What’s Up

Week of 17th August

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 22:45 BST at the start of the week and at 22:25 BST by the end of the week.
• Venus (-4.3) sets at around 21:30 BST this week; spot the bright planet in the western evening sky. Saturn is now an evening object, rising at 21:58 BST. Early risers can enjoy a view of Mars in the east as it rises around 01:22 BST.
• We look to the eastern sky for our Deep Sky Challenge this week, starting with the open cluster Messier 52 (+6.9) in Cassiopeia. Then down to our first view of M31, the Andromeda Galaxy (+3.4), this season. Finish with perennial favourite the Double Cluster (+5.3), catalogued as NGC 869 and NGC 884, in Perseus on the border with Cassiopeia.
• The Moon is First Quarter on Thursday.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 111.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 10th August

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 23:09 BST at the start of the week and at 22:48 BST by the end of the week.
• There is a solar eclipse on Wednesday – totality is visible from Iceland and Spain, while in Marlborough we will see a 90% partial eclipse. First contact is at 18:17 BST, maximum eclipse at 19:13 BST and last contact at 20:07 BST. Look to the setting Sun in the west, but take great care, you should only look directly at the Sun through a suitable solar filter, even at maximum eclipse. Good luck with your eclipse viewing!
• The Perseid meteor shower peaks on Wednesday. This is one of the best meteor showers of the year and with it coinciding with New Moon, it should be a vintage year! The maximum rate is around 150 meteors per hour, but you might expect to see around 80 or so an hour. Look anywhere in the sky, but you will notice that they all appear to originate from the constellation Perseus, hence the name. The shower’s progenitor is comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle.
• Venus (-4.3) reaches greatest eastern elongation on Thursday. Spot the bright planet in the western evening sky before it sets at 21:42 BST.
• There is so much going on this week that there is no need for a deep sky challenge; good luck with viewing the eclipse and spotting Perseid meteors!
• The Moon is New on Wednesday.
• The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 62.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 3rd August

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 23:35 BST at the start of the week and at 23:12 BST by the end of the week.
• Venus (-4.2) sets at around 22:11 BST this week. Saturn (+0.6) rises at 22:46 BST, and Mars (+1.3) follows at 01:37 BST.
• Two globular clusters are this week’s Deep Sky Challenge: start with M2 (+6.6) in Aquarius at 38,000 light years away, then on to nearby M15 (+6.3) in Pegasus at the slightly closer distance of 34,000 light years.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Thursday.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions and the sunspot number is 104.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 27th July

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 00:11 BST at the start of the week and at 23:39 BST by the end of the week.
• Mercury (+0.1) reaches greatest western elongation on Sunday, making it best placed for observation in the eastern morning sky, rising at 03:57 BST.
• Venus (-4.2) sets at around 22:30 BST this week. Saturn (+0.7) rises at 23:17 BST, and Mars (+1.3) follows at 01:47 BST.
• The Full Moon this week means we need brighter targets for the deep sky challenge, so we start with the globular cluster M2 (+6.6) in Aquarius. Move up about 13° to find another globular, M15 (+6.3) in Pegasus. Finish with Gamma Delphini (+3.9) a beautiful double star with a separation of 8.7 arcseconds, forming the nose of the dolphin.
• The Moon is Full on Wednesday – the Buck Moon.
• The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 86.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 20th July

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 00:59 BST on Tuesday, but only for 30 minutes, by the end of the week astronomical twilight ends at 00:16 BST, giving 1 hour 55 minutes of astronomical darkness.
• Venus (-4.2) is bright above the western evening horizon, setting at around 22:53 BST this week. Saturn (+0.7) rises at 23:48 BST, followed by Mars (+1.3) at 02:00 BST. Saturn enters retrograde motion on Sunday, lasting until December.
• Ophiuchus, the thirteenth constellation of the zodiac, is our target area this week. Start with Messier 12 (+6.1), a globular cluster some 16,000 light years away at the bottom of the teapot. Move to the spout to find the open cluster IC 4665 (+4.2), and finish a few degrees to the east with the double star 70 Ophiuchi (+4.2) with a separation of 6.7 arcseconds.
• The Moon is First Quarter on Tuesday.
• The Sun currently has 2 active regions and the sunspot number is 24.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 13th July

• Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• Venus (-4.1), currently in Leo, dominates the western evening horizon, setting at around 23:05 BST this week. Saturn (+0.7) rises at 00:15 BST, followed by Mars (+1.3) at 02:10 BST.
• With this week’s dark skies of the New Moon, find yourself an observing location with a good low southerly horizon to discover some gems of the lower reaches of the Milky Way. Start in Sagittarius to find the globular cluster, M22 (+5.2), then up a few degrees to M17 (+6.0), the Omega Nebula, and on to finish with the Eagle Nebula, M16 (+6.4) in Serpens. Nebulae are hard to spot with the naked eye, a high contrast or OIII filter might help, or better take a photo!
• The Moon is New on Tuesday.
• The Sun currently has 4 active regions and the sunspot number is 82.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 6th July

• Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• The Earth reaches aphelion on Monday, its most distant point in its orbit around the Sun. The seasons are all to do with the tilt of the Earth’s axis and hours of sunlight, not it being close or far from the Sun; though this does also have a small impact on temperatures.
• Venus (-4.1) is bright in the western evening sky, setting at around 23:20 BST this week. Saturn (+0.8) rises at 00:42 BST, followed by Mars (+1.3) at 02:20 BST.
• We are in the bottom reaches of the Summer Triangle this week to hunt the large asterism Brocchi’s Cluster (+3.6), also known as the ‘Coathanger’, use binoculars to find this pattern of stars in Vulpecula. Move west a few degrees to find the Dumbbell Nebula, M27 (+7.1). Finish with the globular cluster Messier 71 (+8.4) 13,000 light years away in the constellation of Sagitta.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Tuesday.
• The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 97.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 29th June

• Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• Jupiter (-1.8) is becoming increasingly difficult to observe as it sinks to the west, setting at 22:40 BST in the twilight. Venus (-4.1) continues to dominate the western evening sky. Saturn (+0.8) rises at 01:09 BST and Mars (+1.3) rises at 02:36 BST, rewarding the early bird!
• The bright, though low Moon pushes us towards a gaggle of Globular Clusters this week. Start with M5 (+5.7) in Serpens at 24,000 light years away, then move to Ophiuchus to find M12 (+6.1) at 16,000 ly and M10 (+6.6) at 14,000 ly. Finish with the challenging M4 (+5.4) in Scorpius, low to the southern horizon just to the west of red giant star Antares, Alpha Scorpii (+1.1). M4 is ‘only’ 7,000 light years from Earth!
• The Moon is Full on Tuesday – the Strawberry Moon.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions (including the huge AR 4478) and the sunspot number is 119.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 22nd June

• Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• The evening planets are, from west to east, Mercury (+1.2), Jupiter (-1.8), and Venus (-4.0). They are quite low to the horizon, with Venus setting at around 23:47 BST this week.
• The morning planets are: Neptune (+7.9), Saturn (+0.8), Mars (+1.3), and Uranus (+5.8). Find the planets low to the eastern horizon before sunrise, which is at around 04:50 BST this week.
• Hercules is our target constellation this week. We start with two globular clusters, the famous Great Hercules Cluster, M13 (+5.8), and the lesser known M92 (+6.5) about 10° northeast of M13. Then we have two double stars, the first is Rasalgethi, Alpha Herculis (+3.4), his lower left foot, which is an easy split at 4.6″, the second is much tougher at just 1.5″ separation, head to the bottom right of the ‘Keystone’ to find Zeta Herculis (+2.8). Good luck!
• The Moon is Waxing Gibbous all week.
• The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 73
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 15th June

• Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• The Summer Solstice is at 09:25 BST on Sunday. This is when the Sun reaches its most northerly point in the sky and appears to ‘stand still’, marking the start of astronomical summer here in the northern hemisphere.
• Mercury (+0.6) reaches Greatest Eastern Elongation on Monday, when it is at its furthest apparent separation from the Sun as viewed from Earth. Spot the planet close to the western horizon just after sunset.
• Jupiter (-1.8) and Venus (-4.0) are moving apart again after last week’s conjunction, but continue to dominate the western evening sky in the dusk. Spot Saturn (+0.8) and Mars (+1.3) in the east just before sunrise.
• A lack of darkness around the June solstice means visual astronomy can be a little limited and certainly a late night affair! Head to Scorpius for some summer treats, starting with Antares, Alpha Scorpii (+1.1), a red supergiant that is also a double star, with its companion of mag +5.4 at 2.5″ separation, making it a tricky double to split. Two globular clusters complete the Scorpius tour: M4 (+5.4) at 7,200 light years away and M80 (+7.3) 33,000 light years away.
• The Moon is New on Monday, and First Quarter on Sunday.
• The Sun currently has 3 active regions and the sunspot number is 41.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 8th June

• Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• Venus (-4.0) and Jupiter (-1.9) are in conjunction on Tuesday; see the two bright planets only 1.5° apart, about 20° above the horizon in the western evening sky. Mercury (+0.1) is at an altitude of about 15° a little further to the north. Early risers can catch Mars (+1.3) just above the eastern horizon in the hour before sunrise, which is at around 04:50 BST this week.
• We are in the heart of the Summer Triangle for the deep sky challenge this week, starting with the globular cluster M56 (+8.4) at 31,000 light years away in Lyra. Next to Cygnus and the wonderful summer double star, Albireo (+3.1), the beak of the Swan. We finish in the heart of Cygnus with the open cluster M29 (+6.6), which is about 5,000 light years away.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Monday.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 139.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 1st June

• Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• The Sun sets at around 21:15 BST this week, leaving behind it a trail of planets above the western horizon, starting with Mercury (-0.6) as it approaches greatest eastern elongation next week, next is Venus (-4.0), which doesn’t reach elongation until August, and then Jupiter (-1.9), which is coming to the end of its apparition this year. Watch as Venus and Jupiter steadily approach one another through the week.
• We head to the edge of the Summer Triangle and the constellation of Lyra for this week’s observing challenge. Start with the Double Double (+5.0), a multiple star system composed of two double stars, each with separations of about 2.3 arcseconds. Next to Sheliak, Beta Lyrae (+3.5) a variable double star that is an eclipsing binary, varying between +3.5 and +6.7 with a period of 12.9 days. We finish with the wonderful Ring Nebula, M57 (+8.8), a stunning planetary nebula about 1400 light years away.
• The Moon is Waning Gibbous all week.
• The Sun currently has 9 active regions and the sunspot number is 133.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 25th May

• Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• Mercury (-1.1) is low to the north-western horizon this week, though take great care of the Sun if hunting the planet before sunset. Venus (-4.0) is a little higher and closer to the west, it sets at around 23:57 BST this week. Jupiter (-1.9) is higher again and sets at around 00:40 BST. There is a GRS transit at 21:56 BST on Wednesday.
• This week, with the bright Moon and no real darkness, we travel to Ophiuchus to search out four globular clusters. Start with M107 (+7.8) at 21 kly, then up a bit to M12 (+6.1) at 16 kly, left a bit to M10 (+6.6) at 14 kly, and finally left a bit more to M14 (+7.6) at 30 kly. Good luck hunting down these ancient clusters!
• The Moon is Full on Sunday, it is the second Full Moon in the month, so is a Blue Moon – the Blue Mead Moon.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions and the sunspot number is 86.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 18th May

