Astronomy 101: Finding the Constellations
- In This Quick Guide:
- Learning the Constellation Forms
- Getting Ready to Gaze
- Finding the Star Formations
The tradition of tracking the constellations dates back thousands of years. Like the ancient people who first named them, you don’t need years of training in astronomy, a planetarium, or even a telescope to enjoy watching the constellations. In fact, all you really need is:
- A basic star chart or star map
- A compass
In this guide, you will learn how to use these simple tools to find four popular constellations—The Big Dipper (part of the constellation Ursa Major), Orion, Leo, and Scorpius. These familiar forms will help launch your journey into the heavens. Soon, you will be gazing upon the same dazzling bodies of hot, glowing gas that have intrigued ancient Greeks, New World mariners, space-shuttle astronauts—and little girls gazing up from their bedroom window.
Learning the Constellation Forms
Today, few of us could intuitively recognize the shape of Orion’s bow-hunter or Draco’s dragon tail. To do that, you’ll need to study a star chart to familiarize yourself with constellation shapes. Several great books and online sites include star charts that show the constellations and identify the best months and locations from which to view them (constellations rarely are visible at all times of the year or from every location). The books Find the Constellations, by Hans Rey, and The Starlore Handbook: An Essential Guide to the Night Sky, by Geoffrey Cornelius offer basic information about the constellations. You also can navigate online to www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/ for an alphabetic list of constellations with links to interactive star maps.
Getting Ready to Gaze
When you have memorized the shapes of the four constellations we discuss in this guide (the Big Dipper of Ursa Major, Orion, Leo, and Scorpius), you’re ready to locate them in the night sky.
You can begin your search for constellations from your backyard, a spot in the hills, or any location that’s relatively removed from excessive outdoor lighting. Clear nights are best for viewing. Bring your compass and a flashlight, and any gear necessary for comfort, such as a jacket, blanket, or water. If you have a pair of binoculars, bring them along; they can give you a closer look at the constellations you identify.
Finding the Star Formations
Now, you’re ready to start your search. Let’s go through the list, constellation by constellation:
- The Big Dipper: Part of the constellation Ursa Major, this group of stars looks like a ladle made up of seven points—three in the handle and four in the bowl. Face North, visualize the shape you’ve memorized, and scan the sky to find it. The best months for viewing the Big Dipper from the Northern Hemisphere are January through October, with April as the prime month. As the year progresses, the Big Dipper rotates in a clockwise direction.
- Orion: This constellation is best seen from the Northern Hemisphere during the months December through March. Like the Big Dipper, Orion’s main “body” is composed of seven stars; three that mark his shoulders and head, two that mark the hem of his tunic, and three in the middle that form Orion’s Belt. With the shape of this constellation firmly in your memory, use your compass to face South and look high in the sky to spot Orion.
- Leo: Nine stars compose this constellation, a formation that ancients associated with the shape of a lion. As you memorize the shape of this constellation, however, you’ll notice that the six stars that make up Leo’s mane, shoulder, and chest look like a sickle. Best viewing months in the Northern Hemisphere are March through June. Look to the Southern sky and search for the sickle to find this constellation.
- Scorpius: This constellation is one of the largest and most brilliant in the night sky, but it is at its most dazzling during July and August. Eighteen stars form the main points of the scorpion for which Scorpius is named, with ten forming the curved tail alone. With the shape in your memory, look toward the Southern skies for the five stars in the scorpion’s head and arms, then follow a line backward from the center of this group to track the body and curved tail.
Hopefully the star gazing bug has bitten you! If you find yourself yearning to learn more about finding constellations, visit your nearest planetarium or take an astronomy class. Or check listings to find your local Astronomy Club. Many of these groups host “star parties,” where they bring a telescope to locations determined to be a good place to observe an astronomical event or constellation. Whatever you do, never stop reaching for the stars.
by Lynne Rominger
