Skywatch
Once the Virgin Island Sun sets and the sky grows dark, high overhead you will find three bright stars are dominating the sky. Since these three form a large triangle which is visible during the Summer months, up North, they are called the Summer Triangle. Each bright star marks a different, star group or constellation. Brightest and highest in the sky is Vega, in Lyra the Harp. In mythology this is the harp invented by Hermes, which Mercury gave to Orpheus, the musician who joined Jason and the Argonauts. On another occasion Orpheus took his into the infernal regions and charmed Pluto, king of Hades, with the music of his harp to win back his lost bride Eurydice.
To the South of Vega is the bright star Altair, in Aquila, the Eagle. The eagle was the bird of Zeus and is often represented carrying aloft the young boy Ganymede. Aquila was also known as the bird of Jove and the bearer of his thunder. Whatever the legend, it is impossible to take the fainter stars that join with Altair and really make an Eagle out of this part of the heavens. Deneb is the third bright star and is to the east of Vega and Altair. Deneb and marks the tail of Cygnus, the Swan.
Perhaps you can see a Swan here. Faint stars form the Swan's body and long neck and others the bird's wings. One myth states that the Swan represents Orpheus, who was slain by Bacchus. However Orpheus' music was so wonderful that he was changed into a Swan and placed in the heavens near his beloved harp.
Cygnus is flying south along a hazy band of light. This is the light from billions of stars so far away that you cannot see each one as a point of light. This is the Milky Way, our city of stars in the universe. Follow the band toward the south and you come to Sagittarius, the Archer. Sagittarius really looks like a teapot! You can see a small triangle of stars which forms the lid, the pot itself, Sagittarius' curved arm is the pot's handle and there is even a spout! When you look toward Sagittarius you are looking to the center of the Milky Way. Sagittarius is firing his arrow at Scorpius, the Scorpion.
The Scorpion's heart is marked by the bright red star Antares. Fainter stars form the Scorpion's body and long curved tail. According to legend, Orion was a mighty hunter. Orion boasted that he could defeat any animal on Earth in battle. Suddenly a scorpion appeared, stung Orion on the foot and Orion died. But, Orion was such a great hunter that he was placed in the sky; as was the scorpion. However, you never see Orion and the Scorpion in the sky at the same time.
On September 21st the Solar System's largest planet, Jupiter, will be at Opposition; directly opposite the Sun as seen from the Earth and also its closest approach to Earth. Jupiter will rise about 9:30 p.m. and will be as big and bright as it gets in the night sky. Wait an hour or so for it to climb higher in the eastern sky and you will easily spot this bright planet.
In the northern hemisphere Autumn begins on September 22nd. On October 22nd Comet Hartley 2 will make its closest approach to Earth, coming within "only" 11.2 million miles. For a few days around October 20th, the comet may be bright enough to view with the naked eye. Look to the east just before sunrise.
