BOC: Kronos in the Sky

[John A Swartz]

Someone sent me this info - astronomers might want to check it out.

John



>Two Chronos' in the Last Nights of May
>
>I found these two groups of stars this spring from my observing site
>near Burgaw, NC.  It has probably already been done in the past, but I
>haven't seen anything about it.  The first can be seen with some city
>light pollution nearby.  The second requires some dark sky away from
>the city.  You may need to refer to a planetarium program for the
>constellations and greek letter star locations.  My graphics abililty
>is limited, maybe Astronomer, Astro, or Silverfish Imperetrix can
>help, but for now I'll just describe in text.
>
>1. This formation can be seen in the northeast sky in late spring
>evenings.  Borrow stars from Corona Borealis and from Bootes to form
>the Chronos.  Follow handle of Big Dipper away from bowl to bright
>orange star Arcturus, then back up about a third of the way.  The
>semicircle of stars is Corona Borealis and let it define the sickle of
>the Chronos sign.  Just above it is the kite shaped constellation
>Bootes with Arcturus defining the bottom of the kite.  Borrow four
>stars from Bootes to form the cross above the sickle, The left end of
>the cross is Beta Bootes, the right end of the cross is Epsilon
>Bootes, the top of the cross is Gamma Bootes, and the bottom of the
>cross just above the sickle is Delta Bootes.  There is no star to
>define the center of the cross.
>
>2.  This next formation is high in the southern sky in late spring
>evenings.  This is upside down, so you may have to face north, and
>bend over backward (or lay down in the oyster beds) to see it in the
>right orientation.  This is part of the constellation Leo, with one
>star borrowed from the dim constellation Sextans.  Follow the Big
>Dipper pole pointer stars away from the pole to find the sickle in
>Leo.  The bright blue white star is Regulus (Alpha Leonis) and forms
>the connection between the bottom of the cross and the sickle.  Just
>south of Regulus is a very dim star named 31 Leo and it forms the
>center of the cross.  Continuing south is a dim star Alpha Sextans
>which forms the top of the cross.  The right end of the cross is Rho
>Leonis, and the left end of the cross is Omicron Leonis.  The sickle
>is easily seen, but the cross is so dim you'll need to be in the
>country to see it.
>
>Good luck.  Maybe we'll be able to see it while lying down in the
>grass at the Classic Amphitheatre as BOC plays Astronomy.
>
>cretin, Cape FEAR Astronomical Society