A cluster of stars

[Sohn]

I ve just come out from outside. It is cold, but the sky is dark blue. I walked to a playground where there is no light, so that i could see quite a few stars. In the northern sky there was not much to see, just the ursa majore. I could not make out its constellation, so i turned my head towards the south. Just right above the horizon i could see a star that is glittering. Could it be Venus? I also looked back at the three stars, orion's belt. I tilted my head backwards, and i saw on the right side a cluster of stars. It is a beautiful picture. Can anyone tell me the name of it? Is it a constellation or a part of a constellation?

[glynnlondon]

Might be Sirius the dog star it's low and very bright.

The cluster could be the Pleiades ( 7 sisters ) possibly.

[laudropb]

At what time did you Mak these observations?

[Sohn]

About 23:00 european time.

[D4N]

I would agree with Glynn then, there would be no planets visible at that time but Sirius would be fairly low so it would twinkle a lot.

Up and right from Orion's Belt is Pleiades (M45) so that fits too.  Pleiades is a great cluster naked eye and continues to show more when you step up the magnification through binoculars and scope.

[Sohn]

Up till now, i am using just my eyes. I ahave a celestron first scope76, but i dont know if it needs a collimation. In the next days, i, my wife and my daughter will go to a very dark place. Then i will use the scope. I am also planning to buy a 10×50 binocular. What do you think?

[D4N]

The small newt's tend to hold collimation well so unless it has been abused there is a good chance it is ok.

10x50 is a good size but the view will be greatly improved if you can steady them somehow.  If you happen to have a photo tripod connecting them to that can work great otherwise there are various tricks you can use such as an upturned mop.

8x42 is often considered an easier size to hand hold, what you lose in aperture can be made up for by being able to keep them steady.

[Floater]

Hi, Sohn. If you download Sky Safari or Stellarium (free) you will be able to identify what you saw quite easily. And you will have access to one (two?) of the most versatile and educational resources available to amateur astronomers.

Either or both of these applications will also help when you visit your dark sky site.

Have fun.

p.s. +1 for your cluster being the Pleiades.

Edited December 19, 2016 by Floater

[Starlight 1]

10 hours ago, glynnlondon said:

Might be Sirius the dog star it's low and very bright.

The cluster could be the Pleiades ( 7 sisters ) possibly.

+1

[LukeSkywatcher]

Venus which you saw the other evening has set long before 23:00 hrs. The star low down possibly was Sirius (was it multi-coloured?). The cluster i bet my bottom dollar (euro dollar) was the Seven Sisters. Close to and to the right of Orion/orion's belt (the 3 stars in a row you also saw the other evening.)

Edited December 20, 2016 by LukeSkywatcher

[Sohn]

Yes, it was multicoloured. 

[LukeSkywatcher]

14 minutes ago, Sohn said:

Yes, it was multicoloured. 

That was Sirius (The Dog Star). It doesnt actually change colour. The reason why it seems to change colour is because from here it is so low down to the horizon that the light from it is passing throught Earth's atmosphere at such an acute angle that it is passing through a thick layer of air pollution. 

Where i grew up for the first 10 yrs of my life the pollution in the air from surrounding factories etc was so bad that i actually thought all the stars were different colours. I saw blue,white,red,yellow,purple,orange,green etc. Every clear night was like looking at Christmas lights in the sky.

Some are blue(ish),white,Yellow,Orange. Purple or green..........nope.

Hope this makes sense.

Edited December 20, 2016 by LukeSkywatcher

[Sohn]

Thanks  for the worthy explanation.

[LukeSkywatcher]

16 minutes ago, Sohn said:

Thanks  for the worthy explanation.

You are more than welcome. Keep asking these questions because its all about learning. I'm sure the cluster you saw was the Seven Sisters (M45). Just to be 100% sure, did it look anything like this?: 

For your own reading/learning: M45 (The Seven Sisters) is in the constellation of Taurus (The Bull). Like Orion, The Sisters are a winter treat to most astronomers and indeed an old friend(s). 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pleiades

 

Edited December 20, 2016 by LukeSkywatcher

[Sohn]

I couldnt really make out all the seven stars, but something i am sure of is they make a cluster, and they re directly above my head. Besides, i had to tilt my head completely to see them. Unfortunately i live in an urban area. I can see more the southern sky. The northern sky is pale because of light pollution. But soon i, my wife and my daughter will drive to  a completely dark place. Then i will have many questions to ask

[LukeSkywatcher]

Naked eye, most people only see 5 stars. I dont even see 5 individual stars with my eyes. I just see a tightly packed cluster. There no mistaking the cluster though however you see it.

Edited December 21, 2016 by LukeSkywatcher

[mapstar]

On Monday, December 19, 2016 at 22:06, Sohn said:

 Just right above the horizon i could see a star that is glittering. Could it be Venus? 

Just as a note. Planets do not twinkle as they are not a point source of light rather  they are an illuminated disc like the moon. 

It sounds very much like the dog star Sirius what you saw.

[LukeSkywatcher]

1 hour ago, mapstar said:

Just as a note. Planets do not twinkle as they are not a point source of light rather  they are an illuminated disc like the moon. 

It sounds very much like the dog star Sirius what you saw.

I meant to say that. Planets do not "twinkle" like stars do. If you see a point of light in the night sky that doesnt twinkle...........its usually a planet. At first, hard to know but you soon start to recognise the planets (not only by colour)......but they dont twinkle like stars as the light we see from them is reflected sunlight.

Depending on where/when the inner planets are it, doesnt take long to be able to go out and look up and spot them. They kind of stick out like a sore thumb........even to the naked eye.

Stars only seem to "twinkle" because of pollution in Earth's atmosphere (like Sirius does). Planets in my experience never do........but it depends if you observe then from a heated room and in that case heat thermals completely mess up the view.

 

Edited December 21, 2016 by LukeSkywatcher

[Sohn]

It is really great in this lounge. I didnt plan to know this much when i started. Thank you, guys.

[Sohn]

I took a blanket with me and went out. To my surprise, there were puffs of clouds scattered all over. I got disappointed. I turned back home. According to netweather.com it is gonna be the Same tomorrow. Patience! But i have a question. Do skies change from one season to another? That would be really great. One would learn more than expected.

[D4N]

Yes the sky changes significantly over the course of the year.

If you get a planetarium app like sky safari you can change the date to see what things will look like.