Summer Triangle: How To Spot the Milky Way’s Guidepost in the Night Sky

In the Northern Hemisphere, skywatchers can see the beautiful Summer Triangle rising in the east when the nights get warmer in the summer.

This star marks the change of seasons and shows you how to get to the Milky Way.

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/ Fabien Chereau et al.)

Identifying the Stars of the Summer Triangle

The Summer Triangle consists of three brilliant stars from three separate constellations. They are Vega (Lyra), Deneb (Cygnus), and Altair (Aquila). Because each star is unique and dazzling, the triangle is visible even in areas with much light pollution.

As dawn in the east, Vega, the most prominent star in Lyra, is the first thing to appear. It is only 25 light-years away and is the fifth brightest star at night. The blue-white glow of Vega makes it easy to see, and if you use glasses, you can also see Epsilon Lyrae, also known as the "Double Double."

At night, Altair is the brightest star in Aquila and the twelfth brightest star in the sky. It is known for spinning quickly; one spin takes under eight hours. Altair is one of our nearest stars, only 17 light-years away.

Deneb, a supergiant star in the constellation Cygnus, is the last point of the triangle. Deneb is the 19th biggest star, but it is about 2,600 light-years away, making it one of the farthest stars you can see with your own eyes. It is very bright because of its vast size and shine.

How to Find the Summer Triangle

On a clear night in June or July, go outside to find the Summer Triangle. After the sun goes down, look toward the east. Its bright, sapphire-blue light will be the first thing that draws your attention.

Altair is below and to the right of Vega. The star Deneb can be found in the lower left corner of Vega. These three stars make a big triangle in the sky that is almost half the length and width of each side.

Once you know what the Summer Triangle is, you can use it to find the Milky Way. This beautiful line of stars goes from the northeastern horizon to the southern sky, and it passes through the Summer Triangle when the sky is dark. Between Vega and Altair, the Milky Way is especially full of stars, so this is a great place to look through binoculars or a small telescope.

The Seasonal Significance

The Summer Triangle also shows the time of year, and its position changes during the summer and fall, which helps people who like to look at the stars to tell time. Summer is just starting when it rises for the first time in late June.

By the middle of summer, the triangle is high in the sky when it gets dark. Since fall is coming, it moves to the western sky. Seeing the Summer Triangle can help you understand how the seasons change and how the stars move at night.

Finding the Summer Triangle in the sky is a fun way to connect with the world. Vega, Altair, and Deneb not only show you the way to the Milky Way, but they also show you the fantastic range of stars that make up our galaxy. Take a walk outside on the next clear night, face east, and enjoy the beauty of the Summer Triangle.