June 2012 Constellation of the Month: Bootes

The arc of the Big Dipper's handle points to the kite-shaped constellation called Bootes.  At the bottom of the kite is the very bright star Arcturus, which is just south or southwest of directly overhead during June.  In Greek mythology, Bootes is either the Hunter or Herdsman – hunting or herding the bear represented by the Big Dipper (Ursa Major, or Big Bear in Latin).  In June 2012, there are two bright planets Saturn and Mars, which are south and west of Arcturus, in the nearby constellations Virgo and Leo, which was our May 2012 Constellation of the Month.

Arcturus is the 2^nd brightest star visible from earth's northern hemisphere, after Sirius, which is in our April 2012 Constellation of the Month, Canis Major.  It just edges out the very bright Vega, in the constellation Lyra, northeast of Bootes.  Arcturus appears orange to the naked eye, and it is classified as a red giant – which is what our sun will become in about 5 billion years, as it nears the end of its life.

There are no exciting nebulae or galaxies in Bootes, but there are some nice double stars which can be seen as such in binoculars.  The best of these is named Izar, or epsilon Bootis.  It has an orange giant close to a white dwarf.  It was given the name Pulcherrima, "most beautiful," by its discoverer. 

The DC Women's Hiking Group will hike Tues., June 5th and Thurs., June, 7th at
Tarrywile Park in Danbury. Take 84 to the Airport Exit. Take a right at the
light at end of ramp. Follow road to stop sign and make sharp right turn onto
Southern Blvd. Stay on Southern Blvd. There will be signs for Tarrywile
Park. Follow signs and make a right to Tarrywile. Immaculate H.S. will be
on the left and the parking lot for Tarrywile will be on the right side. Meet
at 9:30am.

The DC Women's Hiking Group will hike Tues., May 29th and Thurs., May 31st at Topstone Park in Redding, CT.
Take Route 7 to Topstone Rd.
Follow over railroad tracks.
Turns into dirt road.
Parking area will be on the right.
Meet at 9:30am.

The DC Women's Hiking Group will hike Tues., May 22nd and Thurs., May 24th at Scott Preserve/Rock Lot in Redding, CT.
Coming from the north on Route 7 turn left onto Old Redding Rd. Right after going under RR bear right onto Mountain Rd. Follow Mountain Rd. to end and turn left onto Peaceable St. Parking for the open space will be on the left. If you come to an electrical substation, you went too far.
Meet at 9:30am.

The DC Women's Hiking Group will hike Tues., May 15th and Thurs., May 17th at Lake Windwing in Ridgefield, CT.
Take Limestone Rd. and follow road which will turn into Bennetts Farm Rd. Turn right on to South Shore Dr. (Across from Ridgebury Elementary School).
Entrance and parking will be on the left.
Meet at 9:30am.

May 2012 Constellation of the Month: Leo

If you face south and look high in the sky, you'll see a very bright reddish object.  That's Mars, which is now in the constellation of Leo, the Lion.    

Every year, around March, Leo makes its appearance low in the  East, a sign that spring is on the way.  Leo is easily recognizable by the triangle and backwards question mark (known as "the Sickle") shapes it contains.  

When Mars doesn't happening to be passing through it, you can find Leo by starting with the Big Dipper.  Take the 2 stars at the end of the bowl which point to the North Star.  But follow the line they make in the opposite direction (south) about the same distance, and you'll find Leo

Its brightest star, Regulus is at the dot of the question mark.   It's actually a 3-star system with the blue-white main star about 140 times as bright as our sun, which is orbited by a pair of much fainter, much lower-mass red dwarfs.  There is also evidence of a 4^th star, which has not been directly observed.

The head of the Lion is outlined by the Sickle, and its hindquarters by the triangle.  Just below the triangle is a pair of spiral galaxies, M65 and M66, which can be seen in a small telescope – like the ones the Discovery Center brings to its astronomy events.   Every November, the meteors in the Leonid meteor shower appear to be coming from the direction of Leo.

The DC Women's Hiking Group will hike Tues., May 8th and Thurs.. May 10th at a new location.
The open space off Hunt Lane which is off Rte 116 on the left hand side just after the New York state border. The open space is down a ways on the left hand side.
Meet at 9:30am.