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 00:07 BST at the start of the week and from Sunday, Astronomical Twilight does not end until the 21st July.
• Venus (-4.0) is the brightest object in the western sky just after sunset; the ‘evening star’ sets at around 23:48 BST. Jupiter (-1.9) sets at around 01:04 BST. There is an evening GRS transit at 22:46 BST on Friday.
• Get your telescope ready for some double stars in the Bootes area this week; start with Xi Bootis (+4.7) at a separation of 4.6″, then up a little to Izar, Epsilon Bootis (+4.7) at 2.9″ separation, then across to Zeta Coronae Borealis (+5.9) with a separation of 6.5″. A tough but beautiful selection of binary stars!
• The Moon is First Quarter on Saturday.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions and the sunspot number is 83.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 11th May

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 23:37 BST at the start of the week and at 00:01 BST by the end of the week.
• Venus (-4.0) is increasing in apparent magnitude in the western evening sky, now setting at around 23:35 BST. Jupiter (-2.0) is creeping ever further west, now setting at 01:28 BST. There is a well timed GRS transit on Friday at 21:56 BST.
• It’s all about Globular Clusters this week, those intriguing balls of some 100,000 stars. Start with M5 (+5.7) in Serpens at 24 kly, then on to M13 (+5.8) in Hercules at 23 kly, and finishing with M92 (+6.5) also in Hercules, but a little further away at 27 kly. Globulars make spectacular targets in binoculars or a telescope.
• The Moon is New on Saturday.
• The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 81.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 4th May

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 23:10 BST at the start of the week and at 23:33 BST by the end of the week.
• The Eta-Aquarid meteor shower peaks on Wednesday. It has a ZHR of around 40, but the radiant is very low in the sky, so don’t expect to see that kind of rate. The shower is caused by debris from comet 1P/Halley.
• Venus (-3.9) and Jupiter (-2.0) are slowly approaching each other in the western sky as they come to conjunction in early June. Venus sets at 23:17 BST and Jupiter sets at 01:52 BST.
• We search from zenith to horizon for this week’s deep sky challenge, starting overhead with M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy (+8.4) at about 28 million light years away in Canes Venatici. Slew to the southern border of Canes Venatici to find the globular cluster M3 (+6.3) at about 33,000 light years, and then towards the southern horizon into Virgo to search for the Sombrero Galaxy, M104 (+8.0) at 34 million light years.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Saturday.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 133.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 27th April

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 22:47 BST at the start of the week and at 23:07 BST by the end of the week.
• Bright Venus (-3.9) sets in the west at around 22:58 BST this week, spot the planet just after sunset, which is at around 20:25 BST. Jupiter (-2.0) transits at around 18:04 BST and sets at 02:15 BST.
• The Full Moon and ever later darkness make for a challenging deep sky challenge this week! We are heading North and start with a double star that is often overlooked, Polaris (+2.0) in Ursa Minor, is famous for its position rather than composition; it is a lovely double with a separation of 18 arcseconds. Move 20° towards the Zenith to find the wonderful galaxy pair of Bode’s Galaxy, M81 (+6.9) and the Cigar Galaxy, M82 (+8.4). They make a great target together for the astrophotographer.
• The Moon is Full on Friday – the Flower Moon.
• The Sun currently has 7 active regions and the sunspot number is 154.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 20th April

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 22:26 BST at the start of the week and at 22:44 BST by the end of the week.
• The Lyrid meteor shower is predicted to peak at around 20:00 BST on Wednesday. It has a maximum ZHR of around 18 meteors per hour, so not the most productive of showers, but worth having a look out during the night and keep an eye on the radio live stream. The shower’s progenitor is comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). It is one of the oldest recorded meteor showers, seen by the Chinese over 2,500 years ago!
• Venus (-3.9) is low to the western horizon around sunset, setting at 22:36 BST this week. Jupiter (-2.1) transits at around 18:28 BST and sets at 02:40 BST.
• Three objects low in the South provide this week’s deep sky challenge. Start with the double star Porrima, Gamma Virginis (+3.5), in Virgo with a separation of 3.6″. Move down a few degrees to M104, the Sombrero Galaxy (+8.0) in the lower reaches of Virgo, and then finish just a few degrees above the southern horizon with globular cluster M68 (+7.3) in the constellation of Hydra.
• The Moon is First Quarter on Friday.
• The Sun currently has 3 active regions and the sunspot number is 44.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 13th April

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 22:07 BST at the start of the week and at 22:23 BST by the end of the week.
• Venus (-3.9) is bright near our western horizon around sunset, setting at 22:13 BST this week. Jupiter (-2.1) transits at around 18:52 BST and sets at 03:05 BST.
• The constellation of Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs just below the handle of the Plough, is our destination this week. A trilogy of galaxies awaits, the more aperture the better! Start with the classic Whirlpool Galaxy, M51 (+8.4) at 28 million lightyears away, then on to M63, the Sunflower Galaxy (+8.6) at 27 Mly, and end with M94, the Croc’s Eye Galaxy (+8.2) at 17 Mly. All are fuzzy blobs in the eyepiece, astrophotography will reveal more structure.
• The Moon is New on Friday.
• The Sun currently has 3 active regions and the sunspot number is 42.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 6th April

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 21:50 BST at the start of the week and at 22:05 BST by the end of the week.
• Spot Venus (-3.9) low in the west after sunset; the planet sets at 21:50 BST this week. Jupiter (-2.2) transits at around 19:17 BST and sets at 03:30 BST.
• We’re going for double stars this week, starting with Tegmine, Zeta Cancri (+5.6) with a separation of 6″, then on to Algieba, Gamma Leonis (+2.2) at 4.7″, across to Alula Australis, Xi Ursae Majoris (+3.8) at 2.7″, and finish with Izar, Epsilon Bootis (+4.7) at 2.9″. Good luck!
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Friday.
• The Sun currently has 7 active regions and the sunspot number is 113.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 30th March

