Victoria DayStargazing
Ottawa, Ontario
Current Weather
Current Weather
13°C
Overcast
| Sunrise | 5:36 |
|---|---|
| Sunset | 20:21 |
| Ceiling | 4267 m |
Print
Email
BookmarkUpdated:Monday May 12 2008,0:00 EDT - Ottawa Airport
Clear Sky Forecast
Cloudy with clear breaks
P.O.P. 20%
Wind E 15km/h
Variable cloudiness
P.O.P. 20%
Wind NE 5km/h
Moon Phases
May 11
May 19
May 27
June 3
This Week in the Sky
Guardian of the Great Bear
Riding high in the southeast evening skies, is the kite-shaped constellation Bootes, the Herdsman. It is a fairly easy stellar pattern to track down with just the naked-eye thanks to its bright orange-hued lead star, Arcturus. To find Bootes in the springtime night skies begin your hunt at the handle of the Big Dipper in the north. Extend its curve and sweep outward until reaching Arcturus, the brightest star of the season.
Affectionately known as the protector of the bears, this ancient constellation is recognized by many cultures as a shepherd caring for the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor bears. While the Egyptians saw a god of agriculture who invented the plow, to the Romans he was a celestial hunter circling his prey around the North Star. First mention of Bootes is found in Homer's Odyssey, written nearly three millennia ago, where we find our hero sailing the seas by the stars of Bootes.
