KNOW YOUR STARS

CONSTELLATIONS
  Constellations are areas of the sky, divided up for the purpose of locating and identifying stars, galaxies and other objects in the heavens, as well as the star patterns they contain. Years ago, seafarers used the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear) to help with navigation.

  It does take some practice, but identifying constellations is rewarding. In the Northern Hemisphere, some constellations, like Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and Cassiopeia are circumpolar, meaning they can be viewed year round and are easier to learn. Other constellations depend on your location, latitude, and season, and because of the earth’s rotation, the constellations will change position throughout the night. Here are some constellations you can identify easily

THE BIG DIPPER( URSA MAJOR)

  Since the big dipper is part of the constellation, Ursa Major (The great bear), it is technically an asterism and not a true constellation. However, it is one of the most familiar figures in the night sky and can act as a guide to other interesting sights.

THE NORTH STAR

  As soon as you have learned to spot The Big Dipper it opens up a whole sky full of constellations providing you can pinpoint one other star. From the right hand side of the Big Dipper, follow the two right hand stars up until you see a very bright star.
This is always visible and has guided sailors home for generations, this is Polaris – the North Star.

URSA MINOR ( THE LITTLE DIPPER)

  Using the two stars at the top edge of the pot of the Big Dipper, draw a straight line out and you’ll find Polaris, or the North Star. The North Star is at the handle of the little dipper. The Little Dipper is harder to make out than the Big, since it’s composed of fewer stars. But if you know that the North Star is the end of the handle, and the two stars below it make up the right side of the pot, you can find it a little more easily. The Little Dipper and Big Dipper are always facing each other, with the handles pointing in opposite directions.

CASSIOPEIA

  Like the Big Dipper, this constellation should be visible all the year round and it’s from Orion that you’ll find this W or M shaped (depending on the time of year) formation.
Face Orion’s Belt and look left and you should be able to see the distinctive five stars which supposedly represent a Queen sitting on her throne – this is Cassiopeia.

ORION- THE GREAT HUNTER

  Orion is the largest constellation in the sky. This giant figure dominates the sky in the early mornings in late summer and fall, and in the evenings during the first part of winter. It also has several really interesting things you can see with just a pair of binoculars

SCORPIUS- THE SCORPION

 Scorpius is one sign that summer is in full swing in the northern hemisphere. This beautiful constellation is in full view in the southern sky only during the months of July, August and September, but its beauty makes it worth the wait.

CANIS MAJOR- THE GREAT DOG

  Every hunter needs hunting dogs as companions. Canis Major and Canis Minor are the hunting dogs for Orion, the Great Hunter of the sky. In addition, Canis Major is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

SIRIUS

  Sirius is just one star in the constellation of Canis Major – or the Big Dog, so-called because it looks, funnily enough, like a big dog. This constellation lies below Orion, low on the horizon and the best way to spot it is to look for the brightest star in the sky – that’s Sirius, the dog star, and is the neck point of the dog.

SOUTHERN CROSS- SIGNPOST OF SOUTHERN SKIES

  The constellation Crux – otherwise called the Southern Cross – can be seen from Earth’s Southern Hemisphere and from tropical and subtropical regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Although known as a cross, it really looks more like a kite, clearly outlined by four bright stars. Two of those four, Acrux and Gacrux, are first-magnitude stars, ranking among the 21 brightest in the sky. The 16th-century European navigators who sailed into southern seas perceived it as a symbol of their Christian faith.