Bright star catches the attention of residents
Created: Sep 08, 2014 08:00 AM (Updated: Sep 08, 2014 08:01 AM)
Shining bright: This comparison shows the relative size of our sun (top right corner), with that of Arcurus (orange star), next to the supergiant star Antares. Islanders have reported seeing Arcurus, the 17th brightest star as viewed from Earth, prominently in the night sky in recent days
An “unusually bright” heavenly object sighted in the western sky last week is likely to be the orange giant star Arcturus, according to local stargazer Patrick Paley.
Callers to The Royal Gazette were probably observing the fourth brightest star in the heavens, and the brightest within the constellation Bootes, Mr Paley explained.
“It is 37 light years away from our solar system,” he said — relatively close, as stars go.
“Arcturus can be easily found by following the arc of the Big Dipper away from that constellation,” Mr Paley said, adding: “Remember: Arch to Arcturus.”
