Category Archives: Education

Astronomy, Education, Space participation

Night sky highlights for May 2025

May 2, 2025 TopSpacer

Check out the night sky this month, May 2025. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.

** What’s Up: May 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in May 2025?

Find a pair of planets in the sky both in the evenings and mornings, have a look for the Eta Aquarid meteors, and join the watch for the brief and brilliant appearance of a “new star” – an anticipated nova explosion in the Corona Borealis constellation.

0:00 Intro
0:12 May planet viewing
1:03 Eta Aquarid meteor shower
1:48 Waiting for a nova
3:49 May Moon phases

Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up/.

“Sky chart showing constellation Corona Borealis with the location where nova “T CrB” is predicted to appear. The view depicts the constellation with the nova occurring, indicated by an arrow.” Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

** What to see in the night sky: May 2025 – BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Venus as a morning star, Mars meets the Beehive Cluster, Regulus is visible in the daytime… There’s plenty to see in the sky throughout May 2025, including the Eta Aquariid meteor shower, the Plough, clair-obscur effects on the Moon and deep-sky objects. Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal some of the best things you can see this month.

** Sky & Telescope’s Sky Tour Podcast – May 2025 – Sky & Telescope Youtube

This month we’ll look for tiny bits of Halley’s Comet; track down four planets; take stock of bright stars in the late-spring sky; and use the constellation Leo to learn what astronomers call all the stars that don’t have names. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour episode.

See also

** What’s in the Sky this Month | May 2025 – High Point Scientific on Youtube

In this episode of What’s in the Sky this Month, Teagan reviews some of the beautiful celestial objects you can see in May!

Read the full May 2025 Newsletter: https://www.highpointscientific.com/a…

…

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:31 – The Beehive Cluster & Mars
01:28 – The Sombrero Galaxy
02:06 – The Black Eye Galaxy
02:54 – Messier 3
03:26 – Algorab
04:12 – Nearest Neighbors
05:18 – Conclusion

** Night Sky Notebook May 2025– Peter Detterline

** See also:

=== Amazon Ads ===

Celestron
70mm Travel Scope
Portable Refractor Telescope
Fully-Coated Glass Optics
Ideal Telescope for Beginners
BONUS Astronomy Software Package

—- Books —

Stellaris: People of the Stars

Astronomy, Education, Space participation

Night sky highlights for April 2025

April 2, 2025 TopSpacer

Check out the night sky this month, April 2025. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.

** What’s Up: April 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in April 2025?

Following a planet-free morning sky in March, April brings planets back to your mornings, as well as the evening sky. Also look for Lyrid meteors, and hunt for the “faint fuzzy” wonder that is the distant and ancient city of stars known as globular cluster M3.

0:00 Intro
0:12 April planet viewing
1:13 Lyrid meteor shower
2:19 Globular cluster M3
4:26 April Moon phases

The phases of the Moon for April 2025. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

** What to see in the night sky: April 2025 – BBC Sky at Night Magazine

The planets, the Moon and the Pleiades, plus this month’s best deep-sky objects. Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky, April 2025.

** Sky & Telescope’s Sky Tour Podcast – April 2025 – Sky & Telescope Youtube

Our monthly Sky Tour #astronomy #podcast provides an informative and entertaining 10-minute guided tour of the nighttime sky. In April’s episode, we’ll watch bright planets come and go, track down some celestial carnivores, and enjoy a splash of mid-spring meteors. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.

See also

** What’s in the Night Sky: April 2025 – National Space Centre

What’s in the Night Sky: March 2025
Lunar occultation of the Pleiades
Sea of Tranquility
Lyrids meteor shower
✨ Constellation of the Month: Lyra

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, looking at the night sky with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, check out our tour of the night sky to find out what you can see this month. #WINS #Astronomy #WhatsInTheNightSky

** What’s in the Sky this Month | April 2025 – High Point Scientific on Youtube

In this episode of What’s in the Sky this Month, Teagan reviews some of the beautiful celestial objects you can see in April!

Read the full April 2025 Newsletter: https://www.highpointscientific.com/a…

Looking to expand your astronomy knowledge even further? The Astronomy Hub is the place to learn everything from what’s in the sky this month, to what gear can help you capture the best celestial images. Learn more here ➡️ https://www.highpointscientific.com/a…

Follow us on Instagram / highpointscientific
Follow us on Facebook / highpointscientific
Sign up for our email newsletter https://www.highpointscientific.com/c…

#highpointscientific #astronomy #april

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:33 – The Whirlpool Galaxy
01:41 – Nearest Neighbors
02:49 – Lyrid Meteor Shower
03:38 – Mizar & Alcor
04:21 – The Leo Triplet
05:04 – Cor Caroli
05:31 – Conclusion

** Night Sky Notebook April 2025 – Peter Detterline

** See also:

=== Amazon Ads ===

Celestron
70mm Travel Scope
Portable Refractor Telescope
Fully-Coated Glass Optics
Ideal Telescope for Beginners
BONUS Astronomy Software Package

—- Books —

Stellaris: People of the Stars

Astronomy, Education, Space participation

Night sky highlights for February 2025

February 3, 2025 TopSpacer

Check out the night sky this month, February 2025. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.

