0:00:29 > 0:00:31Good evening.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Welcome to the second of our programmes
0:00:33 > 0:00:36celebrating the 55th anniversary
0:00:36 > 0:00:38of The Sky At Night.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Well, we did it in two parts.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42Last month, you remember,
0:00:42 > 0:00:45I collected 55 of my favourite objects in the sky
0:00:45 > 0:00:49visible this month and asked viewers to look at them
0:00:49 > 0:00:52and make drawings or comments about them.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55And we had an amazing reception from all over the British Isles,
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Europe, even from America.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00And it really was fascinating to see
0:01:00 > 0:01:03how much people learnt from it.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07So, with me are my usual guests.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Chris Lintott, Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Welcome also to Jon Culshaw
0:01:13 > 0:01:15who knows more about me than I do myself.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18Quite right too. Very happy to, sir.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20I don't know the difference.
0:01:20 > 0:01:25Well, there we are then. Let's go and let's start with you, Chris.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Sure, I think the really interesting thing was
0:01:27 > 0:01:29that people clearly had a lot of fun doing this.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32I certainly did. As you say, I found things I'd never seen before.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35We had a lot of people showing their friends and family the sky.
0:01:35 > 0:01:36Parents showing their kids the sky,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39kids showing their parents the sky, more often than not.
0:01:39 > 0:01:44I was amazed by the variety of what people saw
0:01:44 > 0:01:47and also by the few people who managed to see all 55.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49I certainly didn't get anywhere
0:01:49 > 0:01:51close, so I'm impressed with them.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54I have in my time, certainly not all in one month.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58This month was tricky, but, Jon, why don't you guide us on our way? Where do we start?
0:01:58 > 0:02:02- The perfect starting point of the moon.- Of course.- The moon.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04JON: Many observations. It's many people's favourite object.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06CHRIS: What was it about the moon that...?
0:02:06 > 0:02:08I was shown it through a telescope
0:02:08 > 0:02:11and I hadn't realised how many mountains and craters there are.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15And I soon as I saw that, I realised this is something very different.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19- And I got onto it. - It really does draw you in.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Even though it's a really easy thing to see in the night sky,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24it was actually starting to move out of the way
0:02:24 > 0:02:26at the beginning of April,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28and a number of people actually managed to get around that
0:02:28 > 0:02:31by seeing it during the daylight.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34Pete Glastonbury from Wiltshire, for example,
0:02:34 > 0:02:37says, "Easily visible in the daylight above houses and eaves."
0:02:37 > 0:02:39JON: There's a wonderful description of a lunar observation
0:02:39 > 0:02:43from Philip Jennings of York, who's got a wonderful turn of phrase.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46and custard-coloured, rising over
0:02:46 > 0:02:49"the dark Lakeland fells, surrounded by billowing pink cloud."
0:02:49 > 0:02:53It's like something Les Dawson would have written. It's lovely.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56It's a great, great book title. The Custard-Coloured Moon.
0:02:56 > 0:02:59- The Custard-Coloured Moon! - A romance. It has that feel to it.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Of course Mars is number 6. I love Mars.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05This first encounter with Mars, we meet it later on,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09was really a sort of naked eye view of it and the one thing which really
0:03:09 > 0:03:12stands out when you look at Mars with the naked eye is its colour.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16- Yes.- It's intensely orangey, peachy-orange.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19JON: A wonderful copper new penny sort of thing.
0:03:19 > 0:03:20- A good way to describe it. - It's lovely.
0:03:20 > 0:03:25Mars can actually get bright enough to be the second brightest planet,
0:03:25 > 0:03:29but the planet that takes the crown for being the brightest planet of them all is Venus.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32That's number 7 on the Moore Marathon.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35It's been stunning in the evening skies hasn't it?
0:03:35 > 0:03:37- Like an oil lamp out at sea.- Yes.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40It's named after the goddess of love and beauty.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42There can hardly be a more unpleasant world.
0:03:42 > 0:03:47- That's right.- I missed it.- Did you? - Cloudy.- That's a shame.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Martin Campbell mentioned that it was low in the west and it looked
0:03:50 > 0:03:53like a searchlight and I think that sums up Venus beautifully.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57Terry Hooper from Fleet summed it up for me - beautiful.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00- Beautiful.- One word, beautiful!
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Number 10 then - Spica.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05I'll be honest, I don't know why this is on the list.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09Why not? What have you got against Spica?
