The Rambling Astronomer

A striking constellation in the northern skies, Auriga lies above the horns of Taurus the Bull and forms the shape of a kite. Auriga is named after the son of Vulcan who invented the four horse chariot. Its brightest star Capella is the 6th brightest star in the sky.

A constellation that dates to ancient times, in legend Aries represented the Ram whose golden fleece was sought by Jason and the Argonauts. If you watch the film Jason and the Argonauts, you will get an idea of the story.

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the award-winning Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomica...

Ara the Altar lies in a dense part of the Milky Way immediately south of the hook of stars that make up the tail of Scorpius the Scorpion. It is invisible from Britain but has been known since ancient times, remember that many of these constellations were created in Greece which is much further south than we are in Britain meaning that constellations like Ara will be seen much higher in the sky. A...

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the award-winning Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomica...

One of the main summer constellations ,Aquila does look a little like the image it is supposed to represent. Its brightest star Altair is one of the three summer stars that form the summer triangle.

An autumn constellation Aquariue is one of the oldest of the constellations, many ancient civilisations saw the group as someone carry or pouring water. As a zodiacal constellation we  sometimes see planets moving throufg Aquarius

A small constellation introduced in 1598 by the Dutch astronomer and cartographer Petrus Plancius based on the observations of Dutch navigators Pieter Dirkszoon Keyser and Frederick de Houtman. Apus cannot be seen from Britain.

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the award-winning Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomica...

One of the so called modern constellations like many of these consteallation Antlia is faint and hard to see.. In theory it can just be seen very low down from Britainn but because the stars are so faint this is a feal challenge. 

The first of a series of little rambles among the constellations, starting with Andromeda which ia an autimn constellation, its quite easy to see and it is part of one of the most famous of all the Greek myths and legends.  

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the award winning Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomica...

This year is the 1290 anniversary of the birth of Alcuin. A monk who would go on to make massive contributiomns in astronomy and he had the help of Charlemagne king of the Franks  

Edward Pigott worked with the deaf astronomer John Goodricke in York between 1781-1786 and they made incredible advances in the field of the study of variable star astronomy. However Pigott did much more in his astronomical career. Here is a brief look at his life.

Following on from his discovery in the city of Bath of the variable star R Corona Borealis in 1795 he followed this up later that year with another variable star R SCutum

In the year 1793 Edward Pigott moved from York following the death of John Goodricke to the city of Bath where in 1795 he discovered the variability of the star R Corona Borealis 

Setember 10th 1784 Edward Pigott discovered that the star eta Aquila varied in brightness. This would become a night to remember in York because John  Goodrcike would also discover another variable star that varies in brigtness.

In 1783 Edward Pigott became the only person so far to have discovered a comet from York. He was also the first Englishman to have a comet named after him.

A look at how the astronomers Edward Piogott and John Goodricke, the Fathers of Variable Star Astronomy  of York put forwad a theory to explain the light variations of the star Algol in the constellation of Perseus

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomical societies in...

The amazing story of how Edward Pigott discovered a galaxy that he thoight was a nebula in 1779 and how long it took astronomers to recognise that he was the discoverer.

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomical societies in...

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomical societies in...

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomical societies in...

Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country.   I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomical societies in...