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| This month’s star chart
shows the eastern sky about 8:00 PM in late January, 2003. Jupiter
shines brightly at mag -2.6 about 16 deg above the eastern horizon.
Some or all of its four largest satellites, first observed by Galileo in
1610, will be visible.
The Beehive, M44, is an open star cluster about 6 deg above Jupiter. Some farmers used to claim they could predict the weather from the Beehive. When the cluster was clearly visible they expected a spell of clear weather. Saturn remains well placed more than 60 deg above the eastern horizon, shining at mag -0.2. Comparing the brightness of Saturn and Jupiter should tell you something about negative magnitudes. The Orion Nebula is the fuzzy patch in the middle of Orion’s sword, readily visible to the naked eye about 45 deg above the horizon in the ESE. Binoculars will show a sizable patch of glowing gas and dust. A telescope reveals a large region covering more than a degree of visual angle. The Orion Nebula, at a distance of about 1,500 light years, is our nearest and clearest example of a stellar nursery where new stars are being born, even as we watch. |
You can print a copy of this star chart so you can take it outside.
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