1. Tour of the Milky Way

2. Vital Statistics It’s our home!
Contains more than 200 billion stars, and a mass of ~1012 suns
It’s almost as old as the Universe itself!
13.7 billion years old

3. Structure
The core and spiral arms are of different colors. Why?

4. Us and the Milky Way An artist impression of our motion through space
(start around 2:20 for the highlight)

5. Us and the Milky Way We orbit around the Sun…
But the Sun also orbits our galaxy
The planets DO NOT orbit along the plane of the Milky Way
Because we are inside the Milky Way, we get a very different view compared to outsiders

6. A 360° view of the Milky Way
Objects near and far all blend into a single view. There is very little sense of perspective!

7. Tips to find yourself in space
Cardinal directions!
Are you near the plane of the MW?
Season?
Familiar Asterisms/Patterns (if any)
Bright stars and their plausible identity

8. Asterisms and Familiar Patterns (Non-exhaustive)
Seasonal Markers: 3 Triangles and 1 Square
Winter Hexagon
The 4 Crosses
The Big/Little Dipper
The Teapot of Sagittarius
The Circlet of Pisces
The Keystone of Hercules
The W/M of Cassiopeia
The J of Scorpius

9. Getting to the actual target: Starhopping
Know your FOV!
Is your image upside down/ laterally inverted?
Identify prominent shapes/connections of bright stars on the path to the target

10. Getting to the actual target: Starhopping
Know your FOV!
Finder
8” SCT

11. Getting to the actual target: Starhopping
Is your image upside down/ laterally inverted?

12. Getting to the actual target: Starhopping
Identify prominent bright stars/patterns on the path to the target

13. Navigating the Milky Way
For all four seasons

14. Our View
SPRING: MARCH to june

15. As we look down along the Centaurus Arm, many objects flood the zone
Spring: Mar - Jun
As we look down along the Centaurus Arm, many objects flood the zone

16. Spring: Mar - Jun
From our perspective, the Milky Way plunges from Canis Major and deep into the Southern sky. Let’s zoom in…

17. Spring: Mar - Jun
Now, we are looking directly along the Centaurus Arm. You can see this by the many bright stars in this area

18. Spring: Mar - Jun
If you are lost among the stars, never fear! The Southern Cross is here!

19. However, be careful not to mix this up with the bigger False Cross…
Spring: Mar - Jun
Gacrux
Delta Crucis
Beta Crucis
Acrux
However, be careful not to mix this up with the bigger False Cross…

20. Notice that the Southern Cross has a 5th star, unlike the False Cross.
Spring: Mar - Jun
Notice that the Southern Cross has a 5th star, unlike the False Cross.

21. Spring: Mar - Jun
Another way is to remember that the Southern Cross is next to two bright stars, called the Pointers

22. Spring: Mar - Jun
Alpha Cen
Not only do they “point” to Crux, the brighter star (Alpha Centauri) is the closest star system to the Sun.

23. We can use the stars of the Cross to reach three bright objects.
Spring: Mar - Jun
Gacrux
Delta Crucis
Beta Crucis
Acrux
We can use the stars of the Cross to reach three bright objects.

24. Spring: Mar - Jun
Gacrux
Delta Crucis
From Delta Crucis, extend a line past Gacrux into the stars of Centaurus to reach Omega Centauri

25. Right next to Beta Crucis lies a wonderful gem called the Jewel Box
Spring: Mar - Jun
Beta Crucis
Right next to Beta Crucis lies a wonderful gem called the Jewel Box

26. Spring: Mar - Jun
Beta Crucis
From Beta Crucis, extend a line past the 5th star of the Cross to reach the Eta Carinae Nebula

27. SUMMER: JULY TO OCTOBER
Our View
SUMMER: JULY TO OCTOBER

28. This is the heart of the Milky Way: there is much to see here!
Summer: July-August
This is the heart of the Milky Way: there is much to see here!

29. Two prominent constellations/asterisms dominate the field
Summer: July-August
Two prominent constellations/asterisms dominate the field

30. Directions to M8, the Lagoon Nebula
Summer: July-August
Directions to M8, the Lagoon Nebula

31. Directions to M7, the Ptolemy Cluster
Summer: July-August
Directions to M7, the Ptolemy Cluster

32. Directions to C76, the False Comet
Summer: July-August
Directions to C76, the False Comet

33. Summer: Sep-Oct
Over months, our perspective shifts and other areas rise…

34. The Summer Triangle is made up of 3 prominent stars
Summer: Sep-Oct
The Summer Triangle is made up of 3 prominent stars

35. Can you see a Northern Cross?
Summer: Sep-Oct
Can you see a Northern Cross?

36. The Northern Cross connects the brightest stars in Cygnus
Summer: Sep-Oct
The Northern Cross connects the brightest stars in Cygnus