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Saturn was nearby. Who's going to look at Spica when you've got Saturn nearby?
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Spica is a lovely star.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16- It's the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo.- Yes.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19And it's very, very white in colour.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21Shall we move on to number 13?
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- Lucky for some, the Hyades.- Oh, yes. In fact, we've got two, haven't we?
0:04:25 > 0:04:29We've got Hyades at number 13 and the Pleiades at number 14,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33so we've got the two beautiful open clusters in Taurus the Bull.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37I always find the Hyades best with binoculars, and the Pleiades.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40The telescope just spreads it out too much.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44And Pat Clough from Wycombe Astronomical Society saw the Hyades.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49She says, "Very low west, fading into the London exhaust fumes."
0:04:49 > 0:04:50THEY LAUGH
0:04:50 > 0:04:53If that's not poetic city astronomy, I don't know what is.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56Maybe we should get a book going on that, poetic astronomy.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58- I think absolutely. - Perfect binocular objects.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02How many stars can you see in the Pleiades with the naked eye?
0:05:02 > 0:05:06From here, I have counted, on a very good night, 15.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08That's very good.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12I got one more than you, 16. And from your garden.
0:05:12 > 0:05:17- It may have been 17... - In fact, I think it was 18.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19- 19 was my highest. - It's very important to realise
0:05:19 > 0:05:23astronomy's not a competitive sport, at this point.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27But it is a good sign of your sky and your eyesight.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31But, Pete and Paul, as our veteran observers, throughout April,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34despite the horrible weather, they were keeping video diaries.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37So let's take a look and see how you got on.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43We're going to do the Moore Marathon tonight, what do you reckon?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46I know. It is not looking promising, is it?
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Well, I'm here in my garden again now.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51Now I can see the moon rising up above the trees over there.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54And if I look at it very carefully, I can just about make out
0:05:54 > 0:05:57the tiny circular features, which is known as the Mare Crisium.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Torrential rain, wind, gales. Ugh.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03And there it... And wow.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Really chose a bad time to start the Moore Marathon.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10There's the planet Jupiter. Then above Jupiter,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13a brilliant planet. Venus.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17I can just make out the twinkling stars next to Venus
0:06:17 > 0:06:20and they are the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters
0:06:20 > 0:06:23and that's another entry in the Moore Marathon.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25I do feel a bit guilty
0:06:25 > 0:06:28because we did have a brief clearing at the start of April.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32And I thought, "Oh, I've got plenty of time. I'll do it later." But...
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Cassiopeia, the W constellation, the Seated Queen.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Ah...
0:06:37 > 0:06:39And that's another entry on the Moore Marathon.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44I'm going to put the time in and wait up until 3.15 in the morning...
0:06:44 > 0:06:46Wow, that is stunning.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50..and see if I get anything.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Polaris, that's item number three.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55So, fingers crossed.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58La Superba, or to give it its proper name,
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Y Canum Venaticorum.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02It's blowing a gale out there.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04That's great. I'm pleased I've seen that one.
0:07:04 > 0:07:06It's so cold as well.
0:07:06 > 0:07:07Messier 13.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10That's the great globular cluster in Hercules.
0:07:10 > 0:07:13Oh, why did I leave it so long?!
0:07:13 > 0:07:17The sky is starting to get lighter I think because dawn is approaching.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19I'm pretty tired,
0:07:19 > 0:07:24but I'm really glad that I have now completed the Moore Marathon.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25Good night.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30Well, Pete, absolutely La Superba from you.
0:07:30 > 0:07:31Wonderful, wonderful.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Paul, well...
0:07:33 > 0:07:36AS PATRICK MOORE: It's a marathon, not a sprint.
0:07:36 > 0:07:37THEY LAUGH
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- Quite.- Well...
0:07:40 > 0:07:43So, the next object couldn't be more different,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45could it?
0:07:45 > 0:07:48- The International Space Station. - It's a crowd-pleaser.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52It is a crowd-pleaser. I mean, I don't regard it as astronomy,
0:07:52 > 0:07:55but when you point up to people and say there's human beings in that...
0:07:55 > 0:07:58It pushes through any kind of light pollution. It's not bothered by it.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59It's so bright. Incredibly bright.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03And I liked the comment from David Whinham in Newcastle, who says,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06"My father lives six miles away from me and watches the predicted time
0:08:06 > 0:08:08"of the ISS flypast as well.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11"And from his garden and I from my flat window,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13"we await for the ISS to appear in the night sky."
