In 793CE, monks writing the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle recorded sightings of dragons in the skies above northern England. While the streaks of fire they witnessed were likely the result of a meteor shower or aurorae, they weren’t the first or the last to see dragons in the night sky. Dr Elizabeth Stanway from Warwick’s Astrophysics research group looks at some of the other legends, myths and stories linking dragons and space.

Originally posted on Warwick's Knowledge Centre

We are familiar with the idea that the twinkling pinpricks of light in the sky are stars, like our own Sun. That sometimes misleads us into thinking that all those stars are the same. In fact, there are many types of stars, and we can see most of these in the night sky, explains Dr Elizabeth Stanway from Warwick’s astronomy and astrophysics research team.

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It’s quite easy to see some of the other planets in our Solar system from your garden, balcony or on an evening walk. In fact, you might have already seen them without realising it, explains Dr David Brown from Warwick’s astrophysics team.

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If you ask most adults, or look in books more than about ten years old, they will tell you that there are nine planets in the solar system, rather than the eight we talk about today. But about ten years ago, one planet got dropped. The story of the missing object – Pluto – is one of discovery, debate and a momentous decision that explains how we found a whole new class of objects: the dwarf planets, explains Dr Elizabeth Stanway.

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Nebulae are birthplaces of stars and spectacular sights to behold. But you don’t need a powerful telescope to experience these ‘Stellar Nurseries’, as postgraduate researcher Jack McCleery explains.

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One of the really cool things about the night sky is that many of the same stars, planets and constellations can be viewed from a huge range of places around the world. Because of this, many different groups have formed their own myths and legends about how they came to be, says Matthew Battley from Warwick's Department of Physics.

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Shooting stars – or meteors - are some of the most magical features of the night sky. Seeing a shooting star is a special experience. Seeing many in quick succession – a meteor shower – and you are treated to a spectacular natural firework display. Meteor showers are seasonal and occur at certain times of year. Professor Tom Marsh from the University of Warwick’s astrophysics team explains exactly what shooting stars are and the best way to see them.

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This week we look at some of the most recognisable features in the night sky - the constellations. Constellation is a word that comes from ancient Latin, meaning ‘the coming together of stars’. They’re the regular patterns that we can see in the sky, formed by some of the brightest stars. They are constant but change their position with the seasons. You can use them to navigate and many ancient cultures have looked up at them. Patrick Cronin-Coltsmann, a PhD student from Warwick’s astrophysics team, takes us through some of the easiest to spot.

Reblogged from our series for Warwick Knowledge Centre