In Depth |
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Here we see the constellation names, and there
are plenty to look at. Look especially
straight overhead, at the three bright stars
marking Lyra the Harp, Cygnus the Swan, and
Aquila the Eagle: Vega, Deneb, and Altair
respectively. This trio is known as the
"summer triangle", and is a good reference
point as fall evenings get good and dark. In
the west, Hercules is marked by a trapezoid of
fairly bright stars with outlying arms and
legs, and Bootes the herdsman boasts the 4th
brightest night time star, Arcturus. The
southern sky features Scorpius the scorpion and
Sagittarius the archer (who looks more like a
teapot). In the east, constellations like
Pegasus the winged horse are 'coming
attractions' that will dominate November's
evening skies. Under a dark sky, you'll notice
the glowing band of the milky way slicing
through the summer triangle down to the
southeast, where it sinks out of sight below
the scorpion.
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Fainter constellations this summer include the fox (Vulpecula), the arrow (Sagitta) and the dolphin (Delphinus), all located in or near the brighter summer triangle constellations. High in the west is the semi-circle of Corona Borealis, the northern crown, and in the east zodiac star patterns Capricornus and Aqaurius are dimly seen. Two of the least known constellations, Equuleus the horse and Lacerta the lizard, can be seen east of the summer triangle...barely.
Our constellation feature this month is one of the three summer triangle groups, Cygnus the swan. As this pattern is high overhead as evening begins, and is marked by a bright star, why not make the big jump and explore further, forsaking all others, to delve in Cygnus and in health? Sorry, couldn't resist.
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