08/19/2022 – Ephemeris – Finding the small constellations near the Summer Triangle

This is Ephemeris for Friday, August 19th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 8:41, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:51. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 12:32 tomorrow morning.

I’ve already talked about the three constellations whose bright stars mark the Summer Triangle: Vega in Lyra the harp, Deneb in Cygnus the swan, and Altair in Aquila the eagle. There are two small constellations near the south end of the triangle near Altair. These are Delphinus the dolphin and Sagitta the arrow. Delphinus is easily spotted, as it’s five or six stars appear as a tiny dolphin leaping out of the water. Sagitta appears as a very short arrow. An interesting sight can be spotted in binoculars near the tail end of Sagitta. It’s 7 stars in a nearly straight line, with a hook of four stars below the center of the line. It’s called The Coathanger. It’s even better if seen in a finder telescope, which inverts the image.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT – 4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Finding the small constellations of Delphinus the dolphin and Sagitta the arrow among the stars and constellations of the Summer Triangle. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

How to locate the binocular asterism of the Coathanger. It is also known as Collinder 399, Brocchi’s Cluster and Al Sufi’s Cluster. It’s not a real star cluster, but a random arrangement of stars at various distances, that from the solar system make a distinctive pattern.

09/15/2020 – Ephemeris – The dolphin and the arrow, small summer constellations

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Tuesday, September 15th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 7:52, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:23. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 6:01 tomorrow morning.

Located below the eastern edge of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is nearly overhead in our sky at 10 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin. Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water. The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin. The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown. Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks appreciated this aquatic mammal as we do, and told stories of dolphins rescuing shipwrecked sailors. There’s another tiny constellation to the right of Delphinus, Sagitta the arrow a small thin group of 5 stars, which represents Cupid’s dart.

The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Delphinus and Sagitta finder animation. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

08/23/2019 – Ephemeris – Two small constellations around the Summer Triangle

Ephemeris for Friday, August 23rd. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 41 minutes, setting at 8:35, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:55. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 12:43 tomorrow morning.

Located below the eastern edge of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is overhead in our sky at 10 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin. Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water. The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin. The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown. Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks appreciated this aquatic mammal as we do, and told stories of dolphins rescuing shipwrecked sailors. There’s another tiny constellation to the right of Delphinus, Sagitta the arrow a small thin group of 5 stars, which represents Cupid’s dart. Above-right of Sagitta binoculars will find a little star group called the Coat hanger.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Delphinus and Sagitta finder animation. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

Closeup of Sagitta and the binocular asterism the Coathanger. Created using Stellarium.

09/06/2018 – Ephemeris – The constellations of Delphinus and Sagitta

Ephemeris for Thursday, September 6th. The Sun will rise at 7:11. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 8:10. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 4:19 tomorrow morning.

Located below the eastern edge of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is nearly overhead in our sky at 10 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin. Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water. The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin. The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown. Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks appreciated this aquatic mammal as we do, and told stories of dolphins rescuing shipwrecked sailors. There’s another tiny constellation to the right of Delphinus, Sagitta the arrow a small thin group of 5 stars, which represents Cupid’s dart.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Delphinus and Sagitta finder animation. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

09/11/2017 – Ephemeris – The celestial dolphin and an arrow

Ephemeris for Monday, September 11th. The Sun will rise at 7:16. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 43 minutes, setting at 8:00. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 11:27 this evening.

Located below the eastern edge of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is high in the east to overhead in our sky at 9 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin. Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water. The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin. The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown. Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks appreciated this aquatic mammal as we do, and told stories of dolphins rescuing shipwrecked sailors. There’s another tiny constellation to the right of Delphinus, Sagitta the arrow a small thin group of 5 stars, which represents Cupid’s dart.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Delphinus and Sagitta finder animation. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.  Click on image to enlarge.

10/04/2016 – Ephemeris – Celestial dolphin and Cupid’s arrow

Ephemeris for Tuesday, October 4th.  The Sun will rise at 7:45.  It’ll be up for 11 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 7:16.  The Moon, 4 days past new, will set at 9:28 this evening.

There’s two small constellations I’ve overlooked in the heat of Summer.  Located above the southernmost star of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is nearly overhead at 9 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin, which is seen high in the south.  Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water.  The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin.  The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown.  Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks appreciated this aquatic mammal as we do.  There’s another tiny constellation to the right of Delphinus, Sagitta the arrow, which represents Cupid’s dart.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Delphinus and Sagitta seen in an animation showing them without captions, with stick constellations, labeled, and as an artist sees them. Created using Stellarium.

