Circumpolar Objects
The image below of the night sky shows those things around the pole star which are visible in the night sky over the whole year. This depends on our latitude, which is roughly 55 degrees in Andover UK. Counting out from the centre at 90 degrees each circle reduces by 5 degrees and we see somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees at the bottom we reach the horizon.
So, constellations like Cepheus, Ursa Minor, and Cassiopea are circumpolar. But others like Hercules have large portions which are not circumpolar. Any stars or objects within the 50 degree circle should be visible from our location every night if there is no obstructions, or light pollution. Some of these objects are described below.
The above image has been generated using Stellarium planetarium software. Further details can be found on the Stellarium website
Some circumpolar objects that can be observed all year round
Hover over an image to see further details
Bode's Galaxy and the Starburst Galaxy M81 and M82
These two Galaxies are found in the head section of the Great Bear (Ursa Major), where you would imagine the ears to be. Bode's Galaxy is disrupting the other galaxy causing massive increases in star formation. M81 Bode’s Galaxy is amongst the largest we can see in our skies, but it is quite far away. Looking through binoculars or a small telescope will reveal little of the structure or colour. Photography and larger telescopes will reveal more.
Bode’s Galaxy and the Starburst Galaxy M81 and M82
Image: (c) Mike Cranfield AAS (astrobin)
Herschel’s Garnet Star and the Elephant Trunk Nebula
The naked eye is quite poor at seeing colour in the dark. With his bigger and superior telescope, Herschel looked in the Constellation of Cepheus and found a “Garnet” Star. Small telescopes and binoculars can find the star in Cepheus, but you will need a large telescope or use photography to reveal the red emissions and the dusty areas which appear to represent the elephant's head and trunk.
Image: (c) Terry Tucker AAS
Pinwheel Galaxy M101 and supernova SN 2023ixf
Face on Galaxies like this often show new extraordinarily bright stars which turn out to be Supernovae (a recent supernova is marked on the image). These can sometimes be seen with binoculars or small telescopes. This galaxy sits just above the tail of the Great Bear, Ursa Major, or above the handle of the Plough if you know it better by that name. Again, bigger telescopes reveal more structure.
Pinwheel Galaxy M101 and supernova SN 2023ixf
Image: (c) Mike Cranfield AAS (astrobin)
The Double Cluster in Perseus
A star cluster is a group of stars in close (in astronomical terms!) proximity to one another. They can be beautiful sights, like the double cluster in Perseus pictured in this image. You may begin to appreciate their colours from fiery Reds, through Golds and Blue. These colours can often be seen with patience if we spend time looking through binoculars or telescopes, the bigger the better, with no light pollution.
Image: (c) David Payne, RASC Victoria Centre (astrobin)