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The winter holds many of the sky's greatest treasures. You will find the brightest nebula in the northern skies, the closest star outside our solar system, glorious open star clusters which look like diamonds on a field of velvet. There's a lot to see and it's worth braving the cold. Orion, the mighty hunter is perhaps the most recognized pattern of stars after the Big Dipper. Unlike the Big Dipper, Orion is in fact a constellation -the Big Dipper is actually part of a constellation known as Ursa Major or "The Great Bear". Look for Orion rising in the east and traveling across the sky each night. It's home to the Orion Nebula, also known as M42. This nebula is beautiful; visible to the naked eye in dark skies, a "wow" object in binoculars and a "that's incredible" object in telescopes.
Taking a look to the left of Orion, we eventually come upon Cancer, the crab. Cancer is a fairly dim constellation but it is home to another inter sting object, the Beehive Cluster or M44. The Beehive is an "open" cluster of stars which also can be seen in dark skies with the naked eye -as a fuzzy star. Pick up a pair of binoculars and they will resolve into dozens of individual stars filling your eyes. It's beautiful and yes it does remind you of a swarm of bees. Many people I know who previously could not see the Beehive Cluster with the naked eye have found them easily, once they located this cluster in their binoculars.
To the left of the Beehive Cluster and the constellation Cancer, you can catch the beautiful planet Saturn. It has moved from last year's location in the constellation Gemini. Look for Saturn to appear as a fairly bright star-like object just to the right of Leo. Our friendly lion seems to be chasing Saturn across the sky as it rises each evening in the east. Look for the stars that form the backward question mark which represents Leo's head. Saturn is a little to the right. I can't say enough about this planet. Saturn is the object that impressed me so much that I started buying telescope equipment. To this day when I show the planet to guests at my scope, they cannot believe what they see. Even a modest telescope will show Saturn's beautiful rings and one or two moons. Larger telescopes bring out all sorts of detail. It is truly impressive and worth taking a look. If you have the opportunity to see this gem it is an absolute must.
A FREE public stargazing opportunity takes place this Friday evening, January 26th, from 7 PM to 10 PM at the Garnet B. Rickard Recreation Complex, in Bowmanville -weather permitting of course. The Rickard Rec. Complex is located at the corner of Hwy 2 and Hwy 57, a few minutes east of Oshawa. For more information please visit the website of the Durham Region Astronomical Association.
Hi Steve
Looking at all the great work in your articles, it is just great to have this information available to the public. I am sorry that I miss you on different weeks, but you are doing a fantastic job in informing the public about the beauty of the skies. Keep up the great job.
Posted by: Harry Gilday | January 22, 2007 at 02:12 PM