09/07/2015 – Ephemeris – Small summer constellations

Ephemeris for Labor Day*, Monday, September 7th.  The Sun will rise at 7:11.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 8:08.   The Moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:47 tomorrow morning.

Located below the eastern edge of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is  overhead in our sky at 10 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin. Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water. The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin. The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown. Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks told stories of dolphins rescuing shipwrecked sailors. There’s another tiny constellation to the right of Delphinus, Sagitta the arrow a small thin group of 5 stars, which represents Cupid’s dart.  Behind Sagitta binoculars will find a little star group called the Coat hanger.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

The Summer Triangle. Created using Stellarium and The Gimp.

Delphinus, Sagitta and the Coat hanger. Diagram created using Stellarium.

* In the US Labor Day is celebrated on the first Monday in September and is considered the unofficial end of summer.  The weather generally agrees.  Last week we had a preview of fall weather.  This week, except for today has been hot.  The outlook for next week is looking decidedly cooler.  Most schools in Michigan start the day after Labor Day. and end after June 1st.  The unofficial start of summer is Memorial day, the last Monday in May.

08/21/2014 – Ephemeris – What do a dolphin, an arrow and a coffin have in common?

Ephemeris for Thursday, August 21st.  The sun rises at 6:52.  It’ll be up for 13 hours and 46 minutes, setting at 8:38.   The moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 4:12 tomorrow morning.

Located below the eastern edge of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is high in the southeast in the sky at 10 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin.  Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water.  The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin.  The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown.  Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks appreciated this aquatic mammal as we do, and told stories of dolphins rescuing shipwrecked sailors.  There’s another tiny and slender constellation to the right of Delphinus called Sagitta the arrow, which is said to represent Cupid’s dart.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Delphinus, Sagitta and the Coat hanger. Diagram created using Stellarium.

The Coat hanger is strictly a binocular asterism.  However it was discovered by the great Arabian astronomer Al Sufi inn the 10th century, and is currently designated Collinder 399.  It is actually a random pattern of unrelated stars.

Delphinus and Sagitta images along with the stars and constellations of the Summer Triangle. Created using Stellarium.

08/20/2013 – Ephemeris – A “new” star in Delphinus

Ephemeris for Tuesday, August 20th.  The sun rises at 6:51.  It’ll be up for 13 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 8:39.  The moon, at full today, will rise at 8:07 this evening.

There’s a new nova visible to the unaided eye, well just barely, if the moon wasn’t out.  “New nova” is kind of redundant because Nova is Latin for new,  The entire Latin term is Nova Stellum or new star.  It isn’t really a new star, but one that brightened catastrophically, siphoning gas off a companion red giant star.  At least that’s what we think.   Detailed analysis will come later.  It’s informal name is Nova Delphinus, which lies between the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin and Sagitta the arrow in and near the Summer Triangle.  http://www.skyandtelescope.com has a finder chart.  It’s best to use binoculars to locate it.  The Arrow points right to it, while the two stars that cross the body of the dolphin also point to it.  Novae are unusual, but not rare.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Addendum

My finder chart for Nova Dephinus 2013. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts)

The Summer Triangle with Delphinus and Sagitta. Created using Stellarium and The Gimp.

08/20/2012 – Ephemeris – Celestial Dolphin and Cupid’s dart

Ephemeris for Monday, August 20th.  The sun rises at 6:51.  It’ll be up for 13 hours and 47 minutes, setting at 8:39.   The moon, 3 days past new, will set at 9:48 this evening.

Located below the eastern edge of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is nearly overhead sky at 10 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin, which is seen high in the south.  Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water.  The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin.  The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown.  Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks appreciated this aquatic mammal as we do, and told stories of dolphins rescuing shipwrecked sailors.  There’s another tiny constellation to the right of Delphinus, Sagitta the arrow, which represents Cupid’s dart.  [Off the tail of Sagitta binoculars will find a cute inverted coat hanger in the stars.]

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.  Bracketed text was removed from the audio program due to time constraints.

Addendum

Delphinus, Sagitta and the Coat hanger. Diagram created using Stellarium.