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\n\t\t\t\tThis famous four-star asterism marks the body of Pegasus the Winged horse and can help point the way to many fainter objects.\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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The article describes the observation of the Great Square of Pegasus, an asterism easily visible throughout the night due to its brightness.
\nThe asterism comprises four stars: Gamma Pegasi, Markab (Alpha Peg), Scheat (Beta Peg), and Alpheratz (Andromeda’s Alpha star), with approximate magnitudes and relative positions described.
\nThe observation is best performed an hour after sunset, with the square rising in the east and traversing the sky overnight.
\nDespite the waxing gibbous moon, the article suggests learning the Great Square as a reference point for finding fainter celestial objects under darker skies.<\/p>\n
With a waxing Moon lighting the sky for most of the night, we\u2019re focusing on brighter stars this evening. Our target for tonight is a famous asterism that is currently visible all night long. You can catch it already above the horizon in the east an hour after the Sun disappears, then follow its progress as it arcs through the sky overnight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Look east an hour after sunset and you\u2019ll spot a large diamond of stars \u2014 this is the Great Square of Pegasus, which depicts the body of the Winged Horse. It is bounded by four stars; lowest early in the evening is magnitude 2.8 Gamma Pegasi. Moving counterclockwise, some 16.5\u00b0 to its upper right (west) is magnitude 2.5 Markab (Alpha Peg). The next star is Scheat (Beta Peg), which shines at magnitude 2.5 and sits roughly 13\u00b0 north (to the upper left) of Markab. As the Great Square is Rising, Scheat appears at the top of the diamond, directly above Gamma.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finishing off the Great Square is a star that isn\u2019t actually in Pegasus \u2014 it\u2019s Alpheratz, Andromeda\u2019s magnitude 2.1 alpha star, which lies just over 14\u00b0 east (to the lower left) of Scheat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Although the sky is bright with moonlight tonight, taking the time to learn the Great Square will help guide your way to many fainter objects when the nights grow darker again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sunrise:\u00a06:30 A.M.
Sunset:\u00a07:28 P.M.
Moonrise:\u00a05:27 P.M.
Moonset:\u00a01:34 A.M.\u00a0
Moon Phase:\u00a0Waxing gibbous (82%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40\u00b0 N 90\u00b0 W. The Moon\u2019s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.<\/p>\n