Hercules
One of the most famous characters in the night sky takes a prominent position at this time of year. The character is Hercules. His constellation is in good view by the time it gets dark, and soars high overhead during the night.
In Greek mythology, he was the son of a mortal woman and Zeus, the king of the gods. Zeus named the boy Heracles, which means "glory to Hera," to appease his jealous wife. But Hera definitely was NOT appeased, and she tormented Hercules throughout his life. He was forced to perform 12 labors of strength and courage to atone for crimes he committed while under the spell of Hera. His labors included killing a lion and a snake, which also stand in the stars.
The most prominent portion of Hercules is the Keystone -- four stars that form a lopsided square. The Keystone represents Hercules's chest. It's above the northeastern horizon as darkness falls.
Along the line connecting the two stars that rise first, look for a beautiful globular star cluster known as M13. In dark skies, it's visible to the unaided eye as a faint smudge of light. Binoculars reveal a swarm of stars, while telescopes reveal HUNDREDS. In fact, M13 contains hundreds of thousands of stars packed into a tight ball. These stars are among the oldest in the galaxy. More about globular clusters tomorrow.
Look for Hercules ascending the sky beginning at nightfall, and soaring high overhead after midnight.
Script by Damond Benningfield, Copyright 2001, 2004
For more skywatching tips, astronomy news, and much more, read StarDate magazine.
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