Friday 20 September 2012

Time: 2200
Weather: Clear
Sky: Faint
Moon: Quarter moon


Constellations and Key Stars (S):
Aquarius
Capricornus
Pisces
Pisces Austrinus - Fomalhaut (S)
Pegasus
Aquila - Altair (S)
Sagitta
Equuleus - Possibly Kitalpha (S)

Notes:
Equuleus: The Little Horse - This is the second smallest constellation in the sky. The smallest is the Crux or Southern Cross as it is known down here. Equuleus is the head of a horse and doesn't have any stories associated with it. I could only find one of its stars, possibly Kitalpha. You can find Equuleus by first finding the great square of Pegasus, currently north/north-eastish at this time of the night. Go to the top left hand star of the great square then, using a map of Pegasus follow the "leg" of stars that go from this top left hand star all the way to Equuleus. The last star in the "leg" is close to Equuleus. Pegasus is the bigger horse in the sky so we have two horses, a big horse, and a foal, if you like.

Sagitta: The Arrow - Funnily enough, this is the third smallest constellation in the sky. So currently in the South Auckland sky near my house we have the 1st, 2nd and 3rd smallest constellations all in the sky together! Sagitta looks like a little triangle with a line in front. It is very faint. I could barely spot it. It makes me glad I have good eyesight. You can find Sagitta by first finding Altair in Aquila the Eagle. Then find Delphinus. Make a line between the two. Then in the middle of that line, go down and Sagitta is below this. It looks like a little triangle with a line going to the right, much like an arrow. From legends, Sagitta could be the arrow of Cupid. It could also be Hercules' arrow, one he used in his 12 labours or Apollo's arrow, which Apollo shot at Cyclops.