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Current Positions of the Planets in the Night Sky:
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The Zodiacal Sky: |
Finding Leo and Virgo from The Big Dipper The well-known asterism (star group) known as The Big Dipper (or The Plough) in Ursa Major (The Great Bear) can be used as a starting point to finding Leo and Virgo in the night sky (provided these constellations are above the observer's horizon at the required time). To
find Leo,
use 'The Pointer Stars'
Dubhe
(pronounced 'DUB-ee', To
find Virgo,
use the 'handle stars' of The Dipper (the
'handle' of The Saucepan)
to
project an arc in a Southward direction until you come across the
bright, orange-coloured star Arcturus
( From
Arcturus,
continue
the arc Southwards to the bright star Spica
(pronounced 'SPY-kah', or Note that this method primarily applies to Northern hemisphere observers. Southern hemisphere observers can only use this method if they are situated North of latitude 28° South (The Big Dipper is not wholly visible at latitudes further South than this). A diagram showing the lines pointing to Leo and Virgo from The Big Dipper can be seen here. |
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Credits
Copyright Martin J Powell 2009
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Ursae Majoris)
and Merak
(
Ursae Majoris)
in the opposite direction from Polaris
(
