Adrian Dening's Stars Over Somerset

    Monday 14th to Sunday 20th July 2025

     

    If you pop outside around 1am on Wednesday 16th, a 71%-lit waning gibbous Moon will have risen above the horizon towards the east south east.  A little below and to the left of it, you should be able to locate Saturn shining quite brightly and a much harder-to-see planet NeptuneNeptune has a magnitude of around +7.0 so you would need a telescope to spot that one.

    During the week, the Moon will have gone through its last quarter phase, when it is 50%-lit, so if you go back outside around 2am on Sunday 20th (what will then be) a 27%-lit waning crescent Moon rises above the horizon towards the east north east.  A little below and to the left of the Moon will be the Pleiades open cluster of stars and below that, planet Uranus.  Uranus will have a similar magnitude to Neptune, so it's "telescope time" again!

    Talking of telescopes, at the beginning of August, I am running a "Telescope Masterclass" at the Ham Hill Visitor Centre, due to popular demand after the annual series of "Stars Over Somerset" evenings.  The date for your diary is Saturday 2nd August, 10am to 4pm.

     

    The day is suitable for anyone thinking of investing in a telescope or wanting to get to grips with an instrument they already have collecting dust in the cupboard!  It will include talks about the different types of telescopes and accessories available, together with practical demonstrations.  You are welcome to bring your own telescope along for a health-check and to acquire tips on how to use it successfully.

    To reserve places, please contact Paul McNeil at Ham Hill on 07973 887129 or via email to countryside@somerset.gov.uk  Tickets are £10.

     

    www.starsoversomerset.com

    Screenshots courtesy of Stellarium

    Copyright Adrian Dening and Radio Ninesprings 2025

     

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