LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In August we see the rising of the Summer Triangle.
The triangle has three stars – Vega, Deneb and Altair. These are very bright stars, making the triangle easy to locate.
Each star in the triangle is in a different constellation.
Vega is the brightest star of the three, and is in the constellation Lyra the Harp.
Lyra contains two remarkable objects visible through a small telescope.
The first is the Ring Nebula. This is a faint object that looks like a tiny smoke ring.
The second object in Lyra is the “Double Double.” No, that’s not a typo. That is the name of a double star, which, under high power, reveals that each double star is itself a double.
Deneb, the second star in the triangle, is in the constellation Cygnus the Swan.
Deneb is derived from an Arabic word meaning “tail,” and sure enough, Deneb occupies the tail of the swan.
The star at the head of Cygnus is Albireo. This is a beautiful blue and gold double star seen through a telescope of any size.
Altair, the third star in the triangle, is in the constellation Aquila the Eagle.
In Greek mythology, Aquila was the eagle that carried Zeus’ thunderbolts. Aquila was, in effect, a thunderbolt caddy!
Before we go, let’s remember that August is the month the Perseids meteor shower occurs. This is perhaps the best meteor shower of the year!
From Aug. 11 through the 14, the Perseids will be at their best.
Grab a comfortable lawn chair, find a location with a dark sky, and enjoy the show!
John Zimmerman is a resident of Lake County and has been an amateur astronomer for more than 50 years. For more information about Astronomy and local resources, visit his Web site at www.lakecountyskies.com .