Home > Anishinaabek Constellation, Ephemeris Program, Observing > Ephemeris: 09/19/25 – A different take on Cygnus the swan

Ephemeris: 09/19/25 – A different take on Cygnus the swan

September 19, 2025

This is Ephemeris for Friday, September 19th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 7:45, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:27. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 6:06 tomorrow morning.

Yesterday I looked the star in the beak of the constellation of Cygnus the swan and the informal constellation or asterism made from most of its stars the Northern Cross. Cygnus is the official International Astronomical Union constellation name. However, the indigenous Anishinaabe people of our area had another bird in mind when seeing these stars, which are now fairly high in the east in the evening: Ajijaak, (pronounced a-ji-jock) a Sand Hill crane. While the swan is flying, neck outstretched to the south through the Milky Way, the crane is flying northward with its long legs trailing behind. The bright star Deneb is at his head. Where I live I see more cranes than swans these days and hear their creaking-door-like calls, and see a pair from time to time in a field south of where I live.

The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EDT, UT – 4 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

Within the Summer Triangle we see Cygnus swan, first as the Northern Cross then as the lines of Cygnus the swan, then the figure of the swan that comes with Stellarium then finally my poor rendition of Ajijaak the crane.
Looking within the area of the Summer Triangle we see Cygnus swan, first as the Northern Cross then as the lines of Cygnus the swan, then the figure of the swan that comes with Stellarium then finally my poor rendition of Ajijaak the crane. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

Categories: Anishinaabek Constellation, Ephemeris Program, Observing Tags: , ,