THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
Darker nights are upon us, leaving astronomers to enjoy both Solar System and deep-sky objects
The constellations of autumn are starting to wheel into view, offering a wonderful selection of galaxies, open and globular star clusters. Globular clusters, including the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules (M13) and Messier 56 in Lyra (the Harp), as well as open cluster IC 4665 in Ophiuchus (the Serpent-bearer) are splendid evening targets. If you’re keen to stay up until the early hours of the morning, you’ll be rewarded as Taurus’ Pleiades star cluster (M45) and spiral galaxies such as the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), nearby Triangulum Galaxy (M33) and face-on spiral Messier 74 in the constellation Pisces (the Fishes) make their appearance, becoming observable until sunrise washes them from view.