Basingstoke Astronomical Society (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Basingstoke Astronomical Society
12:12pm Tuesday 21st December 2010 in Reports
BASINGSTOKE Astronomical Society is a group of enthusiastic amateurs who meet at Cliddesden Primary School on the fourth Thursday of each month.
We would particularly welcome visitors and potential new members during January, when we are holding a public meeting to coincide with the BBC Stargazing Live event.
The phases of the Moon begin in January with New Moon on January 4, and first quarter on January 12. Full Moon is on January 19 and last quarter is on January 26. In folklore, the January Full Moon is known as the Wolf Moon.
Mercury is not visible this month. Venus is a bright early evening object and is easily the brightest thing in the sky apart from the Sun and Moon.
Mars rises after 9pm and becomes visible in the east. Jupiter is still high in the southern sky throughout the night. Its four large moons discovered by Galileo in 1609 are easily visible in a small telescope. Saturn is visible in the early hours of the morning this month. Uranus lies midway on a line from Jupiter to Venus but sets by mid-evening.
You can see the objects mentioned above and find out more with the Basingstoke Astronomical Society, who have a practical meeting and public observing event on January 13 and a full meeting on January 27, when members will present short talks on the theme of “Small Solar System Bodies”, both at Cliddesden Primary School from 7pm.
