SEASONAL CONSTELLATIONS

The Night Sky is a seasonal constellation guide. To get started, grab a current Sky Map and click on
the season. For a printable sky map, click on the navigation bar ‘Backyard Stargazing’ and then the
tab for 'Sky Maps'.
Have you ever noticed that the night sky in winter looks different than the summer? We see
constellations at different times of the year - spring, summer, fall, & winter. This occurs because
the Earth is orbiting the Sun. In winter, we see the constellation Orion in the south at night and during
the day the Sun is in the sky with the constellation Scorpius. In summer, we see the opposite (we see
Scorpius at night and Orion is in the sky during the day). This is why you cannot see Orion or any one
constellation all year long…

Unless it is circumpolar. There are 5 constellations in the sky (at this latitude) all night long every
night of the year – Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia. These are the best
constellations to start with because they are visible all year long. Plus, if you don't know your directions
you will want to start with Polaris (the North Star).

Note: Planets and moon phases are not included in this section because they change. Visit the other
sections in 'Backyard Stargazing' for the planets and moon phases.

The Spring Night Sky

The sky map is set for mid-March (10 pm) or mid-April (9 pm) or mid-May (8 pm).

LOOKING SOUTH
Leo the lion is the most prominent constellation in spring. Look for the stars in Leo’s head to look like
a backwards question mark. Imagine Leo is looking to the right. The triangle makes Leo’s tail and hind
end. The brightest star which would be the star at the bottom of the question mark is called Regulus.
Leo is looking at Cancer the crab. There is no significantly bright star in Cancer.
To find Bootes and Virgo, remember the saying ‘Arc to Arcturus and Speed on to Spica’. This saying
starts with the arc of the Big Dipper’s handle. Look to the overhead, or zenith, for those 7 bright stars
in the constellation Ursa Major to make the spoon.

Draw an imaginary curved/arched line between the three stars in the handle of the dipper. Then
continue that curved line into the sky and ‘Arc to Arcturus’. Arcturus is an orange colored star in the
constellation Boötes. It is also the third brightest star in the night sky. Boötes looks like a kite or ice
cream cone in the sky. Continue the curved line from Arcturus to reach the bright star Spica in the
constellation Virgo.

LOOKING WEST & EAST

Hercules is rising in the east and bringing in the summer constellations. Click on the tab for the
summer. Orion is setting in the west with the winter constellations. Click on the tab for winter.

LOOKING NORTH
The Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major is high overhead. It appears to be pouring something
out. Click on the tab for the rest of the circumpolar constellations.

The Summer Night Sky

The sky map is set for mid-June (10 pm) or mid-July (9 pm) or mid-August (8 pm).

LOOKING SOUTH
High in the summer sky is the Summer Triangle. The three stars in the triangle are some of the
brightest stars in the night sky. Vega, the fifth brightest star in the night sky, belongs to the
constellation Lyra. Below Vega is the twelfth brightest star called Altair which is part of the
constellation Aquila. The third star in the triangle is Deneb. Deneb (nineteenth in brightness) is part
of the constellation Cygnus. The stars in Cygnus make up the ‘Northern Cross’ with Deneb at the top
of the cross. Look for the cross inside the triangle.
Low in the summer sky is the constellation Scorpius. More than any other constellation the scorpion
resembles its name. The brightest star is a reddish star called Antares. Follow the trail of stars from
Antares to the ground/horizon to make a hook in the sky to resemble the scorpion’s tail.
At the end of the hook for the scorpion’s tail, you will find the constellation Sagittarius. Even though
there is no prominent star, the stars make the shape of a teapot. Look near the head of the scorpion
to find the constellation Libra. Again, there is no prominent star, the stars make the shape of a kite.

LOOKING WEST & EAST

Pegasus is rising in the east and bringing in the fall constellations. Click on the tab for the fall. Leo is
setting in the west with the spring constellations. Click on the tab for spring.