37. Directions to Albireo, a colorful double star
Summer: Sep-Oct
Directions to Albireo, a colorful double star

38. Summer: Sep-Oct From Cygnus, we can trace the start of the Great Rift
Made up of cold clouds of gas and dust, the Great Rift highlights the plane of the Milky Way
From Cygnus, we can trace the start of the Great Rift

39. Trace out the constellation of Aquila the Eagle
Summer: Sep-Oct
Trace out the constellation of Aquila the Eagle

40. Altair, the brightest star in Aquila, marks its beak
Summer: Sep-Oct
Altair, the brightest star in Aquila, marks its beak

41. Its “tail” helps us locate M11, the Wild Duck Cluster
Summer: Sep-Oct
Its “tail” helps us locate M11, the Wild Duck Cluster

42. Fall: OCTober TO DEcember
Our View
Fall: OCTober TO DEcember

43. Fall: Oct-Nov
As Summer ends, the Milky Way arcs to the Northern Sky. As we are looking outwards, there are less objects to be seen.

44. Fall: Oct-Nov
Cygnus remains for a little while longer. Can you see the Northern Cross?

45. Fall: Oct-Nov
Draw a line from the Northern Cross, and we’ll hit the W of Cassiopeia. Lets zoom in!

46. A favorite fall object is the Double Cluster…
Fall: Oct-Nov
A favorite fall object is the Double Cluster…

47. Can you also spot a special object in this image?
Fall: Oct-Nov
Can you also spot a special object in this image?

48. Cassiopeia points to the region around the Andromeda Galaxy
Fall: Oct-Nov
Cassiopeia points to the region around the Andromeda Galaxy

49. The Great Square of Pegasus is an easier way of getting there
Fall: Oct-Nov
The Great Square of Pegasus is an easier way of getting there

50. The Great Square has a northern ‘leg’. That’s Andromeda!
Fall: Oct-Nov
The Great Square has a northern ‘leg’. That’s Andromeda!

51. From Mirach, draw a perpendicular line to get closer…
Fall: Oct-Nov
From Mirach, draw a perpendicular line to get closer…

52. WINTER: December TO MARCH
Our View
WINTER: December TO MARCH

53. Winter: Dec - Mar
From Cassiopeia and Perseus, the Milky Way plunges south through Gemini

54. Winter: Dec - Mar
As we are looking away from the center of the galaxy, the Milky Way appears dimmest here. Thankfully, the winter sky boasts of two famous objects

55. But first: let us familiarise ourselves with some signposts
Winter: Dec - Mar
But first: let us familiarise ourselves with some signposts

56. With its belt of 3 bright stars, Orion is hard to miss
Winter: Dec - Mar
With its belt of 3 bright stars, Orion is hard to miss

57. Extend his belt to reach two bright stars
Winter: Dec - Mar
Extend his belt to reach two bright stars

58. The orange star is Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull
Winter: Dec - Mar
The orange star is Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull

59. The other star is Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky
Winter: Dec - Mar
The other star is Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky

60. Can you see an equilateral triangle containing Sirius?
Winter: Dec - Mar
Can you see an equilateral triangle containing Sirius?

61. The Winter Triangle connects Procyon to Betelgeuse and Sirius
Winter: Dec - Mar
The Winter Triangle connects Procyon to Betelgeuse and Sirius

62. We can also extend this into a misshapen Winter Hexagon…
Winter: Dec - Mar
We can also extend this into a misshapen Winter Hexagon…

63. Winter: Dec - Mar
Auriga
Gemini
Taurus
Canis Minor
Orion
Canis Major
As it connects 6 constellations at one go, this is a good way to navigate the winter night sky

64. But Orion is more than just a signpost. Lets zoom in…
Winter: Dec - Mar
Auriga
Gemini
Taurus
Canis Minor
Orion
Canis Major
But Orion is more than just a signpost. Lets zoom in…

65. Recap: where’s the belt of Orion?
Winter: Dec - Mar
Recap: where’s the belt of Orion?

66. Below Orion’s belt, we have a fuzzy “star”: the Orion Nebula
Winter: Dec - Mar
Below Orion’s belt, we have a fuzzy “star”: the Orion Nebula

67. Next: locate Bellatrix
Winter: Dec - Mar
Bellatrix is on the same “side” of Orion as Betelgeuse
Next: locate Bellatrix

68. Winter: Dec - Mar
From Bellatrix, extend a line across Aldebaran. You’ll reach the Pleiades

69. Winter: Dec - Mar
The Pleiades and Orion Nebula are both visible with the naked eye, even in Singapore!

70. A test!

71. What objects can you spot?