BBC Focus Magazine

[Dark One]

Last night at about midnight, I saw a very bright star to the south east of me (I live in north London). There was a much smaller, dimmer star next to it. I was just wondering if anyone knows what it is? From the brightness I was guessing one of the planets but I have no real idea.

[The Beige Avenger]

no idea but there is an excellent star chart iPhone app that looks like a lot of fun.

[M Paul Lloyd]

It could well have been jupiter Dark One, it is very promient in the southern sky just now.

[Dark One]

Thanks

Haha unfortunately I don't have an iphone (or fortunately if you hate apple like I do). Any idea what the smaller object could have been? I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to see one of Jupiter's moons with the naked eye.

[M Paul Lloyd]

The moons usually only reveal themselves through binoculars or better Dark One, chances are it was a bright star that just happened to be close by, but if the skies are clear around the 22nd it should be possible to see Uranus and Jupiter quite close to the moon as detailed on page 82 in the September issue of Focus.

[Dark One]

Haha yes I read that Here's hoping the freezing cold weather continues so we can have some nice clear skies

[Piesander]

As a general rule, Stars shimmer and scintillate whilst planets just shine quite steadily.

I remember as a kid watching the four larger moons of Jupiter change position over several successive nights with just a pair of binoculars. It can be done.

[M Paul Lloyd]

Sadly twinkling/shimmering stars are a sign of bad seeing conditions. Fixed points suggest the best viewing.

[Jamie]

Had a quick look at Jupiter last night. Looked good even through my crappy scope. And it's pretty close at the moment too:

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essential ... since-1963

[M Paul Lloyd]

As you discovered Jamie even a crappy telescope can resolve a decent view of Jupiter and the moons are always interesting to watch I find.

I have been keeping an eye out all this week with the youngest as the cloud has been really sporadic, but the one night when the seeing was really excellent it was blowing two gales and it would have made a steady telescope view all but impossible.

Such is life.