However, the constellation contains an exceptionally bright and large open cluster, the Coma Star Cluster (Melotte 111), which is easily visible on a clear night. Your submission has been received! Planets Visible in the Night Sky in Tampa, Florida, USA Time/General Time Zone DST Changes Sun & Moon Sun & Moon Today Sunrise & Sunset Moonrise & Moonset Moon Phases Eclipses Night Sky Night Time 12 hours, 27 minutes Mon, Feb 27 at 6:28 pm - Tue, Feb 28 at 6:55 am Visible night of Feb 27 - Feb 28, 2023 Venus-Jupiter Conjunction If youre familiar with the famous constellation Orion, it can help you be sure youve found the Pleiades. The asterism is also known as the Sail. "(That's) where I met my future husband," she said. Almaaz at the Charioteers elbow is often included in the Kids asterism but was historically not part of it. Polaris, known as the North Star, sits more or less directly above Earth's north pole along our planet's rotational axis. Venus is visible by day, but may be hard to find. It appears as a bright bunch of grapes, easily visible to the unaided eye even from light-polluted areas, and is best viewed with binoculars. Historically, the Pleiades have served as a calendar for many civilizations. From the Escambia Astronomical Society in Pensacola to the Everglades Astronomical Society based in Naples, Florida astronomical societies offer everything from sidewalk astronomy to deep-sky viewing from both planetariums and natural viewing sites. It has an apparent magnitude of 1.0 and an apparent size of 120 arcminutes. At nightfall,. The curved line leads first to Arcturus, the brightest northern star, and then to Spica. Denebola appears at the tip of the tail. It can be found by extending a line from Schedar through Caph. FOR INFO ABOUT DARK SKY SITES IN FLORIDA FOR BETTER OBSERVING, GO TO THE DARK SITES PAGE There are public Astronomy events in Florida's parks, star parties and New Moon observing events with Astronomy clubs from dark sky sites, and events at observatories and planetariums. They offer a cast of hundreds, even thousands, of stars, clusters, planets and galaxies that take center stage for a romantic evening, a family outing or an educational observance. Tallahassee also held a recent viewing at the Cypress Boat Landing, far from the city lights. Elnath, the second brightest star in Taurus, marks the Bulls northern horn and is part of Aurigas hexagon. Completing the main outline of Orion is Saiph, marking the Hunters right knee. Planets Visible in the Night Sky in Naples, Florida, USA Time/General Time Zone DST Changes Sun & Moon Sun & Moon Today Sunrise & Sunset Moonrise & Moonset Moon Phases Eclipses Night Sky Night Time 12 hours, 20 minutes Thu, Mar 2 at 6:29 pm - Fri, Mar 3 at 6:48 am Visible tonight, Mar 2 - Mar 3, 2023 Venus-Jupiter Conjunction The brightest stars of Andromeda Alpheratz, Mirach, and Almach form a chain that appears almost perpendicular to the northwestern horizon in the evening. This is the imaginary line that extends through the planet and out of the north and south poles. "A friend told me about the Miami Planetarium. Its luminary Alphard, an orange giant, shines at magnitude 2.00 and the constellations second brightest star, the yellow giant Gamma Hydrae, is a full magnitude fainter. Requisition ID: 2384. Polaris is also famously known as the North Star. Shrouded in the Homunculus Nebula, within the larger Carina Nebula, Eta Carinae is believed to be a binary star with a combined luminosity about 4.6 million times that of the Sun. Orion and Lepus appear in the southwest. Unlike Puppis, Lepus, and the dog constellations, the celestial Dove does not date to ancient times. Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation, is found along the imaginary line extended from Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka, the stars of Orions Belt, to the northwest. Privacy Notice: We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. Modern astronomers say the stars were born from the same cloud of gas and dust some 100 million years ago. Orions other arm extends to the right of Bellatrix and holds a shield to fend off the Huntersenemies. Constellation Culinary works with our partners to bring their culinary visions to life in intimate weddings, iconic institutions, and everywhere in between. The Lions tail once extended into what is now Coma Berenices. Both are among the skys 10 brightest stars, and they have distinctly different colors. In general, the colors of stars are very subtle, but the colors of these two bright stars are easy tosee. The stars of Berenices Hair represented the tuft of the tail. That's because they are opposite each other, one on either side of the North Star. Naos is one of the most luminous stars visible to the unaided eye. The map also shows the phases of the Moon, and all solar and lunar eclipses. You can