Backyard Stargazer: Sirius and the Dog Days of Summer
Francis Parnell, the Backyard Stargazer of Darlington
By Francis Parnell
Special to the News & Press
On July 4th, Earth is at “Aphelion”, farthest from the Sun for 2016 at 94,512,904 miles. On January 2nd, Earth was at “Perihelion”, at 91,403,812 miles. Even though we’re 3% farther away from the Sun than in January, it won’t be cooler. Starting July 3rd, “Dog Days” begins and lasts 40 days until August 11th. It’s called Dog Days because the ancient Greeks believed that “Sirius”, the Dog Star, in the constellation of Canis Major, rose with and added its heat to that of the Sun, helping to “Scorch” the Earth, causing dogs to go mad and making daily life miserable.And, 2500 years later, the celestial canine is still bringing the heat and humidity!
With New Moon on the 4th, if you have a small telescope, this is a good time to observe “Earthshine” and watch the sunrise over the rugged lunar landscape over the next few nights. At dusk on the 7th, look for the waxing crescent Moon low in the west about 3-degrees to the lower left of “Regulus”, the Alpha star in Leo, the Lion.
At dusk on the 8th, find the Moon 4-degrees to the lower right of another great telescopic object – Jupiter.
Early evening on the 11th, the first quarter Moon will be in the southwestern sky with the white light of “Spica” about 6-degrees below left of the Moon.
On the 14th, look for bright red Mars below the Moon, and on the 15th, the waxing gibbous Moon, ringed Saturn, and “Antares” form an almost vertical line in the south at sunset. Set up your small telescope and give this “trio” a look-see!
If you would like to learn the Constellations, the names of stars, or how to find your way around the night sky with monthly star charts or a neat “Star Wheel”, check out the Sky & Telescope website at skyandtelescope.com, click on RESOURCES & EDUCATION, then click on Astronomy for Beginners. Also, Astronomy Magazine at astronomy.com, then click on OBSERVE.
As always, clear skies and Keep Looking Up!