beehive cluster
Below are the episodes of the Jodcast (or segments) which match the keyword beehive cluster. You can continue searching by going back to the tag cloud.
- The night sky for May 2007 - May 2007 (MP3)
Ian Morison tells us what we can see in the night sky from northern latitudes during May 2007. From around the middle of May, in northern England, it doesn't get truely dark for about six weeks. As the Sun sets, in the south west we see the constellation of Gemini and high in the south is Leo. Between them is the constellation Cancer and with binoculars you may see a very nice star cluster called the Beehive Cluster. On the boundary between Leo and Cancer is Saturn. Between the bright star Spica - in the constellation Virgo - and the tail of Leo, is the Realm of the Galaxies. These galaxies form part of the Virgo Cluster, part of the Virgo Supercluster of galaxies but sadly you'll need a telescope to see them. Overhead is Ursa Major containing the asterism called the Plough (Big Dipper). If you look at the central star of the tail of the bear, you'll see it has a companion. These stars - Mizar and Alcor - make the Horse and Rider. Mizar is itself a double star and these can be seen with a telescope. Saturn is about 11 degrees to the right of the brightest star of Leo; Regulus. In a small telescope you will easily see Saturn's largest Moon Titan. Around the last week of the month it will be possible to see Mercury around 30 minutes after sunset between where the Sun has set and the planet Venus. Mars is barely visible, just before dawn, close to the south-eastern horizon. The disc is just 5 arcseconds across so there are no details to be seen. Venus is currently dominating the western sky after sunset. On the 19th May, a thin crescent Moon is just three degrees from the planet Venus and will make a very nice pairing with your eyes or a pair of binoculars. - The night sky for April 2007 - April 2007 (MP3)
Ian Morison tells us what we can see in the night sky from northern latitudes during April 2007. The constellation of Orion is now low in the south west after sunset. Above and to the left of Orion is the constellation Gemini and to the left and south of that is Leo the lion. Between Gemini and Leo, on the boundary of Leo and Cancer is the planet Saturn. Looking to the right of Saturn you can see the Beehive cluster with binoculars. Low to the left of Leo is Virgo and its brightest star Spica. Between Leo and Spica we see, with a small telescope, some of the galaxies that form the Virgo supercluster. Saturn is the star of the evening sky in the south and Venus dominates the western sky after sunset. Jupiter is becoming visible by around 11pm (at the end of April) but is at the lowest part of the ecliptic so from the UK will appear quite low. On April 11th Venus will be two degrees from the Pleiades and on the 18th will be near the Hyades cluster. On the 22nd of April is the Lyrid meteor shower. There are two opportunities to see the minima in brightness of the star Algol on 9th and 12th April.
