Dec's Guide to the Night Sky for Amateur Astromomers - including Melbourne weather

[Zoe7]

I'm putting together a picture for you now @Owlunar 

[Zoe7]

Ok @Owlunar this is what I have come up with lol...

[Owlunar]

I'm waiting for it to come up @Zoe7

Thanks

Dec

[Owlunar]

Thanks so much @Zoe7 - that is perfect - I think I had better ask you to do my graphics in future or maybe I can learn from this - it's fantastic

So @outlander@Shaz51@utopia and everyone else interested in our night sky - this is what I saw yesterday morning - the sky was a little misty but fantastic to see those three planets together in the sky

Anyway - to add to all the stuff I knew was coming but didn't write - we have a Blue Moon this month and another in March - a blue moon happens when there are two full moons in a months and the Double Blue Moon happens when there are two Blue Moons close together

Personally - this is great for me - my grand-daughter was born in January and my daughter in March - and I was born in July - so I am a Moon Person - born under Cancer so I think this is a great year for my family

And - and and and - we have had a Supermoon already in January and another in a couple of days - this happens when the moon is closer to the earth than usual - 

So the moon is bigger and brighter - this has to be a great time astrologically - but please don't ask me about astrology - I know  very little - I am more into astronomy - 

But then - other people might be interested so ask away

And thanks again for doing my graphics Zoe

Dec

[Owlunar]

Hi @Zoe7@Shaz51@utopia@outlander@Ceres

Around 5.00 am this morning the sky was fabulous - really clear

The outer planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are all rising earlier as they always do and they are pretty close in the sky in the mornings right now - and the sun is rising later which means on a wonderfullly clear morning like today I could see the picture that @Zoe7 put up on a few days ago but this morning - I could see all of Scorpia very well - and the sky was a glory box

At this time of year - early in the evening now - Taurus and Orion are both easily visible to the north and north west - and the Wolf Star - Sirius - is very clear - it's the brightest star in the night sky

I am thrilled to bits being able to see all of this - this time of year is more stable weather-wise here - well - sometimes it is - but on a good night this is glorious

Being in the eclipse party was fun - I enjoyed myself running the bulletins - 

Dec

[utopia]

@Owlunar. I saw Sirius last night. Almost flickering bright

[Owlunar]

That's really fabulous @utopia

I just looked to see when I started this thread and it was in May last year and it was easy for me to see Sirius because I know where and when to look

But now it's in the sky pretty well all night I think

This is the best time of year for looking for objects in the sky

When I go to Tassie I have a room over-looking the city and the estuary and I hope I can see the planets rising in the morning - even watching the sun rise so early will be great

Thanks for sharing Utopia - it gives me a good feeling

Dec

[utopia]

The hotel room sounds like the perfect place to watch the stars @Owlunar

[Shaz51]

 the moon is sooo much  bigger and brighter @Owlunar, it has lightened up the kithen at night , shinning on the washed dishes and it looks soo bright outside

How long will this last @Owlunar

[outlander]

i havent been going outside to look at the stars. maybe another night when its clearer here. your hotel room sounds lovely to stargaze @Owlunar