2021, Early July Mornings

July Early Mornings, 2021:  Step outside as morning twilight begins, about two hours before sunrise.  Look high in the south for the Summer Triangle, high above Jupiter and Saturn.

The Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – are high in the south as morning twilight begins.
Chart Caption – The Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – are high in the south as morning twilight begins.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

The Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – are high in the south as morning twilight begins.  At mid-northern latitudes, this occurs about 2 hours before sunrise.

The pattern’s moniker is from the triangle pattern dotted by the three bright stars.  During early summer the stars begin the night low in the eastern sky after sunset.  As the night progresses, the stars are higher in the sky, reaching south as morning twilight begins.

Vega is part of the constellation Lyra.  The harp is made by a tiny parallelogram attached to a miniature triangle that includes Vega. 

Altair is part of Aquilla.  The pattern somewhat resembles an eagle or at least its wings are evident.

Deneb belongs to Cygnus the Swan.  Sometimes the pattern is known as the Northern Cross.  The star is the tail of the Swan.

In a dark sky, without streetlights or a bright moon, the bird seems to be flying southward along the Milky Way.

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