The Winter Circle: Catch in the morning before dawn
The majestic Winter Circle isn't a constellation. This giant circle - or hexagon - is an asterism, or a pattern made up of stars from several constellations. The post The Winter Circle: Catch in the morning before dawn first appeared on EarthSky .
As summer ends in the Northern Hemisphere, a distinct sign of winter becomes visible in the early morning sky. The Winter Circle, also known as the Winter Hexagon, emerges during predawn hours, recurring every year at this time. This celestial pattern consists of six bright stars scattered across six different constellations. Visible in the southwest part of the Circle is the beloved Orion the Hunter.
For those familiar with Orion, this constellation is an excellent starting point for locating the Winter Circle's other stars. Beyond Orion, the Circle includes Sirius in Canis Major, Procyon in Canis Minor, Pollux and Castor in Gemini, Capella in Auriga, and Aldebaran in Taurus. Most of these stars are first-magnitude, making them easily noticeable, although Castor, the sixth and brightest 2nd-magnitude star, stands out slightly less.
The Winter Circle is not visible in June and July due to its position obscured by the sun's glare. However, by late August, it returns to the morning sky. As winter approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Circle becomes visible in the evening sky.
Written by urgent.news from EarthSky's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
