Derekscope

The Moon at perigee

• The Moon will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, at 21:44 / 9.44pm today.
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• Already quite large and bright in the constellation Taurus , as it’s approaching full phase and perigee.
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(This photo of Northern Lights was captured
in Milton Keynes on Friday 10th May 2024.)

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• Your guide to the night sky this month, and a guide for binoculars, and telescope deaf owners, compiled by Derek Rowley.
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• Click the blue link below for more information;

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Astronomy Highlights for January 2026

( BSLis available to make this event accessible.)

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Quadrantids Meteor Shower starts tonight

• That date marks the beginning of its activity window, which runs from Sunday 28th December 2025 to Monday 12th January 2026, with a sharp peak on Saturday 3rd thru Sunday 4th January 2026.
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• Meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Boötes, near the Big Dipper.
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• The radiant rises late in the evening for UK observers.
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• The Moon reaches its First Quarter phase at 18:13 pm, with 50% illumination in the constellation Pisces (The Fishes).
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• High in the southern sky during early evening – ideal for public viewing and photography.
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• With the Moon still crescent, its glow won’t overwhelm Saturn, so you should be able to spot the planet clearly with the naked eye all night.
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• Saturn will appear as a steady golden “star” just below the Moon.
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• Binoculars will enhance the view, but even without them, the pairing will be obvious.
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• At 8 pm, look to the southwest to see the Moon alongside Saturn.
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• Friday 27th February
  – The Moon will indeed pass close to Jupiter in Gemini.
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• Saturday 28th February
  – The Moon approaches to the Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer.
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• Binoculars may reveal the Beehive Cluster despite the Moon’s brightness.
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Whatever the skies bring,
may your heart be open to wonder.

Merry Christmas
from Derek

Titan transits Saturn all night

• Saturn is visible from the UK with a telescope.
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• The transit begins around sunset and continues into twilight, offering a rare and poetic view of Saturn’s largest moon crossing the planet’s disk.
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Algol
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• The bright variable star Beta Persei (Algol) reaches its minimum brightness at 18:27pm in the early evening on Tuesday 23rd December and will be visible from the UK.
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• Here’s a list of upcoming minimum brightness times for Algol – read more.
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