Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 25
SKYWATCH NOVEMBER & DECEMBER
The Great Square Doubles
as the Great Signpost
H
ave you looked at the jumble of stars seen on a clear night from a dark
location and wondered " How on Earth do I find my way around the
heavens? " The best practice is to start with what you know or what you can
easily find.
The mid- to late-fall early evening sky can be unrecognizable because it contains
few bright stars to use as markers. But, luckily for the stargazer, it does
offer an unusual stellar configuration-the Great Square. While not a true
square, its four corner stars come close. They are about as bright as the more
well known stars of the Big Dipper. The pattern, somewhat larger than the Big
Dipper, lies high in the south in the early evening this time of year.
Once you have found the Great Square, use it as a guide to other stars.
Start by drawing an imaginary line southward from the two westernmost
stars of the Square. It lands on a bright, solitary star, Fomalhaut.
Next draw a line to the west along the bottom two stars. It lands on Altair,
the southern member of the " Summer Triangle. " The two easternmost stars
of the Square point south to a moderately bright star, Deneb Kaitos, which
represents to the tail of the constellation Cetus the whale.
Head north, instead of south, and the line intersects the westernmost star
of the " W " shape of Cassiopeia. Continue that line until it bumps into Polaris,
the North Star.
As a bonus this year, the lower two stars direct you eastward on the celestial
dome to the bright, unmistakable Jupiter.
-JOHN GOSS
BACK ROADS!
MOST OF OUR MAIN ROADS ARE
Find yourself here
Whether you're on your motorcycle, in your sports car, or the
family sedan, we have fun roads to get you to some spectacular
views and attractions. From the rugged outdoors to 5-Star luxury,
there is so much to discover. visitpatrickcounty.org
Visit the Patrick County Visitors Center at 126 N. Main St, Stuart, VA
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 25
http://www.visitpatrickcounty.org
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 3
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 4
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - 5
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Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country November/December 2023 - Cover4
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