The bright bluish-white star, Castor, in the constellation Gemini, appears to our eyes as a single star. But it’s actually a family of 6 stars. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/best-castor-brightest-second-magnitude-star…
Tag: Big Dipper
Come to know orange Arcturus in Boötes
Orange Arcturus is more evolved than our sun and has swollen up to a larger size. It’s less than 37 light-years away and appears as the brightest star north of the celestial equator. The Big Dipper can help you find it. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/bright-orange-arcturus-use-the-big-dipper-to-find-it…
Arc to Arcturus, a springtime star
Arcturus is one of the easiest stars to find. Late at night in February – earlier as the months pass – just locate the Big Dipper in your northern sky. Then follow the arc in the Dipper’s handle to find yellow-orange star Arcturus. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/arc-to-arcturus-the-springtime-star…
Gemini? Here’s your constellation
The constellation Gemini, with its two brightest stars, Castor and Pollux, shines prominently in winter and spring night skies of the Northern Hemisphere. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/gemini-heres-your-constellation…
Big Dipper stars point to North Star
The 2 outermost stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper always point to the North Star, aka Polaris. That’s why astronomers call these stars The Pointers. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/use-the-pointers-to-find-polaris…
Moon and Spica rise at late evening
You’ll have to stay up late on February 12, 2020 to view the moon and star Spica – brightest light in the constellation Virgo – rising into your eastern sky. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/moon-spica-rise-at-late-evening…
EarthSky’s 2020 meteor shower guide
All you need to know about major meteor showers in 2020. Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower-guide…
Quadrantid meteors on night of January 3-4
The expected peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower in 2020 comes late evening January 3 until dawn January 4, with the predawn hours on January 4 being your best bet. Source: https://earthsky.org/tonight/quadrantid-meteor-shower-before-dawn-in-early-january…
Dark skies for 2020’s Quadrantid meteors
2020’s first major meteor shower is the Quadrantid shower. Best time to watch is probably late night January 3 until dawn January 4. Northerly latitudes are favored. No moon in the predawn hours (2 a.m. till dawn) this year! Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-quadrantid-meteor-shower…
Mirfak is Perseus’ brightest star
Mirfak isn’t as famous as Algol, its brother star in the constellation Perseus. But Mirfak is easier to find and can help guide you to Algol. Source: https://earthsky.org/brightest-stars/mirfak-perseus-brightest-star…