"Why did not somebody teach me the constellations,
and make me at home in the starry heavens,
which are always overhead,
and which I don't know to this day?"
- Thomas Carlyle
"What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing,
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers, and me."
- The Muppet Movie, Kermit the Frog
"Man hath weaved out a net,
and this net throwne upon the Heavens,
and now they are his own."
- John Donne (1572-1631)
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Sandburg Center for Sky Awareness
A Fairfax County Public Schools Planetarium
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Constellation of the Month (CoM)
July
Printer-friendly version of July CoM
FCPS
Starfinder - July
Medium Size
Southern Sky (68K,
625 x 868 pixels)
Northern Sky (40K,
628 x 870 pixels)
Full Size
Southern Sky (333K, 1250
x 1736 pixels)
Northern Sky (178K, 1250
x 1736 pixels)
Corona Borealis (the Northern Crown)
Corona Borealis (koh-ROH-nah
BOH-ree-AL-liss) is a curved semi-circle of stars that forms a "U"
shape (with the opening pointing toward the Zenith). Corona means "crown";
Borealis means "northern." Although this constellation is comprised
of very dim stars, under a "dark" sky it is easily recognized because of
its distinctive shape.
Associated Mythology - Either the crown of the ruler of Athens or
the crown of Adriadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete (builder of the
labyrinth guarded by the fearsome Minotaur). To the Arabs, the semi-circle
of stars was a bowl; to the American Shawnee Indians, it was a semi-circle
of dancing celestial sisters.
Scorpius, the Scorpion
Scorpius (SKOR-pee-us) is the eigth
constellation of the Zodiac
for birthdates from 23 October to 21 November. Located near the southern
horizon, Scorpius (FCPS
Starfinder, No. 9,
Southern Sky) should be easy to identify in July.
The bright star Antares (an-TARE-eez), located
at the heart of the Scorpion, marks the top of the "J" shape which
represents the curve of the Scorpion's tail. A Greek word meaning "rival
of Mars," Antares (Letter "J," Southern Sky) is a double star named for
the bright red color of its super red giant primary star.
Associated Mythology - Hera (Juno) commanded Scorpius to attack
Orion as punishment for his conceit. The Scorpion stung Orion on the foot,
causing his death. At Diana's request, Orion and Scorpius were placed in
opposite parts of the sky so that Orion wouldn't be bitten again. Note
that these two constellations never appear in the heavens at the same
time.
Credits: CoM entries excerpted from Your Guide to
the Constellations, by Lowell L. Koontz, former Planetarium Teacher at
Edison High School, Fairfax County Public Schools.
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