Arcturus shines in west on October evenings
4 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight is Friday, Oct 10 2008
If you’re noticing a very bright object in the southwest on October 2008 evenings, that is the planet Jupiter. But many have asked about a bright star – not as bright as Jupiter, but still very bright and twinkling very actively – in the west after sunset. Jim wrote, When I looked at it through my binoculars it flashed brilliant red, brilliant blue and bright white. I live in Indiana and called my cousin in Wisconsin, who also could see it. It was quite beautiful. Do you know what it was that I was looking at?
Jim, every year at this time, we get questions about three different stars that are flashing different colors. One is Capella in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer, which is now in the northeast in mid-evening. One is Sirius in the constellation Canis Major the Greater Dog, which is now in the south before dawn.
And the third is the one you’re asking about, Jim, in the west to northwest after sunset. This star is Arcturus in the constellation Bootes the Herdsman. It’s flashing colors for the same reason Sirius and Capella are . . . because all three of these stars are bright and, at this time of year, noticeable low in the sky. When you see an object low in the sky, you’re seeing it through a greater thickness of atmosphere than when it’s overhead. The atmosphere refracts or splits the stars’ light to cause the colorful flashing you observed, Jim.
Thank you. I love your site. Clear, easy for us beginners.
Very nice,but I want’s more improvement this site…
Hi, I like this site, i was worried when i saw a bright star so i went looking for it. I have 2 ideas that could help you site. You could…..
A: Have a voice saying the writen topic out loud and then a arow pointing at the star its talking about. Or a movie of what you might see in the next cople of days if you are lucky to see them whe you look out of your window. Hope this helps, Eddy
Hi Eddy, cool ideas! Thanks!