Welcome member, volunteer, and astronomy enthusiast, Gary Ghioto, to ACT’s blog! Adding to Gary’s Facebook posts will also be blog posts with more information to help you decipher our stars, planets, and constellations. Find previous posts by searching for #ACTAdAstra on Facebook.
Click on the image to use as a visual guide.
So, what's up this week? A little help in finding two of the most beautiful summer constellations*: Sagittarius and Scorpius. Right now, in the early evening, blazing Jupiter and yellowish Saturn (planets) point the way.
Starting with the planets - head outside about an hour after sunset, face due south and you’ll find Jupiter glowing like a white beacon hovering over the horizon. Saturn, which is now at its closest point to Earth, is visible about 7 degrees (or about the width of an extended fist) to the southeast of Jupiter.
Saturn's famous rings are visible in small telescopes with at least 30 power and four of Jupiter's moons (discovered by Galileo 410 years ago) can be spotted with binoculars.
Now onto the constellations - using Jupiter as a guide, look about 10 degrees to the southwest and find Sagittarius, the archer of ancient mythology. This large constellation contains a pattern of stars nicknamed "The Teapot." This asterism** clearly resembles an old-fashioned tea pot, spout and all.
Just to the southwest of Sagittarius, look for the sprawling contours of Scorpius, the scorpion. With a little imagination you can trace the form of this predatory arachnid all the way from head to stinger!
According to star lore Scorpius was sent to kill Orion by the goddess Gaia. Scorpius chases Orion through the year with the Hunter (Orion) rising in the east in winter just after the scorpion (Scorpius) departs in summer. The brilliant red star in the heart of Scorpius is Antares called "rival of Mars" by the ancient Greeks.
Please share your comments, questions, and photos in the comments section below.
Ad astra (to the stars)!
Glossary:
*con·stel·la·tion /ˌkänstəˈlāSH(ə)n/ pronounce
noun
1. a group of stars forming a recognizable pattern that is traditionally named after its apparent form or identified with a mythological figure. Modern astronomers divide the sky into eighty-eight constellations with defined boundaries.
**as·ter·ism /ˈastəˌrizəm/ pronounce
noun
1. In observational astronomy, an asterism is a popularly known pattern or group of stars that can be seen in the night sky.
