Our vibrant spaces will help make any event shine. Crux stars can be used to find the fainter Musca (the Fly), which lies near Acrux. I got it," echoed as spectators found Uranus and the North Pole of the moon, that is. To find the pair, look high in the northern sky this evening. Far from traffic, noise, and bright lights, this gem of the Nature Coast is a nature lovers dream and one of the best places to visit if you want to avoid the tourist crowds. If youre familiar with the famous constellation Orion, it can help you be sure youve found the Pleiades. Canis Major is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky and one of our nearest neighbours. While it suffered significant hurricane damage, it is now open and ready for visitors. Image from 2017. Modern astronomers say the stars were born from the same cloud of gas and dust some 100 million years ago. Oops! While the stars of Hydra are mostly faint, the mythical monsters head can be found between Procyon and Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. "It's a perfect evening to see the stars and a great way to spend an evening.". Clearwater High School students prepare for annual civil rights tour, Person killed after shooting outside Tampa credit union, 10 Weather: Windy Friday ahead of weekend cold front, Windy conditions ahead of chance of rain this weekend, See the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter form a triangle tonight, Hubble's 30th birthday: celebrating the iconic images of space, Doctors question WHO announcement on asymptomatic COVID patients, Coast Guard offloads $408 million in drugs at Port Everglades, Florida police organization posts a job offer for fired, disciplined officers, Florida sees five straight days of 1,000+ new coronavirus cases, Florida congressman calls for military training reform after Bradenton soldier dies in South Korea. The asterism appears high in the southwestern sky in the evening. 2023Yankee Publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned Company The legend on the map always tells you which direction you should facing, based on midnight viewing. It shines at magnitude 4.49. The supergiant Mirfak, the brightest star in Perseus, is the central star in the bright Alpha Persei Cluster, another open cluster visible to the unaided eye. It can be used to find the famous Crab Nebula (Messier 1), the remnant of a historical supernova seen in 1054. 1121 Main Street | P.O. Hydra, the largest of the 88 constellations, appears in the southeastern sky. The Head of Cetus, an asterism formed by the bright Menkar (mag. The modern-day festival of Halloween originates from an old Druid rite that coincided with the midnight culmination of the Pleiades cluster. If you are viewing Orion from a dark location, youll be able to see his arm rising upward from Betelgeuse. Suwannee River Wilderness State Trail, Northwest County Road 292, Mayo, FL, USA +1 800-868-9914. A line extended from Gacrux through Acrux points in the general direction of the north celestial pole. Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation, is found along the imaginary line extended from Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka, the stars of Orions Belt, to the northwest. Thank you! If you waited six hoursuntil 2:00 a.m.and look at the northern sky again, the Big Dipper will have . It lies at the base of an asterism called the Kite. Gemini's two prominent stars, Castor (Alpha () Geminorum . Why and when do conjunctions happen? Keep watching for space-based views of the galaxies. The people are so friendly and knowledgeable. It is the brightest star above the southwestern horizon in the evening. He tracked the rise of planets and the expanse of sky holding zodiacal constellations. With binoculars, the Great Nebula looks like a small, glowing cloud. It is an evolved hot blue giant star about 66,000 times more luminous than the Sun. With clear skies and low pollution, its one of the only places in the United States where you can see the Southern Cross constellation. Denebola appears at the tip of the tail. Privacy & Terms, More about this and other astronomy highlights 2023. Canis Major and Canis Minor can be used to find the faint Monoceros (the Unicorn), which lies in the region between the dog constellations and Orion. Outreach club programs also teach about the Florida skies. Known as the most amateur-friendly location for astronomy lovers, Chiefland Astronomy Village are the experts on night gazing. Northern sky in the northern hemisphere, image: Stellarium. Here's a helpful tip: Take Sky & Telescope's 30S planisphere with you in your travels to help you identify constellations. Saturn and Jupiter will be visible in our telescope from about 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., weather permitting. When getting your bearings under the stars, its often easiest to spot an asterism and use it as a guide to finding the parentconstellation. The constellations that appear in the northern sky are mostly those that are