It's a great time for stargazing

Aside from the usual nastiness of weather associated with winter, it is really a great time for some stargazing. Some of the brightest stars and the most interesting constellations are coming into view in the early evening hours.

Six of the top 10 brightest stars as seen from Earth are displayed in the early winter evening hours.

Just as summer has a great asterism, the Summer Triangle, so winter has a great one, the Winter Circle, or the Winter Hexagon, as some call it. To find it go out at about 9 p.m. local time look to the southeast for the great winter constellation, Orion, the Hunter. For a starting point locate Rigel, the bright blue star marking his left knee (as we are looking at it).

From there go up and slightly right to Aldebaran, the reddish eye of the "V" shaped face of Taurus, the Bull. The face is an interesting binocular object in and of itself because it is really an open star cluster, the Hyades cluster, the nearest distinct star cluster to Earth located some 153 light years away.

Aldebaran is not really a part of the cluster. It is located about 65 light years away between Earth and the cluster.

From Aldebaran go up and slightly left to another bright star, Capella, located in the five-sided constellation Auriga, the Charioteer. Next go left to Castor and Pollux, the two stars at the top of the rectangle of Gemini, the Twins.

In a telescope Castor is a fine double star, but if you want to ramp up your magnification and slip over left to Pollux you will find it to be a six-star system.

From the twins travel almost straight down to Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor, the little dog. Don't bother trying to make anything out of its shape as there are only two stars in the constellation.

From Procyon travel right and slightly down to the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius, the eye of Canis Major, the Big Dog. The shape of a dog can be slightly discerned from a dark-sky place.

Using binoculars look just below Sirius to find M41, another nice open star cluster which is the 41st object on Mr. Messier's list of things that are not comets.

If you really want a spectacular sight, view Sirius just after it rises over the southeast horizon. These late December evenings that would be between 8:30 and 9 p.m. local time.

Just observing the star without any optical aid it will appear to be ablaze with bright sparkles like a flashing beacon.

Using binoculars you will observe the star as it dazzles with bright flashing colors of red, white, and blue. It is a sight not to be missed.

From Sirius travel back up to Rigel in Orion to complete the circle.

SKY WATCH:

Full moon tonight, which is the second full moon of the month making it a "Blue Moon." No, it will not be blue, that is just a name that has been attached to the second full moon occurring in a single month. Jupiter is in the southwest just after sunset. Using binoculars it will be possible to find another outer gas giant planet, Neptune. It will be below and right of Jupiter. Mars is between Leo, the Lion and Cancer, the Crab on its way to a January 29 opposition where it will be the opposite the sun in the sky and be the brightest it will be for the year.

NEXT TIME:

More astronomical blathering.