Happy Friday!
It’s almost time to kick the tires and light the fires…or at least grab the clif bars, Elvis records, and merge north onto Rt. 29. Some of my senior pals in Woodbridge are expecting a music show today, and show they’ll get.
Before I hop into the tiny red car, though, it’s time to talk stars, and share music. I’m in full DJ mode. I’m taking requests.
Blind Astronomy: The Request
“What do constellations look like?” a reader asked recently.
Man, I’m loving this project! Let’s jump in!
Setting the Scene
The sky was clear all afternoon, a beautiful November day fading gently into sunset.
The periwinkle blue deepened, and as the sun sank in the west, the colors of the land turned cooler, more blue, and started to fade.
Walking out from the gym, I looked up, waving at the waxing gibbous moon and Jupiter, looking like a bright, steady star. It was still twilight. No stars were visible yet.
The Eastern Sky: Description
A few hours later, I crept outside, walked along the driveway past the porch lights, and gazed east. The moon was high above the mountain to my right, softly illuminating the landscape with a silvery glow. The neighbor’s barn was dimly visible ahead.
Since the moon was bright, most of the fainter stars were washed out by it’s shine. It wasn’t a sun-bright, but enough to make a difference. A similar effect is trying to hold a quiet conversation with a friend, and there’s a noisy air conditioner nearby.
Mars was directly ahead, shining with a steady orange-red light.
Up and to the left, the star Capella twinkled and sparkled, by far the brightest in the flattened hexagon constellation of Auriga, the Charioteer. Much closer to a pentagon, it can be imagined as fist. Capella would be were your pinkie knuckle is. A star marks each corner, and there’s a few extra ones here and there. Like many constellations, it doesn’t look anything like a chariot driver…just a big blob, really.
The turbulence of the atmosphere made the star flash orange, white, green, and even a little purple. (For an audio example, it’s voice was trembling, contrasting Mars’ steady clear shine.)
Up and to the right, red Aldebaran, alpha star of Taurus the Bull, rounded out the trio. A closer look showed it at one end of a sideways V of fainter stars. Under dark skies, there’s many visible in the constellation, but with the moonlight, I counted about eight. Make a peace sign with your index and middle fingers of your right hand, and point it to the left. Aldebaran would be the fingernail of your middle finger. This is the “Eye” of the bull.
A New Idea: Facial Perspectives
I’ve been admiring these constellations for decades, but pondered them with a new purpose last night. How might I translate them? I had an idea, and welcome your feedback.
I was able to relate what I saw to my face, especially for scale and position.
If you would, try touching your face as you read or listen to this.
Face Maps
As I faced east, the horizon was at the level of my upper lip.
Mars was where my nose was.
The constellation of Auriga was where my left eye socket was, and if I clenched my fist and put it over my left eye, it’s about the size and shape that it appears in the sky.
Taurus would be a V across my right eye, opening towards my nose. Aldebaran would be where the first tear would fall and run down my cheek when I hear the sad movement of the Bach pieces at the end of this post.
The Moon was shining down on the right side of the top of my head, and Jupiter a little closer to the front top of my head.
Thoughts?
I hope that’s a useful way to conceptualize the two constellations, and a few planetary neighbors. Please let me know your thoughts. I’m terribly excited to introduce the sky. I hope you’re having as much fun as I am!
Treasures of Earth
Before I go spin club bangers from ‘56, here’s one from ‘18…as in 1718! It’s time to dive into the Brandenburg Concertos, some of the best loved pieces of “Papa Bach”.
Enjoy this marvelous performance of Johan Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto Number 1 in F Major, BWV 1046. Claudio Abbado leads the Orchestra Mozart in this 2007 concert.
Josh