Stargazing in the Triangle — how to get started, where to go, and upcoming events

Where should I go for skywatching in the Triangle?

• You’ll see more stars if you get far away from city lights. This may involve driving 30-60 minutes away from any larger towns.
• Many public parks (such as Little River Regional Park or Eno River State Park) close at dusk, so check their hours beforehand.
• Designated campgrounds will be open at night during specific seasons.
• Some public locations to check out include: Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, Falls Lake State Recreation Area, or Old Bynum Bridge. Again, always check if they are open.
• Take care not to trespass on private property.

What makes a good night for skywatching?

A cloudless, moonless night. Unless you’re specifically trying for a view of the full moon, you’ll get a darker sky and more stars with a crescent or new moon.

How do I see the International Space Station?

The ISS can pass overhead pretty frequently, sometimes up to several times in one night. It will look like a bright, steadily shining star that moves. To see when the ISS will pass through your sky, enter your location into spotthestation.nasa.gov.

Do I need a telescope / binoculars?

No, you don’t need fancy equipment to have a great time skywatching. There’s plenty to see with just the naked eye.

Now, amateur astronomy doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. A decent pair of astronomy binoculars can be found for as little as 50 bucks, and are great for looking at the moon, planets, and even some of the brighter star clusters. A great amateur telescope can run from 100-300 dollars. With proper storage and care, these can last many years.

If you want to look through a telescope but don’t want to purchase one, attend some public skywatching events organized by Morehead Planetarium or a local astronomy club. Keep reading! We have a list of upcoming guided skywatching events at the end of this article.

Which constellations are easiest to identify?

In the spring:

• Big Dipper (part of the constellation Ursa Major)
• Leo the lion
• Virgo the maiden

In the summer:

• Scorpius the scorpion
• Sagittarius the centaur (look for the “Sagittarius teapot”)
• Lyra the lyre
• Cygnus the swan
• Aquila the eagle

In the fall:

• Casseiopeia the queen
• Pegasus the flying horse
• Andromeda the princess

In the winter:

• Orion the hunter
• Taurus the bull
• Canis Major and Canis Minor, the big dog and little dog
• Gemini the twins

What’s special about the constellations that relate to the Zodiac?

The Zodiac constellations are along the path the Sun takes throughout the year, and they’re also where planets are found in the sky! If you can recognize the Zodiac, then any unfamiliar bright “stars” in one of those constellations are likely planets.

Careful! The Western Zodiac originates from Babylonian times. In the 2000-something years since it was invented, the Earth has precessed, or “wobbled” along its axis, shifting the sun’s path along these constellations. The constellation the Sun was in on your birthday is most likely not the same as your Zodiac sign, at least the one you look up on the internet.

Which stars are easiest to identify from the Triangle?

• Polaris (the North Star): visible all year round, and always due North.
• Arcturus: brightest star in the spring/summer sky. Slightly red in hue.
• Spica: more blue in hue, and highest in the spring. In the constellation Virgo.
• Antares: distinctly red, low in the Southern sky during the summer. Frequently mistaken for Mars. It is the “heart” of the Scorpius constellation.
• Deneb, Vega, and Altair: known as the “Summer Triangle,” these are three really bright stars that form a large triangle straddling the Milky Way. Vega is the brightest.
• Orion’s Belt: visible in the winter, three bright stars close together in a line. Part of the constellation Orion, easily the most widely recognized constellation.
• Sirius: visible in the winter, Sirius is the brightest star in the sky. Nicknamed the “Dog Star.” Find it by extending Orion’s belt to the left.
• Betelgeuse: visible in winter, a distinctly red star in Orion’s shoulder on the left side.
• Aldebaran: a very red star visible in the winter. Known as the “eye” of Taurus the bull constellation. Find it by extending Orion’s belt to the right.

Planets

In particular:

• Venus: Large and bright, usually visible in the late evening or early morning. From April to September, 2024, it will be visible in the morning sky. From September 20 to Deceuberm 31, it will be visible in the evening sky. Through a telescope, you should be able to observe phases, similar to the moon.
• Mars: Appears distinctly red or orange. Will be visible in the morning sky through the end of 2024, getting brighter toward the end of the y ear.
• Jupiter: Quite bright, and through a telescope you should see cloud bands on the surface and up to four moons around it – the Galilean moons. From May to November, 2024, it will be visible in the morning sky.
• Saturn: Appears slightly elongated because of its rings, and with good enough magnification you can make out the rings distinctly. Starting in the fall, it will be available in the evening.

Meteor Showers

Times when you are most likely to see a “shooting star.” These look like bright stars that streak quickly across the sky, visible only for a few seconds.

• Quadrantids | January 3–4, 2024
• Lyrids | April 21–22, 2024
• Eta Aquarids | May 4–5, 2024
• Delta Aquarids | July 29–30, 2024
• Perseids | August 11–13, 2024
• Draconids | October 8-9, 2024
• Orionids | October 21–22, 2024
• Leonids | November 17–18, 2024

What’s a super moon?

Not that exciting. At some points in the moon’s orbit, it passes closer to the Earth. The difference in size is barely visible, if at all.

What organizations should I keep up with to learn about skywatching and astronomy?

Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, Raleigh Astronomy Club, and Chapel Hill Astronomical Observational Society all host public skywatching events, sometimes in collaboration with each other. These events are generally free, but may require registration. And keep reading for a list of upcoming skywatching events.

Learn more at:

• https://moreheadplanetarium.org/program/skywatching/
• https://raleighastro.org/calendar/#!calendar
• https://chaosastro.org/calendar/