STARGAZING
Queen Cassiopeia
The summer W is located in the northeastern night sky. The wide W-shaped star pattern is the constellation Cassiopeia, the Queen.
Cassiopeia is one of those constellations that can be seen all year long because she circles the North Star. The W shape slowly transforms into an M shape by the time winter arrives and returns as a W each summer. To locate the queen, find the Big Dipper and look to the dipper’s right.
Some of the brightest parts of the Milky Way run through Cassiopeia. The light from many billion stars blend together to create the milky streak or glowing band across the summer sky.
In Greek mythology Cassiopeia is an extremely boastful queen. She was always bragging that her daughter, Andromeda, was more beautiful than the Goddess Sea Nymph. That didn’t go over very well with Neptune and so he unleashes a savage sea monster.
The sea monster is very rude and devours one thing after the other in Cassiopeia’s kingdom. The only way to stop this ravage is to offer the beautiful Andromeda as a sacrifice.
The stage is set and Andromeda is just about to be killed by the sea monster. Thank goodness Perseus, the hero, shows up just in the nick of time. Perseus kills the horrid sea monster and then frees the beautiful Andromeda. Andromeda is at once overcome with love and marries Perseus right on the spot.
Things are not so rosy for Queen Cassiopeia. Neptune sentences the queen to be chained to her throne and to forever drift around the North Star.
To get a closer look at the night sky visit the Fox Island Observatory any clear Saturday night through November. There are several amateur astronomers waiting to show anyone the wonder of the night sky. Once you see some of the awesome sights in their telescopes, your eyes will be opened to the pure beauty of those specks of light so often taken for granted.
Each time I make a visit to the observatory, I marvel at the dedication of the members of the Fort Wayne Astronomical Society. Thanks to the gentleman who recently shared his knowledge with my young friend and I. His kindness and enthusiasm was remarkable. I urge the fine people of Waynedale to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to see the stars as you never imagined them.
Happy Stargazing!
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