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Ephemeris: 04/29/2024 – Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown
This is Ephemeris for Monday, April 29th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 8:46, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:33. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 2:58 tomorrow morning.
About a third of the way up the sky in the east at 10 p.m. can be found a small but easily spotted constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. It is located just below the kite shaped constellation of Boötes, with its bright star Arcturus at the right. The Northern Crown is a three-quarter circle of stars, like a tiara, with a brighter star Alphecca at the bottom. Alphecca in Arabic means “The bright star of the broken ring of stars”, which is an accurate description of it. Check it out now for later this year we expect to have a bright star appear just below it. That star is T Coronae Borealis a recurrent Nova or exploding star. They occur when a white dwarf star is orbiting with a large red giant star and accumulating gas from that red giant star until it explodes.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
06/23/2022 – Ephemeris – Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown
This is Ephemeris for Thursday, June 23rd. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:58. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 3:08 tomorrow morning.
High in the south at 11 this evening can be seen a small nearly circular constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. It is just left of Boötes, the kite shaped constellation off the handle of the Big Dipper. According to Greek myth, the crown was given by the gods to the princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete. The crown is more like a tiara with the bright star Alphecca at the front. To the Anishinaabe people, who are native to our region, it is the Sweat Lodge. Part of what we call Hercules next to it is the Exhausted Bather, who is lying on the ground after the ceremony. The seven stones that are heated for the Sweat Lodge ceremony are the Pleiades, now close to Venus in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT – 4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corona Borealis and Sweat Lodge finder animation. Looking high in the south at 11 pm, June 23rd. The tail of Ursa Major or the handle of the Big Dipper is in the upper right. Created using Stellarium and GIMP. Both star lore images are embedded in Stellarium. The Anishinaabe images are embedded in Stellarium and is from Ojibwe Giizhig Anung Masinaaigan – Ojibiwe Sky Star Map created by A. Lee, W. Wilson, and C. Gawboy.
06/04/2018 – Ephemeris – Ariadne’s crown
Ephemeris for Monday, June 4th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 24 minutes, setting at 9:23, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:58. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 1:47 tomorrow morning.
High in the southeast 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 base. The Northern Crown is a semicircle of stars, like a tiara, with a brighter star Gemma at the bottom. Despite the obvious allusion of stars to diamonds and the sound of one of the star’s name, this is not a gem studded crown. Gemma means blossom, so Corona Borealis may represent a floral crown. According to Greek mythology it belonged to Princess Ariadne, daughter of King Minos of Crete. She was abandoned by Theseus, whom she helped out of the Labyrinth of the Minotaur.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Animated Corona Borealis Finder Chart looking to the southeast at 10:30 p.m. June 4, 2018. Corona Borealis is a small constellation, so I added its neighbors for context. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
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.
05/30/11 – Ephemeris – The constellation Corona Borealis
Memorial Day, Monday, May 30th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 9:18. The moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 4:56 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:01.
High in the southeast east at 10:30 this evening can be seen a small nearly circular constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. It is just below Boötes, the kite shaped constellation off the handle of the Big Dipper. According to Greek myth the crown was given by the gods 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, however the meaning of Gemma, a blossom suggests that Corona Borealis is a floral crown. Corona’s most famous star isn’t even visible to the unaided eye. It is R Coronae Borealis, a variable star, which appears to be surrounded by a dust cloud.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corona Borealis with Boötes at 10:30 p.m. on May 30th. Created with Stellarium.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 