Dec's Guide to the Night Sky for Amateur Astromomers - including Melbourne weather

[Former-Member]

Good evening @Owlunar,

I think I've seen Sirius, the Dog Star. I saw 3 stars in a row close together and to the right of them there appeared to be another 3 Stars in a row but further apart. They were almost in an 'L' shape, though curved a little - a bit like a spoon? The 3 that were further apart had a smaller/dimmer star (sorry if I'm using the wrong terms, I don't know if they're stars or planets) to the left of the top one, almost but not quite in line with the 3 Stars that were closer together. When I followed the line of the 3 Stars that were closer together there apeared to be a Star above and below, or to the left and right of them. One of those stars, the one to the left or below, seemed much brighter. Would that have been Sirius? Don't worry if you can't understand a word that I've just typed, tomorrow I will go back through the thread and find the pictures you posted of Orions constellation and Sirius. But I'm allowing myself to be, just quietly, excited as I think I have seen it!

Wishing you smiles and joy 🙂

Niqua

[outlander]

On the night of Friday 26 May there will be a possibility of aurora sightings from the southern regions of Australia

@Shaz51@Owlunar@Former-Member@Change123@Former-Member@utopia@Former-Member everyone else ive missed

THIS IS TONIGHT is anyones interested

[outlander]

these pics were captured at Cape Otway Lighthouse in Victoria on the 21st of may

how great would it to see in real life! @Former-Member@Former-Member@Change123@Former-Member@Owlunar

[outlander]

Oh i forgot about last night... did anyone see ?

[utopia]

Hi @Owlunar. It's 6.55am and I'm looking north north east (I think). Up in the sky - not the horizon. What star am I looking at?
I'm in Melbourne - in hospital - so can't het an accurate idea of how high from the horizon - but at a guess id say it's position would be 2 o'clock.
What star am I looking at?

[Owlunar]

Hi @utopia

If that is an incredibly bright object that is the planet Venus - it so obvious people can't miss it - hold on - I will see if I can find a pic - which means - I am going to leave your post and hunt through the images on Bing and see what I can find and come back and reload what I have already written

Back in a moment

And with all the magic of the internet I have a couple of pics for you

This is Venus from Space - it is a rocky planet but covered with gasses and this is what makes it so brilliant - and here is one from earth - with the moon - to give you an idea of size

The brighter of those two planets is Venus - the other one is probably Jupiter - I don't know when this photo was taken but with the moon you can see how big and bright it is

I haven't put much up on the thread lately because the weather has not been that helpful and nothing very much has been happening - but just wait - we have some interesting stuff happening later in the winter and in the spring

I hope this helps Utopia

Dec

[Owlunar]

Hi @utopia@outlander@Former-Member

I haven't forgotten my thread here - but nothing much has been different - and a lot of nights it is cloudy - but we have had some clear morning so guys

Sirius - The Wolf Star - is easy to see in the morning now - rising easy when it is still dark which doesn't mean that early at this time of year - and Orion is rising in the morning too - and if anyone feels like facing the cold and frosties it can be easily seen

So - get some shoes and dressing gown and get outside to see the summer constellalation rising in the east - it's a big sign of spring returning for us in the Southern Hemisphere - 

And winter is nearly half-over - now that has to be good to know - the days have started to get a tiny bit longer and that will be really noticable.

And there is a full moon tonight - which does make it harder to see the stars but it is wonderful to see

Dec

[outlander]

I love seeing the full moons @Owlunar they are so bright

[Former-Member]

Thank you Dec,

I'm still not sure if I've seen Sirius, I think I have but you have re-ignited my determination to be sure!

I have a really warm gown and warm, water proof slippers 😄

@Owlunar

Niqua

[Owlunar]

Hi Outlander - I love the moon - when the sky is clear I keep watching it through all it's phases - I started this when I was only a child and my father and my Gran used to make sure I learned as much about it as I could early

And Niqua - the Wolf-Star is the brightest star in the night sky - I think this is a good pic but it is much bigger than you will see it in the east in the morning - but in a dark sky rather than in the evening as it used to be a few weeks back - it is brilliant esp on a frosty morning when the sky is full of dew

Once you see it you will always be able to see it - you will just know where to look for it

Dec

@Former-Member@outlander