Starwatch: can you spot Lacerta the lizard crawling across the night sky?

A Faint yet Fascinating Gem in the Northern Skies: Can You Spot Lacerta?

For amateur stargazers and seasoned astronomers alike, a rare opportunity is at hand to spot a tiny but tantalizing constellation nestled between two of the brightest stars in the night sky. Lacerta, named after 17th-century astronomer Johannes Hevelius, may be a faint gem, but its distinctive zigzag shape offers a thrilling challenge to those willing to venture into the dark.

As the night wears on and the moon sets, look towards the northern horizon for a glimpse of this elusive constellation. With a bit of luck, you might just catch a glimpse of Lacerta's irregular outline, reminiscent of a scaly lizard traversing the celestial expanse.

Although it boasts no particularly bright stars, its unique shape makes it an attractive addition to any evening stargazing session. And as an added bonus, a dark sky devoid of streetlights will also reveal the stunning autumn Milky Way and majestic Cygnus constellation in all their glory.

Unfortunately, Lacerta's position on the horizon can make it tricky to spot, particularly in urban areas where light pollution dominates the night sky. But for those willing to brave the darkness and the chill, the rewards are well worth the effort – after all, spotting a faint constellation is an accomplishment that will leave you feeling starstruck.

When: October 27th at 19:30 GMT

Where: Northern horizon, away from streetlights

What to look for: Lacerta's distinctive zigzag shape

Tips and Tricks:

* Get away from urban areas with heavy light pollution
* Give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness – it might take a few minutes to spot the constellation
* Bring warm clothing and blankets to keep you cozy while stargazing

I'm loving this article about Lacerta, it's like a hidden treasure waiting to be discovered in the night sky! The idea that we can spot something so tiny but special is actually kinda humbling, right? Like, we're not just looking at stars, we're looking at a piece of history and science that's been floating around for centuries. And I'm down for braving the darkness and the chill to see it, 'cause when you finally do spot Lacerta's zigzag shape, it's like you're seeing something truly magical . But yeah, the whole light pollution thing is a bummer, can't we just have some clean skies already?

u gotta love a good astronomy mystery , lacerta's like the ultimate hide-and-seek in the night sky . i mean, it's super faint but that zigzag shape is everything . got some mates who are total astronomy nerds and they're hyped for this one . probs gonna be a sick spot for some epic stargazing pics . just make sure u get outta the city lights and give ur eyes some time to adjust, or u might end up like me - totally confused . oct 27th at 7:30 pm GMT is the deets, so mark it in ur calendars . can't wait to see who spots lacerta first !

I'm stoked that Lacerta is getting some attention again . I've always loved trying to spot those hard-to-find constellations, and Lacerta's zigzag shape sounds like a real challenge . The fact that it's not too bright means you need to be patient and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness – I love that tip about bringing warm clothing, though . Unfortunately, urban light pollution is always a bummer, but I'm sure some dark spots away from city centers will still offer great views of Lacerta and those other constellations .

OMG, u guys ! I'm literally so hyped for this upcoming stargazing event!!! Lacerta is like, such a cool hidden gem in the night sky... its zigzag shape is SO unique & fascinating . But, yeah, it's def hard to spot unless u get away from all those streetlights . I mean, I'm all about dark skies & the Milky Way tho... there's nothing quite like gazing up at the stars on a clear night . Anywayz, mark ur calendars for Oct 27th at 19:30 GMT & get ready to spot some celestial magic !

omg u guys! i'm so excited about this news ! i've been trying to find lacerta for ages but can never seem to catch a glimpse of it... my dad's an avid astronomer and he told me we should try looking at it next week, like when? 27th october at 7:30 pm?! that's gonna be so cool ! i wish there were more info on how to spot it tho, like what exactly to look for? is it hard to find if ur in the city tho? i dont wanna waste my time driving all the way out to nowhere...

Ugh, can't believe I have to go out into the dark just to see this tiny constellation... like, what's the point of even having streetlights if they're just gonna ruin our stargazing vibes? And don't even get me started on how hard it is to find a spot with minimal light pollution. I mean, I'm sure Lacerta's zigzag shape is cool and all, but it's just so... faint. Can't we just have some nice, bright stars up there like they used to?

