Milky Way, winter version

Before we leave the area of the Winter Circle, or Hexagon, let's look at one more thing, the winter portion of the Milky Way.

We are all familiar with the summer portion of the Milky Way, that grand, glowing, expanse of stars that seems to mark a path across the sky from north to south.

The winter portion also travels roughly from north to south starting in the area of Cassiopeia and Cepheus in the northwest, up past Perseus, through Auriga high overhead. Continuing down toward the southeast between Gemini and Orion, past Canis Major and to the southern horizon.

This portion of the Milky Way displays nowhere near the grandness of its summer incarnation. In fact, you will probably need to be in your favorite dark-sky place to even catch a glimpse of it.

In this portion of the Milky Way we are looking outward, away from the center, toward the edge of our home galaxy. That explains the lack of stars.

Imagine yourself two-thirds of the way from the center of a cookie towards the edge and looking outward to that edge.

We are seeing less cookie than if we were looking toward the middle. That doesn't mean there is not much to see. A slow scan with binoculars will show many star clusters -- including the fabulous double cluster located between Perseus and Cassiopeia -- and a nebula or two.

Many of the objects here are Messier objects having been named by the French comet hunter, Charles Messier, when he was making a list of things that were not comets.

It really is worth spending some time here.

SKY WATCH:

Jupiter is leaving the evening sky after a long, glorious reign as the king of the evening sky. Bright Venus is about to take his place as the object of our evening affection.

It may be possible for the next couple of days to grab a glance of the departing king in the southwest within a half-hour of sunset just above the horizon.

Today, you could use rising Venus as a spotting aide. A very clear horizon will be needed, perhaps even a hilltop, to get a good view and binoculars will be an absolute necessity.

Also, look about 35 degrees (about the width of three clenched fists held at arms length) above the planetary pair for a nice view of the almost four-day old moon. Look for the possibility of Earthshine.

Mars will be high in the east above the dim constellation Cancer, the Crab, and the embedded star cluster M-44, the Beehive, a very nice binocular object.

Below Cancer look for the wonderful backward question mark asterism that marks the head of Leo, the Lion. Leo is an announcer of spring. With the March 20, vernal equinox not far away, we are always happy to see Leo.

Below Leo at about 10 p.m. MST in the east the somewhat dim apparition of our old friend Saturn will be glowing like a small, yellow lantern. Saturn is a welcome sight, especially for telescopic viewers. After being closed for so long, the ring plane is opening up to give us a good view of what the planet is famous for, its rings.

If you are up early, about one to two hours before sunrise, a look to the east this week will show another welcome sight.

The summer portion of the Milky Way and the summer constellation, Scorpius, in the east and the three-star Summer Triangle above the horizon in the northeast.

NEXT TIME:

More astronomical blathering.