Courtesy of EarthSky
A Clear Voice for Science
www.EarthSky.org
As darkness falls, there are several ways to distinguish the brilliant star Capella from the other bright stars in the western half of sky. Capella, the northernmost first-magnitude star, is the farthest bright star to your right as you’re facing west. In addition, Capella looks yellow, like our sun. Moreover, Capella has a famous trio of starlets accompanying her, dubbed “The Kids.”
Moreover, at nightfall and early evening tonight – Saturday, April 17 – you can use the moon (outside of our sky chart) to locate Capella. Capella sparkles about two fist-widths to the upper right of tonight’s waxing crescent moon. Hold your fist an arm length away from your eye.
This beacon star, high up in the west at nightfall, plunges downward as evening deepens, and hovers close to your northwest horizon by midnight. Capella is the brightest luminary in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer. In star lore, this pentagon-shaped figure portrays a mythological personage riding a chariot. In some versions, this is Poseidon – the god of the sea – driving the chariot. In other versions, it’s Erichthonius, the ancient king of Athens.
Talking about Athens, it was here that Poseidon and the goddess Athena quarreled for possession of the city. The other Olympian gods, fearing a destructive struggle, intervened. They decided to hold a contest, proclaiming the one who could give the better gift to humanity as the patron god (or goddess) of Athens. Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, creating the horse. Athena struck the ground with her spear, and up sprung the olive tree.
The Olympians judged Athena the winner, so the city was named after her.
Written by Bruce McClure
Other Links:
Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA/JPL
U.S. Naval Observator Astronomical Information center
The York County Astronomical Society
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