Eye on the sky

 

Martin Kearney

Web Copy Producer, EHT

 

Our pick of the year’s astronomical events and what you’ll need to enjoy them

It’s shaping up to be a big year for astronomy with some (literally) once-in-a-lifetime celestial events taking place. Spectacular objects, like Comet Ison, could even be viewable with the naked eye in broad daylight if conditions
are right.

However, if you can’t wait until then to get your fix of astronomical action, you might want to think about investing in some quality optics. This doesn’t just mean telescopes though. With the right pair of binoculars, or even a spotting scope, astronomers of all levels can get great results.   

For the total beginner, there are some powerful computerised options available, like Celestron’s SkyProdigy 130 that can automatically map the night sky and track stars, planets and more with the push of a button.


Traditional scopes

If you’re more of a traditionalist however, then the AstroMaster LT 76AZ reflector telescope will work well for everyday and deep space viewing. The kit even packs a tripod and comes with SkyX astronomy software to help you brush up on your knowledge of the sky. Its classic reflector-based cousin, the AstroMaster LT 60AZ is ideal for those craving more portability (essential for getting to dark sky sites in out-of-the-way areas).

So just what is going on above our heads in 2013? There’s quite a lot actually, with two major comet sightings, meteor showers and conjunctions among other things.

 
 
 

Here are some of our picks for the year ahead:

 

Comet Ison

Roughly the size of a respectable mountain and tipped as the ‘comet of the century’ by some, Ison  - named for the International Scientific Optical Network - will show up between mid-November and December. Given the right conditions, it could appear 15 times brighter than the moon. Although how bright it’ll actually be is anyone’s guess this early on. As the astronomer David H. Levy said: “comets are like cats: they have tails, and do precisely what they want.”


Perseid meteor shower

One of the sky’s most reliable events, the annual Perseid meteor shower has been observed for the past 2000 years. Usually quite bright and lively, it gets underway during August 12, with the best visibility available after midnight.


Geminid meteor shower

Another annual favourite, the Geminid shower, can be seen between 13 and 14 December this year. A real treat for amateur astronomers, it needs little to enjoy apart from clear skies and some binoculars.

 
 
 

For a more in-depth look at getting started on stargazing, head on over to our Beginners' guide to telescopes piece, where you’ll find all you need to about choosing the right telescope from our John Lewis Oxford Street imaging and photography expert.

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