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 21:35 BST at the start of the week and at 21:48 BST by the end of the week.
• Venus (-3.9) is the brightest object low in the western evening sky, best seen just after sunset at around 19:35 BST this week. Jupiter (-2.2) transits at around 19:42 BST. There is a good GRS transit starting at 21:00 BST on Monday.
• With the bright Moon in the eastern evening sky, spend time in the west enjoying Orion as it sinks towards the horizon for this apparition. Highlights are: the Orion Nebula, M42 (+4.0), tight double star Alnitak (+1.7) at just 2.1″ separation, and multiple star system Sigma Orionis (+8.4) with three or four stars visible as a ‘mini-cluster’.
• The Moon is Full on Thursday – the Pink Moon.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 116.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 23rd March

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 20:20 GMT at the start of the week and at 21:32 BST by the end of the week.
• Don’t forget that the clocks change on Sunday, moving forwards one hour at 01:00 GMT to become 02:00 BST.
• Jupiter (-2.3) transits at around 19:08 GMT through this week. There is a good GRS transit at 21:48 GMT on Monday.
• Spot Venus (-3.9) shining brightly in the western evening sky, it sets at around 20:00 GMT, so head out just after sunset to find the ‘evening star’.
• We are heading in to ‘Galaxy Season’ now with the North Galactic Pole rising higher in our evening sky. This week’s observing challenge is an easy start to the season with Bode’s Nebulae in Ursa Major around the zenith. Start with Bode’s Galaxy, M81 (+6.9), a classic spiral galaxy, and then a short hop to the very close by Cigar Galaxy, M82 (+8.4), a starburst galaxy. Both are around 12 million light years from Earth.
• The Moon is First Quarter on Wednesday.
• The Sun currently has 4 active regions and the sunspot number is 48.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 16th March

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 20:06 GMT at the start of the week and at 20:18 GMT by the end of the week.
• The March Equinox is at 14:48 GMT on Friday. This marks the first day of spring here in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of only two days in the year when the Sun will rise due East and set due West. Daylight and night will be of equal length.
• Jupiter (-2.3) transits at 19:35 GMT as it moves ever west in our night sky; enjoy the planet before the lighter evenings mean it is no longer easily visible. There is a good GRS transit at 21:00 GMT on Monday.
• This week, during the March New Moon, is the time of year to attempt the Messier Marathon. Start at sunset and move across the sky observing each of the 110 objects in the famous Messier Catalogue. Keep going until dawn and see how many you can find!
• The Moon is New on Thursday.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions and the sunspot number is 85.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 9th March

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 19:53 GMT at the start of the week and at 20:04 GMT by the end of the week.
• Jupiter (-2.4) ends its retrograde motion on Wednesday and transits at around 20:00 GMT this week. There is a well timed GRS transit on Monday starting at 20:11 GMT.
• Venus (-3.9) is low to the western horizon at sunset, which is at around 18:00 GMT this week.
• We move to the constellation Leo, rising ever higher in the southeast, for this week’s observing challenge. Start with Algieba (+2.2), a fine double star in the Sickle asterism and a relatively easy split of 4.8″ separation. Then to the Leo Triplet around the Lion’s hind legs, a trio of galaxies: M65 (+9.3), M66 (+8.9) and NGC 3628 (+9.5), all around 30 to 40 million light years away.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Wednesday.
• The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 75.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 2nd March

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 19:40 GMT at the start of the week and at 19:51 GMT by the end of the week.
• There is a Total Lunar Eclipse on Tuesday. Unfortunately, it won’t be visible from Marlborough; you need to be in Asia, Australia or North America to see it. This is the last Total Lunar Eclipse until the end of 2028!
• Venus (-3.9), Mercury (+2.8), Saturn (+1.0) and Neptune (+8.0) are visible, with care, low to the southwestern horizon just after sunset, which is at around 17:49 GMT this week. Uranus (+5.7) is close to the Pleiades in the South, and Jupiter (-2.4) transits at around 20:30 GMT.
• Bright targets are best under the Full Moon this week, so head to between Perseus and Cassiopeia to find the Double Cluster (+5.3), then head south to find M34 (+5.2); complete the Cluster hunt with M52 (+6.9) between Cassiopeia and Cepheus.
• The Moon is Full on Tuesday – the Worm Moon.
• The Sun currently has 3 active regions and the sunspot number is 44.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 23rd February

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 19:28 GMT at the start of the week and at 19:38 GMT by the end of the week.
• The Sun has just one disappearing active region and looks spotless, the first time it has had no sunspots since 2022. This is a sign of things to come as we move away from Solar Maximum.
• Catch Venus (-3.9), Mercury (+0.3), Saturn (+1.1) and Neptune (+7.9) low to the southwestern horizon after sunset, which is around 17:36 GMT this week. Uranus (+5.7) is close to the Moon and the Pleiades in the South, and Jupiter (-2.5) transits at around 21:00 GMT this week. We’re just missing Mars for the full set, but this won’t be easily visible until the autumn.
• Head to Cancer for this week’s observing challenge; start with double star, Tegmine (+5.6) with an angular separation of 5.9″, then on to open cluster, M44 (+3.1), the Beehive Cluster, and finish with an easier double star, Iota Cancri (+4.0) with a separation of 31″.
• The Moon is First Quarter on Tuesday.
• The Sun currently has 1 active region and the sunspot number is 11.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 16th February

