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Beginner. Amateur Astronomy. Identifying some stars in the northern and southern summer sky. Objectives. Identify the Big Dipper (not a constellation, but an asterism) and use it to identify a few other stars. Identify the summer triangle. Point out these stars to friends and family.
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Beginner Amateur Astronomy Identifying some stars in the northern and southern summer sky
Objectives • Identify the Big Dipper (not a constellation, but an asterism) and use it to identify a few other stars. • Identify the summer triangle. • Point out these stars to friends and family.
Southern horizon • The most easily recognized constellation is Scorpius • An easily recognized asterism in the constellation Sagittarius is the teapot. • The brightest star in Scorpius is Antares.
S-SE 6/23/05 10:30 PM
Northern horizon • The Big Dipper (in Ursa Major) is the most easily recognized asterism (it’s not a constellation!) • Use it to find The Little Dipper (Ursa Minor), Polaris (Ursa Minor), Cassiopeia, Arcturus (Bootes), Vega (Lyra), Deneb (Cygus), Altair (Aquila). • Deneb is part of the asterism, The Northern Cross. • Deneb, Vega, and Altair are called the Summer Triangle.
N 6/23/05 10:30 PM
Summer Triangle • The Summer Triangle is formed by three bright stars, Deneb, Vega, and Altair in the constellations Cygnus, Lyra, and Aquila. • Slicing through this triangle is the asterism, the Northern Cross, actually part of Cygnus the Swan. • Tonight you will find the summer triangle above the eastern sky and you’ll see it all through the summer as it rises earlier and earlier.
E 6/23/05 10:30PM