We live in a spiral galaxy. In the image, above, of the Milky Way Galaxy, we find our Sun below the galactic center. Planet Earth is part of our Sun’s solar system in the sweep of stars and planets labeled Orion Spur, off the Perseus Arm. A detail of this area can be found here. A voluptuous photograph revealing the center of the Milky Way Galaxy, taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope, is here.
A wonderful view of the Milky Way is before our eyes under a clear, dark night sky. The light of infinite faraway stars appears as a luminous, milky haze arching across the celestial dome. Through the ages, backyard astronomy enthusiasts have stargazed every clear evening, anytime from dusk until dawn. The semblance of a diary of experiences of Berkshire amateur astronomers can be found in “Eyes to the Sky.”
The following is a glimpse of what has drawn people to contemplate the night sky for thousands of years. Let’s open the door, step out, and look up. As a preview, linger with the following GIF, a changing image that highlights two prominent star patterns in a field of celestial lights.
Orion the Hunter is winter’s most outstanding constellation in size, bright stars, and visibility in the night sky. Rally to the rising of the great figure above the southeast horizon in evening twilight, then traveling the heavens all night, setting in the west-southwest during the hours after midnight. Rigel, Arabic for “foot,” is the fifth brightest star in northern skies. Betelgeuse, Arabic for “shoulder of the giant,” is the ninth brightest.
The constellation map above is for evening to nighttime observing from the end of January and into early February. Notice the Great Dog, Canis Major, rising in the southeast. See the brightest star in northern skies, Sirius the Dog Star; it is worth a special trip outdoors in early evening. Sirius is a rainbow twinkler.
At nightfall on January 20, a waxing gibbous moon shines high in the east above orange giant star Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull. The location of the moon on the 21st is seen here and in a diagram below. Full Wolf Moon occurs on the 25th.
By now, you might feel confident about looking around the celestial dome to get your bearings. Do you have a clear view in all directions? If not, how far to unobstructed views? What time do some of the brightest stars and constellations rise to where you can see them? Is there light pollution, a haze over the sky, a ceiling of light that obscures your view of the stars? How to prevent light pollution? Go to darksky.org.
Let’s meet on Groundhog Day, February 2. A cross-quarter day, halfway between winter solstice, December 21, day length nine hours and six minutes, and spring equinox, March 19, roughly equal day and night.
On February 2, the day length is 10 hours and one minute.
In closing, let’s continue to discover night skies and our place in the universe.
Resources
- Online daily news of earth and sky at earthsky.org, as well as astronomy tools (e.g. star wheels, moon maps) at earthskystore.org.
- Timeless guides for all ages: H.A. Rey’s “The Stars: A new way to see them” and “Find the Constellations.”
