A journey from Cassiopeia to the Southern Cross

Walking with my older daughter the other night, we noticed how low Cassiopeia had dropped in the northern sky. It’s also back to looking like a “W” instead of a zigzag. The familiar constellation reaches its nadir or lowest point … Continue reading →

The W of Cassiopeia the Queen is due north and low in the sky at mid-northern latitudes in May. Created with Stellarium
Walking with my older daughter the other night, we noticed how low Cassiopeia had dropped in the northern sky. It’s also back to looking like a “W” instead of a zigzag. The familiar constellation reaches its nadir or lowest point above the northern horizon around 11 p.m. in mid-May. For most sky watchers that means it’s lost in the trees or hidden by buildings.
Cassiopeia’s height also depends on one’s latitude. From Duluth, Minn. the W never sets, but from Phoenix, Arizona it nearly scrapes the horizon. Travel further south to Miami and you won’t see it at all on May and June evenings.
The North Star is as high above the horizon as your latitude. In Duluth, that’s 47 degrees or more than halfway between the horizon and the overhead point or zenith. ...