Castle Eye View
Image Credit & Copyright: Stephane Vetter (Nuits sacrees, TWAN)
Explanation: The best known asterism in northern skies, The Big Dipper is
easy to recognize, even when viewed upside down, though some might see a
plough or wagon. The star names and the familiar outlines appear framed in the ruined tower walls of the French
Chateau du Morimont if you just slide your cursor over the image or follow
this link.
Dubhe, alpha star of the dipper's parent constellation Ursa Major is at the lower left. Together with beta star
Merak the two form
a line pointing the way to
Polaris and the North Celestial Pole, hidden from view by the stones. Since the image was captured on March 30, you can follow a line from dipper stars Phecda and Megrez to spot the faint greenish glow of
Comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresak below center, still within the castle eye view. The periodic comet made a remarkable close
approach to planet Earth on April 1.
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