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2023 Guide to the Night Sky: A month-by-month guide to exploring the skies above Britain and Ireland

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You can find out more about these moon events by reading our guide on how to see Jupiter's Galilean moons.

What about the so-called outer planets, Uranus and Neptune? At times, they might be just visible with the naked eye, but they’ll look identical to stars. To appreciate these planets, you need a good pair of binoculars or a telescope. During November the creamy-yellow dot of Saturn will first appear in the lower part of the southern sky after dusk. Despite its relatively large size, Uranus is very difficult to see with the naked eye, and without technological help, it pretty much just looks like a star. I highly recommend getting a good telescope or pair of binoculars to see it closer-up and in more detail.Low evening planet, which is best at the start of June when crossing M44, the Beehive Cluster. But the view is compromised by twilight. For a short time after sunset on Tuesday, Nov. 14, just above the southwestern horizon, the very slender crescent of the young moon will shine several finger-widths to the left (or four degrees to the celestial southeast) of Mercury. (Image credit: Chris Vaughan/Starry Night) If you’re having trouble with your finderscope, there are numerous video tutorials available to help you troubleshoot. Or, if you belong to an astronomy club, you can ask for help from more experienced members. Useful resources The 21%-lit waxing crescent Moon sets just after 7pm UT on 17 November, leaving the rest of the night for Leonid spotting. Night sky in November 2023, night-by-night Friday 3 November Jupiter opposition occurs during November in 2023. Credit: Pete Lawrence The star Algol in the constellation of Perseus represents the glowing eye of Medusa from Greek mythology. Also designated Beta Persei, it is among the most accessible variable stars for skywatchers. (Image credit: Chris Vaughan/Starry Night)

March 2: Conjunction of Mercury and Saturn. You’ll need to view this phenomenon through a pair of binoculars, as the planetary pair will be too widely separated to see through the view of a telescope.Keep going for more or less the same distance again, bending up slightly to locate Mirach (Beta (β) Andromedae). A very large 16-inch diameter information-rich planisphere (plastic) for use anywhere between latitude 30°& 60° North. Also available in a Southern Hemisphere edition.

In the next section, I’ll discuss each planet, one by one, and offer some tips on when and how to view them at their best. Finding planetsAs darkness falls on Sunday evening, the pretty, 44%-illuminated crescent moon will shine a generous fist's diameter (11 degrees) to the lower right of yellowish Saturn in the southern sky. When the moon sets a short time before 11 p.m. local time, it will be below Saturn and a little closer to it. Planet-spotting over christmas 2023? Jupiter is one of the best planets tonight. It's superbly bright in December. The Moon lies nearby on the evenings of 21 and 22 December. Minor planet Vesta reaches opposition on 21 December 2023 when it will shine at mag. 6.3 against the stars of northern Orion. Credit: Pete Lawrence The northeastern sky on November evenings hosts the bright constellations of Perseus and W-shaped Cassiopeia, with the very bright star Capella positioned below them. Best at the start of July, as by the end of the month it is setting before the Sun. Currently in a very thin crescent phase. Get ready for some lunar planetary conjunctions! Over a week starting on Sunday evening, Nov. 19, the waxing moon will visit four planets in succession — Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter, and Uranus.

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