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The Rambling Astronomer
The Rambling Astronomer
Author: Martin Lunn
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© Copyright Martin Lunn
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Join me Martin Lunn MBE while I take you on a journey around the solar system. If you need to contact me please email me at; lunn_martin@sky.com
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This is the start of a simple guide to the brightest 20 stars in the night sky
The brightest star in the night sky, this is Sirius also known as the Dog Star as it is the brightest star in the constellation of Canis Major the Greater Dog
The second brightest star in the sky, although today in the constellation of Carina the Keel orginally part of the ancinet constellation of Argo Navis. Sadly it cannot be seen from Britain
The third brightest star in the sky, alpha centauri is a system of three stars, one which is known as proxima is apart from the Sun the nearest star to us.
Located in the constellation of Bootes Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern hemisphere with a wonderful story.
One of the stars that forms the summer triangle, Vega can be seen directly overhead during summer evenings.
The star that is overhead during winter evenings, although it appears single there are in fact four stars in this system.
One of the four stars that form the great rectangle of Orion, Rigel can be found in the bottom right hand corner. It is the brightest star in this wonderful constellation.
The small dog star, Procyon is often overlooked in the winter sky by the brighter and better knwon Sirius the large dog star.
One of many bright stars that cannot be seen from Britain, Achernar is the part of the long sprawling constellation of Eridanus the River that is far to the south of us.
One of the best known stars Betelgeuse or Beetlejuise as many people like to call it. A massive red giant star which astronomers expect to destroy itself in a supernova explosion within the next one million years.
Normally known as Beta Centauri, Agena is the second of the pointers to the constellation of the Southern Cross.
The brightest star in the constellation of Aquila the Eagle and the southern most member of the summer triangle of stas that dominates the summer months in the northern hemisphere..
The brightest star in the Southern Cross, a constellation that we don't see in Britain yet it is one of the best know and a very familiar sight in the southern hemisphere.
The eye of the Bull, Aldebaran is the brightest star in the constellation of Taurus.
A massive red super giant star that from Britain can be seen low down in the summer skies. It is so big that most of out solar system could fit inside it.
The brightest star in the constellation of Virgo the Virgin, Spica is always seen low down from Britain, which is a bit if a shame. Spica can be found by using the Plough.
Together with Castor, the star Pollux are the brightest stars in the constellation of Gemini the Twins one of the brightest of the zodiacal groups.
The most southerly of the first magnitude stars as seen from Britain.
The faintest of the three stars that form the summer triangle, yet Deneb is actually the brightest. It appears fainter than Altair and Vega simply because it is much further away.




