Spring Stars: Find Arcturus and Spica Tonight!

When you gaze up at the night sky, likely the first object you will see right now is Jupiter. It is very bright, and near the top of the sky at sunset, among the stars of Leo the Lion. Probably the next object you will spot high in the sky is a red-orange star, Arcturus. 

The sky from Peoria at 9:30 PM. Click to enlarge. Image Credit: Stellarium and me.

Arcturus stands out because it is very bright - the 4th brightest star in the sky! If you look high in the sky at this time of the year and find an orangish star, you've probably found Arcturus. If you want to make sure however, you can follow the curved handle of the Big Dipper. Follow the "arc" to Arcturus, and you have found the constellation of Bootes. 

Click on image to enlarge. Find the Big Dipper, then arc to Arcturus.

Arcturus is the brightest star in Bootes, which looks a bit like a kite, or upside-down necktie. 

The constellation of Bootes is supposed to represent a man, but it doesn't really look like one. Can you see a kite? Or a necktie?

 

I like to think of Bootes as an ice cream cone.

Even though Bootes looks more like a kite or an ice cream cone, it is supposed to be a man in the sky, guarding the northern bears. The word Arcturus comes from the Greek word Arktouros, which means "guardian of the bear".

Arcturus is bright because it is so close to Earth compared to most of the other stars in our sky. It is only 36.7 light years away. It is a red giant star, which means it has used up most of its fuel in its core and puffed up to an enormous size. Our Sun will eventually become a red giant.

Optical image of Arcturus by Space Telescope Science Institute / NASA [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Once you find Arcturus, you can speed on down to Spica, and you have found the brightest star in Virgo the Maiden.

Click on image to enlarge. Arc to Arcturus, Speed to Spica.

In the city, it is often difficult to see the rest of the stars in Virgo. There are two lines of fainter stars above Spica that represent the reclining maiden form. 

Spica usually represents grains of wheat in Virgo's hand. She represents the goddess of agriculture, Demeter for Greeks, Ceres for Romans.

There are 35 verified exoplanets orbiting 29 of the stars in Virgo. Next time you find it in the sky, remember you are finding solar systems, not just stars! 

So on the next clear night, look up! Find the bright orange-red star Arcturus, and then speed on down to Spica. Remember, you can always learn what's happening in the sky and the latest news from space at the Dome Planetarium at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates!   

Don't miss Yoga Under the Stars, June 4 and 5!