As the warmth of spring settles in and the days grow longer, there’s a similar shift happening overhead. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, spring isn’t just about what’s happening on the ground—it’s about the celestial wonders that accompany the change. The constellations above us slowly reveal themselves, offering new sights, and, like the budding leaves on the trees, the stars seem to glow a little brighter.
The stars begin to shine through with a spectacular glow on the horizon.
While we might associate spring with new growth and warmer days, the stars, brighter and bolder, become a spectacle in themselves. As I’m sure many of you feel, stargazing is not just about identifying planets or constellations. It’s about reconnecting with something far beyond our immediate world. Spring, with its fresh breezes and crisp nights, seems to make that connection even more palpable.
The sounds of the wilderness at night can be incredibly loud if you stop to listen.
Orion Returns
One of the first constellations to make its reappearance in spring is Orion. Known as “The Hunter,” Orion rises in the east in the late evening as spring progresses, with its iconic three-star belt leading the way. What’s always fascinating about Orion in the Southern Hemisphere is how it appears upside down compared to its position in the north. Its sword points upward toward Rigel, while the bright star Betelgeuse shines prominently.
Orion and his two hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor are prominent features in the Southern hemisphere night sky, mostly during the Summer months
For me, as we start the mornings before sunrise – seeing Orion feels like the return of an old friend. Each year, its arrival signals the end of winter and the gradual shift into warmer times.
Taurus and the Pleiades
Following Orion is Taurus, another spring constellation that houses the Pleiades, a cluster of stars often called the “Seven Sisters.” Rising a little later in the night, Taurus and the Pleiades are some of the most striking sights in the spring sky. The Pleiades, in particular, never fail to evoke a sense of awe. Even with the naked eye, the tight-knit group of stars appears like tiny jewels scattered across the sky.
Ancient cultures saw the Pleiades as symbols of unity, family, and even the start of planting seasons—a fitting connection to the rebirth and growth that spring represents here.
The Southern Skies provide a breathtaking backdrop to this dead Leadwood tree near the Maxabene Riverbed.
Planets that Light the Way
Venus dazzles the night sky just after sunset as the bright evening star. Venus can be observed near the stars of the constellation Virgo.
Spring also offers some of the best opportunities to see Jupiter and Saturn. Saturn, the beautifully ringed planet, can also be seen in the evening on the opposite of Venus and is visible throughout the night. Juipter conversely is viewed in the mornings, just before sunrise. These gas giants dominate the evening sky, with Jupiter’s brightness almost impossible to miss. Saturn, though slightly dimmer, reveals its own charm if you have a pair of binoculars handy—its iconic rings visible as a faint band of light around the planet.
An illustration of the planets of our solar system.
The Southern Cross: A Constant Companion
Of course, one constellation remains a steadfast companion throughout the seasons: the Southern Cross. Spring nights allow for some of the clearest views of this iconic constellation. Its position shifts slightly as the months progress, but it’s always there, a reminder of where we are in the world and our connection to the southern skies.
The mythology around the Southern Cross and the “Pointer Stars”—Alpha and Beta Centauri—always makes me pause. The stories passed down by indigenous peoples and early explorers remind us that the stars are not just celestial objects, but symbols rich in meaning and history.
![Giraffe And Full Moon Early Morning [rcb]](https://media.londolozi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/25135600/Giraffe-and-Full-Moon-Early-Morning-RCB-1598x1192.jpg)
As we move through spring and into the warmer months, I encourage you to take a moment to gaze upward, whether you’re here at Londolozi or elsewhere. Let the constellations, planets, and stars transport you beyond the immediate world, and reconnect with the vastness of the universe. In spring, as life renews itself around us, the sky reminds us of the cyclical nature of everything—from the stars above to the new growth at our feet.
Good memories of an afternoon drive that became evening when we stopped on the airstrip to get a sky map lesson from our ranger and tracker, Greg and Equalizer.
Hi, where I live it’s autumn, the passage from a meteorological year to another one… the stars underline this passage, and the sky has been changing, leaving us in surprise when there were particularly visible stars and shooting stars… there is the astronomic observatory and it’s another way to see what’s above our heads. Thank you for such amazing pictures!
Very interesting post Keagan, and beautiful imagery to go along!
Keagan, astronomy has been a hobby of mine since I was a little boy, thanks for offering a glimpse into the southern hemisphere. Always living in the northern hemisphere has drawn me to polaris the north star. Our celestial views revolve around the north star which I view each night just outside my back door. Great pictures today, thanks again.
Wow! So helpful. It brought back very sweet memories of my father standing in the rose garden in Zimbabwe in our garden, teaching me the constellations with the sound of bullfrogs in the pond, and the smell of roses and gardenias filling the air. I would really like my ashes scattered at Londolozi one day!!! Thank you for the refresher course and the very lovely memory!
Hi Keagan, your photo’s of the sky and all it’s solar system is quite intriguing. My husband often shows me the Southern Cross and the 2 pointers. The evening sky with the stars shining brightly is always something spectacular.
It’s always awe inspiring and wonderful to view the night sky with the millions of stars , which one can see in places like Londolozi where a night is still a night. In Europe we see the stars rarely in clear winter nights. But not in cities. There is too much light pollution.
Beautiful pictures, Keagan
Terrific blog today accompanied by beautiful images of the night skies. I always look forward to my journeys to South Africa, when after the sundowner stop, we can marvel at the stars on the way back “home”. Living in Northern California where there is so much light pollution, one has to travel a great distance to see the night sky. So what do I do, take a 28 hour trip to South Africa to see a pure night sky. I love seeing Orion and the southern cross, only visible to be when I’m there. Otherwise I content myself with the North Star and the Big Dipper.
Wonderful star photos, Keagan. I shall think of you as I spot Orion’s belt from our hot tub under the California sky!