0:08:13 > 0:08:17And it's that social thing of realising it's passing overhead
0:08:17 > 0:08:19that I really like.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21Number 17, Chris, you want to pronounce this.
0:08:21 > 0:08:26I think this is the most disappointing object but I was hoping we'd resolve a mystery.
0:08:26 > 0:08:27This is Zubeneschamali
0:08:27 > 0:08:30or the Northern Claw which is the brightest star
0:08:30 > 0:08:32in the zodiacal constellation of Libra.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35- That's right.- People say it's the only
0:08:35 > 0:08:37single naked eye star
0:08:37 > 0:08:41which is green, but I think there's a lot of wishful thinking there.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44We didn't get a single comment saying it appeared green.
0:08:44 > 0:08:48The best thing about that star is that it's called Zubeneschamali.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50- Zubeneschamali. - It's fun to say.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52Zubeneschamali.
0:08:52 > 0:08:58- At number 21, then, 55 Cancri. - Not much to see here.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01As you said earlier, this is the theorist's object.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04This is an object to think about because it's the brightest star,
0:09:04 > 0:09:07apart from the sun, of course, that we know
0:09:07 > 0:09:11has planets going around it, and we've detected signs of five planets.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14The smallest of them about a tenth of the mass of Jupiter
0:09:14 > 0:09:15orbiting this world.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19I still get a huge kick out of looking at a star in the sky,
0:09:19 > 0:09:21knowing that it has a solar system.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25I particularly like the comment by Chris Pearce.
0:09:25 > 0:09:26This is quite nice, Patrick. He says,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30"Fairly ordinary star till I learn the fact that it has five orbiting planets.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33"I wonder if someone on those planets has a Moore Marathon to do.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35"And is looking at us thinking the same thing."
0:09:35 > 0:09:38I think that's quite lovely.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40I quite agree.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44- They didn't send in their forms, though, so...- They may be en route.
0:09:44 > 0:09:45Right.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50Anyway, if we go from the spring sky again
0:09:50 > 0:09:53and spring into the summer sky
0:09:53 > 0:09:56we're coming back to one which was quite tricky again.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59This is the Summer Triangle. It's tricky because
0:09:59 > 0:10:02you have to wait until the early hours to see
0:10:02 > 0:10:05all three stars above the horizon.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08A number of people commented that Altair
0:10:08 > 0:10:10was playing peek-a-boo with the clouds on the horizon.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13That's from Wayne Young in Berkshire.
0:10:13 > 0:10:17Rebecca Taylor says, "I can still see it at this time of morning, 5.20.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20"Birds very vocal". I presume she means the wildlife.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Yeah. And another complaint, Patrick.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- Didn't you...? Summer Triangle was the name you popularised.- Yes.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30I've a complaint for you from Eddie Carpenter from Gloucestershire.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32It's an anniversary, but we should deal with complaints.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35He says, "The Summer Triangle should be called the Autumn Triangle
0:10:35 > 0:10:39"because it's easier to see when it's in the early hours of the evening".
0:10:39 > 0:10:42- I always say it should be the Winter Triangle!- Right!
0:10:42 > 0:10:45It's visible for ages once it comes up. It is right through to December
0:10:45 > 0:10:47you can see the Summer Triangle.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50I like seeing it this time of year because you know
0:10:50 > 0:10:53that the warm nights of summer, short though they are
0:10:53 > 0:10:55are really on their way.
0:10:55 > 0:10:56Where did we get to next?
0:10:56 > 0:10:58CHRIS: Object 24, of course, Sagittarius,
0:10:58 > 0:11:00or at least the form of The Teapot.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03That's not a teapot!
0:11:03 > 0:11:05It is a teapot!
0:11:05 > 0:11:09You cannot see it as anything... It's a very angular teapot.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11It's nothing like a teapot!
0:11:11 > 0:11:12What do you see it as?
0:11:12 > 0:11:14I don't see anything.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17To me it's a teapot hanging there just on the horizon.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19It is to me I'm afraid.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21Wayne Young from Thatcham in Berkshire said,
0:11:21 > 0:11:23"I can see it sitting on the horizon..."
0:11:23 > 0:11:24that's how I see it,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27"..as the sky started to brighten as dawn approached".
