The Winter Triangle

Started by sakorick, March 17, 2016, 06:08:21 PM

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sakorick

March 17, 2016, 06:08:21 PM Last Edit: March 18, 2016, 06:04:36 AM by sakorick
One of the highlights of the winter sky is the Winter Triangle. This shape is a nearly perfect equilateral triangle that shines in the southern sky over the next few months. It includes three of the most brilliant stars in the sky, and it is called an "asterism" because it is not a single constellation, but a combination of stars from three different constellations.

The first and brightest star is Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius is close to our Solar System (8 light years) and has a slight blue coloration. Sirius is in the constellation Canis Major, the big dog that accompanies Orion. To the upper right is Betelgeuse, the eight brightest star, a red supergiant star in Orion that is a distinctive orange color. Betelgeuse is so big that if it was our Sun, it would envelop Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars! And the third star of the triangle is Procyon, the 6th brightest star, in the constellation Canis Minor, the small dog that accompanies Orion. Procyon is actually a double-star system with a faint partner star.

I was very lucky to finally get a decent picture tonight at 2030 hours at full zoom. I really need to invest in a telescope with camera mount but Halibut fishing comes first!
Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.

gitano

#1
March 17, 2016, 09:25:16 PM
By the way, "Procyon" is the genus name of raccoons, Procyon lotor.

Paul
Be nicer than necessary.

sakorick

#2
March 18, 2016, 03:03:45 AM
Only you would know that! Gene Roddenberry did not make up all those planets in Star Wars......he use real planet name and modified them slightly. Aldebaran became Alderaan etc. Aldebaran, by the way, is an orange giant star located about 65 light years away in the zodiac constellation of Taurus. With an average apparent magnitude of 0.87 it is the brightest star in the constellation and the fourteenth brightest star in the nighttime sky......and still very much alive.
Talk to yourself. There are times you need expert advice.

j0e_bl0ggs (deceased)

#3
March 18, 2016, 10:18:22 PM
Think we need to organise you with a 10" reflector telescope and a nice 'goto' mount...
Turvey Stalking
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