Stargazing: Summer Triangle: Farewell to Summer

The arc of the sun’s path shifting south, birds beginning a southward flight, and cicadas’ noisy chirps are signs of summer’s close. When the Autumn Equinox approaches, celestial birds of summer start heading towards the horizon. Two of the three constellations represented in the Summer Triangle take flight along the Milky Way.

Cygnus the Swan, the 16^th largest constellation in the sky, anchored by the brilliant star Deneb, is one-third of the Summer Triangle stars. Deneb translates to tail. At the nose tip of the swan is the double star, Albireo, which translates to “beak.” To the naked eye, we view a single bright star. However, through a small telescope, distinct color variations of two stars come to light. The brighter of the two gleams as gold, while the fainter of the binary system shines as sapphire blue.

Altair, the second star of the Summer Triangle, is the bright eye of Aquila, the noble Eagle. Many cultures recognize the constellation, translated as “The Flying Eagle,” from the Arabic name, as an eagle or bird of prey.

Vega, the third of the Triangle’s trio, is the brightest star of the three, although Altair is closer to Earth. It marks the constellation, Lyra the Harp, and has often been nicknamed the Harp Star in Western culture.

Watch for these Triangle stars brightening after sunset. They will gradually descend from view.