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- He's never seen it from the UK before.- Brilliant.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Patrick, I've got a question about the next one - Alphard.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35Why on Earth is Alphard on the list?
0:11:35 > 0:11:37It's a nice enough star, but...
0:11:37 > 0:11:40It's a solitary one, right by itself.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45It's a lonely star, which I enjoy looking at.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47So we should pay some attention to it.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Steve Elliott summed this up brilliantly.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53He said, "Another new one I had not paid much attention to,
0:11:53 > 0:11:55"It is well named as there's not a lot around it".
0:11:55 > 0:11:59- It needs comforting.- Exactly.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01Now, Patrick, we have a chance to speak to
0:12:01 > 0:12:04some of the participants of the Moore Marathon on the telephone.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09First we're going to go to Glasgow and we have Nicola MacIntyre.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Hi, there to you.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15- 'Hi there.'- How was your Moore Marathon experience? Did you get a great many of them done?
0:12:15 > 0:12:19'Yeah, we did. We don't have a telescope as yet so we just done most of the naked eye ones.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21'But we had great fun.'
0:12:21 > 0:12:23Who else joined you to do it?
0:12:23 > 0:12:25'My two sons, Christopher and Jamie.'
0:12:25 > 0:12:27How many objects did you get in total?
0:12:27 > 0:12:31'We managed to see all of the naked eye ones on our own so that was great.'
0:12:31 > 0:12:35That's more than me. Well done. I only managed five on account of the poor weather, but...
0:12:35 > 0:12:37'Is that right?'
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Everyone's had a good laugh except me. Never mind.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Thanks for taking part. I hope you continue in the future.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45'Thanks very much.'
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Nice to have heard you.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Now we go back to the Moore Marathon lines.
0:12:49 > 0:12:50We go to Fareham
0:12:50 > 0:12:53and we are joined by Graham and Kaylee Walker, father and daughter.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55Hi there, to you.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- 'Hi there.'- 'Hello.' - Oh, you are both there.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00- How many did you get?- '16.'
0:13:00 > 0:13:0416? That's pretty good, that's more than some of The Sky At Night team,
0:13:04 > 0:13:08I have to say, so you're doing rather well.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Kaylee, which were your favourite objects?
0:13:11 > 0:13:16- 'The double star and...the moon. I think that's quite cool.'- Yes.
0:13:16 > 0:13:19'Because I saw the craters. It's amazing!'
0:13:19 > 0:13:22Nice to have heard you. After all, I was seven when I started.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Which was 83 years ago.
0:13:25 > 0:13:26THEY LAUGH
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- 'Thank you.' - Bye for now. Well done.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32Excellent, well, let's move on to the binocular objects.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37- So, number 26, the Coathanger Cluster.- But it's not a cluster.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39It's actually, this is another asterism.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42And it's called that because, amazingly,
0:13:42 > 0:13:43it looks like a coathanger.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45An upside-down coathanger through binoculars.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47You can see it with the naked eye, too.
0:13:47 > 0:13:49Martin Campbell from Northern Ireland
0:13:49 > 0:13:51agrees with you. "It does look like a coathanger."
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Exactly like a coathanger
0:13:53 > 0:13:54but those stars are not
0:13:54 > 0:13:57they were not formed together. It's just a chance alignment.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Another example is the Double Cluster.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01But these are real clusters.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04These are clusters of stars which have all formed
0:14:04 > 0:14:06out of the same material.
0:14:06 > 0:14:07I always think it's like
0:14:07 > 0:14:09a black cushion you've spilt sugar over.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11A Double Cluster looks something like that.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13That's great.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15It does.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Chris Pearce actually says, "Nice cluster. Very low in the sky,
0:14:18 > 0:14:21"but lost slightly due to neighbour's outside lights."
0:14:21 > 0:14:23- Turn those lights off!- Chris,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25go round and tell them to turn them off.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28That's a moment when you'd need Patrick's kind of sense of humour.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33"The neighbour's lights are on and there's nothing we can do about it, or maybe there is."
0:14:33 > 0:14:36THEY LAUGH
0:14:36 > 0:14:40- So, why don't we come back closer to home for the next object.- Yes.
