Stars You Should Know—Spring
(Dave Chapman, 2023)
Coming up:
Summer (July)
Fall (September)
South Polar (November)
Focussing on classic Greek-Roman names with occasional indigenous references. The classic
names are used in some GoTo telescope software for sky alignment (e.g. Sky-Watcher SynScan
and Celestron).
Spectral classes O B A F G K M — Annie Jump Cannon
References:
Star Tales (2018) Ian Ridpath
Star Names (1963) Richard Hinckley Allen
Sky Safari 7 Pro (star lore by Jim Kaler)
A Concise Dictionary of Astronomy (1991) Jacqueline MItton
Stars You Should Know—Spring
12 bright stars —from mag. 0 to mag. 6 (9 OK to find, even in the city)
—9 are used for celestial navigation (58 in all)
—the first 5 are Sky-Watcher SynScan and Celestron alignment stars
LEO (Leo) “The Lion” ZODIAC
– Find Leo from the Pointers in the Big Dipper going south instead of north
Regulus – alpha Leonis “The Little King”
– mag. 1.4, variable double star, blue-white B8 star
– classic navigation star and sky alignment star
– the closest bright star to the ecliptic—lunar occultations and close conjunctions
– close conjunctions with planets
– binocular companion (mag. 8)
– actually a multiple-star system including a white dwarf
Denebola – beta Leonis “Tail of the Lion”
– there are 5 other stars in the sky named “Deneb…” (homework assignment)
– mag. 2.1, slightly variable star, white A3 star
– classic navigation star plus sky alignment star
HYDRA (Hyd) “The Water Snake”
– largest constellation, but very dim stars
– spans nearly 6 h of RA, ran along the celestial equator ~3500 BC (homework)
Alphard – alpha Hydrae “The Solitary One”
– heart of the Snake
– mag. 2.0 variable double star, orange giant K3
– classic navigation star plus sky alignment star
BOOTES (Boo) “The Herdsman”
Arcturus – alpha Bootis “Bear Watcher” (arctos)
– following curve of the handle of the Big Dipper, “arc to Arcturus”
– mag. 0, variable star, brightest in northern hemisphere
– visibly orange K1 giant
– represents the Barred Owl in Mi’kmaw sky lore
VIRGO (Vir) “The Maiden” ZODIAC
Spica – alpha Virginis “Virgo’s Ear of Wheat”
– arc to Arcturus, spike to Spica
– rotating variable double star, mag. 1.0, dual blue B1/B2 stars, 4-day orbit
– classic navigations and sky alignment star
– close to ecliptic—frequent lunar occultations and nearby conjunctions
CORVUS (Crv) “The Crow”
– one of 9 celestial birds (6 of those only visible from the southern hemisphere)
– between Virgo and Hydra, next to Crater (cup)
Gienah Corvi – gamma Corvi “The Wing of the Crow”
– mag 2.6 slightly variable double star, blue-white B8 giant
– not to be confused with another Gienah, which is eps Cygni
– classic navigation star and Sky-watcher alignment star
LIBRA (Lib) “The Scales” ZODIAC
– at one time was the claws of the Scorpion (not sure of the history)
– balance: autumnal equinox was in Libra at the time of the Babylonians
Zubenelgenubi
– alpha Librae “Southern Claw”
– mag 2.8 multiple star system, primary is a white A3 star
– classic navigation star
– nearby stars Zubenelschemali and others starting with “Zuben”
CENTAURUS (Cen) “The Centaur”
– usually considered a southern constellation
– in ancient times Centaurus and Crux were visible from northern temperate latitudes
Menkent – theta Centauri “Shoulder of Kentaurus”
– mag. 2.1 double star in Centuarus, orange K0 giant star
– classic navigation star, Celestron sky align star
CORONA BOREALIS (CrB) “The Northern Crown”
– Muin’s winter den in Mi’kmaw sky lore
Alphecca – alpha Coronae Borealis “The Broken” also Gemma “The Jewel”
– 17.4-day eclipsing variable star, mag. 2.2, white A0 star
– classic navigation star, Celestron sky align star
Variabilis Coronae – R Coronae Borealis “Variable Star in Corona”
– variable mag. 5.9 star, irregularly fades to mag. 14, yellow G0 supergiant
– worth keeping an eye on in binoculars
URSA MAJOR (UMa) “The Great Bear”
Alula Australis – chi Ursa Majoris “The First Leap of the Gazelle” – south
– slightly variable multiple star system, mag. 3.8, yellow F8.5 star
– first star discovered to be binary (William Herschel) and have the orbit computed
– 1.5 degrees away is Alula Borealis
CANES VENETACI (CVn) “The Hunting Dogs”
– found between Big Dipper, Leo, and Bootes
Cor Caroli – alpha Canum Venaticorum “Charles’ Heart”
– double star, mag. 2.9, yellow-white F0 star
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