The moon, Jupiter ... then what?

I recall the Christmas I received my first telescope. I was so excited. My parents had given me a microscope the previous year and in years to come there would be the chemistry set (no, I didn't blow the house up) and the physics set and other science related gifts.

I couldn't wait for dark to come. I took my new instrument outside for its "first light" which is what astronomers call it when a new telescope is used for the first time. It was a three inch reflector with a really clunky tripod and mount, but it was a telescope, and I would be able to observe the wonders and marvels of the heavens right from my own back yard.

I looked at the Moon and Venus and Jupiter ... but then what? That is about all I knew to look at, I didn't know where anything else was. That is why I write these columns, to help others find out what is up there and where to look.

I have already told you how the find the North Star using the two outside dipper stars in the Big Dipper, and how to use the handle of the dipper to find the stars Arcturus and Spica (but you will have to wait until spring to do that), and now we have another constellation which can be used to find several other stars and constellations, it is our old friend Orion.

Look in the southeast for Orion at about 7 p.m. local time. You can't miss the hour glass shaped figure with the belt across the middle and the sword hanging from the belt. We have already discussed the middle star of the sword, the wonderful Orion Nebula, an object worthy of observation in binoculars or telescopes.

Now, let's use Orion to find some other stars. Using the three stars of the belt, Anitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka (from left to right) move your gaze to the east (down) to find the brightest star in the winter sky, Sirius, the alpha star in Canis Major, the Big Dog (more about him next time). If you go in the opposite direction you will find our old friend Aldebaran in Tarus.

Take the two shoulder stars. On the right (as you are looking at it) is Bellatrix (the warrior princess) and on the left is Betelgeuse, pronounced Beetel Juice (I kid you not) which is Arabic for arm pit. Draw a line from Bellatrix to Betelgeuse and follow it to Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor. Betelgeuse is a red giant star, the ninth brightest in the sky. If placed in our solar system it would extend out to the orbit of Saturn.

The bright star at Orion's left knee (right side) is Rigel, the brightest star in Orion. A huge blue giant star which is the seventh brightest in the winter sky. Draw a line from Rigel through Betelgeuse and you will find Castor and Pollux, the Twins, in Gemini.

Using the stars of Orion we have found five stars and four constellations, a good start on the celestial road map.

SKY WATCH: Two bright planets are now visible. Venus in the evening is in the southwest just after sunset and Jupiter in the morning sky. Jupiter is about five degrees (your fist held a arms length) from Antares in Scorpius. Saturn rises about 8 p.m. local time just ahead of Regulus, brightest star in Leo, the Lion.