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 19:16 GMT at the start of the week and at 19:26 GMT by the end of the week.
• 2026, the year of the eclipse, starts with an annular solar eclipse on Tuesday. However, you need to be in Antarctica on Tuesday morning to see anything yourself! Check on line for live streams of the eclipse.
• Mercury reaches Greatest Eastern Elongation on Thursday, making it well placed for observation in the evening sky. Look in the southwest after sunset, which is at 17:29 GMT. Venus will be at an altitude of about 5° and Mercury will be at about 12°. Take great care of the Sun if trying to find the planets in binoculars. The thin Crescent Waxing Moon will be just a few degrees above these two planets.
• Jupiter (-2.5) transits at around 21:15 GMT this week.
• Head to the deep south for this week’s observing challenge, starting at just 13° above the southern horizon in the constellation of Puppis with the open cluster M93 (+6.2). Move up about ten degrees to find M46 (+6.1) and M47 (+4.4). Finish in Hydra with M48 (+5.8).
• The Moon is New on Tuesday.
• The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 60.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 9th February

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 19:05 GMT at the start of the week and at 19:14 GMT by the end of the week.
• Jupiter (-2.6) transits at around 22:00 GMT this week, setting at about 06:10 GMT. There is a good GRS transit starting at 20:19 GMT on Friday.
• Auriga is well placed at the moment, so it is time to enjoy the three main open clusters in ‘the Chariot’. Start with M38 (+6.4), the Starfish Cluster, then on to nearby M36 (+6.0), the Pinwheel Cluster, and finally to M37 (+5.6) just outside the pentagon asterism.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Monday.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 128.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 2nd February

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:53 GMT at the start of the week and at 19:03 GMT by the end of the week.
• We are approaching the end of this apparition of Saturn (+1.1) as it now sets at around 21:00 GMT this week. It is ever closer to the western horizon, so the view is deteriorating. Get out and spot the planet before it disappears until the autumn!
• Jupiter (-2.6) is moving through Gemini and transits at around 22:30 GMT this week.
• This week the deep sky challenge is a tough one, you will need a larger aperture to hunt down the objects. Start to the east of Alnitak in Orion’s Belt to search for M78 (+8.3), the brightest reflection nebula in the sky, but tricky to spot. Then move across to Monoceros, the Unicorn, to find the Rosette Cluster, NGC 2244 (+4.8) at the centre of the Rosette Nebula, a beautiful target for the astrophotographer. Good luck!
• The Moon is Waning Gibbous all week.
• The Sun currently has 9 active regions and the sunspot number is 126.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 26th January

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:43 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:52 GMT by the end of the week.
• Saturn (+1.1) sets at around 21:25 GMT this week. Jupiter (-2.6) transits at around 23:00 GMT. The 95% Waxing Gibbous Moon is in conjunction with Jupiter on Friday.
• Given the bright Moon this week, we are on the hunt for brighter targets and Messier open clusters fit the bill perfectly. Start with M52 (+6.9) on the border of Cepheus and Cassiopeia, then on to M103 (+7.4) close to the W of Cassiopeia, finishing with M34 (+5.2) in Perseus. A splattering of sparkling jewel boxes!
• The Moon is Full on Sunday – the Snow Moon.
• The Sun currently has 9 active regions and the sunspot number is 147.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 19th January

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:33 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:41 GMT by the end of the week.
• Jupiter (-2.7) transits at 23:30 GMT this week. Saturn (+1.2) sets at around 21:35 GMT. Look out for the Crescent Moon in conjunction with Saturn on Friday evening.
• We travel to Cassiopeia for this week’s observing targets. Start with Caroline’s Rose, NGC 7789 (+6.7) a dense open cluster about 6000 light years away. Then on to Achird (+3.5), a double star with a separation of 13 arcseconds and colours described as gold and garnet! Finally to the Owl Cluster, NGC 457 (+6.4), an open cluster about 8000 light years away that resembles an owl, if you have a healthy imagination!
• The Moon is Waxing Crescent all week.
• The Sun currently has 7 active regions and the sunspot number is 124.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 12th January

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:24 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:32 GMT by the end of the week.
• Jupiter (-2.7) rises at 15:56 GMT and transits at around 00:05 GMT this week. Saturn (+1.2) sets at around 22:00 GMT.
• Given the New Moon, this week’s targets are the faint fuzzy remains of exploded stars that need a good dark sky to stand out. Start in Taurus to hunt down the Crab Nebula, M1 (+8.4), a supernova remnant about 6000 light years away. Then move into Gemini to find the Eskimo Nebula, NGC 2392 (+9.2), just below Jupiter. This is a planetary nebula, the remains of a low mass star such as the Sun, which is about 4000 light years away. You will need a telescope to find these two objects. Good luck!
• The Moon is New on Sunday.
• The Sun currently has 4 active regions and the sunspot number is 65.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 5th January

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:16 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:23 GMT by the end of the week.
• Jupiter reaches opposition on Saturday, meaning that it is directly opposite the Sun when viewed from Earth. This is the best time to observer Jupiter as it will appear at its largest and brightest in our sky. Given the time of year, the ecliptic is very high, so Jupiter is at an altitude of about 60° when it transits, making it even better placed for observation. We just need clear skies!
• Saturn (+1.2) sets at around 22:30 GMT, Neptune (+7.9) is just a few degrees east of Saturn, and Uranus (+5.6) is just below the Pleiades, transiting at around 20:40 GMT.
• Orion is climbing higher in our southern sky and is full of interesting targets: start with the Great Orion Nebula, M42 (+4.0), an emission nebula that is best observed in binoculars, then move to the easternmost star of Orion’s Belt, Alnitak (+4.2), a tricky double star to split at a separation of just 2.1 arcseconds, you’ll need a telescope for this one.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Saturday.
• The Sun currently has 7 active regions and the sunspot number is 136.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 29th December

