The 2025 EarthSky Lunar Calendar makes a terrific present. Get yours immediately!

Gazing towards our galaxy’s south window into Intergalactic house

As you gaze towards the intense star Fomalhaut, you’ll be trying within the route towards our galaxy’s south window. In different phrases, you’ll be trying away from the flat aircraft of our Milky Approach, the place most of our galaxy’s stars reside. And also you’ll be trying within the route towards one of many poles of our galaxy. As a result of, that’s the place there are fewer stars, and past the Milky Approach’s stars, there may be intergalactic house.

As a matter of reality, you may say we’re searching the south window of the galaxy.

Fomalhaut is the brightest star within the constellation Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish.

Beware, although. The opposite brilliant “star” within the space in 2024 is the planet Saturn. Nevertheless, Saturn will probably be a creamy golden shade and shining with a gradual gentle.

For extra sky occasions, go to EarthSky’s evening sky information.

To see a exact view out of your location, strive Stellarium On-line.

The Milky Approach’s south galactic pole

Why to search out Fomalhaut? If you have a look at this star – generally referred to as the Loneliest Star – you’re looking some 90 levels from the aircraft of our galaxy’s equator.

Our Milky Approach galaxy is spherical and flat, like a pancake. If you look towards Fomalhaut, you’re trying away from the pancake, and out the south window of the galaxy. In different phrases, we’re trying away from the star-packed disk of the galaxy, into intergalactic house and the realm of galaxies.

Need the precise location of the south galactic pole? It lies east of Fomalhaut, within the faint constellation Sculptor. See the chart above.

Discovering Fomalhaut

Fomalhaut is a really noticeable star as a result of it’s in a area of the heavens the place there are few stars brilliant sufficient to be seen with the attention. That’s why Fomalhaut is usually stated to be the loneliest star. When you’re undecided, strive utilizing the Nice Sq. of Pegasus to substantiate the star you see is Fomalhaut. See the chart under. By the way in which, in 2024, Saturn will lie between the Nice Sq. and Fomalhaut.

Our galaxy’s south window from the Northern Hemisphere:

The Nice Sq. of Pegasus seems excessive within the south to overhead by round 7 to eight p.m. native time in late November and early December. This huge asterism actually does appear to be a big sq. sample, with 4 medium-bright stars marking the corners. Draw a line by way of the Nice Sq.’s two westernmost (or right-hand) stars, and lengthen that line southward to land on Fomalhaut.

From the Southern Hemisphere:

The Nice Sq. of Pegasus seems low within the northern sky. Then draw a line from the 2 westernmost stars upward to Fomalhaut. So, simply take the chart under, and switch it upside-down!

Backside line: Use the Nice Sq. of Pegasus to find Fomalhaut. And when you’ve discovered Fomalhaut, you’re in your solution to searching our galaxy’s south window into intergalactic house.

Simply find stars and constellations throughout any day and time with EarthSky’s Planisphere.