ONE of the highlights of stargazing at this time of year is finding a dark enough spot to see the majestic bulge of the Milky Way. From March to September, we are in the perfect position to observe our galaxy鈥檚 dense core of stars, which appears as a band of light across the sky.
Another treat in the sky at the moment is the Teapot. This asterism, a collection of stars that isn鈥檛 a formal constellation, is one of the most recognisable patterns seen in the sky right now. In the northern hemisphere, it sits in the perfect spot for the band of the Milky Way to look like steam coming out of the Teapot鈥檚 spout. In the southern hemisphere, the Teapot is still visible but appears upside down.
Located in the constellation of Sagittarius, it is much easier to spot the Teapot alone than to see the larger pattern of its parent constellation. It also points us towards an exciting part of the sky.
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To find the Teapot, we can use the planet Saturn, which will be visible in August and September after the sun has set. Saturn will be in the south-eastern sky in both hemispheres. It will be brighter than the stars around it and you will be able to tell it is a planet because its light won鈥檛 flicker.
Then, we will need to find the bright star Antares, part of the constellation of Scorpius. In the northern hemisphere, look to the south-western horizon just after sunset and the brightest star you will see there is Antares. In the southern hemisphere, Antares will be found directly overhead. Whichever hemisphere you are in, look between Antares and Saturn, and you will find the Teapot.
To make things easier, you could wait until 5 September, when the moon will appear to be inside the Teapot. If your skies are dark enough, you will be able to spot the steam of the Milky Way making its iconic arc across the sky, stretching out from the opening of the Teapot鈥檚 spout.
You may also spot the Spoon, an asterism that hovers next to the Teapot, on the same side as Saturn. Also situated in Sagittarius, it sits next to the brightest part of the Milky Way鈥檚 arc and looks like a small, curved line.
The Teapot is next to the centre of the Milky Way, so if you find it then you are looking at the heart of our galaxy. This is where the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*, which we were treated to the first ever direct image of earlier this year, is found.
Because it is at the dense centre of the galaxy, the Teapot is a great place to look at through binoculars or a small telescope. At the top of its 鈥渓id鈥� is a spherical grouping of stars 鈥� a globular cluster 鈥� called M22, visible to the naked eye in dark enough skies, but clearer through a telescope. On a dark night, though, studying this part of the sky with the naked eye will still reveal a host of wonders.
What you need
Dark skies
A bit of imagination
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