Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Monday, August 26th.  The sun rises at 6:58.  It’ll be up for 13 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 8:29.   The moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 11:22 this evening.

With Nova Delphinus in our skies let’s take a look at this celestial dolphin.  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.   The nova can be spotted in binoculars using the chart at http://www.skyandtelescope.com or below.

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

Addendum

My finder chart for Nova Delphinus 2013. Created using Carte du Ceil (Sky Charts)

The dot for the Nova will show it brighter than it is.  It should be fading now.