I'm soooo bored of all these astronomy events . Can't people just stay indoors and watch Netflix or something? I mean, who really wants to venture out into the cold and dark just to spot a tiny constellation? It's not like Lacerta is going anywhere or anything... it'll just be there next time you look up at the sky . And don't even get me started on light pollution - can't we just have some urban areas that are actually bright enough to see our phones? It's all about priorities, right?

ugh, who needs a bright star when you can spot a tiny lizard in the sky? Lacerta is like that one aunt at family gatherings – it's not exactly showy, but you love it anyway. And can we talk about how convenient it is to find this "gem" right between two super bright stars? sounds like a setup for a stellar Instagram pic to me

I'm so excited for my kiddos to try spotting Lacerta tonight! I've been talking about how cool astronomy is, and now we get to actually see it in action. But, gotta be real, light pollution can be a bummer. We need to find a spot way away from the city to really make this happen. Anyone have some tips on where to go? ️ My little one's been asking me what a "constellation" is for weeks now... fingers crossed we get to explain it in person tonight!

omg u guys, i know we've been having so many heated debates lately, but can we just chill for a sec? let's talk about lacerta instead! it's like, this tiny constellation that's kinda hard to spot, but trust me, it's TOTALLY worth it. the best part is, you don't need any super fancy equipment or anything - just find yourself a dark spot away from city lights and get out there!

i personally love how unique lacerta looks, all scaly and stuff. and can we talk about how amazing the autumn milky way is?! it's like nature's own light show! anywayz, if u guys are up for a fun night under the stars, oct 27th at 7:30pm GMT might be just what the doc ordered!

omg u guys, i cant even imagine how hard it is 2 spot this tiny constellation lol lacerta sounds like such a cool name tho - hevelius must be like, super famous or somethin anywayz, idk wut the deal w/ urban areas & light pollution... cant we just have some dark skies for once?! maybe i'm just old fashioned but dont u think it's kinda unfair that we gotta brave the darkness 2 see these amazing things in the sky?

omg u guys, i'm so down for this! lacerta sounds like such a cool constellation to find. i've always loved stargazing and the idea of spotting something in the night sky is just so thrilling ️. the fact that it's not super bright but has this unique shape makes me want to get out there and give it a try. did anyone know it was named after some astronomer dude? anyway, i'm definitely going to mark october 27th in my calendar and try to catch a glimpse of lacerta. fingers crossed the weather is nice that night

I'm actually kinda surprised how hard it is to spot Lacerta, given its name sounds pretty cool . Like, it's supposed to be this awesome, hidden gem in the sky, but apparently, it's super tricky to find? Maybe that's just because of all the light pollution ruining our view ? Anyway, I think stargazing is so underrated – there's something magical about gazing up at the stars on a clear night. Plus, who needs bright stars when you have a cool zigzag constellation to discover?

omg u guys! lacerta is like, so cool!! i've been trying to find it in the night sky for ages and now that the autumn milky way is out, it's like a whole new level of magic i'm planning on checking it out on october 27th at 19:30 gmt. u should defo join me! we can grab some hot chocolate and just chill in the dark while we spot some stars

I'm so hyped for this one . I've been waiting for an excuse to get out of my apartment and gaze at the stars, and Lacerta's positioning just happens to be perfect. October 27th is literally going to be the best night ever... as long as you can brave the chill in the dark . Light pollution is a major bummer, but if anyone knows where I can find some decent stargazing spots around here, hit me up!

I wish more people would appreciate our planet's natural beauty, like Lacerta, before it's too late. Light pollution is killing the night sky and it's not just about aesthetics – it also affects our connection with nature and even our mental health . We need to find ways to preserve dark skies and promote sustainable urban planning.

I love that they're making stargazing more accessible. I mean, who needs fancy equipment when you can just get out of the city for an hour or two? It's amazing how much more you can see once you've got a dark sky. My kids are always asking me to take them on picnics at the outskirts of town, and it's funny because now they're interested in finding constellations too. I remember when they were little and would just look up at the stars and say "Mom, what's that?" Now they can tell me all about Lacerta and its zigzag shape. It's great to see people getting excited about the night sky again!

omg u guys, i cant wait 2 spot lacerta!! i've heard its so hard 2 find but the zigzag shape sounds like an amazing challenge! i'll def be getting away from the city lights & bringing some hot chocolate 2 keep me cozy under the stars. did u know that cygnus constellation looks super pretty with the milky way? it's gonna b such a cool experience spotting lacerta in all its glory. fyi, i'm planning 2 check out this event on october 27th @ 19:30 gmt - who else is coming with me?

omg u guys, i'm so hyped about this news!!! there's this tiny but cool constellation called lacerta that u can spot in the northern sky on oct 27th at 7:30 pm gmt it's like a zigzag shape and it's really pretty. the thing is, it's hard to see cuz of all the light pollution in cities so u gotta go super dark and quiet to spot it . but trust me, it's worth it! the milky way and cygnus constellation are gonna be lit