The Night Sky

What are we looking at?

By Chris Benton

Aim – To know what you are looking at and how you know

The unaided eye can see four galaxies, five planets and approximately 2000 stars on a clear night. How many times have you looked up at the sky and wondered what you are observing? Could that bright light be a large star or a planet, or what type of star is the one currently high in the sky? What is meant by Zodiac constellations and the ecliptic plane?

Tonight Chris Benton discusses what you can see, and importantly, how you know what those objects are. We look forward to seeing you all there and learning the answers to the above frequently asked questions and others.