Today's Astronomy picture of the day is a really nice shot of the Milky Way over Neuchatel.

Just thought I'd share.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110221.html

I stopped nightsky viewing for the winter as i wasnt seeing very much and plan to start again in the springtime. any tips?

Yeah, one place : the Salève

I'm actually quite surprised, but where I live at the edge of Zurich city, I get to see quite a lot of stars. Granted, with the clouds today, it's not good, but even the cities have nice spots.

If you want to spot specific constellations and the like this is a nice tool: http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=sky+chart+9pm

It's the wolfram alpha sky chart and you can adjust the time. It uses the location of your IP address.

Sky in Geneva has become quite "polluted by lights" these last years. There's sky stuff I could see when I was young that I can't see by now...

I gave up astronomy and sky gazing for several years 'coz of that....


There's a software I like : Stellarium

Thoroughly and utterly fascinating, did you also see the wide angle sky image?

Made me feel like Captain Kirk, navigating the Cosmos like that.

I have never been on the Salève even if having seen it often enough, but my Godfather in Geneva (Rue François-Grast 18, CH-1208) always praised that mountain for its views. Is it worth the excursion ?

Aren't February and November the months during whuch you can see shooting stars ?

There are a few great apps for the iphone/ipads re stargazing etc. You hold it up to the sky and it shows you constellations, galaxies, planets etc, Great and simple way to learn whats up there.

I have StarLite which is a free app.

Absolutely amazing - and one of my favourite places in Switzerland, Le Creux du Van - very near my birthplace. Wonderful.

Wow! The pic above Neuchatel is amazing - i had no idea you could see the sky at night like that over here.

I'm planning to visit Galloway Park just south of Scotland in late April. Its one of the "dark sky" places in Europe where you're supposed to be able to see the night sky with no light pollution.

If there was a group of ppl planning to visit neuchatel for star-gazing, i'd be happy to join.

Kash.

Beautiful! I'm so excited for some great hiking trips (moving to Neuchâtel in April)... and would definitely be keen to join a star-gazing expedition.

What gorgeous pictures

Yeah, it's a beautiful place, with a beautiful view over Geneva on one side and the Mont-blanc and some other French mountains on the other side

It's definitely one of the stuff to see when you're in Geneva. Great walks, great picnic places.

being a novice i wont claim to know for sure but i thought the shooting stars were the comets that come in april

Is starwalk anygood for ipad?

I use Star Walk, think it may be paid, but really good.

Thanks for that

+1 for Star Walk...an excellent app no matter where you are in the World, no roaming data charges needed. It superimposes the shape of the constellation over the stars, so you can see why it is named as it is. Clicking on any star also tells you about it too, and it also shows where the ISS and other satellites are too.