circumpolar to the northern hemisphere: Ursa Minor, Cepheus, and Draco. To see more than six or seven Pleiades stars, you must have very good eyesight (or a pair of binoculars). Centaurus hosts Omega Centauri, the Milky Ways brightest and largest globular cluster, and the open clusters NGC 3766 and NGC 5460. Polaris is also famously known as the North Star. Try finding a good, unobstructed view of the horizon. The celestial River stretches farther from north to south than any other constellation. Polaris, the brightest star in Ursa Minor, marks the location of the north celestial pole. Pollux is the 17th brightest star in the sky and Castor is the 23rd. As a general rule, the Pleiades cluster rises into the eastern sky before Aldebaran rises, and sets in the west before Aldebaran sets. Eridanus stretches from Rigel in Orion near the celestial equator into the far southern sky. The salary range for this role is: $13.30 - $19.10. The red dwarf lies only 4.2465 light-years away, while the systems brighter components, Rigil Kentaurus and Toliman, lie 4.344 light-years away. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444. Ken Kopczynski, master astronomer and president of the Tallahassee Astronomical Society, pointed to Sagittarius, Capricornus, the Milky Way, nebula (galaxies beyond the Milky Way) and Mars, while owls hooted faintly in the distance. Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Due to its remoteness, St. George Island has less light pollution and provides dark skies ideal for night gazing. Learn more, take a tour, and get one step closer to your new home. The celestial Centaur appears upside down above the southeastern horizon. The Dog Star shines at magnitude -1.46 from a distance of only 8.60 light-years. Fairly close to the Sun. The bright Gemini appears high above the northern horizon. 3208 Constellation Dr, Melbourne, FL 32940. Leo is one of the most identifiable constellations in the sky. Perseus sits high in the southwest. The Lions tail once extended into what is now Coma Berenices. All three are visible to the unaided eye. Tonights sky as seen from equatorial latitudes, image: Stellarium. He told me how great it was, so I went there. Chiefland Astronomy Village, Northwest 52 Court, Chiefland, FL, USA. Want to enjoy the Sunshine States pristine natural beauty without all the tourists? Florida | Constellation Culinary Locations Florida Lush landscapes and flavorful foodthat's what Florida is all about. The ears of the Hare lie just below Rigel and its tail below Saiph, pointing in the direction of Sirius. When you look to the south in February, your view is dominated by Orion, standing tall and proud. Even its two brightest (former) stars ended up being just N and H Scorpii respectively. The brightest constellations that appear high overhead around 10 pm are Canis Major and Puppis. Beta The Interactive Night Sky Map simulates the sky above Florida on a date of your choice. Rigel, the constellations brightest star, can be used to find Cursa, the second brightest star in Eridanus (the River). Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, NW 192nd Ave, Okeechobee, FL, USA +1 863-462-5360. The constellation of Gemini, the Twins, borders Orion on the Hunter's upper left shoulder. Phoenix is found below Achernar, and Grus appears low above the southwestern horizon. Achernar, the first-magnitude star that marks the Rivers end is below the horizon. Sky map produced using Chris MarriottsSkymapPro. Draco, one of the largest constellations in the sky, winds around the bowl of the Little Dipper. The Little Dipper will take a little more effort and imagination. The V-shaped pattern is the Face of Taurus the Bull. The constellations second brightest star, Cursa, appears near Rigel at Orions foot. Try finding a good, unobstructed view of the horizon. $420,000 Last Sold Price. Observers in the southern hemisphere can catch Canis Major, Columba, Lepus, and Puppis high in the evening sky at this time of the year. Alpha Sextantis, the luminary of Sextans, has an apparent magnitude of 4.5, and other stars in the constellation are fainter than magnitude 5.0. Ptolemy ignored this region, and Lacaille was only promoting science and technology. More about this and other astronomy highlights 2023. It looks like a tiny misty dipper of stars. The only exception to this rule happens at far southern latitudes for example, at South Americas Tierra del Fuego where the Pleiades rise a short while after Aldebaran rises. Castor may look like only one star, but in reality, it contains six stars in orbit with each other. "A friend told me about the Miami Planetarium. The middle star in the sword isnt a star at all, but is instead a giant cloud of glowing gas and dust known as the Orion Nebula or the Great Nebula inOrion. The nebula spans an area of 7 by 5 degrees and is easily spotted near the Southern Cross. The company is headquartered in London, and has offices in Virginia, US and a satellite manufacturing facility in Florida - Airbus OneWeb Satellites - that is a joint venture with Airbus Defence and Space.The company was formerly known as WorldVu Satellites Ltd. It marks the Rivers end. Menkar, the star marking the Sea Monsters jaw, can be found using the V-shaped head of the Bull as a pointer. Nearby homes similar to 3296 Constellation Dr have recently sold between $375K to $420K at an average of $245 per square foot. You can have a truly unique experience stargazing through the night at one of these alluring locations. The constellation figure of Circinus, a small, elongated triangle reminiscent of the compass (the drafting tool), can be made out between the Southern Triangle and the luminaries of the constellation Centaurus. These constellations are mostly bright and easy to see even from areas with some light pollution. He spoke of magnetic fields, distinct spots on the setting beach sun and "Vega," the first star visible in the dusk sky. Completing the main outline of Orion is Saiph, marking the Hunters right knee. Largely unknown to northern observers due to its location in the far southern sky, the Southern Cross is formed by Acrux (Alpha Crucis), Mimosa (Beta Crucis), Gacrux (Gamma Crucis), and Imai (Epsilon Crucis). It appears in the same line of sight as the Hyades and can be found on the imaginary line extended from the three stars of Orions Belt. Winter stars and constellations in the sky, 2 December 2019 from Alberta, Canada. Its head appears close to the northern horizon in the evening. Stargazing at space observatories in Florida offers a year-round opportunity to share the wonders of the night sky, an event rated G for Great. It shines at magnitude 0.61 from a distance of 390 light-years. At nightfall,. Need some help? These include the Flaming Star Nebula and the Tadpole Nebula. Most people see six, not seven, Pleiades stars in a dark country sky. Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, is high above the southern horizon. Neptune is just 12 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult or impossible to see it. Looking beyond first appearances reveals wonders we had not even suspected. Sextans, one of the faintest constellations in the sky, appears directly east, between Leo and Hydra. Hydra, the largest of the 88 constellations, stretches from the northeastern to the southeastern sky. Its three brightest stars, the orange giants Alpha, Epsilon, and Iota Antliae, have apparent magnitudes of 4.25, 4,51, and 4.60. Venus will appear very close to Jupiter on the evenings in early March. This nebula is a stellar nursery, where new stars are being born at this very minute. The Pleiades cluster appears lower in the sky, near the border with Perseus. Star-gazers love to appreciate the skies from Sebastian Inlet, as local Astronomy Clubs often hold star parties in the area where astronomy fans gather to share their passion for the view above with each other. Star sightings may be a more common occurrence in Hollywood, Calif., but in Hollywood, Fla., the South Florida Astronomers Society Association and the Fox Observatory make seeing real stars more likely, and much more fun. Canis Major hosts Sirius, the brightest star in Earths sky, and Canis Minor is home to Procyon, the eighth brightest star. High-powered telescopes and binoculars make the proverbial "close-up" a reality, resulting in chorus after chorus of heart-felt oohs and aahs. Planets Visible in the Night Sky in Florida, Uruguay Time/General Weather Time Zone DST Changes Sun & Moon Sun & Moon Today Sunrise & Sunset Moonrise & Moonset Moon Phases Eclipses Night Sky Night Time 11 hours, 12 minutes Wed, Mar 1 at 7:21 pm - Thu, Mar 2 at 6:33 am Visible night of Mar 1 - Mar 2, 2023 Venus-Jupiter Conjunction Puppis hosts three bright open clusters catalogued by Charles Messier: Messier 46, Messier 47, and Messier 93. With these two launches, SpaceX will have launched 3,814 satellites in support of Starlink's first generation constellation and 239 satellites for Starlink Gen 2 for a total of 4,053 satellites . The Lions tail, marked by the bright Denebola, is pointing toward the horizon, and its head and mane appear higher in the sky. The fainter Crater (the Cup) appears above Corvus but is not an easy target from urban areas. If you are substantially south of these areas, everything on our map will appear higher in yoursky. Russ Drum submitted it and wrote: "The Pleiades (aka the Seven Sisters) is an open star cluster located in the constellation . In the southern sky before dawn on Monday, March 13, the waning, slightly gibbous moon will shine in western Scorpius near the up-down row of small white stars that form the scorpion's claws. Send questions, suggestionsor comments to badgerb@easternflorida.edu, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It marks the Great Dogs neck. Ursa Major can be used to find Lynx, which lies between the Big Dipper and the Twins, and the equally faint Leo Minor, which appears between the Great Bears front legs and the Lions mane. 100 miles from Miami is Big Pine Key, a scenic