In the spring of 2012 the planet Saturn is found near the star Spica
Click for more about annular eclipse of sun – China to Texas – May 20 or May 21. Image Credit: Sancho Panza on Flickr
Click for more about last transit of Venus in 21st century June 5-6 Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Drive a spike to the star Spica – and the planet Saturn – on these springtime evenings.
Although you’ll always find the star Spica in the same place in the sky on May evenings every year, Saturn’s proximity to Spica is special to this year. On this date in 2013, Saturn will be in the constellation Libra.
On May 3 we talked about learning to “follow the arc” to the star Arcturus in the constellation Bootes. You just follow the curve in the Big Dipper’s handle until you see this orange star.
Tonight, let the Big Dipper introduce you to another bright star. This star is Spica in the constellation Virgo the Maiden. You can follow the arc to Arcturus AND drive a spike or, as some say, speed on to Spica.
Today’s chart shows a wide sweep of sky, from northeast to southeast around nightfall. First follow the curve made by these stars in the Big Dipper’s handle to the star Arcturus in the constellation Bootes: follow the arc to Arcturus.
Now extend the curve in the handle into the southeastern sky: drive a spike to Spica. Or: speed on to Spica.
Spica in the constellation Virgo looks like one star, but this single point of light is really a multiple star system – with two hot stars orbiting very close together – located an estimated distance of 262 light-years away from Earth. Spica’s constellation, Virgo, is large and rambling and difficult to see. But you can look for a little squarish figure to the right of Spica. This is the constellation Corvus the Crow, which we show on our chart for May 15.
Virgo? Here’s your constellation
On these springtime evenings, drive a spike to the sparkling blue-white star Spica – and the golden planet Saturn.
I would like to know exactly what I’m seeing in the north west that is so bright and low in the sky. I live just north of I-94 between Jackson and Ann Arbor, Mich. Thank you
Mae, I agree with Bill. Look again for this bright beauty in nearly the same place this evening.
@ Mae – I am sure that you are seeing the planet Venus.
I saw a blue object and close to the brightness of Canopus. He came from Sirius and Canopus, and headed south. At one point he stopped and turned yellow (like Jupiter), and some time later, mysteriously disappeared. What was this object?
Filipe,
My best guess is that you were looking a satellite. It didn’t streak across the sky, correct? If it did, I’d say it was a meteor. You can actually find out what satellites pass through your sky at the wonderful Heavens-Above site at http://heavens-above.com/
Bruce
Very good this site. Thank you. And whenever I have any questions I may ask?
Most certainly!
Hello Mae,
There is an app for smart phones
call The Night Sky. It will show you and tell
You what you are seen. I use this app and this wonderful
Website to see the sky every might
Saw a faint star to the right of Venus last night (9 May); anyone see it and/or know what it was?
Was ecstatic seeing the Big Dipper, Arcturus, Saturn and Spica–in Chicago skies, no less.
Thank you, earthsky.org. This site is fabulous!
Just looked ahead to May 11th. The faint star is Elnath.