Andromeda and its galaxy-- high up

Event Date: January 6th

Time: 5:45(.15) PM

Brief

   I spent some more time today than normal, thinking about what to write about for this entry: after spending the last month or so focusing on the planets, Summer Triangle, the Mayan disaster-not-to-be, just to name some self-repetitive topics.  Then, I realized that it had been awhile since I had talked about something spectacular in the sky: the Andromeda Galaxy.  True, I mentioned it a few times during the early-mid fall weeks, yet seemed to bypass it several times.  Now, I am painfully aware that as seen from mid-northern latitudes, that it is only dark enough to see the galaxy with the eye alone, when post-transit.  Okay, I'm kidding; it is not that painful, as the galaxy is afterall still very high in the sky for a couple hours after transit as well.

   Here is Andromeda--constellation and galaxy--labeled, along with other nearby constellations, which also spend a lot hours in the sky, being north and/or circumpolar.  I will talk more about them on future dates.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp

Detailed

   A powerful telescope can pick up the galaxy's core during nautical twilight, as the Sun is far enough away from this part of the sky to not get in the way; therefore the sky darker than if looking west-southwest where the Sun still gives off some glare.  Besides, the galaxy at transit is not far from zenith, so also far enough out of atmospheric pollution to see.  As mentioned a few times since the start of winter, the Sun is now moving a bit further north each week for the next six months.  That, along with the galaxy and other stars rising about four minutes earlier each evening, means that over the next couple of months, we will lose both the constellation and galaxy of Andromeda quickly.  Fortunately, it is far enough north that it is in the sky for about 7-8 hours easily visible this month and therefore, we still have that chunk of time to view the galaxy slowly fall towards the horizon.  With a wide-field telescope, try to pick up the entire galaxy, about 4 1/2 full Moon-discs across, under very dark skies.