Getting Out: There is plenty for the casual astronomer to see
and learn from our suburban backyards without any of the
difficulties inherent in other natural history pursuits. You don’t
have to wait for spring, drive to a national park, hike 10 miles,
sit patiently for hours – none of that. If you can get off the sofa
and walk to the backyard, you’re there.
All the people who have lived have gazed upon the same stars, planets and sun. Jesus Christ, Socrates, Alexander the Great and Joan of Arc all looked up at the very same seasonal procession of stars – unchanged through the eons – that you see.
I like that thought. It’s a great launching pad for the imagination. Cities, towns and landscapes change over time, but not the night sky.
However, in modern times, we rarely bother to look at the night sky much less know it. Ensconced in our living rooms bathed in electric light, we rarely venture outside just to look at the stars. Even if we do, city lights wash away all but the brightest stars. These days, the magical sparkling night skies can only be seen on moonless nights in the desert or mountains far from the city.
No matter. There is plenty for the casual astronomer to see and learn from our suburban backyards without any of the difficulties inherent in other natural history pursuits. You don’t have to wait for spring, drive to a national park, hike 10 miles, sit patiently for hours – none of that. If you can get off the sofa and walk to the backyard, you’re there.
On our annual circuit around the sun, the attractions constantly change; each season with its special attractions. Summer’s star show is second only to winter. Our galaxy is shaped like a flat disc with arms like a pinwheel. And in summer (like winter), we are looking at the edge of the pinwheel and into our galaxy’s heart.
Under clear dark skies, we can see the Milky Way, the arm of our pinwheel galaxy. It runs right through the Summer Triangle, summer’s astronomical trademark, which consists of three easy-to-find stars, each in a different constellation.
At this writing, just shy of midsummer, the Summer Triangle is not quite directly overhead at 9 p.m., so look up, then slightly east. You will see three stars brighter than any nearby. The two closest ones, Deneb and Vega, will be as far apart as twice the width of your fist held at arms length. The third, Altair, will be farther away and to the south of Deneb and Vega.
Vega is the brightest star of the trio and the fifth brightest star in the sky. It is in the constellation Lyra, the harp of Orpheus. Light from the sun takes eight minutes to reach Earth. That sparkle you see from Vega left 26 years ago.
Closest to Vega is Deneb. It is part of the constellation Cygnus the Swan but is more commonly referred to as the Northern Cross, which you can see plainly. Deneb is the tip top of the cross, and the shaft extends south with a star at the intersection of the shaft and cross piece. Deneb’s light you see left the star 1,600 years ago – around the fall of the Roman Empire. Finally, furthest south lies Altair, the leading light of northbound Aquila the Eagle.
Here’s one more easy tip to find the fourth brightest star in the sky, Arcturus. Find the Big Dipper. Follow the arc of its handle away from the dipper to the first unmistakable bright star you find – arc to Arcturus.
Take 10 minutes one evening to find the Summer Triangle and Arcturus and you will have four lifelong friends. Leaving the movie theater, picking up Chinese takeout, or taking the dog out one last time before bed, they will be there for you to recognize and appreciate.
Ron Erskine is an outdoors columnist. His column appears every Sunday online at www.freelancenews.com. You can reach him at: [email protected]
