Orion and Neighbours (Photo credit: herbraab)
I’m a little pressed for time today, so this will be more fast and dirty than my usual posts.
In the evening of the 14th, check out Jupiter and the Moon hanging together in the west. The Moon will be a waxing crescent, quite thin, with Jupiter to its right. That bright red star below them is Aldebaran, in the constellation Taurus. Left of the Moon is another red star, Betelgeuse, in the constellation Orion. Below Betelgeuse is Orion’s belt, with the bright white star Rigel below. Orion is a winter constellation, soon to be gone from view as it sets closer and closer to sunset. Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, follows Orion into oblivion until autumn.
On April 17th, the Moon will have reached first quarter, quite high in the sky. The yellow star below the Moon on this night is Procyon, in Canis Minor.
Looking north-northwest, the W of Cassiopeia is on its side. The Big Dipper is upside down, dumping its contents.
In the east-northerstern sky, Corona Borealis is a backwards C. That bright yellow star above and to the right in the east halfway up the sky is Arcturus in the constellation Bootes (pronounced bow-OH-tes). Saturn has just risen in the east-southeast if you have an unobstructed view to see it. If you can’t, just wait an hour or two. It will be here all night, like a bad comedian.
ABOVE ALL – ENJOY! Comments always welcome.
