Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Thursday, September 22nd.  The sun will rise at 7:29.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 7:40.   The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:47 tomorrow morning.

Located below the eastern edge of the Summer Triangle of three of the brightest stars in the sky, which is  overhead in our sky at 10 p.m., is the tiny constellation of Delphinus the dolphin. Delphinus’ 6 stars in a small parallelogram with a tail, really does look like a dolphin leaping out of the water. The parallelogram itself has the name Job’s Coffin. The origin of this asterism or informal constellation is unknown. Of the dolphin itself: the ancient Greeks appreciated this aquatic mammal as we do, and told stories of dolphins rescuing shipwrecked sailors. There’s another tiny constellation to the right of Delphinus, Sagitta the arrow a small thin group of 5 stars, which represents Cupid’s dart.  Behind Sagitta binoculars will find a little star group called the Coat hanger.

* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Delphinus, Sagitta and the Coat hanger. Diagram created using Stellarium.