{"id":12831,"date":"2022-05-08T19:00:56","date_gmt":"2022-05-08T17:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=118308"},"modified":"2022-05-08T19:27:09","modified_gmt":"2022-05-08T17:27:09","slug":"how-can-i-see-the-northern-crown","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/how-can-i-see-the-northern-crown\/","title":{"rendered":"How can I see the Northern Crown?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Pete Lawrence\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Sunday, 08 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Corona Borealis is a small, attractive semi-circular constellation visible in the spring night sky from mid-April to mid-May. It represents the Northern Crown and as its name infers, has a southern counterpart called Corona Australis, the Southern Crown, which never rises above the UK\u2019s horizon.<\/p>\n

To locate Corona Borealis start from the Plough<\/a>, extending its handle away from the blade and following the natural arc to reach the bright orange star Arcturus in Bo\u00f6tes the Herdsman. The core of Bo\u00f6tes is kite-shaped, Arcturus marking the kite\u2019s pointed end. If it helps to visualise it, the kite appears as high as the Plough is long.<\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Corona Borealis sits off the left shoulder of the kite, its distinctive semi-circle having a diameter a fraction larger than the distance between the last two stars furthest from the blade in the Plough\u2019s handle; Mizar and Alkaid.<\/p>\n

The crown\u2019s brightest star has two common names, Gemma and Alphecca, and it represents the jewel in the crown. The inside of the pattern appears empty most of the time. However, a variable star known as R Coronae Borealis can sometimes be seen. This star periodically ejects clouds of carbon, which eventually cools to form soot, therefore blocking the star\u2019s light and causing it to dim.<\/p>\n

When the soot disperses, the star brightens. It can just be seen with the naked eye from a dark sky location when brightest, but when faintest you\u2019ll need a large telescope to spot it. This behaviour has led to R Coronae Borealis being nicknamed the \u2018dust puff star\u2019.<\/p>\n

Corona Borealis is associated with Theseus and the Minotaur in Greek mythology. In love with Theseus, Ariadne gave him a ball of thread which allowed him to enter the Minotaur\u2019s labyrinth, kill the beast and escape back to freedom. Theseus subsequently abandoned Ariadne, who went on to marry Dionysus. The pattern represents the crown given to Ariadne by Dionysus.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n