The Rambling Astronomer

The brightest star in Aries is Hamal which means ‘The Head of the Sheep’. In addition on some Arabic star charts the star is called Al Nath the butting one. Interestingly this is also the name of beta Taurus which astronomers use today.

Alpha Canes Venatici or Cor Caroli is the brightest star of the hunting dogs that was created by Johannes Hevelius who invented 10 new constellations in the 1670s. It is formed of stars that can be found beneath the handle of the Plough or Big Dipper of which it once formed part off.

Alpha or Alphard which means the ‘Solitary One’ is the brightest star in the constellation of Hydra the Water Snake , this is also the largest constellation in the sky.

Alpha or Castor which means the Horseman, the 23rd brightest star in the sky at magnitude 1.9 is the second brightest star in Gemini lying 51 light years from Earth, Castor is an A 1 class star with a temperature of around 10,000’c much hotter the Sun at 5,800’C. Although it appears to the naked eye as a single star there are in fact 6 stars that make up the Castor system.

Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation of Leo the Lion a ferocious beast that was killed by Hercules as one of his twelve labours. In spring Leo is easily seen in the sky and Regulus is located at the bottom of a backwards looking question mark of stars in the sky.

Saiph marks the bottom right hand star in the large rectangle of Orion and is the last in this short series of stars in Orion.

The right hand star of Orion's belt.

Another star in the belt of Orion

The left hand star of the three stars that form the Belt of Orion.

A look at Bellatrix one of the main stars in the giant rectangle shape of Orion.

This is the strange story of a star which is on star charts but isn't. I don't know if this is a unique story.

This is very much a 20th century asterism it was named by Walter Scott Houston( 1912-1993) an American populariser of astronomer much like Patrick Moore was in Britain. It was named Kemble’s Cascade in honour of Father Lucian Kemble (1922-1999) a Canadian Franciscan Friar and astronomer.

An asterism in the modern constellation of Vulpecula, a faint constellation at the head of Cygnus the Swan. Although made up of faint stars the Coat hanger has been know for some time as it is also known as Al Sufi’s cluster as he first mentioned this group in his book of fixed stars published in 964.

A small quadrilateral of stars in Sagittarius comprising omega 59, 60 and 62 found in the hind quarter of the horse. The name Terebellum means borer in Latin in China this was known as the ‘dog’s country’.

Following the Summer Triangle you won't be surprised to know that there is a lesser known Winter Triangle formed of the stars, Sirius, Betelgeuse and Procyon.

A familiar sight for astronomers in the summer sky, this asterism is formed from the stars Altair, Deneb and Vega.

The Great Diamond consists of the stars Arcturus, Spica, Denebola and Cor Caroli and covers a large area in the spring skies.

Aquarius is not a particularly bright constellation and can be found below the square of Pegasus. The most prominent part of the constellation is the Y shaped figure of 4 stars representing the water jar itself centred on the star zeta. Together with gamma, eta and pi this little area is often called the ‘Water Jar’.

Leo’s Sickle, which represents the head and shoulders of the Lion, is formed by six stars: Epsilon, Mu, Zeta, Gamma, Eta, and Alpha Leonis (the last one is better known as Regulus, or Cor Leonis, the Lion’s Heart). The Sickle is a hallmark of spring skies in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Orion’s Sword asterism hangs just below his belt. At a glance, it is made up of what looks like three fainter stars below the brighter stars Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka of Orion’s Belt. The Orion Nebula or M42 is also a part of this asterism, making it easier to recognize.

The winged horse of Greek mythology, born from the blood of Medusa after she was slain by Perseus, who can be found nearby in the sky. This is an autumn constellation. The most famous feature in the constellation is the great square outlined by 4 stars. This is similar to the Plough, in that the square of Pegasus is not a constellation but an asterism.

Staying with Sagittarius we continue with the teapot to go with the milk dipper from the last podcast. The “Teapot” asterism is part of the constellation of Sagittarius. Grab a nice cup of tea, head outside, and try and see if you can see the “Teapot”.

Another of my searches across the sky finds yet another star, this time 40 Ursa Major which was catalogued by John Flamsteed and should not be in his list as it is below naked eye visibility. I have no idea what is going on.

In the next two asterisms we will be looking at a milk dipper or Plough and a teapot, both are in the constellation of Sagittarius the archer. They are as you might expect close together in the sky so some of the stars will be found in both asterisms.

Capella in the constellation of Auriga the Charioteer is the 6th brightest star in the sky. Capella whose name means the ‘Little She Goat’ slightly to the right and just below Capella is a little but quite distinct triangle of stars called the Haedi or the kids. They are referred to as the Kids because where the she goat goes the kids will always follow!!