Image source: Venus in culture – Wikipedia
Isn’t it amazing to walk outside and realize the air is fresher, the shadows are longer, and there are changes in the tones of green on the trees? There are even different birds singing their songs in those trees, as they have already begun their wonderful migration south for the winter. There is speculation they may even be using stars to navigate, which is truly incredible to think about. The changing seasons is definitely one of the perks of living 29 degrees above the equator. We may not have the splendid colors of the areas farther north, but there are perks, just the same, all because of our planet’s tilt and revolution around our home star, Sol.
I was finally able to catch sight of Venus, the Evening Star the other day when our neighbor had risen high enough in the sky to be above the rain clouds that were drifting across the northwestern sky. This poison-gas surrounded planet reflects sunlight off its surface and is a stunning point of light. Ancient astronomers called these planets ‘wandering’ or ‘guest’ stars because they returned to particular constellations over many months or even years as opposed to the ‘fixed’ groups they identified as constellations. The idea of creating patterns for those star groups helped mariners and overland travelers get from point A to point B across vast expanses of water or land. It is truly a marvel to contemplate how the ancient civilizations were able to accomplish what they did, inventing tools and devices to make their structures and travels possible.
Constellations for early autumn are mainly those we have enjoyed throughout the summer, just farther west than they were in July. In the case of the ones in the north, those always seem to move counter-clockwise about the North Star and so they are now on the northwest side or above Polaris and others are moving higher into the northeast quadrant. Arcturus in Boötes is sinking into the western horizon, while in the north quadrant the W of Cassieopeia is standing on end in the northeast and the Big Dipper asterism is dipping lower in the northwest.
The Milky Way is poised vertically across the zenith from northeast to southwest, with Deneb, the star in the tail of Cygnus very near the zenith point. Cygnus looks like a sword or a cross, or a kite. The Milky Way’s stream of stars in the north begins in between Cepheus and Lacerta to end in south above the tail of Scorpius.
The asterism of the Summer Triangle is now well up and spreads many degrees across the sky in the southwest quadrant of the sky. Aquila and Cygnus are within the Milky Way itself and Lyra is just to the west of its outer range. The Cygnus Arm of the Milky Way is part of our address for planet Earth.
If you are able to locate the Summer Triangle, especially Lyra, then look below to try to find the stars of Hercules. The shape resembles Orion a bit, but there is no incredible three-star belt to help locate Hercules, I am sorry to say. The bent quadrangle to the upper right which marks Hercules’s upper body is the keystone asterism.
However, if you have access to a dark site and a decent telescope, you might locate M13 in Hercules’ left shoulder (as it faces you). M13 is one of those Charles Messier discoveries he identified in the 1700s as he was searching the skies for comets. It is up until about midnight for September and October and is a globular cluster of stars (EarthSky | Meet M13), the Great Cluster in Hercules will give you more details about this lovely group of stars.
The southern quadrant is also harboring Messier objects 12 and 15, as well as the very small constellation Sagitta, the arrow. Aquarius, the water bearer, Capricornus the sea goat, and the Great Square of Pegasus are moving into better viewing positions and will certainly delight the eye of someone who really ‘gets’ finding constellations. I remember my first time of walking out my front door and locating the Summer Triangle and the Big Dipper and just being excited to finally know what I was seeing. This was before we had the wonderful Christina Torres Memorial Observatory and willing people to help us learn about what was in our night sky.
Be sure to join one of the opportunities offered here in Brownsville to learn more about our Valley skies. The more you learn, the more you will want to share. The next meetup of the South Texas Astronomical Society (STARS) will be October 7, at the Southmost Branch Library. Folks even come from Pharr to join the fun. All ages are welcome. The fun starts at 6:30 P.M. and there is no cost involved.
Until next weekend, DO let some stars get in your eyes and KLU.