0:14:40 > 0:14:44- One of your favourite lunar craters, Patrick. Tycho.- Tycho Brahe,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47"Two-kho Brahes", it should be.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49One of the brightest craters on the moon.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51With the rays.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56I like Tycho, because if you imagine the moon as a beach ball,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59I think Tycho would be the air valve.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01- It would be.- Very good.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04You could write a book, Alternative Astronomical Interpretations.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07MIMICS CHRIS: It's like the moon is a beachball
0:15:07 > 0:15:09and Tycho is where the air goes in.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14- I've no idea who you're being. - No, no, no.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16The next object on the Moore Marathon list
0:15:16 > 0:15:18is one of my favourites
0:15:18 > 0:15:23because of the name. And this is La Superba or Y Canum Venaticorum.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25La Superba!
0:15:25 > 0:15:27You know why it's called La Superba.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29I do. Let's talk about why it's famous first
0:15:29 > 0:15:32because it's this beautiful very red ruby star.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34I didn't really know what it was.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- I thought it was a galaxy. - Oh.- So I spent 15 minutes
0:15:36 > 0:15:41looking for this wretched galaxy, no doubt with La Superba popping in and out all the time.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44I said, "Pete, I can't find it" He had to tell me it was a red star.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46The point is, and you weren't the only one.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50Sarah Dunwood from Warrington in Cheshire said, "Imaged a number
0:15:50 > 0:15:53"of these objects. Was particularly pleased to have found La Superba
0:15:53 > 0:15:56"which took some patience". Well done to Sarah.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58But the reason it's called this
0:15:58 > 0:15:59isn't anything to do with the colour.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04It's when they started taking spectra of the stars in the 19th century,
0:16:04 > 0:16:08splitting the light up into its constituent parts and looking for the signatures of elements,
0:16:08 > 0:16:13there was this ridiculously unusual spectrum. They saw the signature of carbon
0:16:13 > 0:16:17in the atmosphere of the star, and so it's called La Superba because of what it looks like
0:16:17 > 0:16:19not through an eyepiece, but through a spectra scope.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23- I've got an image now of these spectroscopists... - An Italian spectroscopist...
0:16:23 > 0:16:27..looking at the spectrum and going, "La superba!"
0:16:27 > 0:16:29That's precisely how it was.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33- And the name stuck. - Had it been discovered in Luton, it might have in called the Very Nice.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37LAUGHTER Patrick, at this point in the marathon,
0:16:37 > 0:16:39I'm going to take a sit down and a bit of a rest
0:16:39 > 0:16:41because some people have been doing the Moore Marathon in groups
0:16:41 > 0:16:44and Jon went along to the Hampshire Astronomical Group
0:16:44 > 0:16:47to see what they were doing.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52It's a very windy day in Hampshire,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55overlooking the village of Clanfield.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57It's not raining, at least.
0:16:57 > 0:17:02But unless this wind dies down, we won't be able to open the domes
0:17:02 > 0:17:06and see some more of those breathtaking astronomical objects
0:17:06 > 0:17:08as part of the Moore Marathon catalogue.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Well, I've very much been enjoying taking on the challenge
0:17:12 > 0:17:14of the Moore Marathon at my home in Lancashire,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17and in London too, despite some of the light pollution.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20And I'm glad to say I managed to get a fair few on that list,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23such as the moon and Mars and Polaris and the Pleiades,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26the rings of Saturn, as well as some of those deeper sky objects,
0:17:26 > 0:17:29such as M81 and M82
0:17:29 > 0:17:34and the Beehive Cluster and La Superba, that wonderful red star.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37But I've come here to this wonderfully atmospheric spot
0:17:37 > 0:17:41to join the Hampshire Astronomical Group here in the village of Clanfield.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44And I hope they'll help me find a few more
0:17:44 > 0:17:46on that list of the Moore Marathon.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49'The group is 52 years old,
0:17:49 > 0:17:54'and they finally settled on the Clanfield site back in 1972.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58'They have nearly 200 members and run star parties
0:17:58 > 0:18:00'and events all year round.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04'And with them tonight is that stalwart and very good friend
0:18:04 > 0:18:06'of The Sky At Night, John Mason.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10'And John's been relishing playing his part in the Moore Marathon.'
0:18:10 > 0:18:13- Right, let's go, mind your head. - Wow, this is majestic, isn't it?
