Above & Beyond, by Will Gater

Astronomers relish long, cold winter nights
Wintertime in the northern hemisphere means one thing to an astronomer: the long, dark and, invariably, cold nights are back. While most life forms have started hunkering down inside to avoid the biting breezes, now’s the time we astronomers are bursting into life.

The winter night skies are bustling with glittering jewels just waiting to be found, and the constellation of Orion is a rich hunting ground for some of these cosmic treasures. Orion, the Hunter, is a magnificent sight to behold. The bright orange-tinted star Betelgeuse marks his shoulder, while the blue supergiant star Rigel marks one of his feet.

Yet it’s another object in Orion that I always look for when observing during these frosty months – the Orion Nebula. It’s an enormous cloud of gas where stars are being born. With dark skies you can just about make it out with the naked eye. A pair of binoculars will show it as a misty patch, while a small telescope will begin to reveal swirls of glowing gas. It’s a sight I never tire of seeing.

So while some may sit in the warmth, enjoying the wonders of television, we astronomers know that the real fun to be had is outside, in the cold, looking up at the magnificent display taking place overhead. 

Will Gater is an astronomy author and journalist. He is Features Editor of Sky at Night Magazine www.skyatnightmagazine.com