Sky Guide August 2023

Constellations are groups of stars that form a picture. These pictures were given names and for millennia have been used as a tool for navigation and to share significant cultural stories. Astronomers use these constellations to delineate portions of the sky and as a way for locating astronomical objects. In August the following constellations dominate the winter sky:

Scorpius sitting high overhead in the winter sky, Scorpius the scorpion is one of the easiest constellations to pick out as it is one of the few that does look like what it’s supposed to represent. Look for the scorpion’s heart, the red supergiant star Antares, and follow the body along to the hooked tail and sting. The scorpion plays a role in many myths, however it is best known in Greek mythology for its pursuit of Orion through the night sky.

Sagittarius located just behind the sting of Scorpius is the centaur Sagittarius, sometimes referred to as the Archer. However, this constellation looks more like a teapot than an archer. In Greek mythology, the archer is a centaur, pointing his arrow towards the heart of Scorpius.

Ophiuchus an ancient constellation said to represent the mythical healer Aesculapius. It is now the thirteenth zodiac sign with the Sun, Moon and planets passing through it – the Sun from 30 November to 17 December.