Springing Into Summer

Summer is almost upon us, but you still have time to enjoy some spring star patterns. At this time of year, you’ll have to wait until after 8:30 PM for the sky to get dark before heading outdoors with your handy star chart.

Just above the western horizon, Leo the lion is nearly lost in the glow of sunset. Look for the bright star Regulus, which marks the lion’s heart. A nearby circlet of stars forms the fluffy mane and head of the lion. Above Regulus is a triangle that marks the rear end of the lion and the tuft of fur at the tip of his tail. That faint yellow star just south of Leo’s body is not really a star. It’s the planet Saturn. Check it out with binoculars – it will look round, unlike the pinpoint stars.

High in the northern sky, the Big Dipper is easy to spot because its seven stars stand out against the fainter background. Between the Big Dipper and the horizon is the Little Dipper. This dipper is more challenging to see because the stars are relatively dim. The Little Dipper never appears very high above the horizon so local light pollution can easily wash out this part of the sky. Draw a line through the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper’s bowl to find the north star Polaris. Face Polaris, and you are facing north.

The Big Dipper can also point to other interesting star patterns. Poke a hole in the bottom of the bowl of the dipper, and the water falls on the back of Leo the lion.

Or, follow the curving arc of the handle of the Big Dipper to find the bright orange star Arcturus in the constellation of Bootes the herdsman. If you have trouble seeing a shepherd in this part of the sky, you are not alone. Some people see Bootes as a kite, while others imagine a nice cool ice cream cone. Just east of Bootes is the northern crown Corona Borealis. Maybe the crown’s oval shape could represent the scoop that fell off the cone.

Arc to Arcturus and then spike to Spica, the bright, blue-white star in Virgo the maiden. While most of the maiden’s stars are practically invisible, Spica stands out.

Low in the southwestern sky, take a moment to look for Corvus the crow. Though not as famous as some constellations, the lowly crow is usually easier to spot than either Virgo or the Little Dipper.

Go out later in the evening, after 10:30 PM, to get a jump on summer stargazing. Rising above the eastern horizon is the Summer Triangle. Vega, Altair, and Deneb are easily visible, even from light polluted skies.

Cygnus the swan is the easiest of the three constellations in this area to spot. Aquila the eagle and Lyra the harp are there too but require more effort to see than the simple swan.

If you have a clear southern horizon with no trees, buildings, or light pollution, you can start looking for Scorpius the scorpion. Red Antares marks the scorpion’s heart with a curling hook of stars punctuated by a bright stinger at the end of his tail.

Lastly, on a clear, dark, moonless night, away from the hustle and bustle of civilization, you might even catch a glimpse of the elusive Milky Way. This hazy band of light stretches through the middle of the Summer Triangle and reaches down to Scorpius in the south. Scan along the Milky Way with binoculars to see the hundreds of thousands of millions of stars Galileo saw when he first pointed his telescope at the night sky 400 years ago. After midnight, some businesses and homes turn off their outdoor lighting, and you might be able to see more stars, even from areas somewhat close to the city.

Stay out late enough, and a bright star will rise in the east. Grab your binoculars to confirm it – this is not a star either! Jupiter will rule the night, until brilliant Venus rises just an hour before sunrise. As the dark of night slowly gives way to the light of dawn, Jupiter will be shining low in the southwest with Venus glaring in the east.

Summer Star Parties

The next free public star party is set for Saturday evening, July 25, from 8:30-10:30 PM at the Visitor’s Center at Longhunter State Park. Featured objects include the crescent Moon, Saturn, and summer star clusters.

After that, the next star party will be from 8:30-10:30 PM on August 15 at the Special Events Field at Edwin Warner Park. Jupiter will rise later in the evening, and there is a chance that we might see a few Perseid meteors streak across the sky. So, always keep looking up.

Members of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society will set up their telescopes so everyone can enjoy viewing the Moon, a planet, or a star cluster. The best part: it’s all FREE!

You can find helpful hints for enjoying a star party as well as driving directions on our star parties page.

Please note that star parties may be cancelled due to poor weather. If the weather is questionable, visit our web site or call AstroLine at (615) 401-5092 before leaving home.

Planetarium Professionals Set Sights on Sudekum

From June 16 through 20, the Sudekum Planetarium will host the 2009 conference of the Southeastern Planetarium Association. More than 150 delegates from across the U.S., Europe, New Zealand, and Japan will pack the dome to see the latest in planetarium technology and programming during four days of non-stop presentations.

Conference activities in the planetarium will take place after hours so the Sudekum Planetarium will be open every day for regular public shows.