The summer night sky in the northern hemisphere presents an impressive spectacle. Countless stars illuminate the expanse above, with the Milky Way stretching across the heavens in an elegant arc from Cassiopeia to Sagittarius. Within this celestial band, the density of stars is so notable that, without some knowledge of the night sky, one can easily become disoriented, making it difficult to discern the various constellations.
Therefore, in this article we are going to tell you What are the easiest constellations to see in summer?.
What are the easiest constellations to see in summer?
For those beginning their journey toward understanding the celestial expanse, urban environments provide an advantageous starting point. Within these areas, the stars that make up the patterns of the various constellations are easily discernible, often being the only bright points visible in these night skies.
During summer nights in the northern hemisphere, There are three especially standout stars that outshine the rest. These stars belong to three different constellations and come together to create a distinctive asterism that dominates the summer night sky. The stars in question are Deneb (α Cyg) of the constellation Cygnus, Altair (α Aql) of the constellation Eagle and Vega (α Lyr) of the constellation Lyra. Together, they form the Summer Triangle, with each star acting as one of the vertices of this triangular arrangement.
The origin of the name Deneb can be traced back to its Arabic counterpart, dhaneb, which translates as "tail." This name is appropriate since Deneb is situated in the tail of the Cygnus constellation. With a visual magnitude of 1,25, it shines as the XNUMXth brightest star in the celestial sphere. Deneb belongs to the A2 spectral type and has a striking bluish-white color. It is estimated that its distance from us is about 1400 light years, although there is some debate around this figure.
Deneb
In terms of size, Deneb is truly immense, dwarfing our Sun by a factor of 200 as a white supergiant. On the opposite side of the Swan constellation, at its head, is the captivating Albireo, a double star that can be observed even with modest telescopes or binoculars. The Swan is also home to several emission nebulae, including the North American Nebula, the Pelican Nebula, the Cocoon Nebula, the Crescent Nebula, the Tulip Nebula, and the impressive Gamma Cygni Nebula. In addition, deep-sky objects such as the nebula complex NGC 6914, the Veil Nebula supernova remnant, and the open cluster M39 can be found in the vicinity of Deneb and Sadr.
Altair
Altair, another name of Arabic origin, is a white type A star that shines with a visual magnitude of 0,77, ranking as the thirteenth most luminous star in the celestial sphere. With a size approximately four times larger than that of our Sun, Altair resides at a distance of approximately 17 light years. This star is part of a binary system, although its companion star appears much dimmer with an apparent magnitude of 10.
Vega
Ranked as the fifth brightest star in the sky, Vega has an apparent magnitude of 0,03. This white star belongs to the A0 spectral type and eclipses the Sun in size, measuring almost three times larger. Located approximately 25 light years from our planet, Vega is accompanied by a neighboring quadruple star system known as Epsilon Lyrae (ε Lyr), which is commonly known as double-double. Even with the help of binoculars two components of Epsilon Lyrae can be observed, but with higher magnification it becomes clear that each of these components consists of two individual stars.
As a result, this stellar phenomenon has earned its double nickname. Within the Lyra constellation you can also find the famous Ring Nebula (M57), a captivating planetary nebula.
The Swan, the Lyre and the Eagle
Among the celestial formations visible in the summer sky of the northern hemisphere, we find not only the Swan, the Lyre and the Eagle, but also several other constellations. Located between the Swan and the Eagle are four tiny and elusive constellations: Zorrilla (also known as Vulpecula) and Sagitta, both within the Summer Triangle, as well as the Dolphin and the Little Horse (Equuleus). The latter borders the autumn constellations of Pegasus and Aquarius. Within the Zorrilla constellation we can marvel at the presence of the Dumbbell Nebula (M27), a planetary nebula, as well as the emission nebula NGC 6820.
The constellation Lyra, with its prominent star Vega, directs our attention to Hercules, an expanding constellation in the summer sky. While Hercules may not boast particularly luminous stars, it is famous for hosting the magnificent Great Hercules Cluster (M13), the largest globular cluster in the Northern Hemisphere.
Another noteworthy globular cluster, M92, is also located within Hercules. Moving west from Hercules, we encounter the spring constellations of Corona. Borealis and Boyero, while to the north is the circumpolar constellation of the Dragon.
Eagle and Hercules
In the region located between the constellations of the Eagle and Hercules, and further south, we find three constellations that stand out during the summer months: Shield, Ophiuchus and the Serpent. The shield, Although it is not particularly extensive, it is located in the middle of the vast expanse of the Milky Way, which makes observing it a challenge.
Ophiuchus, on the other hand, is a colossal constellation also known as Serpentarium. Interestingly, it was once recognized as the thirteenth constellation of the Zodiac, until the Babylonians standardized the number at 12. Within the Serpent, can be found the famous Eagle Nebula (M16), an emission nebula of great importance.
In Greek mythology, Ophiuchus is associated with Asclepius, the god of medicine, who is depicted holding a huge serpent. Interestingly, the Serpent constellation is unique because it is divided into two parts: Ophiuchus grasps the tail of the snake with his right hand, known as Serpens Cauda, while simultaneously holding the head of the reptile with his left hand, known as Serpens Caput.
Scorpio and Libra
Located south-southwest of Ophiuchus, we find the constellations of Scorpio and Libra, which are associated with summer and the Zodiac. Continuing further south, we find the constellation of the Zodiac Sagittarius located below the Shield.
Within the extension known as Shield-Sagittarius-Scorpion-Ophiuchus, there is a region full of abundant nebulae and star clusters. The stellar density is remarkably high and the majestic Milky Way graces this area with its presence. Surprisingly, the epicenter of our galaxy is located in the direction of Sagittarius.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about which constellations are easiest to see in summer.