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:10 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:15 GMT by the end of the week.
• The Earth reaches perihelion at 17:15 GMT on Saturday, its closest point to the Sun in its annual orbit. This makes summer in the southern hemisphere slightly hotter than in the northern hemisphere!
• The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Saturday. It is one of the most productive showers of the year with a ZHR of 120, but that is in perfect conditions. Unfortunately, the Full Moon will drown out all but the brightest, but it is still worth watching the skies for the natural fireworks display! The shower’s progenitor is asteroid 2003 EH1.
• Saturn (+1.2) is edging towards the end of its apparition as it now sets at around 23:00 GMT, catch it while you can. Meanwhile, Jupiter (-2.7), is moving towards centre stage, rising at around 17:00 GMT as it approaches opposition next week.
• Given the Full Moon this week, the observing challenge is lunar; hunt for the following features: The Sea of Tranquillity, site of the Apollo 11 landing, the crater Tycho, with vast ejecta rays, and finally, the crater Copernicus in the Ocean of Storms.
• The Moon is Full on Saturday – the Wolf Moon.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 130.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 22nd December

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:05 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:09 GMT by the end of the week.
• The Ursid meteor shower peaks on Monday. It is not a prolific shower, with a ZHR of only 10 meteors. Its progenitor is comet 8P/Tuttle.
• The four giant planets are in our night sky at the moment, from west to east: Saturn (+1.1) sets at around 23:30 GMT, Neptune (+7.9) is just a few degrees to the east, Uranus (+5.6) is in the south, transiting at around 21:44 GMT, and finally Jupiter (-2.6), which rises at around 17:30 GMT and transits at around 01:40 GMT.
• Auriga is home to a plethora of open clusters, the best of which are M38 (+6.4), the Starfish Cluster, M36 (+6.0), the Pinwheel Cluster, and M37 (+5.6). Use your binoculars to enjoy this cluster rich patch of sky.
• The Moon is First Quarter on Saturday.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions and the sunspot number is 74.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 15th December

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:02 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:05 GMT by the end of the week.
• The December Solstice is on Sunday at 15:04 GMT when the Sun reaches it lowest declination of -23.5°. It will then begin to climb higher in our northern hemisphere sky as we move through winter.
• Saturn (+1.1) transits at around 18:20 GMT this week and sets at around 00:00 GMT. Jupiter (-2.6) rises at around 18:05 GMT and transits at around 02:00 GMT. There is an evening GRS transit on Thursday, starting at 18:20 GMT.
• Taurus is the focus of the observing challenge this week. Start with the very large open cluster, the Hyades (+0.5), the V of the head of the Bull, with bright red giant star, Aldebaran (+1.0), is the eye of the Bull. Move up a few degrees to M45, the Pleiades (+1.5) or Seven Sisters – how many stars can you make out with the naked eye, and how many more can you see with binoculars?! Finish with a ‘faint fuzzy’, M1, the Crab Nebula (+8.4), a supernova remnant that will require a good telescope to tease out any structure.
• The Moon is New on Saturday.
• The Sun currently has 5 active regions and the sunspot number is 76.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 8th December

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:02 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:02 GMT by the end of the week.
• The Geminid meteor shower peaks on Sunday morning, so Saturday night should give the best observing opportunity. The ZHR is 120 meteors per hour, making it one of the finest showers of the year. Its progenitor is asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Let’s hope for clear skies!
• Saturn (+1.1) transits at around 18:40 GMT this week and sets at around 00:25 GMT. Jupiter (-2.6) rises at around 18:35 GMT and transits at around 02:40 GMT. The GRS transit on Monday starts at 20:05 GMT, accompanied by a transit of Io, which ends at 21:18 GMT.
• This week’s observing challenge is a daytime one; active regions 4294 and 4296 on the surface of the Sun are vast, and are currently perfectly placed to bombard Earth with charged particles if they erupt. Take great care when observing the Sun, only using suitable filters to ensure safety.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Thursday.
• The Sun currently has 7 active regions and the sunspot number is 129.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 1st December

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:03 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:02 GMT by the end of the week.
• Mercury (-0.4) reaches Greatest Western Elongation on Sunday, making it observable in the pre-dawn twilight, about 9° above the south-eastern horizon. Take care of the Sun if using binoculars to try and find Mercury.
• Saturn (+1.1) transits at around 19:05 GMT this week and sets at around 00:55 GMT. Jupiter (-2.5) rises at around 19:00 GMT and transits at around 03:10 GMT. Look out for a usefully timed GRS transit on Wednesday, starting at 20:58 GMT.
• In search of bright objects this week, given the Full Moon, head to Auriga for three Messier open clusters. Start with M38 (+6.4) at 4,600 light years away, then on to M36 (+6.0) at 4,300 ly, and finally to M37 (+5.6) at 4,500 ly.
• The Moon is Full on Thursday – the Super Cold Moon.
• The Sun currently has 4 active regions and the sunspot number is 74.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 24th November

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:07 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:03 GMT by the end of the week.
• Saturn (+1.0) transits at around 19:30 GMT through this week and sets at around 01:20 GMT. Jupiter (-2.5) rises at around 19:30 GMT and transits at around 03:30 GMT.
• Stars are the objects of interest for this week’s observing challenge. Start in Andromeda with the double star, Almach (+2.2), with a separation of 9.4 arcseconds, then move east a few degrees to find the open cluster M34 (+5.2) about 1600 light years away in Perseus. Stay in Perseus to finish with variable star Algol (+2.1), an eclipsing binary which dips to +3.4 for about 10 hours every 2 days, 20 hours and 49 minutes; keep an eye on Algol and compare its brightness to neighbouring stars to see the change.
• The Moon is First Quarter on Friday.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions and the sunspot number is 74.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 17th November