0:18:13 > 0:18:16It is a fantastic telescope, it's a beautiful dome.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19This is 24-inch Newtonian reflector.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21What I like about the Moore Marathon
0:18:21 > 0:18:25is that you've got objects in there where you don't need a telescope
0:18:25 > 0:18:29- like this to get involved.- Yes.- You can just use the number one eyeball.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33And the great thing is you've got objects that everybody can look at,
0:18:33 > 0:18:35and then you've got some really lovely objects
0:18:35 > 0:18:37that you need a big telescope for,
0:18:37 > 0:18:41and are more taxing and more difficult.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46What have been some of the more challenging objects for the real dedicated amongst those?
0:18:46 > 0:18:49In terms of challenging objects
0:18:49 > 0:18:51probably the galaxies because they're fainter
0:18:51 > 0:18:53and because
0:18:53 > 0:18:56I think a lot of people have this idea because of these lovely pictures in books
0:18:56 > 0:18:59they think, "I'll look through a telescope
0:18:59 > 0:19:01"and it's going to look like that".
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Unfortunately that's not the case.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Even with a big telescope like this you need a very clear night, you need very dark skies,
0:19:07 > 0:19:11you need the air to be steady you need everything to be going for you.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16The Sombrero Galaxy, M104 in Virgo, that is quite a beautiful object,
0:19:16 > 0:19:19people see the pictures in the Hubble Heritage Image
0:19:19 > 0:19:22and think, "Wow," but when you look at it it's not quite like that.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24But it's great to see these things for yourselves.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27It doesn't matter the fact that
0:19:27 > 0:19:30what you're seeing is nothing like the Hubble image,
0:19:30 > 0:19:35actually seeing the real thing is so important.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37'The group have gathered outside now,
0:19:37 > 0:19:41'to look at the magnificent sight of the moon and Venus together.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44'But I want to tick off the Belt Of Venus,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47'which is the shadow of the Earth in space.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49'It's a Moore Marathon object
0:19:49 > 0:19:52'which so far has eluded me.'
0:19:52 > 0:19:53To see the Belt Of Venus,
0:19:53 > 0:19:57you need it to be clear where the sun's just gone down.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00And you also need it most importantly to be clear
0:20:00 > 0:20:01towards the east.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Now, unfortunately, it's completely cloudy over there.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10If it wasn't cloudy, what we would see is the Earth's shadow
0:20:10 > 0:20:14would be below and then we'd see this pink belt
0:20:14 > 0:20:16blending into the sky above.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19And that pink belt is the Belt Of Venus,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22and we don't really know why it's called the Belt Of Venus,
0:20:22 > 0:20:24it's got nothing to do with the planet Venus at all.
0:20:24 > 0:20:29But the pink colour is basically back-scattered light
0:20:29 > 0:20:31from the setting sun.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34'Well, still no luck with the Belt Of Venus.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37'We'll just have to try again another time.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40'The skies are darkening very nicely,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42'but the wind is still howling around us.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45'But that's not putting off the observers.'
0:20:45 > 0:20:47I've ticked a few off with the moon,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- Venus and the Mare Crisium, which were all on the list.- Wonderful.
0:20:50 > 0:20:53Any more that you're hoping to aim for as the night goes on
0:20:53 > 0:20:55and more objects begin to rise?
0:20:55 > 0:20:57If we get the telescopes open, I'd like to do M51
0:20:57 > 0:20:59if possible, the Whirlpool Galaxy.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Iapetus, the moon Iapetus, around Saturn.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05I don't think that's possible personally, actually,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08- but it's on the list so I'll have a go. - I'd like to see the Sombrero Galaxy,
0:21:08 > 0:21:09I've never seen that.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12But we'll have to wait till it's darker obviously.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16- Now then, hi, there, Pat and Janet.- BOTH: Hello.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19- Now you got that wonderful image of Venus in the scope there.- Yes.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22Isn't that something? That's absolutely wonderful.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25So what has your Moore Marathon campaign been like?
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Oh, very interesting. I've found some things I didn't know about.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- Oh, really? What were they? - The Belt Of Venus, for one.
0:21:32 > 0:21:37And the Cheshire Cat, which I'd not heard of as an asterism.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40- Yes, an asterism.- Yes.- And so what are you looking for tonight?
0:21:40 > 0:21:42Any on your list?
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Well, I've really enjoyed looking at the moon. I love observing the moon
0:21:45 > 0:21:48and so the craters, the Tycho craters
0:21:48 > 0:21:52that were on the Marathon, we've seen,
0:21:52 > 0:21:53and a lovely view tonight.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55It's a magnificent view tonight.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58'And there goes the International Space Station,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01'Moore Marathon number 15.
