A Little Night Music

Shivery Greetings,
This cold weather brings clear sparkling skies at night. Before you go out after dark, check out this very fun tutorial for finding Orion, the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. If you are an advanced stargazer, just look at the very first page all-sky shot and see how many constellations and stars you can name. http://www.quietbay.net/Science/astronomy/nightsky/

I know the bright stars blazing in east and overhead will certainly catch your eye. The brightest stars form a giant hexagon across the sky, known as the Winter Hexagon, formed (conveniently) by 6 constellations.

The brightest star visible to earthlings, Sirius, in Canis Major, shines bright blue; Capella, in Auriga, is golden; Aldeberan, eye of Taurus the Bull glows red. Inside the hexagon Orion's supergiant Betelgeuse is as orange, but not quite as bright as Mars which is now also inside the Hexagon. Learn about stars of the Winter Hexagon here: http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/bcp/aster/constellations/win6.htm

Sunday is Mozart's birthday, so celebrate by listening to Eine Kleine Nachtmusik inside: http://www.emusic.com/album/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart-MOZART-Eine-Kleine-Nachtmusik-Serenata-Notturna-MP3-Download/10871676.html

But when you're outside star gazing, listen for A Little Night Music from courting coyotes, http://coyotim.tripod.com/coyote.htm
(scroll down and click on different vocalizations on left)

red foxes http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4707/Sounds/yiff2.mp3


and Great Horned Owls. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Great_Horned_Owl.html#sound
Valentine's day comes early for all of them!

Stay warm,
The Dorr Museum of Natural History