southern Cross (Crux) and Centaurus. Just above Crux, a… Read more: March: Southeast constellations catch the eye as Orion slips from view - Sirius and Canopus star during February
The two brightest stars in the sky this month are Sirius and Canopus. And two stunning constellations – Crux the Southern Cross, and Centaurus the Centaur – are also visible.… Read more: Sirius and Canopus star during February - January: Let’s go hunting among the stars in Orion
This month the constellation Orion is ideally placed high in the sky. While exploring it you will see the Orion Nebula, M42, a bright deep-sky object lying north of the… Read more: January: Let’s go hunting among the stars in Orion - December: Clouds and meteors provide a visual feast
The Magellanic Clouds can be seen sitting in the southern part of the night sky this month. The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) sits in Tucana, while the Large Magellanic Cloud… Read more: December: Clouds and meteors provide a visual feast - November: Get your head in the clouds
There is a lot to see in the southern skies this month with just the naked eye. Start off by looking for the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) west of the… Read more: November: Get your head in the clouds - October: Opposition attracts celestial observers
Mars oppositions occur every two years and two months – or, to be precise, every 779.94 days – and this year Mars opposition falls on October 14. A planet is… Read more: October: Opposition attracts celestial observers - The Eagle has landed in our September skies
This month, be sure to enjoy the sights of Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Scutum before they disappear below the horizon. The most spectacular objects to look out for in these constellations… Read more: The Eagle has landed in our September skies - Stargazers spoilt for choice in August
In the August skies, you can take your pick from a superb selection of binocular and telescope targets. You will find Sagittarius, the Archer, lying almost overhead, providing a feast… Read more: Stargazers spoilt for choice in August - Opposites attract the eye in July’s night sky
This month we will see our two gas giants at opposition: Jupiter on July 14 and Saturn on July 21. Opposition is when the sun is on the opposite side… Read more: Opposites attract the eye in July’s night sky - Comet just one of June’s heavenly highlights
The first event this month is a penumbral lunar eclipse on June 6 in the early morning near dawn. During this eclipse, the moon becomes immersed in the penumbral cone… Read more: Comet just one of June’s heavenly highlights - May: Omega Centauri a sight for your eyes
Sitting high in the southern sky during May is the prominent constellation Crux, the Southern Cross. If you have a small telescope, be sure to point it at Crux’s brightest… Read more: May: Omega Centauri a sight for your eyes - Dark nebula an April highlight
April is the perfect time of the year for observing the dark nebula known as the Coalsack. You will find it nestled within the rich, bright star fields of the… Read more: Dark nebula an April highlight - A cluster of delights in the March sky
Observing the night sky from southern latitudes this month you can see plenty with a good pair of binoculars, including the open cluster known as the Southern Pleiades (IC 2602).… Read more: A cluster of delights in the March sky - February: Rich star fields provide a visual feast
Observing the southern skies this month you will find two stellar beacons shining away high in the sky. These are the two brightest stars in the night sky — Sirius… Read more: February: Rich star fields provide a visual feast - January: Star light, star bright
When observing the skies from our southern latitude this month, you will find the second brightest star, Canopus, in the constellation Carina sitting high in the sky, while Sirius, the… Read more: January: Star light, star bright