WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Astro Minute: The Heavenly G

Episode Date: February 20, 2024

This asterism forms a map of the winter constellations. Learn how to find it in today's episode of Astro Minute!

Welcome to the Astro Minute where we're exploring the universe 60 seconds at a time. I'm Lauren Smith and today we're hunting for the heavenly G. This is a huge asterism resembling, you guessed it, the capital letter G. Spanning six constellations, it makes an excellent map of the southern winter night sky. Of its several variations, we're going to trace the G with eight famous stars beginning at Capella and ending at Betelgeese. Start at bright Capella in the circular constellation of Origa and curve left to the twin stars, castorid pollux in Gemini. Continue around to the next bright star, Procyon and Canis Minor,

and then to the brightest star in Earth's night sky, Sirius in Canis Major. After Sirius, circle around to blue Rigel in Orion's left knee, then up to orange aldebaron in the V of Taurus. Finally cut a straight line over to red Betelgeese in Orion's right shoulder. Did you find the heavenly G? That's your Astro Minute.