Spring Sky Primer

The sky of spring is on display in the early evening now. Face east after 9 p.m. and have your binoculars at the ready.

Due east and about halfway above the horizon is one of the dominant constellations of spring. It is the majestic Leo the Lion, and it is leaping up from the horizon.

Leo has two main parts, a head, and a tail. The head of Leo looks like a backward facing question mark that is lying on its back with the dot at the right. The “dot” at the bottom of the question mark is the bright star Regulus.

Regulus is a hot blue-white star and it is very easy to find. From Regulus, move left to the next bright star in the question mark. This is Algeba or Gamma Leonis. Algeba is a well-known double star. See if you can spot its companion with binoculars.

Now move down to a triangle of stars a ways below the question mark. This is the tail of Leo. The bottom star is Denebola. All of Leo is easy to see on most evenings.

From Regulus, move up and left to the two stars Pollux and Castor in Gemini. Scan the sky with binoculars between Regulus and Pollux to find a large faint fuzzy spot called the Beehive Cluster. This cluster marks the center of Cancer the Crab.

Take a break and return around 10 p.m. Face northeast to find the distinctive shape of the Big Dipper. This time of year, the dipper stands on its handle with the open bowl facing left.

Find the three stars that make up the handle of the Big Dipper. The handle bends at the middle star. This star is another famous double star called Mizar and Alcor. People with very good vision can see the close pair with just their eyes. Use binoculars to split the group. Mizar is the brightest, then Alcor and there is a third star near Alcor.

Explore the spring sky each evening. Remember to set your clocks ahead one hour this Sunday morning!

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