Star Chart - Ontario Science Centre

EAST East
NE
SE
Download our most recent star chart:
www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/tour/default.asp?demoid=75
NORTH North
SOUTH South
Cartography and design by Roberta Cooke. Base chart data derived from maps drawn by Roy Bishop for the Observer’s Handbook, published by The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
ROTATING NIGHT SKY: During the night, the Earth’s rotation on its axis slowly
shifts the entire sky. This is the same motion that swings the Sun on its daily eastto-west
trek. The rotational hub is Polaris, the North Star, located almost exactly
above the Earth’s North Pole. Everything majestically marches counter-clockwise
around it, a motion that becomes evident after about half an hour.
OUR CHART SHOWS the major stars, planets and constellations visible
from Canada and the northern United States within one hour of these times:
EARLY JULY: 11:30 P.M.; LATE JULY: 10:30 P.M.
EARLY AUGUST: 9:30; LATE AUGUST: DUSK
Prepared for the Ontario Science Centre by SkyNews,
the Canadian Magazine of Astronomy & Stargazing. SkyNews.ca
SkyNews.ca 1-866-759-0005
NW
SW
WEST West
TO USE THIS CHART: Hold the chart in front of you and rotate it so the direction
you are facing (N,S,E,W) is at the bottom of the chart. The edge of the chart
represents the horizon; the overhead point is at centre. On a moonless night in the
country, you will see more stars than are shown here; deep in the city, you will see
fewer. The ecliptic line is the celestial pathway of the Moon and planets. The star
groups straddling this line are known as the zodiac constellations. The Moon is
shown for selected dates.

S*T*A*R
CHART
FOR SUMMER
July/August
* 2012 *
THE PLANETS
VENUS has become a morning star!
Following the rare Transit of Venus, you
can now find the bright planet in the
morning, just before sunset in the East.
*
MARS is located in the southwestern sky
near Saturn and the star Spica. On Aug
14/15 the trio will create a straight
vertical line in the sky.
*
JUPITER is located in the constellation
Taurus, creeping above the horizon in the
west just before dawn. Jupiter, Venus, and
the Moon will gather together in the sky
on July 15.
*
SATURN is a brilliant ‘star’ in the south
west, currently in Virgo, located near the
star Spica.
Check our calendar for more details:
www.ontariosciencecentre.ca
THE CONSTELLATIONS
The star groups linked by lines are the constellations
created by our ancestors thousands of years
ago as a way of mapping the night sky. Modern
astronomers still use the traditional names,
which give today’s stargazers a permanent link to
the sky myths and legends of the past. This
season’s evening sky features Draco. The stars
that make up the long body and tail of Draco the
dragon weave between the Big and Little Dipper.
Draco may represent the dragon Ladon, who
protected the golden apples of the Hespiredes in
Greek Mythology.
OBSERVING HIGHLIGHTS
JUL 3 Full Moon
JUL 14 The crescent moon and the Pleiades star cluster
line up
JUL 24 The Moon, Spica, Saturn, and Spica hang
together for a perfect photo op
AUG 11 Perseid meteor shower peaks
AUG 13 The daytime moon passes infront of the planet Venus,
afternoon event in all of Canada
AUG 21 Moon, Mars, and Spica group together in the sky.
SPACE STATION SIGHTINGS
As the space station orbits the Earth, sunlight reflects off
of its giant solar arrays. From Earth, it appears as a bright
object moving high across the night sky. Visit www.heavens-above.com
to get a list of upcoming ISS passes over your community.
MOON PHASES
Full
New
JUL 3 (2:52 p.m. EDT)
AUG 1 (11:27 p.m., EDT)
JUL 19 (12:24 a.m. EDT)
AUG 17 (11:54 a.m., EDT)
*ASTRONOMY AT THE OSC*
OBSERVING TIP:
Need a night-sky friendly flashlight?
Cover a flashlight's lamp with brown
or red paper to dim its light and
preserve your night vision.
July 4 / August 1, 7:30 p.m.: Recreational Astronomy Night with the Royal Astronomical Society. The RASC members invite
one and all to attend their free astronomy night. Each Recreational Astronomy Night features a speaker covering a wide
range of astronomical and space science topics. Visit the website for more information: toronto.rasc.ca.
August 6 – Curosity Lands NASA’s new rover, Curosity will land on Mars August 6th at 1:30am. In the days prior to the
landing we will be presenting details of the mission. Stay tuned to our website for more details as they arise.
August 12 – ‘One World, One Sky’ The Ontario Science Centre is holding its summer star party ‘One World, One Sky’ in partnership
with Planet IndigenUS. The evening will feature activities and presentations reflecting the contributions of indigenous
populations around the world to the arts and science of the night sky http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/planetindigenus/.