Summer Triangle: Deneb and its constellation Cygnus
3 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight is Wednesday, Jul 23 2008
Here is the famous Summer Triangle again. Yesterday, we pointed out the blue-white star Vega and its constellation Lyra. Today, it’s Deneb’s turn. Deneb’s is the northernmost star in the Summer Triangle. Its constellation is Cygnus the Swan. In a dark country sky, you can see that Cygnus is flying along the starlit trail of the summer Milky Way.
One way to recognize the Summer Triangle is notice that there is a cross within the Triangle. The constellation Cygnus is that cross. In fact, the constellation Cygnus is sometimes called the Northern Cross.
Okay, I’ve given you a lot of names here: Summer Triangle, Cygnus, Northern Cross.
Just remember, the constellation Cygnus the Swan contains the Northern Cross. The Cross is – more or less – just another way to see the Swan. The Northern Cross is what’s called an asterism, or recognizable pattern within a constellation. In this case, the pattern is the whole constellation, pretty much. At least, I never see them any differently.
Except for one thing. Deneb is at the top of the Cross, but at the tail of the Swan (the star name “deneb” always means “tail”). The little star Albireo is at the head of the Swan, but at the base of the Cross. Whew!
Our Summer Triangle series includes:
Part 1: Vega and its constellation Lyra
Part 2: Deneb and its constellation Cygnus
Part 3: Altair and its constellation Aquila
How often do Earth, Mars, Saturn & the Sun Line up?
How often do Earth, Mars, Saturn & the Sun Line up?
Looking out over the southeast sky tonight is a really bright light that is elongated. It has to be a satellite because with now clouds in view, it brightens, then fades, goes completely out, then back to bright again. Sometimes it looks like a bright star and at other times it looks like two starts with a wishbone shape glow underneath it. Really cool, but would love to know if anyone knows of a satellite it could be.