Ready for the star count?

The Great World Wide Star Count starts on Thursday, Oct. 30, and will continue until Nov. 3. Got your activity guide and star magnitude comparison charts yet? Point your favorite Web browser to www.windows.ucar.edu/starcount to get the information.

With activity guide and charts in hand, head outside about an hour after sunset on Oct. 30, wait 15 minutes for your eyes to become accustomed to the dark, and observe the constellation Cygnus, the Swan. Cygnus is located directly overhead so is well-placed for observation. Deneb, the brightest star in Cygnus, is one of the stars of the Summer Triangle along with Altair and Vega

While your eyes adjust, why not take a quick sky tour? Starting in the southwest you might be able to catch a glimpse of bright Venus before it sets. Up and to the left of Venus you will find another bright spot: Jupiter, the largest planet of all. Jupiter is currently within the constellation Sagittarius.

Low in the west will be Arcturus, the brightest star in the constellation Bootes. Use the arc in the handle of the Big Dipper to find it. Arcturus is the bottom of this constellation's kite-shape.

Above Bootes look for the "H" shape of Hercules, and above that bright Vega in Lyra, the Harp. Looking north, low in the sky at this time of year, is the Big Dipper which is really an asterism, a 50-cent word meaning "a star pattern not officially recognized as a constellation." The Big Dipper actually belongs to the constellation Ursa Major, the Big Bear.

Using the two outer stars of the cup of the dipper will lead you to Polaris, the North Star, which is the tip star in the handle of the Little Dipper, another asterism in the constellation Ursa Minor, the Little Bear.

Just to the right of the Little Dipper is the sideways "M" or "W" of Cassiopeia, the Queen. Below her royal majesty, look for the "A" shape of Perseus, the Hero. Right below Perseus you will find bright Capella.

Above and to the right of Perseus look for the two long strings of stars of Andromeda which are attached to the northeast corner of the Great Square of Pegasus, the Flying Horse. At this time of the year Pegasus is just rising above the eastern horizon and could rightfully be called a baseball diamond standing in one of its corners.

Above Pegasus you will find your original target, Cygnus, the Swan, or as it is also called the Northern Cross, but the swan is there with its long neck stretching to the south and the cross piece does look like the long, graceful outstretched wings of a swan.

One other thing I want you to look for while you are out and that is our old friend Formalhaut (pronounced FORM-a-low) in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish. It is also known as the loneliest star in the sky.

If you look in the southeastern sky near the horizon it will be the only star visible as the rest of the stars in the constellation are too dim to make out with just the eyes alone.

By now, your eyes are ready for viewing the stars for the Great World Wide Star Count. How dark is your sky? Participate and let the folks at GWWSC know. It's easy and fun!

SKY WATCH: New Moon, Oct. 28, look for a conjunction of Venus and Antares on Monday, Oct. 27. Look just above the southwest horizon about a half hour after sunset. The bright planet will be above the reddish star.

NEXT TIME: More astronomical blathering.