The Northern Hemisphere

The darker, longer nights are officially here, offering a splendour of night sky objects for astronomers

Andromeda, Cassiopeia and Sculptor are just some of the constellations offering a selection of targets for telescope and binocular-wielding astronomers this month. With the Sun dipping below the horizon at approximately 4pm (GMT), those wanting to catch new or favourite targets don’t have to wait long for dark skies to boast these treasures.

Head over to Andromeda and you’ll be rewarded with not just its spiral galaxy M31, but also its dwarf elliptical galaxies M32 and M110. While the parent galaxy is easy to spot, you’ll need at least a medium-sized telescope to spot Andromeda’s satellites. Star clusters are a joy to behold in the constellation of Cassiopeia, which can be spotted with ease by its “W”.

Observer’s note: The night sky as it appears on 16 November 2017 at approximately 10pm (GMT).

Using the sky chart This chart is for use at 10pm (GMT) mid-month and is set for 52° latitude. Hold the chart above your head with the bottom of the page in front of you. Face south and notice that north on the chart is behind you. The...