The Lyrids end the “meteor drought” that happens each year between early January and April. Enjoy these photos of the April 2020 Lyrid meteor shower from the EarthSky community. Thanks to all who contributed! Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/photos-lyrid-meteors-april-2020…
Tag: Big Dipper
Spica is your guide star to Omega Centauri
Omega Centauri is the largest and finest star cluster visible to the eye alone from the Northern Hemisphere. Binoculars or a telescope show even more. A dark sky is best! Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/spica-guide-to-omega-centauri…
How Leo the Lion lost his tail
And how we gained a new constellation. Read about the Lion and the Queen’s Hair, one of skylore’s most famous legends, here. Source: https://earthsky.org/constellations/skylore-leo-lion-lost-tail-hair-queen-coma-berenices…
Moon and Venus March 28 and 29
On March 28 and 29 – and even some evenings after that – see the waxing crescent moon and the planet Venus in the evening sky. They’re beautiful! And you can use them to find the constellation Taurus the Bull. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-venus-and-taurus-march-28-and-29…
Mizar and Alcor, famous double star
Want to look closer at the Big Dipper? Mizar and its fainter companion star Alcor are easy to spot in the Big Dipper’s handle. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/mizar-and-alcor-the-horse-and-rider…
Come to know the Big and Little Dippers
The Big Dipper is easy. And, once you find it, you can find the Little Dipper, too. Source: https://earthsky.org/favorite-star-patterns/big-and-little-dippers-highlight-northern-sky…
A tangle of stars in Berenices’ Hair
Berenice’s Hair – aka Coma Berenices – requires a dark sky to be seen. But it’s worth the effort, a wonderful star cluster! Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/tangle-of-stars-in-berenices-hair…
Use Big Dipper to locate Hunting Dogs
The ancient stargazers saw the Hunting Dogs – aka Canes Venatici – as nipping at the heels of Ursa Major, the Great Bear. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/use-the-big-dipper-to-locate-the-hunting-dogs…
Gemini twins are triplets on March 5
Let tonight’s moon show you the Gemini twins, Castor and Pollux, as well as Procyon, aka the Little Dog Star. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-south-of-gemini-stars…
Pollux: The brighter twin star
Pollux, the brightest star in the constellation Gemini, blazes in a golden light next to its bluish-white heavenly twin, Castor, in the evening skies of the Northern Hemisphere’s spring. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/pollux-not-castor-is-geminis-brightest-star…