As a constellation with objects for my
astronomy binocular or
telescope, Bootes is not that exciting, though it contains some nice double stars. As a constellation with some personal significance for me, Bootes is a different story. To me Bootes, when placed at a comortable positon for viewing in the sky, has always been the herald of spring. It's usally April, around here, when I can also sit on my patio and enjoy this constellation. May not have much going for it from an astronomy binocular or
telescope point of view, but I enjoy tracing the outline of Bootes, the herdsman, starting of course, with the star of the show, Arcturus, then working my way around the perimeter with Muphrid to the side, then on up to Seginus, Nekkar, on around to Alkaurops, then down to Pulcherrima (Izar). Alkaurops is a nice bincular double star and Izar is a nice double in a
telescope. Not that far away, though, there is a fine globular, M3, just over the border in Canes Venatici. Most
spring nights, though, it is such a joy to sit under the stars and breathe that sweet air. Sometimes its as much being there as what you do when you get there.
