Tonight’s waxing gibbous moon – February 27, 2015 – resides in or near a large asterism that we in the Northern Hemisphere often call the Winter Circle. It’s an incredibly large star configuration made of brilliant winter stars. From North America on this night, the moon is inside the Circle. From anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, look for the Winter Circle to fill up much of the eastern half of sky at nightfall. By mid-evening, the Winter Circle will swing to your southern sky, and then it will drift into the western sky around midnight. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere … although it’s not winter for you, these same stars appear near the moon.
Now look beyond the moon and Winter Circle. At early evening, there are two starlike objects shining more brilliantly than any of the Winter Circle stars. To the west, shortly after sunset, you’ll find the planet Venus. To the east of the Circle, throughout the night, you’ll find the planet Jupiter. At present, Jupiter shines in front of the rather faint constellation Cancer the Crab. Sometimes called the year star, Jupiter stays in front of a constellation of the Zodiac for roughly a year. Next year at this time, you’ll still see Jupiter in front of the constellation Leo the lion.
The Winter Circle – sometimes called the Winter Hexagon – is not one of the 88 recognized constellations. Rather, it’s an asterism – a pattern of stars that’s fairly easy to recognize. Our sky chart cannot adequately convey the Winter Circle’s humongous size! It dwarfs the constellation Orion the Hunter, which is a rather large constellation, occupying the southwestern part of the Winter Circle pattern.
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The Winter Circle in blue and the Winter Triangle in red. They’ll be out in the evening sky for several months to come! Image via Wikimedia Commons
Here’s how to locate the Winter Circle from mid-northern latitudes. At nightfall and early evening, look high overhead for the bright star Capella. This star marks the top (or more properly, the northern terminus) of the Winter Circle.
As Capella shines way overhead, the constellation Orion the Hunter is prowling in the southern sky. Draw a line downward through Orion’s Belt to find Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. This star marks the bottom (the southern tip) of the Winter Circle.
Click on this sky chart if you want to connect the Winter Circle stars.
By the way, tonight’s waxing gibbous moon shows you where the sun resides in front of the backdrop stars in late June or early July. So enjoy the Winter Circle. And contemplate the sun being in this part of the sky when summer returns to the Northern Hemisphere!
Bottom line: On the evening of February 27, 2015, the waxing gibbous moon shines inside of the huge pattern of stars known as the Winter Circle. Be sure to notice the variety in the colors of these stars!
More on the Winter Circle: Brightest winter stars
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Donate: Your support means the world to us
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1JTU9G1
Tonight’s waxing gibbous moon – February 27, 2015 – resides in or near a large asterism that we in the Northern Hemisphere often call the Winter Circle. It’s an incredibly large star configuration made of brilliant winter stars. From North America on this night, the moon is inside the Circle. From anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, look for the Winter Circle to fill up much of the eastern half of sky at nightfall. By mid-evening, the Winter Circle will swing to your southern sky, and then it will drift into the western sky around midnight. If you’re in the Southern Hemisphere … although it’s not winter for you, these same stars appear near the moon.
Now look beyond the moon and Winter Circle. At early evening, there are two starlike objects shining more brilliantly than any of the Winter Circle stars. To the west, shortly after sunset, you’ll find the planet Venus. To the east of the Circle, throughout the night, you’ll find the planet Jupiter. At present, Jupiter shines in front of the rather faint constellation Cancer the Crab. Sometimes called the year star, Jupiter stays in front of a constellation of the Zodiac for roughly a year. Next year at this time, you’ll still see Jupiter in front of the constellation Leo the lion.
The Winter Circle – sometimes called the Winter Hexagon – is not one of the 88 recognized constellations. Rather, it’s an asterism – a pattern of stars that’s fairly easy to recognize. Our sky chart cannot adequately convey the Winter Circle’s humongous size! It dwarfs the constellation Orion the Hunter, which is a rather large constellation, occupying the southwestern part of the Winter Circle pattern.
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
The Winter Circle in blue and the Winter Triangle in red. They’ll be out in the evening sky for several months to come! Image via Wikimedia Commons
Here’s how to locate the Winter Circle from mid-northern latitudes. At nightfall and early evening, look high overhead for the bright star Capella. This star marks the top (or more properly, the northern terminus) of the Winter Circle.
As Capella shines way overhead, the constellation Orion the Hunter is prowling in the southern sky. Draw a line downward through Orion’s Belt to find Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. This star marks the bottom (the southern tip) of the Winter Circle.
Click on this sky chart if you want to connect the Winter Circle stars.
By the way, tonight’s waxing gibbous moon shows you where the sun resides in front of the backdrop stars in late June or early July. So enjoy the Winter Circle. And contemplate the sun being in this part of the sky when summer returns to the Northern Hemisphere!
Bottom line: On the evening of February 27, 2015, the waxing gibbous moon shines inside of the huge pattern of stars known as the Winter Circle. Be sure to notice the variety in the colors of these stars!
More on the Winter Circle: Brightest winter stars
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Donate: Your support means the world to us
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/1JTU9G1
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