The Beehive Cluster

Ken Kennedy of Dundee Astronomical Society tells us what we can expect to see in the March sky. “By 10pm, the constellation Cancer is due south, sandwiched between Gemini and Leo, both of which are easily identified constellations,” he says.

“Cancer, however, is a rather faint constellation with no particularly bright star to act as a marker. It has been called the ‘dark sign’ among the other, brighter, constellations forming the Zodiac. In Greek mythology, Hera is said to have placed Cancer, the Crab, in the sky after it had been killed by Heracles having nipped his foot while he fought the Hydra.

“The redeeming object within Cancer is the open star cluster Messier 44, also known as the Beehive Cluster. It can just be seen with the unaided eye as a small, diffuse patch which has been called a ‘little cloud’ or a ‘little mist’. Some observers imagined that the bright stars of the cluster looked like a swarm of bees around a hive.

“In March, the moon reaches its highest elevation around the time of first quarter on the 21st. In the early evening, when the moon is due south, it reaches an elevation of 58 degrees and this is ideal for detailed study of the lunar features. Even a small telescope will show many of the craters, mountains and basaltic plains. On the 21st, towards the northern area of the moon, it should be quite easy to pick out the semicircle of the Apennine and Alpine mountain ranges which are actually the rim of the great Mare Imbrium basin.

“Within the part of the basin, a small telescope can pick out the large crater Archimedes – formed by an asteroid impact within the basin before lava flows partially engulfed it. Moving southwards will reveal a host of craters brought to life by the partial illumination of the sun. A larger telescope will reveal amazing detail of these craters and show the ferocity of the early

bombardment of the moon from the time of its formation around 4.5 billion years ago.

“Without an atmosphere or water to erode them these ancient craters remain for us to observe today. If you watch the moon for a few days around first quarter you will see more craters revealed as the sun rises on a new lunar day.

“The Spring Equinox occurs on March 20 at 9am when the sun crosses the equator on its way northwards, hopefully leaving behind the cold winter we have had.

“Mercury and Venus are both obscured by sunlight during March. Mars remains high in the south-west at around 7.30pm but it has faded in brightness. It retains its orange colour and so should be easy to identify.

“Jupiter moves westwards from the proximity of the sun and may just be seen very low in the south-east from March 23 at around 5.30am. Saturn precedes Jupiter and is about 10 degrees west of it but will be more difficult to spot as it is less bright.

“The moon is at last quarter on the 6th, new on the 13th, at first quarter on the 21st and full on March 28.”

“Dudhope Castle in Dundee has been in the news recently,” says Jim Howie of Broughty Ferry. “This postcard shows a large group enjoying the playpark beside the castle which has long been removed. Dundee Royal Infirmary can be seen in the background. This card is titled Barrack Park after its early military use.”

During the snowy weather, Nigel Harris of Newport-onTay took this photograph and says: “I took this picture of what looks like a waterspout in the Tay. It is, in fact, an icicle hanging outside our bedroom window. Much less exciting.”