False Cross
The False Cross is an asterism formed by four bright stars in the constellations Vela and Carina. Located in the far southern sky, the diamond-shaped… Read More »False Cross
Canopus
Spring Triangle
The Spring Triangle is a prominent spring asterism formed by the bright stars Arcturus in Boötes constellation, Spica in Virgo, and Regulus in Leo. The asterism can be seen in the southeastern sky from March to May by observers in the northern hemisphere. It shares two stars – Arcturus and Spica – with the larger spring asterism known as the Great Diamond, or Diamond of Virgo.
Read More »Spring Triangle
Winter Hexagon
The Winter Hexagon, also known as the Winter Circle, is a prominent winter asterism formed by seven stars prominent in the winter sky.
These are Rigel in Orion, Aldebaran in Taurus, Capella in Auriga, Castor and Pollux in Gemini, Procyon in Canis Minor, and Sirius in Canis Major constellation.
Sirius and Procyon are also part of the Winter Triangle, a smaller asterism that these two stars form with Betelgeuse in Orion.
Read More »Winter Hexagon
Winter Triangle
The Winter Triangle, or the Great Southern Triangle, is an asterism formed by three bright stars in three prominent winter constellations.
These stars are Betelgeuse in Orion, Procyon in Canis Minor and Sirius in Canis Major constellation.
The Winter Triangle is prominent in the night sky in the northern hemisphere during the winter months, from December to March.
Read More »Winter Triangle
Canopus
Canopus, Alpha Carinae, is the brightest star in Carina constellation and the second brightest star in the night sky.
Canopus is fainter only than Sirius. The star is a supergiant or bright giant, yellowish-white in colour, with an apparent magnitude of -0.72. It is located at a distance of 310 light years from Earth. It lies too far south and can’t be seen north of latitude 37°18’N, but it is circumpolar for observers south of latitude 37°18’S.
For northern observers, Canopus doesn’t rise very high in the sky. The name Canopus comes from the Greek name Κάνωβος (Kanôbos), first recorded in Ptolemy’s Almagest (150 AD).
Read More »Canopus
Arcturus
Arcturus, Alpha Boötis, is the brightest star in Boötes constellation and the fourth brightest star in the sky.
With an apparent magnitude of -0.04, Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. (The three brightest stars – Sirius in Canis Major, Canopus in Carina, and Alpha Centauri in Centaurus – lie south of the celestial equator.)
Read More »Arcturus
Eta Carinae
Eta Carinae is one of the most massive binary star systems known, lying at a distance of about 7,500 light years from Earth.
Eta Carinae is located in the direction of Carina constellation. The primary component in the system has about 90 times the mass of the Sun and is 5 million times more luminous.
The smaller star has about 30 solar masses and may be up to a million times more luminous than the Sun. Both stars will reach the end of their life cycle in supernova or hypernova explosions in the relatively near future.
Read More »Eta Carinae
Large Magellanic Cloud
The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is a dwarf irregular galaxy located on the border between the constellations Dorado and Mensa.
The galaxy is believed to be a satellite of the Milky Way and a member of the Local Group of galaxies, which includes about 30 galaxies that are loosely bound together by their gravitation.
Read More »Large Magellanic Cloud
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri is the nearest star system to the Sun, located at a distance of only 4.37 light years or 1.34 parsecs from Earth. It is the brightest star in Centaurus constellation and the third brightest star in sky.
Alpha Centauri is only slightly brighter than Arcturus in Boötes constellation and Vega in Lyra. The star is also known as Rigil Kent, Rigil Kentaurus, or Toliman.
Read More »Alpha Centauri
Sirius: The Dog Star
Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, α Canis Majoris (Alpha Canis Majoris), or Canicula, is the single brightest star in the night sky.
Read More »Sirius: The Dog Star