island in Floridas lower Keys. The womans name Norma probably came from the meaning of precept, rather than right angle. Almaaz at the Charioteers elbow is often included in the Kids asterism but was historically not part of it. View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow. The dwarf galaxy is visible without binoculars and appears as a detached piece of the Milky Way in the sky. That's about 50% of . It can be used to find the famous Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104) in Virgo and the interacting pair NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, also known as the Antennae Galaxies, in Corvus. Eridanus, the celestial River, occupies much of the western and southwestern sky. How large are the planets and what is their order from the Sun? You can easily find the Big Dipper. Cassiopeia lies in the northwestern sky and Ursa Major is high in the northeast. A line extended from Rigel through Betelgeuse points in the direction of Castor in Gemini. Named after mile marker 63 on highway I75. State: Florida (US-FL) Employment Type: Part-Time. It is formed by a circle of mostly faint stars. Jupiter is close to the Sun and can only be seen shortly after sunset. From the Escambia Astronomical Society in Pensacola to the Everglades Astronomical Society based in Naples, Florida astronomical societies offer everything from sidewalk astronomy to deep-sky viewing from both planetariums and natural viewing sites. It marks the tail of Cetus. ft. home is a 3 bed, 2.0 bath property. Representing the stern of Argo, the mythical ship of Jason and the Argonauts, Puppis was once part of the larger constellation Argo Navis with the neighbouring constellations Carina and Vela. Puppis is the largest and northernmost of the three constellations. It is formed by Rigel, Betelgeuse, Bellatrix, Saiph, and the stars of Orions Belt (Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka). Beta The Interactive Night Sky Map simulates the sky above Tampa on a date of your choice. The head of Cetus hovers low above the horizon. Around 35 from Sirius is the second brightest star, Canopus, the Great Star of the South. . That's because they are opposite each other, one on either side of the North Star. Currently showing previous night. The brightest stars of Andromeda Alpheratz, Mirach, and Almach form a chain that appears almost perpendicular to the northwestern horizon in the evening. The Lions mane is outlined by an asterism known as the Sickle of Leo. Fairly close to the Sun. Very close to Sun, hard or impossible to see. Southern sky from the northern hemisphere, image: Stellarium. Let's examine the Hunter in detail. Triangulum Australe and the Southern Pointers can be used to find Circinus (the Compass). It was created by the Dutch-Flemish astronomer Petrus Plancius in the late 16th century. Constellation Map Constellation maps divide the celestial sphere into 88 parts, known as constellations, helping astronomers locate stars and deep sky objects. The faint Sculptor, the home of the Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) and the Cartwheel Galaxy (ESO 350-40), is difficult to see from light-polluted areas. The Head of Draco is outlined by four relatively bright stars: Eltanin, Rastaban, Grumium, and Kuma. Check the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium schedule at calendarwiz.com/planetarium for more show descriptions. Several of the stars in the Little Dipper are under magnitude 4. The constellation is relatively faint, but its luminary Alphard can be found using the brighter stars of Leo. Comets are small celestial bodies that orbit the Sun. Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari. Contact Property. They are outlined by an asterism called the Sickle. Alderamin, the brightest star in Cepheus, appears at the base of the house asterism. There actually are 50 "ancient" constellations; astronomers divided one of the constellations (Argo) into 3 parts. Sirius and Procyon form the Winter Triangle with Betelgeuse at Orions shoulder. In both myth and science, the Pleiades are sibling stars. SOLD FEB 13, 2023. Visible only before sunrise and/or after sunset. This is the imaginary line that extends through the planet and out of the north and south poles. To the lower right of Norma is Circinus, The Compass, completing a trio of surveying and building instruments. Fully removed from the pollution that other big cities in Florida are plagued with, Kissimmee Prairie is one of the best spots in the state for stargazing. "Modern" constellations like the Peacock, Telescope, and Giraffe were identified by later astronomers of the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s who used telescopes and who were able to observe the night sky in the southern . Its brightest stars, Pollux and Castor, represent the heads of the Twins. Planets Visible in the Night Sky in Tampa, Florida, USA Time/General Time Zone DST Changes Sun & Moon Sun & Moon Today Sunrise & Sunset Moonrise & Moonset Moon Phases Eclipses