The Sickle in Leo is an easy-to-spot backward question mark shape made of stars that marks the head and shoulders of the constellation of the lion. The moon sometimes passes in front of the Sickle’s brightest star, Regulus.
Posted by Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | Clusters Nebulae Galaxies | Favorite Star Patterns|1 month ago
The Pleiades star cluster – aka the Seven Sisters or M45 – is visible from virtually every part of the globe. It looks like a tiny misty dipper of stars.
Posted by Bruce McClure in Favorite Star Patterns|2 months ago
Meet the bright star Aldebaran, part of a V-shaped pattern of stars called the Hyades. This easy-to-find star cluster represents the face of Taurus the Bull.
Posted by Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | Favorite Star Patterns|8 months ago
On June and July evenings, you’ll find the Summer Triangle in the east at nightfall. It swings high overhead in the wee hours after midnight and sits in the west at daybreak.
Posted by EarthSky in Favorite Star Patterns|1 year ago
It’s easy! The Great Square of Pegasus consists of 4 stars of nearly equal brightness in a large square pattern. Once you find it, you can star-hop to other well-known sights in the sky.
Posted by Bruce McClure in Favorite Star Patterns|2 years ago
With the moon waning now, it’s time to go out in the country to witness the glorious Milky Way. Want to locate the direction to the galaxy’s center? This post points the way.
Posted by Bruce McClure and Deborah Byrd in Astronomy Essentials | Favorite Star Patterns|2 years ago
The Coathanger star cluster resembles its namesake and is easy to spot through binoculars. Use the star Albireo – part of the Summer Triangle – to find it.
Posted by Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials | Favorite Star Patterns|2 years ago
The Southern Cross climbs highest – due south – in the evening around now. Latitudes like Hawaii can see it. It’s possible to see from latitudes like the far-southern contiguous U.S., but difficult.
Posted by Deborah Byrd in Constellations | Favorite Star Patterns|4 years ago
From the Northern Hemisphere, a fairly bright North Star marks the direction north. From the Southern Hemisphere, the Southern Cross points the way south.