Classic constellation

Ken Kennedy of Dundee Astronomical Society tells us what to expect in the January night sky. “From last month, the great winter constellations have taken centre stage due south and are at their highest elevation by 10pm,” he says. “Orion was briefly mentioned last month but now is the time to explore this classic constellation.

“Probably the most noticeable feature is the line of three bright stars, from left, Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. These stars were given Arabic names by astronomers, probably earlier than the 10th Century. They are all blue-white giant stars at distances between 1,200 and 2,000 light years.

“These form the belt of the hunter, Orion, and below Alnitak a line of stars represents his sword. At the centre of this line of stars is the Great Nebula of Orion which was given the number 42 by Charles Messier in his catalogue of 1781. With binoculars it is possible to see the shape of this cloud of gas and dust and it is fascinating to think that you are viewing the birthplace of stars some 1,300 light years distant.

“With a small telescope, the close group of bright young stars called the Trapezium can be seen near the heart of the nebula. These stars are only around 300,000 years old but have emerged from the cloud of gas surrounding them.

“Above Orion is the constellation of Taurus the Bull. There is a V-shape of stars which forms the head of the bull with Aldebaran, a bright orange star, as the eye of the bull. This area of stars is actually a star cluster known as the Hyades but Aldebaran is not part of the cluster, being much closer to Earth than the rest of the stars.

“Move upwards again and you will notice a small group of stars which is the Pleiades cluster. On a dark night you may be able to count seven stars, hence the alternative name of Seven Sisters. This star cluster is around 100 million years old and eventually the stars of the Orion Nebula will look rather like it.

“The first meteor shower of the year, but the last of the winter series of meteor shower appearances, reaches its maximum on January 3. The Quadrantids have a very sharp peak of maximum activity for a few hours and, unfortunately, this year that occurs around 11am. The best time to look for Quadrantid meteors will be the early hours of January 3 and possibly the same evening and into the early hours of the 4th. The moon will be 19 days old on the 3rd and its brightness will seriously reduce the number of meteors seen.

“Mercury will be visible but low in the south-west after sunset from mid-january until the end of the month. Venus is low in

the south-east before sunrise in the early part of January but is lost in twilight by about the middle of the month.

“Mars is still quite bright and at a relatively high elevation in the south-west at 9pm. It moves from Pisces into Aries on January 5 and will stand out with its orange colour in an area of sky where there are not any bright stars.

“Jupiter and Saturn start the month close together low in the south-west just after sunset. The planets will set at about 5pm but by the middle of the month will be lost in twilight. The moon will be at last quarter on the 6th, new on the 13th, at first quarter on the 20th and full on January 28.”

“The happy couple appear both to be Farmall tractors – his and hers, with Angus registrations,” says the Friockheim reader who sent in the photograph. “It is not clear if the bridesmaids, behind, are similarly equipped. Nor is it clear if it was a real wedding taking place at the agricultural show, whichever one it was! A great deal of work went into it, that’s for sure.”

“This little red squirrel was busy looking for his lunch at Kingsmuir,” says the Craigie reader who took the photograph.