have a truly unique experience stargazing through the night at one of these alluring locations. The Sickle looks like a backward question mark and has Regulus, the constellations brightest star, at its base. Bellatrix (the star) is even bluer than Rigel, but because Bellatrix is dimmer, its color is less apparent except on especially clear, darknights. All rights reserved. The stars of Coma Berenices are faint. Its three brightest stars, the orange giants Alpha, Epsilon, and Iota Antliae, have apparent magnitudes of 4.25, 4,51, and 4.60. The Little Dipper will take a little more effort and imagination. Pollux is the 17th brightest star in the sky and Castor is the 23rd. The constellation maps below show the sky as it appears at around 10 pm in the mid-northern, equatorial, and mid-southern latitudes. Hadar (Beta Centauri) is much more distant and intrinsically luminous. It is the 74th smallest of the 88 constellations in the sky. The faint Fornax (the Furnace) can be made out in the bend of the River on a clear, dark night. Cassiopeia lies in the northwestern sky and Ursa Major is high in the northeast. Try finding a good, unobstructed view of the horizon. 2 Baths. These changes cause this star to vary in brightness. It appears in the same line of sight as the Hyades and can be found on the imaginary line extended from the three stars of Orions Belt. Our research is editorially independent but we Learn more in ourCookie Noticeand ourPrivacy Policy. Our monthly sky map does not show the entire sky which would be almost impossible. Naos, the brightest star in Puppis, is one of the most luminous stars known. The Head of Cetus appears almost directly west while Aries lies more to the northwest. Its ears lie near Rigel and its tail is near Saiph. The giant Delta Crateris, the only star in Crater that is brighter than magnitude 4.0, shines at magnitude 3.56. It marks the tail of Cetus. Perseus sits high in the southwest. Apus (the Bird-of-Paradise), Chamaeleon, Pavo (the Peacock), Hydrus (the Water Snake), and Tucana (the Toucan) were created at the same time. The constellation figure of Circinus, a small, elongated triangle reminiscent of the compass (the drafting tool), can be made out between the Southern Triangle and the luminaries of the constellation Centaurus. The fainter Crater (the Cup) appears above Corvus but is not an easy target from urban areas. Learn more, take a tour, and get one step closer to your new home. The nebula is visible to the unaided eye even in less-than-ideal conditions. The celestial River stretches farther from north to south than any other constellation. Visibility improves as the sunlight fades. Modern astronomy has found that the seventh-brightest Pleiades star Pleione is a complicated shell star that goes through numerous permutations. As you turn your head from side to side, you will be looking in the compass direction indicated by those numbers. Representing the stern of Argo, the mythical ship of Jason and the Argonauts, Puppis was once part of the larger constellation Argo Navis with the neighbouring constellations Carina and Vela. Lynx occupies much of the space between these two constellations and Ursa Major, but its brightest stars are fainter than magnitude 3.0 and difficult to see from urban skies. In the southern sky before dawn on Monday, March 13, the waning, slightly gibbous moon will shine in western Scorpius near the up-down row of small white stars that form the scorpion's claws. Here's a helpful tip: Take Sky & Telescope's 30S planisphere with you in your travels to help you identify constellations. If you are substantially south of these areas, everything on our map will appear higher in yoursky. Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor and the eighth brightest star in the sky, appears higher above the horizon, almost directly south. The Dog Star shines at magnitude -1.46 from a distance of only 8.60 light-years. The Pleiades star cluster by Ernie Rossi in Florida. How large are the planets and what is their order from the Sun? "It's awesome to be out here," said Martha Turner with tablet in hand. Even though it is the largest of all constellations, Hydra does not contain many bright stars. Take advantage of the full moon with the Santa Fe Canoe Outpost, which offers full moon paddles on the Santa Fe River. To find the pair, look high in the northern sky this evening. Russ Drum submitted it and wrote: "The Pleiades (aka the Seven Sisters) is an open star cluster located in the constellation . Our vibrant spaces will help make any event shine. Fairly close to the Sun. Due to later changes in how constellations were drawn up, Norma lost its two brightest stars, Alpha Normae and Beta Normae, to Scorpius. Eltanin and Rastaban, the stars that represent the Dragons eyes, appear closer to the horizon. Very close to Sun, hard or impossible