Discover the Dragon’s Eyes
Tonight, discover the Dragon’s Eyes. For years, I’ve glanced as much as the north on June evenings and spied the 2 stars marked on at this time’s chart, Rastaban and Eltanin within the constellation Draco. They’re noticeable as a result of they’re comparatively vibrant and close to one another. There’s at all times that break up second once I ask myself with some pleasure what two stars are these? It’s then that my eyes drift to blue-white Vega close by … and I do know, by Vega’s nearness, that they’re the celebs Rastaban and Eltanin.
These two stars characterize the fiery eyes of the constellation Draco the Dragon. Furthermore, these stars almost mark the radiant level for the annual October Draconid meteor shower.
As a result of the celebs keep fastened relative to one another, Vega is at all times close to these stars. Vega, by the way in which, lodges on the apex of the Summer Triangle, a well-known sample consisting of three vibrant stars in three separate constellations, additionally distinguished right now of the yr.
Rastaban and Eltanin from across the globe
From tropical and subtropical latitudes within the Southern Hemisphere, the celebs Rastaban and Eltanin shine fairly low within the northern sky (beneath Vega). In both hemisphere, in any respect time zones, the Dragon’s eyes climb highest up within the sky round midnight (1 a.m. daylight saving time) in mid-June, 11 p.m. (midnight daylight saving time) in early July, and 9 p.m. (10 p.m. daylight saving time) in early August. However from temperate latitudes within the Southern Hemisphere (southern Australia and New Zealand), the Dragon’s eyes by no means climb above your horizon. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to catch the star Vega approach low in your northern sky.
Folks at mid-northern latitudes get to view the Dragon’s eyes all evening lengthy!
About constellations
Talking of Rastaban and Eltanin, one in every of you requested:
What are constellations?
The reply is that they’re patterns of stars on the sky’s dome. The Greeks and Romans, for instance, named them for his or her gods and goddesses, and in addition for a lot of types of animals. Within the twentieth century, the Worldwide Astronomical Union (IAU) formalized the names and bounds of the constellations. Now each star within the sky belongs to 1 or one other constellation.
The celebrities inside constellations aren’t linked, besides within the thoughts’s eye of stargazers. The celebrities generally lie at vastly completely different distances from Earth. It’s by discovering juxtaposed patterns on the sky’s dome that you simply’ll come to know the constellations, a lot as I establish Rastaban and Eltanin right now of the yr by searching for the star Vega.
Read more: A Dragon and a former pole star
Backside line: Look within the northeast on these June evenings, close to the star Vega. You’ll see Rastaban and Eltanin, two stars which might be vibrant and shut collectively.
EarthSky astronomy kits are perfect for beginners. Order today from the EarthSky store
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
