Skip to main content
Read page text
page 4
CONTENTS 28 = on the cover C Features 28 Dancing lights from space C The science behind the elusive and fascinating aurorae I S T O C K /G E T T Y M A R T I N H O S M A R T/ : I S PA G E T H , I M A G E S I S T O C K /G E T T Y T O/ M A N T A P H O : I M A G E C O V E R I M A G E S/A L A M Y PA , I M A G E S I S T O C K /G E T T Y I R E S T O C K / W , . C O M I D E K L A U S E R /C C D G U F R A N Z , I M A G E S P U L L E N L E E , F E S E N R O B E R T , I O T O S T U D @ T H E S H E D _ P H O , I S L E W M A R T I N , T O P H O S T O C K 35 Venus: observing the C Evening Star How to see this mysterious world 40 Cosmology crash course C How is the Universe so big? Patrick Moore 100 60 Patrick Moore: C a passion for space A look back at his life and work 66 Take the Caldwell challenge Ten of Patrick’s favourite targets. Can you find them all? Regulars 6 Eye on the sky 11 Bulletin 16 Cutting edge 18 Inside The Sky at Night 20 Interactive 23 What’s on 25 Field of view 26 Subscribe to BBC Sky C at Night Magazine 72 Explainer 74 DIY astronomy 98 Q&A: a particle physicist C Astrophotography 76 Capture 78 Processing 80 Gallery 4 BBC Sk y at Night Magazine March 2023 Reviews 86 QHYCCD QHY533C C colour camera 90 Sky-Watcher AZ-GTiX dual-saddle mount and tripod 94 Books 96 Gear 16 -PAGE CENTRE PULLOUT C The Sky Guide 44 Highlights 46 The big three 48 The planets 50 March’s all-sky chart 52 Moonwatch 53 Comets and asteroids 53 Star of the month 54 Binocular tour 55 The Sky Guide challenge 56 Deep-sky tour 58 March at a glance
page 5
New to astronomy? To get started, check out our guides and glossary at www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astronomy-for-beginners 66 Extra content ONLINE Visit www.skyatnightmagazine. com/bonus-content/UTDXPBX to access this month’s selection of exclusive Bonus Content MARCH HIGHLIGHTS Inter view: When white dwarfs collide Astronomer Robert Fesen reveals how he observed an 850-year-old stellar collision, and looks at its implications. 35 60 78 86 This month’s contributors Maria-Theresia Walach Ionosphere scientist “The aurorae allow us to see the interaction between what’s in space and Earth’s atmosphere, and interrogate the physics that drives this incredible phenomenon.” Discover the science of the aurorae, page 28 Steve Richards Expert astronomer “Patrick Moore’s 100th birthday is a great excuse to explore his own deep-sky catalogue and observe some wonderful celestial objects.” Join our tour of 10 Caldwell Catalogue targets on view this month, page 66 Melissa Brobby Science community “It was fascinating to learn from Dr Gramellini about how neutrinos could hold the key to understanding our Universe.” Turn to page 98 to find out how these tiny particles could solve the riddle of antimatter View our online astrophoto galler y See this month’s selection of photos captured by Sky at Night Magazine readers and humanity’s most powerful telescopes. Access ex tra observing materials t Download and print out forms to sketch and record your planetary observations throughout the year ahead. The Vir tual Planetarium Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel guide us through the best sights to see in the night sky this month. March 2023 BBC Sk y at Night Magazine 5

Page Text

View plaintext

New to astronomy? To get started, check out our guides and glossary at www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astronomy-for-beginners

66

Extra content ONLINE Visit www.skyatnightmagazine. com/bonus-content/UTDXPBX to access this month’s selection of exclusive Bonus Content

MARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Inter view: When white dwarfs collide

Astronomer Robert Fesen reveals how he observed an 850-year-old stellar collision, and looks at its implications.

35

60

78

86

This month’s contributors

Maria-Theresia Walach

Ionosphere scientist

“The aurorae allow us to see the interaction between what’s in space and Earth’s atmosphere, and interrogate the physics that drives this incredible phenomenon.” Discover the science of the aurorae, page 28

Steve Richards Expert astronomer

“Patrick Moore’s 100th birthday is a great excuse to explore his own deep-sky catalogue and observe some wonderful celestial objects.” Join our tour of 10 Caldwell Catalogue targets on view this month, page 66

Melissa Brobby Science community

“It was fascinating to learn from Dr Gramellini about how neutrinos could hold the key to understanding our Universe.” Turn to page 98 to find out how these tiny particles could solve the riddle of antimatter

View our online astrophoto galler y See this month’s selection of photos captured by Sky at Night Magazine readers and humanity’s most powerful telescopes.

Access ex tra observing materials t

Download and print out forms to sketch and record your planetary observations throughout the year ahead.

The Vir tual Planetarium

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel guide us through the best sights to see in the night sky this month.

March 2023 BBC Sk y at Night Magazine 5

read next page

My Bookmarks

Buy this Book
Skip to main content