Night Sky Night Time 12 hours, 27 minutes Mon, Feb 27 at 6:28 pm - Tue, Feb 28 at 6:55 am Visible night of Feb 27 - Feb 28, 2023 Venus-Jupiter Conjunction Full Moon rises around sunset, is visible all night, and sets around sunrise.. Last Quarter Moon rises in the middle of the night, is visible in the early morning sky before sunrise, and sets around mid-day. As the spring season approaches, the asterism will rise a little earlier in the sky each day until it is fully visible around 10 pm. Tonight, the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper will be shining above the Tampa Bay night sky. The Head of Cetus appears almost directly west while Aries lies more to the northwest. Denise Sabatini, a member of the Naples-based Everglades Astronomical Society said a friend asked her to go to an astronomy course at her local community college. It lies 65.3 light-years away, while the cluster is about 153 light-years away. The bright Regulus, the star marking the Lions heart, appears at the base of the Sickle. And just as with a clock, the movement is slow. Even though its age is only 3.2 million years (compared to the Suns 4.6 billion years), Naos is already near the end of its life. Neptune is just 12 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult or impossible to see it. Very close to Sun, hard or impossible to see. THE MOON THIS MONTH. our latest advice & deals in your inbox! The two dog constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor represent the dogs following Orion, the Hunter, as he chases a hare represented by the constellation Lepus. People believed the veil dividing the living from the dead is at its thinnest when the Pleiades culminates reaches its highest point in the sky at midnight. The other five stars of the Winter Circle are Capella in Auriga, Aldebaran in Taurus, Rigel in Orion, Sirius in Canis Major, and Procyon in Canis Minor. This months Sky Map includes a close-up view of Orion on the right-hand side of themap. At this time of the year, the Big Dipper appears upside down, with the handle pointing toward the horizon. There is no brighter constellation in the night sky than Orion, the Hunter. Puppis, the northernmost of the three, represents the stern of the mythical ship Argo, on which Jason and the Argonauts set off on their quest to get the Golden Fleece. If we made the horizon line straight, the geometry of objects in the sky would bedistorted. As you turn your head from side to side, you will be looking in the compass direction indicated by those numbers. Northern sky from equatorial latitudes, image: Stellarium. deals, and more! It has been observed to outshine Diphda but is normally much fainter. Cetus and Aries set in the west around 10 pm and the more prominent Orion, Taurus, and Perseus are still high above the western horizon. These are distinctive star patterns that lie within constellations. Get Theres a tiny almost unnoticeable constellation visible here in Florida. | Contact Us. This gravitationally bound cluster of several hundred stars looms some 430 light-years distant, and these sibling stars drift through space together at about 25 miles per second (40 km/sec). None of Normas stars are very bright. The North Star lies at the tip of the Little Bears tail and at the end of the Little Dippers handle. Eltanin and Rastaban, the stars that represent the Dragons eyes, appear closer to the horizon. It only became a popular name after the 1831 debut of Vincenzo Bellini's opera of that name. See our February Sky Map (StarChart)! That includes anywhere in the 48 U.S. states, southern Canada, central and southern Europe, central Asia, and Japan. Please use another device/browser or check out the desktop version of the Interactive Night Sky Map. The astronomer Robert Burnham Jr. found the lost Pleaid myth prevalent in the star lore of European, African, Asian, Indonesian, Native American and Aboriginal Australian populations. Visible only before sunrise and/or after sunset. It is 813,000 times more luminous than the Sun and shines at magnitude that varies from 2.24 to 2.26 from a distance of 1,080 light-years. Date: 2020 Location: University of West Florida(UWF), Pensacola, Florida. Yet this modest constellation is home to Abell 3627, one of the most massive galaxy clusters known to exist. An employee's pay position within the . Arcturus and Spica are also part of the Great Diamond (or the Diamond of Virgo), an asterism also formed by Cor Caroli in the constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs) and Denebola in Leo. It remained popular in the United States until around 1930 when it began to lose ground. "Technology has made significant contributions to amateur astronomy. I think it looks more like an arrowhead. Spica can be used to find the constellation Corvus (the Raven). Created in the late 16th century, Musca is one of the constellations named after the animals that Dutch explorers encountered on their journeys in the southern hemisphere. Camelopardalis (the Giraffe), which appears close to the horizon, is even fainter. In contrast, the dimmest star in the Big Dipper is only about magnitude 3.3. Many of these stars shine hundreds of times more brightly than our sun. The star has a mass 9 times that of the Sun and is 170,000 times more luminous. It has an apparent magnitude of 1.0 and an apparent size of 120 arcminutes. Moon phases visualized in real time, the past, or the future. Peacock (Alpha Pavonis), the brightest star in Pavo, is one of the bright stars selected for use in celestial navigation, but the rest of the constellation is relatively inconspicuous. Something went wrong while submitting the form. Our monthly sky map does not show the entire sky which would be almost impossible. While it has no stars brighter than 4th magnitude and it only covers 165 square degrees (0.4 percentof the night sky), its location in the middle of the Milky Way makes it a rich starry field. The Everglades National Park is an excellent spot to experience the wonderfully dark nights in Florida. Frosty November is the month of the Pleiades, because its at this time that the Pleiades shine from dusk until dawn. The Greek name Pleiades probably comes from a word meaning to sail. Bottom line: The Pleiades or Seven Sisters is a star cluster thats a popular target for observers in the late fall and winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Tonights sky as seen from the southern hemisphere, image: Stellarium. Taurus is high above the horizon in the evening. To find the pair, look high in . He also wrote and hosted public astronomy programs and planetarium programs in and around his home in upstate New York. The three constellations that once formed Argo Navis, the largest constellation in the sky, appear high above the southern horizon in the evening. The brightest stars of Corvus form an asterism known as Spicas Spanker or the Sail. There is no brighter constellation in the night sky thanOrion, the Hunter. The Grady House has two places with spectacular views of the constellation in the night sky: its balcony and the huge, beautifully landscaped backyard, complete with gardens, a koi pond, bamboo grove and a gazebo hidden away in a secluded corner. The faint Fornax (the Furnace) can be made out in the bend of the River on a clear, dark night. With a skilled guide, experience a unique view of nocturnal life as you float under the sparkling stars. Orions other arm extends to the right of Bellatrix and holds a shield to fend off the Huntersenemies. They are called the Pointers because they point towards the Southern Cross, an asterism commonly used to find true south. Recognized as Floridas first Dark Sky Park, its possible to see both Jupiter and Saturn from here. The most prominent northern spring constellations are Ursa Major, Botes, Leo, Cancer, Virgo and Hydra. A bit past Aldebaran, youll see the Pleiades cluster, which marks the Bulls Shoulder. Its luminary Alphard, an orange giant, shines at magnitude 2.00 and the constellations second brightest star, the yellow giant Gamma Hydrae, is a full magnitude fainter. Western sky in the northern hemisphere, image: Stellarium. It can also mean precept or standard. 3208 Constellation Dr. You may need binoculars. Miami, FL 33132 (opening Winter 2021/2022) More information VISIT FLORIDA is a service mark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, d/b/a VISIT FLORIDA, registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Such Pensacola Beach stargazing events are spearheaded by Dr. Wayne Wooten, chief astronomy professor at Pensacola State College, who credits technological advances with changing the face of stargazing. For planet visibility in the coming night, please check again after 12 noon. Southern sky from equatorial latitudes, image: Stellarium. Gemini appears southeast of Auriga and northeast of the bright Orion. The constellation figure of Orion appears upside down. Ed Valla, Kopczynski's colleague, said his favorite star viewing spot is Chiefland, about 125 miles northwest of Orlando. Mercury is just 12 degrees from the Sun in the sky, so it is difficult to see. In the opposite direction, they point towards Sirius in Canis Major, the brightest star in the sky. Instead, themap focuses on a particular region of the sky each month where something interesting is happening. The orange giant Menkent, the third brightest point of light in Centaurus, marks the Centaurs head while Alpha and Beta Centauri mark the feet. The constellations Centaurus and Crux, which dominate the night sky in the southern hemisphere, can be seen from tropical latitudes north of the equator, but are invisible to observers living north of latitudes 25N and 20N respectively. The triangle asterism is known as the Winter Triangle or the Great Southern Triangle. Norma is also home to one of the most luminous stars known. Top left of centre, the two prominent stars are Castor and Pollux in Gemini. Here is an example. The constellations of the Winter Circle dominate the southern and southwestern evening sky.