Page 67 - BBC Sky at Night Beginners Guide to Astronomy - 2017 UK

WHAT TO SEE

WHAT

TO SEE

NIGHT-SKY OBJECTS THAT

REVEAL THE COSMOS AT

ITS MOST MAGNIFICENT

On a clear, dark night, there can be enough wonders for a lifetime’s worth
close to 2,000 stars in the sky, creating of observing. The trick is to know
a celestial panorama of such inspiration where in the vast celstial spectacle
that it is possible to understand why to aim for.
ancient civilisations created myths and So, in the pages that follow, you’ll fi nd
legends for what they saw at night. the best objects to look at with all types
New let’s be honest here, through a of equipment, from the naked eye to
telescope most of the stars that make binoculars and telescopes: double and
up this amazing wide-fi eld view aren’t variable stars, clusters and planets like
that mesmerising. In many cases what magnifi cent Saturn; short-lived targets
you’ll see is very similar to the naked- like meteors, comets and satellites. We
eye view – a point of light. cover distant objects within our Galaxy,
Don’t be downheartened, however. and where to look to see next door – to
In a Universe as vast as ours, there are the Andromeda Galaxy.

STEVE MARSH

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