LOOKING NORTH
The Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major is in the northwest. The handle is pointed upwards with
the bowl closest to the ground/horizon. Click on the tab for the rest of the circumpolar constellations.

The Fall Night Sky

The sky map is set for mid-September (10 pm) or mid-October (9 pm) or mid-November (8 pm).

LOOKING WEST & EAST

Taurus is rising in the east and bringing in the winter constellations. Click on the tab for the
winter. Cygnus is setting in the west with the summer constellations. Click on the tab for summer.

LOOKING NORTH
The Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major is low on the ground/horizon in the north. Click on the
tab for the rest of the circumpolar constellations.
The Winter Night Sky
The sky map is set for mid-December (10 pm) or mid-January (9 pm) or mid-February (8 pm).

LOOKING SOUTH
The brightest constellation in winter is Orion, the hunter. Look for the stars to make the shape of a
person in the sky with 2 shoulder stars, 2 leg stars, and three stars in a row to make a belt in the
middle.

Draw an imaginary line through the belt stars to the lower left and you will reach the brightest star
in Canis Major called Sirius. You cannot miss it. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky.

Sirius also belongs to the Winter Triangle. The Winter Triangle is made with stars belonging to Orion
and his two dogs – Sirius (Canis Major) and Procyon (Canis Minor). Procyon is the brightest star
in Canis Minor which is found to the left of Orion. To complete the triangle, use the top left shoulder
star in Orion. This star is a reddish star named Betelgeuse (Beatle-juice).

Above the Winter Triangle, look for the Gemini twins – the two bright stars named Pollux and Castor.
Pollux is brighter and has a yellowish color where Caster appears white.

Draw an imaginary line through Orion’s belt stars again, but this time go to the upper right. You will
reach Taurus. The brightest star in Taurus is an orange colored star called Aldebaran. Extend the
line beyond Aldebaran to reach the Pleaides. The Pleaides is a beautiful star cluster that is also known
as the Seven Sisters.

LOOKING WEST & EAST

Leo is rising in the east and bringing in the spring constellations. Click on the tab for the
spring. Pegasus is setting in the west with the fall constellations. Click on the tab for fall.
LOOKING NORTH
The Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major is in the northeast. The handle is pointed towards the
ground/horizon. Click on the tab for the rest of the circumpolar constellations.

The North
The circumpolar constellations are Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, and Cassiopeia. These
constellations are visible all night every night of the year. They never set but rather make a complete
circle around the pole star called Polaris (the North Star) above the ground/horizon. A long exposure
photograph shows the circular path of the stars (Polaris is in the center).

FINDING NORTH
Before you begin stargazing, you need to find your directions. You need to find Polaris (the North
Star). It is located due north, but it is hard to find because it is not very bright. The seven stars of
the Big Dipper (part of Ursa Major) will point you to Polaris. The two stars at the end of the spoon
in the bowl (away from the handle) are called the ‘pointer stars’. Imagine drawing a line between them
and extend that line into the sky from the bowl (do not poke a hole in the bowl or you will get lost).
You will extend that line about five times the distance between the pointer stars to reach Polaris.
Looking at Polaris, you are facing north.
LOOKING NORTH

Polaris is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor the little bear. The seven brightest stars
in Ursa Minor make the pattern of the Little Dipper. Polaris is at the tip of the handle. The Big
Dipper is made with the seven brightest stars in the constellation Ursa Major the great bear.

To find Cepheus and Cassiopeia, draw the imaginary line between the ‘pointer stars’ in the Big Dipper
through Polaris onward. The stars in Cepehus resemble a house. The imaginary line should reach the
star at the top of the house. Continue the imaginary line through that star in Cepheus to reach the
stars of Cassiopeia. The bright stars in Cassiopeia resemble the letter ‘M’ or ‘W’ depending on where it
is.

Draco the constellation of the dragon is difficult to find because the stars are not very bright. The stars
snake between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

Note: Circumpolar constellations are dependent on where you live. At our latitude in the Northern
Hemisphere there are 5 circumpolar constellations (listed above).