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:12 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:07 GMT by the end of the week.
• Saturn (+1.0) transits at around 19:50 GMT through this week and sets at around 01:35 GMT. Jupiter (-2.5) is creeping ever closer, rising at around 19:50 GMT and transiting at around 04:00 GMT.
• Uranus reaches opposition on Friday, so it is best placed for observation from Earth, appearing largest and brightest in the sky. However, it is still only apparent magnitude +5.6 and has an apparent size of just 3.8 arcseconds, so you will need a larger telescope to view the planet successfully.
• Having observed Uranus, stay in Taurus for this week’s deep sky targets. Start with the Pleiades, M45 (+1.5), just above Uranus – how many stars can you count in this open cluster? Move down and east to find the Crab Nebula, M1 (+8.4); it’s a challenge to see much detail in this supernova remnant, though large aperture and a UHC filter will help.
• The Moon is New on Thursday.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 97.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 10th November

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:20 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:13 GMT by the end of the week.
• The Leonid meteor shower peaks on Monday next week, so the best time to observe is on Sunday night. The shower is not the most prolific of the year, producing around 15 meteors per hour. Its progenitor is comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle.
• Saturn (+1.0) transits at around 20:30 GMT this week and sets at around 02:20 GMT. Jupiter (-2.4) rises at around 20:33 GMT and transits at 04:37 GMT.
• Cassiopeian clusters and doubles provide the observing challenge this week. Start with NGC 7789, Caroline’s Rose (+6.7) a rich open cluster at the top of the W; move on to double star, Achird (+3.5), a relatively easy split at 14 arcseconds; finish with NGC 457, the Owl Cluster (+6.4), which is number 13 in the Caldwell Catalogue – can you see the Owl’s eyes?!
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Wednesday.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions and the sunspot number is 107.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 3rd November

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:30 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:21 GMT by the end of the week.
• Catch Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) (+10.2) low to the western horizon in Ophiuchus just after sunset before it disappears back to the far reaches of the solar system for about 1335 years!
• Saturn (+0.9) transits at around 21:00 GMT this week, while Jupiter (-2.4) rises at around the same time.
• With the Full Moon, the best targets in the deep sky are clusters, so the challenge is to find three open clusters in Cassiopeia and Perseus. We start with the Owl Cluster, NGC 457 (+6.4), near to the W asterism, then to the Double Cluster, NGC 869 and NGC 884 (+5.3) on the border of Perseus, before moving down to M34 (+5.2) between the body of Perseus and Almach.
• The Moon is Full on Wednesday – the Hunter’s Supermoon.
• The Sun currently has 2 active regions and the sunspot number is 24.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 27th October

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 18:41 GMT at the start of the week and at 18:31 GMT by the end of the week.
• Mercury (-0.1) reaches Greatest Eastern Elongation on Wednesday. Normally this would be the ideal time to spot the elusive planet in the evening sky, however, given the time of year, it will be just 3° above the southwestern horizon, so a real challenge to spot.
• Saturn (+0.9) transits at around 21:20 GMT this week; it will share the same patch of sky with the Waxing Gibbous Moon over the weekend. Jupiter (-2.3) rises at around 21:19 GMT.
• We have two comets in our skies at the moment, though both are quite faint and need binoculars or a telescope to see.  Start in the west at astronomical twilight (around 18:00 GMT) to find Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) (+10.1) about 20° above the western horizon in Serpens. Then look south for comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) (+10.6) in Aquarius.
• The Moon is First Quarter on Wednesday.
• The Sun currently has 7 active regions and the sunspot number is 89.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 20th October

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 19:54 BST at the start of the week and at 18:43 GMT by the end of the week.
• The Orionids meteor shower peaks on Tuesday. It is a smaller shower, with a ZHR of just 15 meteors. It is interesting primarily because the progenitor of the shower is comet 1P/Halley.
• Saturn (+0.8) rises at around 17:10 BST this week and transits at 22:55 BST, reaching a max altitude of about 34° making it very well placed for observation. Jupiter (-2.2) rises at around 22:48 BST, but doesn’t transit until 06:52 BST. We must be patient for Jupiter as it approaches opposition in January, when it will be at a max altitude of about 61°.
• If the clouds part, it is time to hunt down comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) which is around 20° above the north-western horizon just after sunset. It is moving through Boötes into Serpens through the week and is about magnitude 10, so binoculars or a telescope will be needed to find it.
• The Moon is New on Tuesday.
• The Sun currently has 7 active regions and the sunspot number is 105.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 13th October

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 20:08 BST at the start of the week and at 19:56 BST by the end of the week.
• Dwarf planet Eris reaches opposition on Saturday, making it best placed for observation from Earth. However, the small planet is about 95 AU away and is only magnitude +18.6, so a very large aperture will be required to spot the dot visually. Try taking a photograph of the dot over multiple nights and see it move against the background stars.
• Saturn (+0.8) rises at around 17:40 BST this week and transits at 23:28 BST. Jupiter (-2.2) rises at around 23:10 BST through this week, and on Monday will be joined by the last quarter Moon at just under 4° separation, this should make a beautiful sight as they rise together.
• This week, the challenge is to hunt down a trio of globular clusters that surround the small constellation of Equuleus. The first is NGC 6934 (+8.9) in Delphinus at 51,000 ly from Earth, next to M15 (+6.3) in Pegasus at 34,000 ly, and finally to M2 (+6.6) in Aquarius at 38,000 ly.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Monday.
• The Sun currently has 6 active regions and the sunspot number is 108.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 6th October

