Lepus (The Hare)
This constellation is visible this month till around the end of February 2011, Lepus is a small constellation lying under the feet of Orion (The Hunter), and is pursued across the sky by his dog in the constellation of Canis Major (The Greater Dog).

Deep Sky Objects in Lepus
(Click on the photo for enlarge image.)

NGC 1964
Spiral Galaxy
Mag: 10.7
RA: 05h 33m / DEC: -21 57
Faint, large and round; small, very bright nucleus.
Distance: 65 million ly

NGC 1979
Elliptical Galaxy
Mag: 11.8
RA: 05h 34m / DEC: -23 19
Pretty bright lens.
Distance: 65 million ly

M79 (NGC 1904)
Globular Cluster
Mag: 8.1
RA: 05h 24m / DEC: -24 33
Medium concentration of stars, pretty large, extremely rich, well resolved, very faint stars.
Distance: 45,000 ly
Extends: 75 ly

Features of Interest :-  R Leporis (R Lep)
A long-period variable in the constellation Lepus, easily seen in binoculars when at maximum brightness. It was discovered by John Hind who described it as “… resembling a blood drop on the black field of the Night Sky.”

R Leporis is the reddest reasonably bright star in the sky. Its wide variability comes about because the star produces enormous amounts of carbon which, when dredged up through convection, makes its way to the outer layers of the atmosphere. Carbon particles, or soot, concentrate to create an outer shell that dramatically dims the star. This dimming gives R Lep its extremely red appearence. At some point much of the carbon is blown away from the star and the process begins again.

Visual Magnitune :- 7.7 average; 6th to 10th range.
Period :- 427 days.
Position :- RA:- 04h 59m 36s  / DEC :- -14`48.





Almaak Star
Almaak in the constellation of Andromeda, is easy enough to find in the northern hemisphere, it lies nearly overhead this month between the Great Square of Pegasus (The Winged Horse) and the bright stars of the constellation Perseus.

To find Almaak (also called gamma Andromedae), start at the northern corner of the Great Square at the star Alpheratz, then move to Mirach, then to Almaak.  If you continue the line you’ll reach Mirphak in Perseus (The Perseus).

See the SkyMap for Almmak Star.



This small constellation of Triangulum (The Triangle) comprising three faint stars but easily found between the constellation of Andromeda and Aries ~ the brightest star, Beta (magnitude 3.0) form well-marked triangle with Alpha (3.4) and Gamma (4.0).

This constellation is visible from August to March and the best seen the highest in sky at 22:00 / 10pm (GMT) between November and December.

This small constellation comprising three faint stars but easily found between the constellation of Andromeda and Aries ~ the brightest star, Beta (magnitude 3.0) form well-marked triangle with Alpha (3.4) and Gamma (4.0).

Features of Interest :-  The Triangulum Galaxy (M33)

A Messier 33, The Triangulum Galaxy – spiral galaxy, nearly 2.6 million light-years away and the third largest member of the Local Group of galaxies because it covers about the same area of sky as the Full Moon that the light is so spread out – a clear sky, dark sky is needed to see M33.  Under good conditions, this galaxy can be detected through binoculars or a small telescope.

See the SkyMap for hunting the constellation of Triangulum (The Triangle).

Winter Sky

Why the constellations change through the yearly?
Because the Earth spins on it’s axis so we see the constellations differently – this is also why we have seasons.

See the movie of seasons.

Click here for the Sky Map of :-  Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn.

Constellation:- Ursa Major
(Left – today / Right – 50,000 years time.)
It is among the most famous constellations – third largest in the sky, occupying a much wider area than that covered by the group of seven stars form the asterism  of the Plough.

What will the constellation of Ursa Major look like in 50,000 years?
Stargazers of the future will look into a different Night Sky – that’s because the stars are moving relative to each other so let say 50,000 years many common constellations will have a very different shape.

Circlet of Pisces
How many stars can you spot inside `Circlet of Pisces`?

The Circlet of Pisces makes a great event for beginning observers, while the planet of Uranus and land of galaxies provide nice target for telescope owners.

See the SkyMap.

Credit by Stefan Seip, Germany.

DO NOT MISS
See the star Mira in the constellation of Cetus (The Sea Monster or Whale) at it’s brightest this week.

Mira is a variable star that can be seen with the naked eye when it’s at maximun, but at other times requires a binocular or telescope.

Click here for more explanation about Mira at Astronomy Picture of the Day.

See Derekscope’s archive :-  Friday 8th October 2010.

Click here for enlarge map.

This well-known constellation represents a youth pouring water from a jar, the stream of water flows into mouth of a large fish, represented by the constellation of Piscis Austrinus to the south.

Aquarius is a constellation of the zodiac, the Sun passing through it from 16 February to 11th  March each year.

Features of Interest
M2 – Gloubular Cluster, see Derekscope’s archive :-  Sunday 10th October 2010.

M72 –  other Gloubular Cluster, low concentration of stars – in a 4-inch telescope speckles pop in and out of view in an otherwise foggy moor of starlight. (See image of M72).

M73 –  A cluster of three or four little stars, looks like a nebula at first glance. (See image of M73).

Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) – the Nebula is dimly visible in binocular and rich-field telescopes at low magnification – one of the nesrest of all planetaries from our Solar System. (See image of Helix Nebula).

Messier 30 (M30) Globular Cluster

Click here for the map.

Sunset Planets
Mars and Saturn are meeting at a particular place with Venus to form a skinny triangle in the sunset sky in the West. When the sun sets tonight, go outside and look West.

Venus pops out of the twilight first, followed by Saturn, then Mars by binoculars or a small telescope.

See the SkyMap for tonight (Monday 26th July 2010), also Friday 30th July 2010 and Saturday 31st July 2010 when Saturn and Mars are only 2^o apart.