Imagine a compass rose on a map. Now, picture yourself viewing the compass from underneath rather than above. This concept comes to life in the night sky over the Coachella Valley at 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 7, with the waxing gibbous moon positioned at the center of a celestial “box” of lights. This sky-bound compass rose features the star Capella to the north, Jupiter to the west, Betelgeuse to the south, and Mars to the east. Notably, east and west appear reversed when viewed from below — a convention historically used in mapping celestial bodies. This flipped orientation is still applied today for mapping the surfaces of the moon and the sun.
Each month, Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory astronomer Eric McLaughlin spotlights a notable celestial event. Continue learning with a visit to the observatory for a stargazing party. For details on events, visit ranchomiragelibrary.org/observatory.