** What’s Up: February 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in February 2025?

Venus blazes at its brightest in the early evening, despite being only a slim crescent through the telescope eyepiece. Mars and Jupiter to rule the night sky after Venus sets, amid the menagerie of bright winter stars in Orion, Taurus, and Gemini. And enhance your astronomy IQ by knowing the difference between a conjunction and an appulse.

0:00 Intro
0:13 Moon & planets
0:41 Appulses
1:39 Venus at maximum
2:51 February Moon phases

Additional information about topics covered in this episode of What’s Up, along with still images from the video, and the video transcript, are available at https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatch….

Sky chart showing Jupiter and Mars high overhead after nightfall in February. Credits:
NASA/JPL-Caltech

** Venus and Mars dominate the sky. What’s in the night sky tonight, February 2025 – BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what’s visible in the night sky this month, including bright Venus dominating the sky in February 2025. Look out for Venus, Saturn and Uranus near the crescent Moon on the evening of 1 February.

Mars and Jupiter continue to dazzle, a particular highlight being a meeting between Mars and the Moon on 9 February 2025.

Also, February marks a final chance to enjoy and explore the constellation Orion before it disappears from view.

** February Podcast: Planets Amid Winter’s Stars – Sky & Telescope

See also

** What’s in the Night Sky: February 2025 – National Space Centre

What’s in the Night Sky: February 2025

Aristarchus Crater
Moon and Mars
Seven Sisters
✨ Constellation of the Month: Taurus

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, looking at the night sky with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, check out our Tour of the Night Sky to find out what you can see this month.
#wins #Astronomy #WhatsInTheNightSky

** What’s in the Sky this Month | February 2025 – High Point Scientific on Youtube

In this episode of What’s in the Sky this Month, Teagan reviews some of the beautiful celestial objects you can see in February!

Read the full February 2025 Newsletter: https://www.highpointscientific.com/a…

…

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:31 – Moon Occults the Pleiades
01:17 – Nearest Neighbors
02:12 – Clown Face Nebula
03:02 – Messier 50
03:43 – Messier 67
04:15 – Tegmine
04:42 – Conclusion

** Night Sky Notebook February 2025– Peter Detterline

** See also:

=== Amazon Ads ===

Celestron
70mm Travel Scope
Portable Refractor Telescope
Fully-Coated Glass Optics
Ideal Telescope for Beginners
BONUS Astronomy Software Package

—- Books —

Stellaris: People of the Stars

Astronomy, Education, Space participation

Night sky highlights for January 2025

January 3, 2025 TopSpacer

Check out the night sky this month, January 2025. Here are videos and links to websites highlighting the top sights to observe.

** What’s Up: January 2025 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA JPL

What are some skywatching highlights in January 2025?

This month, four bright planets greet you in the early evening. Venus and Saturn cozy up on the 17th and 18th, while Mars is at its brightest in the past two years. The Moon occults Mars for those in the U.S. and Eastern Canada on Jan. 13. Plus, the Quadrantid meteors peak on the morning of Jan. 3 before dawn.

0:00 Intro
0:14 Four planets at once
1:02 Venus & Saturn Get Close
1:39 Mars at Opposition
2:31 Quadrantid Meteors Peak
3:07 January Moon phases

** What to see in the night sky: January 2025 – BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal their pick of the best things to see in the night sky this month, including:

Mars at opposition, Jupiter near Orion, a lunar occultation of Saturn, the Quadrantid meteor shower, the Moon and the Pleiades, and the best deep-sky objects.

** Sky & Telescope’s Sky Tour Podcast – January 2025 – Sky & Telescope Youtube

Our monthly Sky Tour #astronomy #podcast provides an informative and entertaining 12-minute guided tour of the #night #sky. Join us for the January 2025 episode and start the year with a strong #meteor shower, keep tabs on four bright #planets, watch #Mars disappear behind the full Wolf Moon, and focus on #Orion the Hunter and the #Pleiades star cluster. So grab your curiosity, and come along on this month’s Sky Tour.

