Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => Alerts! Questions? Discussions... => Topic started by: Klitos on Mar 07, 2018, 07:27:29

Title: What constellations are these?
Post by: Klitos on Mar 07, 2018, 07:27:29
This morning, the Windows 10 lock screen displayed a picture of Monument Valley, Utah, with a starry sky. I was puzzled that I couldn't recognize any of the stars or constellations. Can you?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/28212928@N07/9611670599/

Title: Re: What constellations are these?
Post by: JohnP on Mar 07, 2018, 09:10:54
well looks like The Coathanger jumps out at me - bottom centre..
Title: Re: What constellations are these?
Post by: Carole on Mar 07, 2018, 10:27:43
John is right, it's not very clear but we are looking at Cygnus lying on it's side (Deneb to the left).

Carole
Title: Re: What constellations are these?
Post by: Klitos on Mar 07, 2018, 12:51:07
Thanks for pointing that out. I suppose also the bright star in the center, a quarter of the way down from the top, is Vega in Lyra? I find it hard to recognize stars when there are lots of them in the sky, because I'm used to seeing the night sky in built-up areas, where only the brightest stars can be seen and are therefore easy to pick out. It's even harder in a photograph where the stars saturate the sensor making it hard to tell differences between brightnesses.
Title: Re: What constellations are these?
Post by: Carole on Mar 07, 2018, 15:27:46
Rough and ready mark up.  Summer triangle and top of cygnus marked:
Oh I think I marked the wrong one as Deneb, it's the next bright star down.

(https://cdn.astrobin.com/thumbs/77apikBeXLog_1824x0_wmhqkGbg.jpg)