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Thursday, October 9, 2008

Stars above: Cassiopeia reigns over autumn skies

posted by BOFarrell at 8h07

by Andrew Fazekas

As the days get cooler and the nights get longer, this is the season of transition not only on Earth but in the night sky. We say goodbye to the summertime stars setting in the west, while a new bunch of heavenly players begin to take centre stage in the east. One of the most prominent collection of stars visible is the constellation of Cassiopeia.
On any clear night you will find this queen of the starry skies sitting majestically high in the northeastern heavens. Cassiopeia is a group of five stars in a zigzag or sideways W shape circling the North Star directly opposite to the famous Big Dipper, which is currently resting close to the horizon in the evenings. For suburban skywatchers battling light pollution, this is one distinct and easily recognized constellation rich in ancient lore and galactic wonders worth plundering.
Cassiopeia is steeped in colourful ancient myths and legends. The Canadian Inuit of the high arctic gaze up at Cassiopeia’s three brightest stars and see a triangular stand for an oil lamp, while northern Europeans picture reindeer antlers. Others still have seen humps of camels and tails of celestial porpoises. In Greek mythology, where it gets its name, it is known as the proud queen of Ethiopia, wife of King Cepheus and mother of princess Andromeda.
The leading star of the queen, Shedar, at one of the points of the zigzag, is an aging Red Giant star nearing the end of its life. Residing well within our own Milky Way at a stately distance of 230 light years, its light began its trek to Earth when Captain James Cook was in the midst of exploring the South Pacific and the American colonies were threatening secession.
Planet parade: For those early birds out there, about an hour before sunrise on Oct. 25, look toward the southeast for the waning crescent moon playing tag with Saturn. The ringed planet will be to its upper left. This will also be the best time to hunt down the most challenging of all planets visible to the naked-eye, Mercury. But wait until Oct. 27 when the innermost planet in our solar system will be just to the upper left of the moon making it easier to find. The pair should be easily visible in binoculars.
Just in time for Halloween on Oct. 31, try your hand at bagging a planet during the daytime. This is one urban legend that is true. If you know when and where to look, you can actually find Venus shining through our atmosphere in the southern sky about one binocular field above left of the waxing crescent moon.
To see a diagram of Cassiopeia, go to westislandgazette.com