SUMMER-SKY CONSTELLATIONS

ursa minor

Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Dipper, is easy to find in the night sky because Polaris (the North Star) is located at the end of the dipper’s handle.

Draco

Draco is the eighth-largest constellation in the night sky and is named for Ladon, the dragon that guarded the garden of Hesperides in Greek mythology.

Sept. 23, 2023:

September Equinox

Known as the astronomical start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, the Fall Equinox occurs at 2:50 a.m. EDT. During the equinox, the sun’s center crosses what is referred to as the “celestial equator,” an imaginary extension of the Earth’s equator line out into space.

The moon will completely block the sun across a large swath of the United States, including a significant part of Ohio. The 124-mile-wide path of totality includes cities such as Dayton, Sandusky and Cleveland.

Sources: amsmeteors.org, earthsky.org; ohiodnr.gov; space.com

Cassiopeia ursa major cepheus

Found in the northern sky, this large constellation is easy to remember from the W shape formed by its five brightest stars.

This constellation is known to most as the Big Dipper, due to the prominent shape formed by its brightest stars. Ursa Major, which translates to “Great Bear,” is the largest constellation in the Northern Hemisphere.

Cepheus, which represents King Cepheus in Greek mythology, contains VV Cephei and the Garnet Star (Mu Cephei) — both among the largest known stars in the Milky Way

Hercules

In traditional depictions, the star Ras Algethi (Alpha Herculis) represents Hercules’ head The keystone shape represents his torso, as he stands victoriously on Draco’s head.

Source: constellation-guide.com