Both constellations and asterisms are patterns of stars. What’s the difference? Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/definition-what-is-a-constellation-asterism…
Tag: Ursa Major
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…
Submit your #SocialDistanceSelfie
How’re you doing out there? We want to see you and hear from you! Post your selfie at EarthSky Facebook, or at EarthSky Community Photos, or in the comments section of this post. Source: https://earthsky.org/todays-image/photos-social-distance-selfies-earthsky…
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…
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…
Castor is six stars in one
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…
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…
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…
Make your own galaxy image with NASA’s Astrophoto Challenges
Open Through February 29, the contest lets you use real astronomical data and tools to create your own beautiful image of the iconic starburst galaxy M82. Source: https://earthsky.org/human-world/nasa-astrophoto-challenge-feb2020…