A good month to see Cassiopeia

Distinctive constellation hosts some of the most luminous stars known

JULY is a good time to spot Cassiopeia, named after the vain queen Cassiopeia in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivaled beauty.

If you start from Ursa Major (The Plough, Saucepan or Great Bear) and follow the two stars furthest from bottom right of the ‘handle’ of the saucepan to the top right corner, you will come to the Pole star and about the same distance again see the distinctive ‘W’ shape of Cassiopeia.

The constellation hosts some of the most luminous stars known, including the yellow giant stars Rho Cassiopeiae and V509 Cassiopeiae and white giant 6 Cassiopeiae.

Fourteen star systems in this constellation have been found to have planets orbiting them and one star – HR 8832 – has at least seven planets going round it.

Planets in our solar system are difficult to spot in a lightish sky this month, but Mars should be visible as an orangey object close to and just above the Moon early morning on Saturday and Sunday. Venus should be clearly visible just below a crescent Moon early on July 17.

I Find out more about astronomy via Newbury Astronomical Society, which hosts monthly meetings for both beginners and experienced astronomers.

See www.newburyastro.org.uk Questions: tonyhersh@hotmail.com