to see. deals, and more! Moon phases visualized in real time, the past, or the future. The map also shows the phases of the Moon, and all solar and lunar eclipses. Miami, FL 33132 (opening Winter 2021/2022) More information When you look to the south in February, your view is dominated by Orion, standing tall and proud. Sign up now for the Brightside Blend Newsletter, Example video title will go here for this video. Eastern Florida State College's observatory is open to the public from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Members answer questions, give advice on telescopes and point out interesting objects in the Florida night sky. Gemini constellation is dominated by the bright stars Castor and Pollux. See how far the planets are from the Sun or Earth, how bright they look, and their apparent size in the sky. Beta The Interactive Night Sky Map simulates the sky above Tampa on a date of your choice. Guaranteed to sell out, so get one while you can. Night Sky Planner. He's a sundial aficionado, whose love for the heavens has taken him to Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and sailing in the North Atlantic, where he earned his celestial navigation certificate through the School of Ocean Sailing and Navigation. And there is no better time to view Orion than an early evening in February, so bundleup! It is 813,000 times more luminous than the Sun and shines at magnitude that varies from 2.24 to 2.26 from a distance of 1,080 light-years. Recognized as Floridas first Dark Sky Park, its possible to see both Jupiter and Saturn from here. The Big Dipper appears upside down and Alkaid at the end of the Dippers handle may or may not be visible, depending on the geography. Here is an example. The parties range from an evening to weeklong events. "Technology has made significant contributions to amateur astronomy. The bright asterism can be used to locate the faint Monoceros (the Unicorn). Lead Artists: Jason Kelly Johnson & Nataly Gattegno (Futureforms) Southern sky from equatorial latitudes, image: Stellarium. Outreach club programs also teach about the Florida skies. Draw a line through these stars to the V-shaped pattern of stars with a bright star in its midst. Northern sky from equatorial latitudes, image: Stellarium. Let's examine the Hunter in detail. The star system contains Proxima Centauri, the closest individual star to the Sun. It can be used to find the famous Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104) in Virgo and the interacting pair NGC 4038 and NGC 4039, also known as the Antennae Galaxies, in Corvus. Science news, great photos, sky alerts. The bright Regulus, the star marking the Lions heart, appears at the base of the Sickle. Arcturus, Spica, and Regulus form the Spring Triangle, an asterism that dominates the northern spring sky. And there is no better time to view Orion than an early evening in February, so bundle up! I was one of five winners.". Pollux is part of the Winter Circle, a large asterism that dominates the northern winter sky. The constellations brightest star, the giant Aldebaran, is the 14th brightest star in the sky. He spoke of magnetic fields, distinct spots on the setting beach sun and "Vega," the first star visible in the dusk sky. Cetus (the Sea Monster) and Eridanus (the River) take up much of the western sky in the evening. The head of Hydra, the largest constellation in the sky, appears near the zenith around 10 pm. They offered the Skywalk application, an interactive astronomy guide that maps the sky in real time showing stars, constellations, planets and satellites. Head to Suwannee River Wilderness Trail for a chance to appreciate Floridas natural light show. The numbers along the white Your Horizon curve at the bottom of the map are compass points, shown on degrees. Please use another device/browser or check out the desktop version of the Interactive Night Sky Map. A smaller hexagonal asterism appears low above the northern horizon. Next to Norma is Ara, The Oven (think chemistry). The Hunters shoulders are marked by the bright Betelgeuse and Bellatrix and his feet by Saiph and Rigel. Its easy to imagine this misty patch of icy-blue suns as hoarfrost clinging to the dome of night. Peacock (Alpha Pavonis), the brightest star in Pavo, is one of the bright stars selected for use in celestial navigation, but the rest of the constellation is relatively inconspicuous. The dominant constellation figure of Cepheus (the King) a stick house can be made out near Cassiopeia on a clear, dark night. The astronomer Robert Burnham Jr. found the lost Pleaid myth prevalent in the star lore of European, African, Asian, Indonesian, Native American and Aboriginal Australian populations. The faint Lynx appears directly north, high above the horizon, but is a challenging target in light-polluted skies. Privacy & Terms, More about this and other astronomy highlights 2023. They had a telescope set on Saturn. . It lies only 280 light-years away. Puppis, the northernmost of the three, represents the stern of the mythical ship Argo, on which Jason and the Argonauts set off on their quest to get the Golden Fleece. Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, is high above the southern horizon. Try finding a good, unobstructed view of the horizon. The two dog constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor represent the dogs following Orion, the Hunter, as he chases a hare represented by the constellation Lepus. Moon phases visualized in real time, the past, or the future. The Lions tail, marked by the bright Denebola, is pointing toward the horizon, and its head and mane appear higher in the sky. The three relatively bright stars that outline the Dogs hind legs and tail Adhara, Wezen, and Aludra form a distinctive triangle below Sirius. Click hereor on map below to enlarge(PDF). Often simply called the Norma cluster, Abell 3627 may be the heart of The Great Attractor, a massive object that is pulling the Virgo Supercluster, the Hydra-Centaurus Supercluster, and our own Local Group of galaxies towards it at over 600 km per second. It is formed by a circle of mostly faint stars. Star sightings may be a more common occurrence in Hollywood, Calif., but in Hollywood, Fla., the South Florida Astronomers Society Association and the Fox Observatory make seeing real stars more likely, and much more fun. Venus is close to the Sun and can only be seen shortly after sunset. The horizon line is curved in order to preserve the geometry of objects in the sky. If we made the horizon line straight, the geometry of objects in the sky would bedistorted. The stars making up the handle of the Little Dipper, aside from Polaris (at the end), are so dim that they are a challenge to see within city limits. As Earth spins, the Big Dipper and its sky neighbor, the Little Dipper, rotate around the North Star, also known as Polaris. Currently showing previous night. I list the ones I hear about at the Florida Astronomy Events page. The three constellations that once formed Argo Navis, the largest constellation in the sky, appear high above the southern horizon in the evening. Betelgeuse and Rigel are both classified as supergiant stars, having about 8 and 21 times the mass, respectively, of our Sun. It lies some 52 light-years from Earth. I took one look and that was it," said Kopczynski. Its luminary Spica appears low in the sky and sits at the base of the Y of Virgo, a bright asterism that looks like a crooked letter Y and makes the constellation recognizable. The point of light in the middle of the Sword is the Orion Nebula (Messier 42), the nearest massive star-forming region to the Sun. Canis Major hosts Sirius, the brightest star in Earths sky, and Canis Minor is home to Procyon, the eighth brightest star. The ears of the Hare lie just below Rigel and its tail below Saiph, pointing in the direction of Sirius. Phoenix is found below Achernar, and Grus appears low above the southwestern horizon. Looking beyond first appearances reveals wonders we had not even suspected. Use it to locate a planet, the Moon, or the Sun and track their movements across the sky. The Sunshine State boasts astronomical societies and space observatories in Florida from Pensacola to Key West, and from the Atlantic to the Gulf. Planets Visible in the Night Sky in Florida, Uruguay Time/General Weather Time Zone DST Changes Sun & Moon Sun & Moon Today Sunrise & Sunset Moonrise & Moonset Moon Phases Eclipses Night Sky Night Time 11 hours, 12 minutes Wed, Mar 1 at 7:21 pm - Thu, Mar 2 at 6:33 am Visible night of Mar 1 - Mar 2, 2023 Venus-Jupiter Conjunction The triangle asterism is known as the Winter Triangle or the Great Southern Triangle. The asterism appears high in the southwestern sky in the evening. The Grady House has two places with spectacular views of the constellation in the night sky: its balcony and the huge, beautifully landscaped backyard, complete with gardens, a koi pond, bamboo grove and a gazebo hidden away in a secluded corner. Its three brightest stars, Hamal, Sheratan, and Mesarthim, form a flat triangle that makes the constellation identifiable. Castor and the slightly brighter Pollux represent the heads of the mythical Twins. He tracked the rise of planets and the expanse of sky holding zodiacal constellations. The brightest constellations that appear high overhead around 10 pm are Canis Major and Puppis. "It's a perfect evening to see the stars and a great way to spend an evening.". By subscribing I agree to the terms and privacy policy. Chiefland Astronomy Village, Northwest 52 Court, Chiefland, FL, USA. Northern hemisphere Auriga and Gemini are the brightest constellations appearing high overhead for observers in the northern