Use the moon to spot the “ winter circle ” of stars

While this looks like the more comfortable, cold weather version of the Network Star Battle, the “Winter Circle of Stars” is actually something that takes place in the night sky, rather than the fields of Pepperdine University in California. (OK, technically it’s just called “Winter Circle” – or “Winter Hexagon” – but it’s made of stars.) Here’s what Winter Circle is and how to see it over the next few nights.

What is the Winter Circle?

Basically it’s a collection of the brightest stars on display during winter in the northern hemisphere (hence, summer in the southern hemisphere). According to Earthsky, the Winter Circle is not a constellation, but rather a “asterism, “Or” a large group of stars that form a pattern so conspicuous that it has a distinct name. “

Also, as you might have guessed by its other name – the Winter Hexagon – the Winter Circle is not a perfect circle. So why this name? “From our locations in the northern hemisphere, these same bright stars can be seen before dawn every late summer and early fall,” the EarthSky team explains. “And they can be seen at night every winter. Hence the name Winter Circle. “

How to find the winter circle

In fact, this evening – as well as Monday and Tuesday evening – the waxing gibbous moon will be inside the winter circle, which makes it easier to spot than usual. It becomes visible in the evening and usually stays well after midnight.

But if it’s too cold to go out for the next three nights, you can still see the Winter Circle throughout the season – you just have to find it using constellations instead of the moon. Here is how to do that, by EarthSky:

To find the hexagon or winter circle, first find the easily recognizable constellation of Orion. The three stars of the belt give it away. Then look at the bright bluish star in the lower right. This star is Rigel, the southwest corner of the winter circle and the first of the six stars of the Hexagon. Rigel is Orion’s brightest star and the seventh brightest star in the night sky.

Draw a line through the stars in Orion’s belt upward to find Aldebaran, the red eye of the constellation Taurus the Taurus. Aldebaran is the second star in France and the brightest star in Taurus. Aldebaran is the fourteenth brightest star in the sky.

Continue up counterclockwise to find the next shining star, Capella. Capella, the third star of our trip and the northernmost point of the Winter Hexagon, is the sixth brightest star in the heavens.

Either way, don’t forget to bundle up!