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 20:24 BST at the start of the week and at 20:10 BST by the end of the week.
• The Draconid Meteor shower peaks on Wednesday, though the Full Moon will shroud all but the brightest. The progenitor of the shower is Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, which passed perihelion in March this year, so perhaps there will be an increased number of meteors this year.
• Saturn (+0.7) rises at around 18:05 BST this week, and Jupiter (-2.2) rises at around 23:35 BST.
• There are two comets to follow in our skies right now. The first is comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) (+9.2) in Serpens, low in the southwest after sunset and the second is C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) (+10.9) in Canes Venatici, in the northwest evening sky, circumpolar through to the northeast in the pre-dawn sky. Binoculars will be needed to try and catch a glimpse of both.
• The Moon is Full on Tuesday – the Harvest Moon and the Hunter’s Moon.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 137.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 29th September

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 20:40 BST at the start of the week and at 20:26 BST by the end of the week.
• This week Saturn (+0.7) rises at around 18:30 BST; it is fascinating with its rings edge on to us and a multitude of moons stretching out either side. Jupiter (-2.1) rises at around 23:50 BST, and Venus (-3.9) rises at around 04:40 BST.
• Dwarf planets in our evening sky provide the observing challenge this week. Hunt down Ceres (+7.6), the closest to Earth at just under 2 AU away, which reaches opposition on Thursday. With that one in the bag, extend your reach to the outer solar system to find Pluto (+14.5) at about 35 AU away. The best way to spot these objects is though photography over multiple nights and look for the dot that moves!
• The Moon is First Quarter on Tuesday.
• The Sun currently has 10 active regions and the sunspot number is 172.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 22nd September

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 20:58 BST at the start of the week and at 20:43 BST by the end of the week.
• The September or Autumn Equinox is at 19:19 on Monday, this is when the Sun crosses the Celestial Equator heading south. It is one of only two days in the year when the Sun will rise due East and set due West. Day and night length will be equal at about 12 hours each. Happy Equinox!
• The planets are becoming ever more prominent in our night / evening sky with Saturn (+0.6) rising at 19:08 BST. You will find faint Neptune (+7.8) just over 2° to the east. Jupiter (-2.1) rises at around 00:25 BST this week, while Venus (-3.9) is moving back towards the Sun and rises at 04:25 BST.
• The Andromeda region of sky provides our challenge this week with globular cluster M15 (+6.2) first on the list in neighbouring Pegasus. Then move to Andromeda for M31 (+3.4), the Andromeda Galaxy, and on to the most challenging object, M76 (+10.1), the Little Dumbbell Nebula in next door Perseus.
• The Moon is Waxing Crescent all week.
• The Sun currently has 10 active regions and the sunspot number is 155.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 15th September

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 21:17 BST at the start of the week and at 21:01 BST by the end of the week.
• Saturn (+0.6) reaches opposition on Sunday, putting it in the best place for observation; it will appear largest and brightest from Earth. The ringed planet rises at 19:12 BST and transits at 01:05 BST – enjoy the view!
• Jupiter (-2.1) rises at around 00:35 BST this week and Venus (-3.9) rises at 04:10 BST.
• Look out for a lunar occultation of Venus on Friday, though extreme care must be taken as it will happen during sunlight hours, so ensure that you do not stray to the Sun if using an instrument. The occultation starts at 12:54 BST and Venus reappears at 14:11 BST.
• This week’s Deep Sky observing challenge is a tough one… inspired by this week’s Picture of The Week and the New Moon, try to catch a glimpse of the Veil Nebula in Cygnus. It is a very tough target to spot and aperture is definitely required, the more the better! The use of an OIII or UHC filter will help to bring out the tenuous veil of gas. Good luck!
• The Moon is New on Sunday.
• The Sun currently has 3 active regions and the sunspot number is 43.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 8th September

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 21:36 BST at the start of the week and at 21:19 BST by the end of the week.
• Watch the Waning Gibbous Moon rise with Saturn (+0.6) on Monday evening. Look to the eastern horizon at around 20:15 BST.
• Jupiter (-2.0) rises at around 01:10 BST this week and is in Gemini, forming a triangle with stars Castor (+1.6) and Pollux (+1.2). If you are up anyway, watch bright Venus (-3.9) rise at 03:44 BST.
• If you like double stars, this week’s observing challenge is for you as three fabulous doubles are in our evening sky: start with Albireo (+3.1) in Cygnus, Albireo means ‘beak’ in Arabic, then sticking with the nose theme, move to Gamma Delphini (+4.3) which forms the Dolphin’s rostrum or snout! Finish off in Andromeda with Almach (+2.2), the multicoloured double which sits at the foot of Andromeda, the beautiful daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia.
• The Moon is Last Quarter on Sunday.
• The Sun currently has 8 active regions and the sunspot number is 108.
• There are multiple visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).

Week of 1st September

• Astronomical Twilight ends at 21:57 BST at the start of the week and at 21:39 BST by the end of the week.
• There is a Total Lunar Eclipse on Sunday, the Full Harvest Moon will rise at 19:36 BST fully eclipsed. The Earth’s shadow will steadily move across the face of the Moon until the umbral eclipse ends at 20:57 BST and the penumbral eclipse ends at 21:55 BST. Find yourself a vantage point with a clear view of the Moon’s easterly rising point and you will be in for a spectacular celestial show!
• The planets are becoming increasingly prominent in our night sky as we continue our solar orbit with Saturn (+0.7) rising at 20:21 BST, Jupiter (-2.0) at 01:25 BST and Venus (-4.0) appearing at 03:30 BST.
• As the autumn creeps up on us, take a last view of the deep sky summer highlights in the west, starting with the ever spectacular Great Hercules Cluster (+5.8), then on to the multi-coloured double star Albireo (+5.1), and finish with a glimpse of the two wonderful summer planetary nebulae, the Ring Nebula, M57 (+8.8) and the Dumbbell Nebula, M27 (+7.1).
• The Moon is Full on Sunday – the Harvest Moon.
• The Sun currently has 10 active regions and the sunspot number is 183.
• There are no visible evening ISS passes this week (click here for full ISS pass details).