World wide Astronomy Event – Advanced Warning

If you enjoy worldwide astronomy events, watch out for Global Astronomy Month (GAM), running throughout April of this year. The GAM motto is “One People, One Sky” and it’s an opportunity to connect with people around the world.

For more information take a look here: www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=99&layout=blog&Itemid=149
Image credit: Astronomer’s Without Borders

Asteroid Hunting

If you have a pair of binoculars or even a small telescope, you could try and follow an asteroid, Vesta, as it slowly move across the sky. The asteroid can be found in the constellation of Leo, not too far from Gamma Leo.

Happy Hunting

Image credit: Sky & Telescope

Comet Hunting

Note: this post is adapted from Weekend SkyWatcher's Forecast by Tammy Plotner on Universe Today, http://www.universetoday.com/

If you are ready for a challenge why not try spotting 11.8 magnitude Comet Tritton! Now cruising through the constellation of Aries (RA 1h 53.5m Dec 17° 39'), this faint fuzzy won't be the easiest of targets to spot – but then it wouldn't be a challenge, would it? Comet 157P Tritton was discovered by Keith Tritton (U. K. Schmidt Telescope Unit, Coonabarabran) on February 11, 1978. Now, almost 32 years later to the date, it's back again on its every 6.33 year journey around our Sun. Although it won't reach perihelion (closest position to the sun) until February 20, its original estimated return brightness was only expected to reach magnitude 16 and now it is far exceeding expectations. Don't expect to see a flaming ball exhibiting a tail because that's not going to happen… but congratulate yourself if you can find this faint fuzzy in the sky.

Image credit: Universe Today

Mars

If you have been out looking at the sky between about 8h00 pm and 9h00 pm, you may have noticed a particularly bright orange/red star slightly to your west (to your left when looking south) and quite “high” in the sky - this is not a star, it’s the planet Mars, the red planet!

If you have a pair of binoculars you may be able to make out the “disc” of the planet and with even a small telescope you should be able to see the white pole cap.

As well a this, Mars is quite close to an open star cluster (M44) and if you take a look over a few nights you should be able to spot Mar’s movement against the background stars.

Image credit: spaceweather.com