Courtesy of EarthSky
A Clear Voice for Science
Visit EarthSky at
www.EarthSky.org
This evening, as seen from the mid-northern latitudes, the waxing gibbous moon and the Gemini stars Castor and Pollux shine way up high in the southern sky. Castor and Pollux, the constellation Gemini the Twins’ two brightest stars, are seen above the moon. Procyon appears below the moon. Procyon is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Minor (the Lesser Dog). Once every month, the moon passes between Procyon and the Gemini stars.
As seen from the southern hemisphere, the moon passes between the Gemini stars and Procyon once a month as well. However, people living south of the equator will see the moon, Gemini stars, and Procyon in their northern evening sky. They will see the scene “upside down,” with Procyon shining above the moon, and Castor and Pollux below the moon.
Up and down is a matter of perspective. To avoid ambiguity, we can say that Castor and Pollux lie north of the moon and Procyon south of the moon.
From the eastern part of the globe – Asia, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand – the moon will pass through this gateway tomorrow night, instead of tonight.
Given clear skies, everyone around the world should be able to see the moon, the Gemini stars, and Procyon tonight!
Pollux: Brightest star of the Twins
Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA/JPL
U.S. Naval Observator Astronomical Information center
The York County Astronomical Society
Print This Post
