“Gateway to the Stars” on January 7  Mike Murray  We may have
passed the Winter Solstice (Dec. 21, when the sun takes its
lowest path across the sky) and the “Birthday of the Unconquered
Sun” (Dec. 25, when the ancient Romans first noticed the sun’s
path climbing higher again), but the nights are still long as
winter marches on. This is also the season when we get to see
the stars come out early. Familiar winter constellations are now
burning cold and bright, like Taurus the Bull and Orion the
Hunter.  Taurus the Bull winter constellation  Taurus the Bull
winter constellation  The cold weather might seem like a
deterrent to winter stargazing but it can actually be quite
enjoyable and rewarding with just a little preparation. Before
going outside, check out the locations of the objects you want
to observe. That will help you find them quickly and easily.
Star dome charts and star maps are readily available online, or
you can get night sky software that allows you to customize the
view for your location and tim