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06/28/2016 – Ephemeris – Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown
Ephemeris for Tuesday, June 28th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:00. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 2:31 tomorrow morning.
High in the south at 11 p.m. can be found a small but easily spotted constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. It is located just east or left of the kite shaped constellation of Boötes, with its bright star Arcturus at the bottom. The Northern Crown is a three-quarters circle of stars, like a tiara, with a brighter star Alphecca or Gemma at the bottom. Alphecca in Arabic means “Bright star of the broken ring of stars”. Gemma could mean gem or a bud or blossom, so Corona Borealis could represent a floral crown. According to Greek mythology it belonged to Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete who helped Theseus escape from the Labyrinth of the Minotaur, only to be abandoned by him on an island.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corona Borealis tonight, June 28, 2016. Alphekka is the alternate spelling, European, of Alphecca. Created using Stellarium.
06/03/2013 – Ariadne’s crown is our Corona Borealis
Ephemeris for Monday, June 3rd. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 9:22. The moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 3:36 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:58.
Here we go, starting Ephemeris’ 39th trip around the sun with the constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. In the east at 11 this evening it can be seen as small nearly circular constellation. It is just below and left of Boötes, the kite shaped constellation off the handle of the Big Dipper. According to Greek myth the crown was given by the god Dionysus to the princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete. The crown is more like a tiara with the bright star Gemma also known as Alphecca at the front. While stars suggest that the crown is diamond studded, the meaning of Gemma, a blossom suggests to me that Corona Borealis is a floral crown. It is known in many lands as many different things.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corona Borealis with Boötes. Created with Stellarium.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 