latitudes in the evening. The head of Hydra can be made out between Procyon and Regulus on a clear, dark night. They offer a cast of hundreds, even thousands, of stars, clusters, planets and galaxies that take center stage for a romantic evening, a family outing or an educational observance. Most northern observers cannot see the entire constellation Eridanus at any time of the year, but a good portion of it is now visible above the southwestern horizon in the evening. Top left of centre, the two prominent stars are Castor and Pollux in Gemini. OneWeb (legally Network Access Associates Ltd) is a communications company that aims to build broadband satellite Internet services. Tonight, the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper will be shining above the Tampa Bay night sky. "About four or five years ago, a local radio station held a contest around Valentine's Day asking for stories about a romantic date," she added. Crux stars can be used to find the fainter Musca (the Fly), which lies near Acrux. Within Norma there also lurk two superlatives which Ill get to below. Ursa Major can be used to find Lynx, which lies between the Big Dipper and the Twins, and the equally faint Leo Minor, which appears between the Great Bears front legs and the Lions mane. The celestial Centaur appears upside down above the southeastern horizon. If youre looking for a unique place to stay, check out the top Airbnb rentals in the area. 3208 Constellation Ct , Melbourne, FL 32940 is a single-family home listed for rent at /mo. Plus, people with exceptional eyesight have been known to see many more stars in the cluster. The constellations second brightest star, Cursa, appears near Rigel at Orions foot. There actually are 50 "ancient" constellations; astronomers divided one of the constellations (Argo) into 3 parts. Everglades National Park, Florida, USA +1 305-242-7700. The star has a mass 9 times that of the Sun and is 170,000 times more luminous. Norma is also home to one of the most luminous stars known. These constellations appear high overhead in the evening. These are distinctive star patterns that lie within constellations. Visible only before sunrise and/or after sunset. The other five stars of the Winter Circle are Capella in Auriga, Aldebaran in Taurus, Rigel in Orion, Sirius in Canis Major, and Procyon in Canis Minor. Hydra, the largest of the 88 constellations, stretches from the northeastern to the southeastern sky. The 1,869 sq. Its big, bright and will look like a pot with a big handle ready to scoop something up. Thats Orions Belt. The constellations in tonights sky host many familiar star patterns. Big Pine Key Best Places to Stay 100 miles from Miami is Big Pine Key, a scenic island in Florida's lower Keys. A line extended from Gacrux through Acrux points in the general direction of the north celestial pole. The naked human eye can generally see stars that are magnitude 6 or brighter. The fainter Lepus and Columba are also easily spotted, while the stars of Caelum are a more challenging target. Why and when do conjunctions happen? Tonight, the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper will be shining above the Tampa Bay night sky. From. This gravitationally bound cluster of several hundred stars looms some 430 light-years distant, and these sibling stars drift through space together at about 25 miles per second (40 km/sec). It is the 74th smallest of the 88 constellations in the sky. The cloud glows because many young stars are still embedded within it. There are 5 constellations in the sky (at this latitude) all night long every night of the year - Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia. Puppis is the largest and northernmost of the three constellations. While it has no stars brighter than 4th magnitude and it only covers 165 square degrees (0.4 percentof the night sky), its location in the middle of the Milky Way makes it a rich starry field. People believed the veil dividing the living from the dead is at its thinnest when the Pleiades culminates reaches its highest point in the sky at midnight. Aries and Triangulum appear between Perseus and the horizon, while the larger Pisces has mostly set by 10 pm. See how far the planets are from the Sun or Earth, how bright they look, and their apparent size in the sky. None of Normas stars are very bright. Some estimate that it is more likely to have around 500,000 times the sun's luminosity and 40 times its mass, depending upon the distance to mu Normae, which is still uncertain. Regulus marks the heart and Denebola, which rises a bit later in the evening, marks the Lions tail. BRAVA | Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts; Norton Museum of Art; Prez Art Museum Miami; Philip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science; The constellation represents Noahs Dove. The three stars of Orions Belt are a prominent feature of Orion. It was created by the Dutch-Flemish astronomer Petrus Plancius in the late 16th century. Puppis hosts three bright open clusters catalogued by Charles Messier: Messier 46, Messier 47, and Messier 93. Fully removed from the pollution that other big cities in Florida are plagued with, Kissimmee Prairie is one of the best spots in the state for stargazing. High-powered telescopes and binoculars make the proverbial "close-up" a reality, resulting in chorus after chorus of heart-felt oohs and aahs. Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus and the 14th brightest star in the sky, appears in the same line of sight as the Hyades but is not a member of the cluster. Get What are the other stellar objects in the "sword" besides the Orion Nebula? "Now, M57 (the Ring Nebula of Lyra), galaxies such as number 51, M-13 (and) M-11, and Lake Ella and Maclay State Gardens viewings are a part of my daily life.". The Pleiades star cluster famouslyknown as the Seven Sisters or, to some, M45 is visible from virtually every part of the globe. The SFAA has obtained a permit to use the rest area for club observing events on specific dates. The nebula spans an area of 7 by 5 degrees and is easily spotted near the Southern Cross. While the constellation is not particularly conspicuous, it looks like the animal that it represents, and it lies near the bright Orion stars Rigel and Saiph. State: Florida (US-FL) Employment Type: Part-Time. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear())2021 VISIT FLORIDA. Mars can be seen for more than 4 hours after sunset and during the late evening/early night. You can easily find the Big Dipper. Change the horizon view by dragging the green square on the full-sky chart. Primarily made of dust and ice, many have a tail (coma) and are thought to be remnants of the formation of the Solar System. There is no brighter constellation in the night sky thanOrion, the Hunter. If you are viewing Orion from a dark location, youll be able to see his arm rising upward from Betelgeuse. Alafia River State Park State Parkused as a secondary observing site by the Saint Petersburg Astronomy Club. Very close to Sun, hard or impossible to see. It can be used to find the famous Crab Nebula (Messier 1), the remnant of a historical supernova seen in 1054. The constellations Centaurus and Crux, which dominate the night sky in the southern hemisphere, can be seen from tropical latitudes north of the equator, but are invisible to observers living north of latitudes 25N and 20N respectively. With binoculars, the Great Nebula looks like a small, glowing cloud. To see more than six or seven Pleiades stars, you must have very good eyesight (or a pair of binoculars). Canopus, the brightest star in Carina, is the second-brightest star in the sky, after Sirius. Antlia appears higher in the sky, on the other side of Hydra, but it is just as faint. In the ancient Mediterranean world, the day that the Pleiades cluster first appeared in the morning sky before sunrise announced the opening of the navigation season. Eridanus, the celestial River, occupies much of the western and southwestern sky. A public rest area used by the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association. Yet this modest constellation is home to Abell 3627, one of the most massive galaxy clusters known to exist. Formed by the brightest stars of Auriga with Elnath in Taurus, Aurigas hexagon can be used to find several star-forming regions that lie within its borders. The brighter Diphda (mag. I think it looks more like an arrowhead. Known as the most amateur-friendly location for astronomy lovers, Chiefland Astronomy Village are the experts on night gazing. The famous variable red giant Mira appears in the Sea Monsters neck. The stars that mark the Great Dogs hind legs and tail Adhara, Wezen, and Aludra form a triangle that appears below the bright Dog Star. It is the closest star-forming region to Earth, a mere 1,300 light-yearsaway! It shines at magnitude 4.49. Use it to locate a planet, the Moon, or the Sun and track their movements across the sky. They are outlined by an asterism called the Sickle. Privacy & Terms, More about this and other astronomy highlights 2023. The constellation is relatively faint, but its luminary Alphard can be found using the brighter stars of Leo. But Florida's star power doesn't stop there. Most people see six, not seven, Pleiades stars in a dark country sky. Centaurus hosts Omega Centauri, the Milky Ways brightest and largest globular cluster, and the open clusters NGC 3766 and NGC 5460. However, the giant star is not a member of the Hyades. For northern observers, winter is the best time of the year to see Auriga and Gemini. Lepus represents a hare chased by Orion and his two dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor.