Astronomy Guide for Winter 2021: Don’t Miss the “Breathtaking” Night Skies | Sciences | New

Astronomer discovers brand new constellations over UK

Stargazing in winter can seem intimidating to most as the nights are long and cold, and there’s no guarantee that the weather will be on your side. And yet, astronomer Adrian West has said winter is a fan favorite among astronomers precisely because of the long periods of darkness. In his new book, The Secrets World of Stargazing, Mr. West gives readers an overview of what to look out for throughout the year and explains why winter is truly a special time for stargazing.

Mr. West, better known to his fans online as Virtual Astro, is the creator of the sold-out theater show Night Sky and runs Night Sky Tours for the National Trust.

He has now condensed over 30 years of stargazing experience into his 187-page book, which he hopes will inspire people to hone their skills and learn more about the wonders of the universe.

He wrote: “In the northern hemisphere, a perfect activity in winter is stargazing.

“Due to the reduced number of daylight hours, you can observe the stars at your leisure all night long if you are well dressed to stay comfortable on a cold night under the stars.

“I always recommend a flask with a hot drink or soup, and if you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace or a hearth, you can light it up and make it a real occasion.”

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Look for those beautiful stars and constellations this winter (Image: GETTY)

Stargazing tips for astronomy enthusiasts

Stargazing tips for astronomy enthusiasts (Image: EXPRESS)

Stars and constellations to watch out for:

Longer, darker nights are great for stargazing and there are a few constellations that should be on your ‘must see’ list.

Mr West wrote: “The winter night sky is breathtakingly beautiful, and for many astronomers and astronomers this is their favorite time of year – for the views and the extended amount of d ‘darkness.

“Due to their striking appearance, all we have to do is face the right direction to notice and identify some of the winter constellations.

“This is especially true for Orion (The Hunter), the most prominent constellation in the winter night sky.”

Constellation Orion in the night sky

The constellation Orion the hunter is most famous in the winter night sky (Image: GETTY)

Constellation Orion in the night sky

The three shining stars of Orion’s belt are Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka (Image: GETTY)

Stand facing south and roughly halfway between the zenith – the point directly above you – and the horizon.

When traced across the sky, the stars that make up Orion look like “a tunic pulled in the middle by three bright stars, or a giant butterfly to the side.”

The three stars are Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka.

At the top left of the ‘tunic’ you will see a bright orange star known as Betelgeuse.

Along the left shoulder is the star Bellatrix and if you follow the constellation to the lower right edge you will see Rigel.

The star Sirius at night

The star Sirius will be the brightest star you will see this winter (Image: GETTY)

Constellations Canis Major and Lepus

Sirius is seated in the constellation Canis Major (The Great Dog) next to Lepus (The Hare) (Image: GETTY)

If you draw an imaginary line through the three stars in Orion’s belt and follow them down and to the left, you should spot an incredibly bright star.

It will be Sirius, the dog star – the brightest star in the entire night sky.

Mr West wrote: “It is also known as a ‘twinkling star’ or ‘multicolored star’ because it sparkles and displays so many different colors, mainly due to its position as seen from the northern hemisphere.”

The dog star is found in the constellation Canis Major (the big dog), which is “reasonably bright” and roughly shaped like a dog.

To the right of Canis Major and below Orion, you should be able to make out the form of Lepus (the hare).

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If you look above Canis Major you will see Monoceros (The Unicorn) – a weak constellation and generally difficult to spot.

Continue through Monoceros and you will see the bright star Procyon in the constellation Canis Minor (The Little Dog).

Mr West wrote: “Canis Minor is often considered one of Orion’s hunting dogs.

“In another story, he looks like an elusive fox chased by Canis Major – the fastest dog in the world.

“The fox, however, could not be caught, so Zeus, king of the gods, turned them both to stone and then placed them in the heavens.”

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Constellation Canis Minor

The constellation Canis Minor looked like a small dog – or fox, according to the myth (Image: GETTY)

The constellation Gemini

Pollux and Castor form the heads of Gemini the twins (Image: GETTY)

If you follow a line from Sirius to Procyon and then continue a similar distance but slightly to the right, you should encounter two bright stars.

The first to enter your field of vision will be Pollux and the second is Castor – the two heads of the constellation Gemini (The Twins).

Gemini is quite tall and its twin heads are the most obvious feature.

Mr West wrote: “Imagine posing for a photo as their bodies stretch out towards Orion.”

According to Greek myth, the twins were the sons of Zeus and the Spartan queen Leda.

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Draw a line from Pollux to Castor, then all the way until you almost reach the zenith.

You should come across a very bright star known as Capella.

Capella is the sixth brightest star in our night sky and can be seen near the northern horizon in spring and early summer.

The star appears in the constellation Aurica (The Charioteer), which, according to various myths, led the gods to Olympus.

These are just a few of the beautiful constellations and stars that will appear this winter.

Mr. West wrote: “As winter progresses, the constellation of spring begins to make its presence known and the annual cycle begins again.

“Every season has its wonders to see and experience and I highly recommend that you pick your favorites every time of the year.

“Relax in your observation of the sky as you gain confidence and also enjoy a sense of accomplishment.”

You can read more about this season’s stargazing and what to watch out for the rest of the year in The Secret World of Stargazing by Adrian West.

The book is published by Yellow Kite and is priced at £ 14.99.

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