See also

** What’s in the Night Sky: January 2025 – National Space Centre

Venus and Saturn
Mars at Opposition
Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Clavius Crater

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, looking at the night sky with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, check out our Tour of the Night Sky to find out what you can see this month. #WINS #Astronomy #WhatsInTheNightSky

** What’s in the Sky this Month | January 2025 – High Point Scientific on Youtube

In this episode of What’s in the Sky this Month, Teagan reviews some of the beautiful celestial objects you can see in January!

Read the full January 2025 Newsletter: https://www.highpointscientific.com/a…

…

Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
00:36 – Nearest Neighbors
01:50 – Mars at Opposition
03:02 – Castor
03:31 – Messier 37
03:53 – NGC 2169
04:32 – Gamma Leporis
04:53 – Messier 42
05:53 – Conclusion

** Night Sky Notebook January 2025– Peter Detterline

What’s happening in the sky for January 2025.

** See also:

Sky chart showing the planetary lineup visible after dark in January 2025. Credits:
NASA/JPL-Caltech

=== Amazon Ads ===

Celestron
70mm Travel Scope
Portable Refractor Telescope
Fully-Coated Glass Optics
Ideal Telescope for Beginners
BONUS Astronomy Software Package

Stellaris: People of the Stars

Astronomy, Education, Space Science

ESO: First ever binary star found near Milky Way’s supermassive black hole

December 17, 2024 TopSpacer

A new report from the European Southern Observatory (ESO):

First ever binary star found near
our galaxy’s supermassive black hole

This image indicates the location of the newly discovered binary star D9, which is orbiting Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. It is the first star pair ever found near a supermassive black hole. The cut-out shows the binary system as detected by the SINFONI spectrograph on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. While the two stars cannot be discerned separately in this image, the binary nature of D9 was revealed by the spectra captured by SINFONI over several years. These spectra showed that the light emitted by hydrogen gas around D9 oscillates periodically towards red and blue wavelengths as the two stars orbit each other.

An international team of researchers has detected a binary star orbiting close to Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. It is the first time a stellar pair has been found in the vicinity of a supermassive black hole. The discovery, based on data collected by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT), helps us understand how stars survive in environments with extreme gravity, and could pave the way for the detection of planets close to Sagittarius A*.

“Black holes are not as destructive as we thought”

says Florian Peißker, a researcher at the University of Cologne, Germany, and lead author of the study published today in Nature Communications. Binary stars, pairs of stars orbiting each other, are very common in the Universe, but they had never before been found near a supermassive black hole, where the intense gravity can make stellar systems unstable.

This new discovery shows that some binaries can briefly thrive, even under destructive conditions. D9, as the newly discovered binary star is called, was detected just in time: it is estimated to be only 2.7 million years old, and the strong gravitational force of the nearby black hole will probably cause it to merge into a single star within just one million years, a very narrow timespan for such a young system.

“This provides only a brief window on cosmic timescales to observe such a binary system — and we succeeded!”

explains co-author Emma Bordier, a researcher also at the University of Cologne and a former student at ESO.

For many years, scientists also thought that the extreme environment near a supermassive black hole prevented new stars from forming there. Several young stars found in close proximity to Sagittarius A* have disproved this assumption. The discovery of the young binary star now shows that even stellar pairs have the potential to form in these harsh conditions.

“The D9 system shows clear signs of the presence of gas and dust around the stars, which suggests that it could be a very young stellar system that must have formed in the vicinity of the supermassive black hole”

explains co-author Michal Zajaček, a researcher at Masaryk University, Czechia, and the University of Cologne.

The newly discovered binary was found in a dense cluster of stars and other objects orbiting Sagittarius A*, called the S cluster. Most enigmatic in this cluster are the G objects, which behave like stars but look like clouds of gas and dust.

It was during their observations of these mysterious objects that the team found a surprising pattern in D9. The data obtained with the VLT’s ERIS instrument, combined with archival data from the SINFONI instrument, revealed recurring variations in the velocity of the star, indicating D9 was actually two stars orbiting each other.

“I thought that my analysis was wrong,” Peißker says, “but the spectroscopic pattern covered about 15 years, and it was clear this detection is indeed the first binary observed in the S cluster.”

The results shed new light on what the mysterious G objects could be. The team proposes that they might actually be a combination of binary stars that have not yet merged and the leftover material from already merged stars.

The precise nature of many of the objects orbiting Sagittarius A*, as well as how they could have formed so close to the supermassive black hole, remain a mystery. But soon, the GRAVITY+ upgrade to the VLT Interferometer and the METIS instrument on ESO’s Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), under construction in Chile, could change this. Both facilities will allow the team to carry out even more detailed observations of the Galactic centre, revealing the nature of known objects and undoubtedly uncovering more binary stars and young systems.

“Our discovery lets us speculate about the presence of planets, since these are often formed around young stars. It seems plausible that the detection of planets in the Galactic centre is just a matter of time”

concludes Peißker.