Francine Jackson's

Constellations & Folklore

February Constellations & Folklore

February 2011 : By Francine Jackson

One of the biggest moments for a new astronomy lover is the sudden realization that we have suddenly connected the stars and found the constellations, as has happened for generations all around the world. And, then, to try to remember the figure, we often depend on a story, or a myth, to keep the stars in their proper position. Very often, we depend on the ancient European, notably the Greco-Roman stories, to keep the sky in line.

In Like a Lion… Out Like a Lamb

March 2011 : By Francine Jackson

We have many indicators that the month of March marks a change of season. In the sky, we are seeing the constellation marked as the "sign of spring." We've all heard the old adage that the month of March, comes, "in like a lion..." Rising out of the eastern horizon is Leo, the Lion.

The Constellations of Spring

April 2011 : By Francine Jackson

As the warm weather starts letting us know that seasonal change is really happening, we can look to the skies to remind us that springtime is once again coming to us.

May Constellations & Folklore

May 2011 : By Francine Jackson

As the sky begins to remind us that a new month is approaching, we are able to see a constellation that is often forgotten, but much more important than we usually let on.

The Circumpolar Constellations

June 2011 : By Francine Jackson

We normally spend a lot of time enjoying the seasonal constellations, the ones that our ancestors depended on as indicators of changes here on Earth, but we often forget that there is a set of star patterns that are always there, waiting for us when we turn around to the north. These are the circumpolar constellations, the ones that, although their positions do change with time, they seem to travel in a circle centered at the sky’s north pole, and are always visible from our northern latitudes.

August Contellations & Folklore

August 2011 : By Francine Jackson

Now that the signpost of summer, the Summer Triangle, is reaching its high position in the sky, it's time to use its stars to find some of the dimmer, but still easy to sight, constellations.

September Constellations & Folklore

September 2011 : By Francine Jackson

At this time of year, even though the season of summer ends this month and fall begins, the sky takes a little longer to shift to its next season. The Summer Triangle is still in a beautiful observing position, not really giving the fall constellations a chance to come to full view. So, while we’re waiting, it might be good to turn back to the north and see what is happening there.

October Constellations & Folklore

October 2011 : By Francine Jackson

Once again, the sign of the new season is beginning to make its way higher and higher in the sky. As October begins, the Great Square, symbol of fall, is getting easier to find in the southeast.

November Constellations & Folklore

November 2011 : By Francine Jackson

After enjoying the overhead rescue of Andromeda by the prince charming Perseus, you might notice that Perseus has his foot on a tiny little clump of stars. At first glance, many people believe they have found the Little Dipper, not realizing that the Little Dipper is a part of our northern circumpolar sky, visible whenever you care to look in that direction; instead, that tiny cuplike group is the Pleiades.

December Constellations & Folklore

December 2011 : By Francine Jackson

Orion and Gemini move into their dominant positions as winter begins.