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In Autumn, Find Corona Borealis Left of Big Dipper

  • Chuck Bueter
  • 4 days ago
  • 1 min read

Finding Corona Borealis--site of an upcoming nova--in late autumn gets more challenging, for the constellation is low in the evening twilight, dimming as it sets in the thick air mass near the horizon. You may not have the guide stars Arcturus and Izar to find Gemma, (a.k.a. Alphecca), the gem star of the Northern Crown. The Big Dipper comes to the rescue.


Nights in October open with the Big Dipper appearing upright, resting near the horizon to keep its contents from spilling out into the sky or onto earth. The bowl of the dipper is to the right and the handle is to the left. From that handle, go the same distance to Corona Borealis (CrB).


Corona Borealis and the Handle of the Big Dipper are nearly level October 13 at 9:30 pm EDT, from New Buffalo, MI.  Each is rotating "starwise" around Polaris, with each appearing to set on the NW horizon.
Corona Borealis and the Handle of the Big Dipper are nearly level October 13 at 9:30 pm EDT, from New Buffalo, MI. Each is rotating "starwise" around Polaris, with each appearing to set on the NW horizon.

As the evening segues into night, the constellations rotate "starwise" around the north pole, taking CrB into the muck of the near-earth atmosphere. Though CrB has disappeared, the path suggests it will "go underwater" when it reaches Lake Michigan, even though out of sight. By daybreak CrB will have transitioned to the NE sky, where you can find it anew.


While observing in October, 2025, multiply the rewards by seeing Comet Lemmon nearby, and the Orionid meteor shower peaking October 20/21.

Comet Lemmon to pass near Corona Borealis in late October
Comet Lemmon to pass near Corona Borealis in late October

Then join the 15th Annual Michiana Star Party with special CrB stargazing to launch each night, October 23-26 at Potawatomi Wildlife Park in Tippecanoe, IN.

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