Monday, April 03, 2017

The Letter B: Bootes and Betelgeuse





This year, for the A-Z challenge, we’re looking at heavenly bodies.  There are two things in the sky that begin with the letter “B”, the constellation “Bootes” and the brilliant star Betelgeuse, which is found in the constellation Orion.


First, let’s look at Bootes.  It is best scene in the spring sky and has the appearance of a diamond-shaped kite, with the bright star Arcturus (the fifth brightest in the sky) forming the bottom of the diamond.  The name comes from the Greek word, “Ox Driver,” and he stands tall in the sky.  The best way to find it is to follow the handle of the URSA Major (also known as the Big Dipper and the Great Bear).  In some legends, he’s driving the great ox (bear) around the pole.  In other stories, he’s depicted as a hunter, with a club and two dogs.  There’s even a third story in which he’s Icarius, a grape grower.   In Brazil, where the constellation is toward the north horizon in the Spring, the kite-shape stars are seen as the shape of piranha (fish). 



Betelgeuse, like Arcturus is a bright reddish colored star.  It’s the 12th brightest star in the sky.  The star is huge (but far away) and as stars go, relatively cool.  It’s diameter and magnitude varies.  Because of its location in Orion (in the constellation’s right armpit).  The star supposedly inspired the 90s  movie, “Beatlejuice.” 

15 comments:

  1. The first time I really heard of the stars having good names was when watching Ben Hur when the Arab called the four white Arabians into his tent Altair, Antares, Aldebaran and Rigel. That and Orion whom I'd read as O'Ryan.

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    1. O'Ryan, that's very Irish of you! :)

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    2. Celtic !. But yeah, we'd been told in school that Newgrange could be a great observatory and my 7 year old mind made a connection. :-)

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  2. I can usually find the Big Dipper, but I've never been very good at locating other constellations. I should learn a lot here this month. :)

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  3. I lived in Malaysia for a year and remember being surprised at how different the star formations were. Which of course made sense but I had never thought about it till then.

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  4. Thanks for this lesson in Astronomy. I tend to get my constellations mixed up.

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  5. I can never see those shapes when I stare up at the night sky. It's only when I see images like these that the names make sense to me. Onward to C!

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  6. Orion is one of the few I can always locate. I'll have to check out his armpit next time I see it. I'm thinking it's more of a winter constellation, so maybe I'd better hurry and look.

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    1. Better catch Orion soon, as he's dropping fast toward the Western horizon!

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  7. Know not much about stars, friend Sage, but know the big dipper, orion and the southern cross ... depending where I roam ... nevertheless and whatever ... right now its the aurora borealis that's on my mind and in my sight. Love, cat.

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  8. And you even worked in a third b with "Beetlejuice." Brilliant, Sage!

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  9. I wouldn't know how to pronounce Betelgeuse if it wasn't for the movie :-)
    I have a character named after Arcturus -- he's a Cistercian monk. Aww, now I miss writing about him...

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  10. I don't know very much about stars, glad you are including the diagrams too.

    All the best Jan

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  11. I guessed that your A would be Andromeda and your B, Betelgeuse. Am also thinking C must be Cassiopeia, but I'll check that out tomorrow. and maybe Draco for D, but I won't peak because I like surprises! I've spotted the kite in the sky, but didn't know it was Bootes. Love this A to Z. If I were still teaching, I'd work your series into my curriculum one way or another ~ I was very good at that!

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