0:22:01 > 0:22:03- There it is just coming out...- Yes.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05..from that cloud, to the left of that hook of cloud.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Nice clear patch there now.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10This is not a favourable pass so it's only about
0:22:10 > 0:22:15as bright as Sirius, about mag minus 1.2, something like that.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19- But it's on the list. It's on the Moore Marathon.- Yes.- I'd say we've all seen it.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Well, we managed to see some good things tonight.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24The wind, though, has been unforgiving,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27so we missed out on the galaxies, I'm afraid.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30'But it's been great fun to share the Moore Marathon quest
0:22:30 > 0:22:32'with fellow astronomers.'
0:22:32 > 0:22:35- Yes, you can never tire of the moon. - No.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41Well, Jon, you certainly looked like you were having fun there,
0:22:41 > 0:22:44and got some clear skies as well, which is no mean feat.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Some clouds, but enough clarity to work with,
0:22:46 > 0:22:49and they were a great team there, a really great team.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Excellent. With that determined spirit, let's press on
0:22:51 > 0:22:54to our telescopic objects.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56My favourite object is bound to be Saturn
0:22:56 > 0:22:59and frankly you can't see much with the naked eye
0:22:59 > 0:23:02and not much with binoculars either.
0:23:02 > 0:23:03I can't believe we left it
0:23:03 > 0:23:06- this late. This is the Rings of Saturn.- Number 39.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08We managed to get through Saturn and separate out the rings because
0:23:08 > 0:23:10they are just stunning particularly at the minute
0:23:10 > 0:23:13when they're tilted about 13 degrees so we can see them well.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16There's a comment from Sarah Dunwood
0:23:16 > 0:23:18who viewed Saturn with her telescope, a small one,
0:23:18 > 0:23:19and she says, "It's the first time
0:23:19 > 0:23:22"I'd seen the rings through the telescope
0:23:22 > 0:23:24"and it was a great moment particularly
0:23:24 > 0:23:27"as the eyepiece view was so clear." She was so impressed
0:23:27 > 0:23:30she woke up her husband to tell him about it.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34I hope he enjoyed the view of Saturn's rings as much as she did
0:23:34 > 0:23:36because that would have been early morning, I imagine.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39A wow moment for both halves of the family there.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Brilliant.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45Let me whisk you out to the outer universe again. Hold on to your seat, Pete,
0:23:45 > 0:23:47we're out to the Whirlpool Galaxy.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49This is a glorious picture right behind you, M51,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52but it's actually surprisingly difficult to find,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55because it's face-on and thus faded out.
0:23:55 > 0:23:56But we had Steve Elliott,
0:23:56 > 0:24:00"Surprisingly, given its popularity, I hadn't seen this before."
0:24:00 > 0:24:02We had Jeff Stevens saying,
0:24:02 > 0:24:04"The second observation that captured my attention
0:24:04 > 0:24:09"was the Whirlpool Galaxy, something I'd tried to observe before but with no success," and he succeeded.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Dave Moulton from North Wales, from Flintshire, said, "Face-on,
0:24:12 > 0:24:14"perfectly placed,
0:24:14 > 0:24:16"but you need plenty of aperture to see the details."
0:24:16 > 0:24:17That's fair enough.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21It is. I can just about make out some details on my eight inch telescope.
0:24:21 > 0:24:22- You can see them.- Yes.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Well, reaching number 49, we're into the last mile of this Moore Marathon
0:24:26 > 0:24:30and we haven't hit the wall and we're not going to as we reach
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Syrtis Major on Mars.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34What does it look like in a modern telescope?
0:24:34 > 0:24:37A V-shaped, shaded region on the planet.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40To be perfectly honest, if you use a really low power,
0:24:40 > 0:24:44you're not going to like this, but to me, it looks like a pair of Y-fronts.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48It does! It has that appearance on the planet.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51So at number 49 then, Syrtis Major, that takes us into the 50s now,
0:24:51 > 0:24:55and it's Messier 81 and 82, quite magnificent!
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Fabulous pair of galaxies. It's just absolutely stunning.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I rather like Rebecca Taylor's quote,
0:25:00 > 0:25:04"Looks like a couple of smudges. Brilliant, two-for-one."
