Ever killed time by reading a horoscope, scrolling the column to find the sign with the date range of your birthday? If so, you are more familiar with our night sky than you may have realized.
Our Earth’s spin around the sun in its annual orbit gives us a peek into different regions of space around us, giving stars their distinct moment to shine.
This is very much like looking outward while riding a carousel—the scenery changes as you spin, hiding everything that’s behind you. Along with our seasons, Earth’s orbit and spin changes the stars we can see above.
During our annual orbit, the sun, moon and other planets of our solar system appear to travel an imaginary path across the sky known as the ecliptic. As they travel, they pass through specific constellations along that ecliptic, including the 12 familiar signs of the Zodiac.
Historically, cultures used this predictable and progressive pattern to guide their agricultural practices, travel and even spirituality. As the Renaissance period gave rise to scientific methodologies, the inability to confirm the stars’ and planets’ influence on personality and one’s fate separated these beliefs from observable and measurable facts.
By the 18th century, astrology and astronomy had gone through a stellar divorce. Here’s one example of this measurable difference: If you were born sometime between July 23 to Aug. 22, your horoscope may lead you to believe that the sun passes through the constellation of Leo during those dates each year. But in reality the sun passes through Leo at different times, like this year when it transits Leo from Aug. 16 to Sept. 10. This, too, is a daytime event, so when the sun passes through a particular constellation, we can’t see that constellation at night. (For what it’s worth, Leo—the lion—is best viewed in the spring).
Scorpius is the best ecliptic constellation to view in the early night sky in July and August. Named for its resemblance to a scorpion, its curvy J shape made of 18 stars is easily spotted in the southern sky. Looking south, you will see a bright red star, Antares, settled in the scorpion’s heart. From there you can travel east along its tail, reaching its stinger—which points to the constellation Sagittarius—or travel west to its head and two pinchers.
While Scorpio is easy to spot with the naked eye, nestled inside it—as with many constellations—are nebulae and galaxies visible only with a telescope. Take the opportunity this summer to visit darker skies in a nearby park and marvel at the universe through a telescope with Amarillo Astronomy Club:
July 26 and Aug. 23:
Copper Breaks State Park and 3 Rivers Ranch in Crowell, Texas
