Tonight – December 5, 2016 – the constellation Orion rises in your eastern sky around 8 to 9 p.m. Orion climbs highest up for the night around 12:30 a.m. local time and then sits low in your western sky around 5 a.m. We pay particular attention to the three stars of Orion’s Belt, which the Aymara of Bolivia call the “Celestial Bridge.” To the Aymara of Bolivia, the Celestial Bridge links the northern and southern hemispheres of sky.
The middle star in Orion’s Belt or the Celestial Bridge is called Alnilam. Its name means “belt of pearls,” aptly describing the appearance of this compact line of stars. Look for these stars tonight!
The westernmost star of this compact line of three stars is Mintaka. This star is special because it sits almost directly astride the celestial equator – the projection of Earth’s equator onto the stellar sphere. That makes this star a good guidepost for finding directions here on Earth.
Mintaka and the other stars of the Celestial Bridge are visible worldwide. From all over the world, Mintaka rises due east and sets due west, and remains in the sky for almost exactly 12 hours.
Mintaka climbs to its highest point in the sky midway between rising and setting. If, at this time, this star shines at zenith (straight overhead), then you’re at the equator. If this star shines in the southern half of sky, then you’re north of the equator. From Bolivia, the star Mintaka appears in the northern sky, telling the Aymara that they’re south of the equator.
From the Arctic north to the Antarctic south, the Celestial Bridge lights the way to the equator – the meeting place of the northern and southern skies.
Bottom line: To the Aymara of Bolivia, Orion’s Belt is known as the Celestial Bridge that unites the northern and southern hemispheres of sky.
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2gXLeYP
Tonight – December 5, 2016 – the constellation Orion rises in your eastern sky around 8 to 9 p.m. Orion climbs highest up for the night around 12:30 a.m. local time and then sits low in your western sky around 5 a.m. We pay particular attention to the three stars of Orion’s Belt, which the Aymara of Bolivia call the “Celestial Bridge.” To the Aymara of Bolivia, the Celestial Bridge links the northern and southern hemispheres of sky.
The middle star in Orion’s Belt or the Celestial Bridge is called Alnilam. Its name means “belt of pearls,” aptly describing the appearance of this compact line of stars. Look for these stars tonight!
The westernmost star of this compact line of three stars is Mintaka. This star is special because it sits almost directly astride the celestial equator – the projection of Earth’s equator onto the stellar sphere. That makes this star a good guidepost for finding directions here on Earth.
Mintaka and the other stars of the Celestial Bridge are visible worldwide. From all over the world, Mintaka rises due east and sets due west, and remains in the sky for almost exactly 12 hours.
Mintaka climbs to its highest point in the sky midway between rising and setting. If, at this time, this star shines at zenith (straight overhead), then you’re at the equator. If this star shines in the southern half of sky, then you’re north of the equator. From Bolivia, the star Mintaka appears in the northern sky, telling the Aymara that they’re south of the equator.
From the Arctic north to the Antarctic south, the Celestial Bridge lights the way to the equator – the meeting place of the northern and southern skies.
Bottom line: To the Aymara of Bolivia, Orion’s Belt is known as the Celestial Bridge that unites the northern and southern hemispheres of sky.
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2gXLeYP
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