0:25:04 > 0:25:05LAUGHTER
0:25:07 > 0:25:10The next object, number 52, this is a lovely thing.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14This is a beauty. In order to get the Lagoon Nebula you had to get up
0:25:14 > 0:25:15at an awful time in the morning
0:25:15 > 0:25:18or stay up until the awful time in the morning.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Martin Campbell from Dungannon in Northern Ireland says,
0:25:21 > 0:25:23"A tantalising object", which is about right.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25"Rich in colour and complexity."
0:25:25 > 0:25:27It really is exactly that.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30It's worth looking for if you head south for holidays -
0:25:30 > 0:25:31keep an eye on the Lagoon Nebula.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35Steve Elliott says, "I've seen this from southerly latitudes
0:25:35 > 0:25:39"many times. Part of the steam coming out of the teapot's spout!"
0:25:39 > 0:25:41It's a fine sight as we race for home.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43We're on to the final one.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47- Now push on, we can do this. We can do this.- We're almost there.
0:25:47 > 0:25:49We've now got the crowd cheering us on.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53- But Albireo is the first object I ever saw in a telescope.- Was it?
0:25:53 > 0:25:55It's at the base of Cygnus, a beautiful double star.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57It was the last object for me
0:25:57 > 0:25:59in my original 55.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03What colours do you see? Cos there's all these romantic descriptions...
0:26:03 > 0:26:08Albireo, primary - golden yellow. Secondary - emerald green.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10There's nothing like it.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12There's a great description here from Keith Moore in Doncaster,
0:26:12 > 0:26:15and he says, "Albireo, the first time I saw it,
0:26:15 > 0:26:17"was like Saturn all over again."
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Amazing. I think that's fabulous. I know exactly how he feels.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Another Moore Marathon observer on the telephone now.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Sarah Dunwood, you're in Warrington, right?
0:26:27 > 0:26:32- 'That's correct, yes.'- How did you get on with the weather and other factors with the Moore Marathon?
0:26:32 > 0:26:35'The weather was absolutely shocking.
0:26:35 > 0:26:40'I think I've managed five nights outside out of the month so far.'
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Paul Abel, you can certainly relate to that.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44I can. Hello, Sarah, how are you doing? Are you all right?
0:26:44 > 0:26:49- 'I'm good thank you.'- I can share your empathy with the weather. I managed to get five objects
0:26:49 > 0:26:50out of the whole month.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53It was appalling. What were the objects you got?
0:26:53 > 0:26:57- 'I got about 37 of them, I think.' - That's all right.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59That's good.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03'I thought 37 was dreadful, but five really is bad, isn't it?'
0:27:03 > 0:27:05Thank you for that(!)
0:27:05 > 0:27:10- 'I'm so sorry!'- It's fine. I love being abused on national television!
0:27:10 > 0:27:13What was your favourite object out of the lot?
0:27:13 > 0:27:18'Getting the moon because it's the first time I've imaged it
0:27:18 > 0:27:21'through the telescope.'
0:27:21 > 0:27:24It's Patrick here. Patrick Moore. Do you think we got the mix right?
0:27:24 > 0:27:28'I do. It was nice to be able to point out some of the
0:27:28 > 0:27:31'naked eye objects to my son cos he's only 11
0:27:31 > 0:27:33'and bless him, he's a teeny weeny thing
0:27:33 > 0:27:36'so he doesn't get up to the telescope. He can't reach it.'
0:27:36 > 0:27:38I know that feeling.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42- It's nice to have heard you. - 'And you. Thank you, Patrick.'
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Well, I've enjoyed going through that. I enjoyed observing.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48And we should say congratulations to everyone who took part,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51but especially to the three people... Sorry, Pete, I'm not including you.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54The three people who saw all 55.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57So that's Lee Osborne in Spain, Steve Elliott in Farnborough
0:27:57 > 0:27:59and Wayne Young in Thatcham.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01So well done to those three and to everyone.
0:28:01 > 0:28:03Absolute bravo.
0:28:03 > 0:28:08I think everyone who did it learnt something. I most certainly did.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12I've been looking at the sky now for very nearly 90 years
0:28:12 > 0:28:16and still I find things I didn't know, and I found some more tonight.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20So thank you all for your patience,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23your endurance and your enthusiasm.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25And when I come back next month,
0:28:25 > 0:28:30we'll be talking about the two largest planets in our solar system,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33Jupiter and Saturn.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35So until then, good night.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd