Nov 20

SFA Star Chart 1 - Northern Region 5 0h Dec 6

Nov h
23 30º 1h
δ
1 η De
t2 π c2
Oc h σ β 1
22 2h
ANDROMEDA - Daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia Mirach
θ µ
ANTLIA - Air Pumpe 40º

Lo
π

ca
ν

lM
APUS - Bird of Paradise ο ι
γ

er
AQUILA - Eagle β
κ

id
ANDROMEDA

21 h 6

ia
ζ υ

Ja
ct

n
TRIANGULUM
AQUARIUS - Water Carrier

fo
n
LACERTA λ

r8
3
h
ARA - Altar ϕ γ

PM
ARIES - Ram 50º
AURIGA - Charioteer ε α
BOOTES - Herdsman ϕ ρ
β Schedar β Algol
CAELUM - Graving Tool ξ α

0
ο

p2
β

Jan
CAMELOPARDALIS - Giraffe θ

Se
20 h
CYGNUS Caph κ
α ζ

20
γ 60º

4
h
CAPRICORNUS - Sea Goat Deneb ζ γ PERSEUS
δ τ ξ
κ ι ν
CARINA - Keel of the Ship Argo η µ α σ
χ η
CASSIOPEIA - Ethiopian Queen on a Throne CASSIOPEIA γ Mirfak δ ε
CENTAURUS - Half horse and half man ι ε
CEPHEUS
Alderamin α
CEPHEUS - Ethiopian King δ 70º
CETUS - Whale η λ µ
Sep 5

Feb 5
CHAMAELEON - Chameleon γ ι
19 h

5
ι

h
CIRCINUS - Compasses β γ ζ
δ κ ε
CANIS MAJOR - Larger Dog β ρ
ζ γ 7 η
CANIS MINOR - Smaller Dog ε 80º CAMELOPARDALIS
α ε α Capella
CANCER - Crab LYRA Vega δ α
κ β AURIGA
COLUMBA - Dove τ
COMA BERENICES - Berenice's Hair
ϕ
CORONA AUSTRALIS - Southern Crown χ α Polaris δ
Aug 21

Feb 20
Eltanin
δ
18h

6h
CORONA BOREALIS - Northern Crown θ γ ξ β θ

30º
30º

80º

80º
40º

70º
50º

60º

60º
70º

50º

40º
CRATER - Cup ι ε
CRUX - Cross ν ζ
β η URSA
Rastaban ζ
CORVUS - Crow ρ MINOR
CANES VENATICI - Hunting Dogs π 80º
γ β
CYGNUS - Swan η
θ
DELPHINUS - Dolphin ε Kocab
DORADO - Goldfish θ

Mar 7
Aug

7h
17

η σ DRACO ο
h

DRACO - Dragon τ GEMINI τ

6

EQUULEUS - Little Horse ζ HERCULES ι LYNX

ϕ α κ
ERIDANUS - River λ ρ
Thuban Castor
FORNAX - Furnace α
GEMINI - Twins α υ
Dubhe
GRUS - Crane
60º ϕ ι
HERCULES - Hero θ θ

2
h
κ
1 6 22

r2
Jul

Ma 8
Alcor ζ
h

HOROLOGIUM - Clock µ ε Megrez β Merak

β Mizar δ
HYDRA - Sea Serpent θ Alioth
λ η
HYDRUS - Water Snake δ γ Phecda
Alkaid
INDUS - Indian 50º URSA MAJOR
γ χ
BOOTES λ α
−2

h
15 l 6

A 9
µ
h

6
Ju

pr
ρ −1
β β
α 0
40º
Cor Caroli 1
14 h LEO MINOR h
2
Jun
CANES VENATICI 1 0 21
r 3
21 ν Ap
4
ξ 5
13 h 30º 11 6
h

Jun 6 May
12h
May 22
SFA Observatory © 2002 - http://observe.phy.sfasu.edu/
SFA Star Chart 2 - Equatorial Region Local Meridian for 8 PM
May 22 May 6 Apr 21 Apr 6 Mar 22 Mar 7 Feb 20 Feb 5 Jan 20 Jan 5 Dec 21 Dec 6 Nov 20
60º 60º
υ CASSIOPEIA β
α
β η
CAMELOPARDALIS Schedar
γ Merak
δ γ
ϕ τ
Phecda θ ϕ
URSA MAJOR λ Mirfak ι
50º θ 50º
χ ι µ α
Capella σ ϕ
κ δ
α κ
ψ LYNX β ε
λ
ν ANDROMEDA
γ
β υ ν
µ η ζ Algol
40º ε 40º
µ θ
PERSEUS ρ
β θ AURIGA σ
β
ξ Mirach
α β
ν LEO MINOR θ ι γ π
α ρ ο
Castor
ξ τ ζ TRIANGULUM δ
30º α τ α 30º
ι σ Alnath
ε
Pollux Alpheratz
υ ι β υ
µ κ β
GEMINI ε TAURUS
CANCER κ ϕ
ζ ε 100º
90º 80º Pleiades ARIES α ζ
LEO λ 110º δ η Jun 22 70º Hamal η
Zosma γ Jul 2 µ ζ Jun 11
δ 120º ζ χ 1 Jun 1 60º β
20º γ Jul 12
ν χ2 20º
δ Jul 23 ε May 21 γ
130º 50º
α δ
η Aug 2 λ γ May
β θ γ 11
140º Aldebaran 40º η
ν θ Algenib
γ
Denebola Aug
12 ξ May
1
Regulus α α ξ ORION λ 30º
µ PISCES
ι ρ Aug
23 λ Apr
10º ο β π2 ξ 20
ο 10º
º µ ο λ ξ 20º ε
VIRGO 160 β Bellatrix
δ
ν Sep
2 ε Betelgeuse
α π3 Apr
σ ζ Procyon CANIS MINOR γ 10
º
δ π4 ν µ 10º
170
α Mekab α
13 σ γ Ma
Declination

Sep θ η π5 α ξ r 31
β
π
6
δ
0º δ 0º
Sep
23
β α Ma
r 21
ι δ ζ ε
σ η µ Mira
ζ ν
SEXTANS
Cursa ο
θ β
MONOCERUS γ ι τ ο1 CETUS
γ β ζ θ
α κ β ο2 ε η ι
θ α δ
-10º Rigel η -10º
ε Baten
θ
Salph
π ζ
λ γ
κ
η λ π
δ θ ζ
CRATER ν υ γ Sirius Zaurak τ
µ ERIDANUS β
η γ α HYDRA α
µ ι β α Arneb LEPUS τ 1
ζ ν Diphda
-20º CANIS MAJOR β -20º
δ τ5 τ4 τ2 υ
ε τ6
β ρ ο2
ξ γ τ9

ξ ο1 τ3
τ8
δ
γ SCULPTOR
θ
σ ε υ1 α ν
η ζ FORNAX α
-30º α PYXIS υ2 -30º
ξ
β α κ Phakt
δ α β η
ANTLIA β β
ε ε γ
ι π β
COLUMBA
-40º ψ ζ θ ι -40º
PUPPIS CAELUM α PHOENIX
α α
λ σ ν η γ κ
δ
β
γ ε
µ κ
VELA δ
-50º τ β ι -50º
χ Canopus γ χ
ο α HOROLOGIUM η ϕ
ϕ κ
δ α ζ ζ
δ γ ζ
CARINA Achernar
DORADO α η
ι ε PICTOR
-60º -60º
12h 11h 10h 9h 8h 7h 6h 5h 4h 3h 2h 1h 0h
Right Ascension
SFA Observatory © 2002 http://observe.phy.sfasu.edu/
 Local Meridian for 8 PM
SFA Star Chart 3 - Equatorial Region
Nov 20 Nov 5 Oct 21 Oct 6 Sep 20 Sep 5 Aug 21 Aug 6 Jul 22 Jul 6 Jun 21 Jun 6 May 22
60º 60º
ξ DRACO θ ι Alioth δ
ζ
CEPHEUS Alcor ζ
ν ε
κ Mizar
β ι θ
β URSA MAJOR
50º α γ η 50º
Alkaid
λ Deneb ι τ λ
LACERTA δ ϕ
κ α
ι ο σ
LYRA β CANES VENATICI β
40º ANDROMEDA γ ε α 40º
CYGNUS η γ
Vega ρ π µ α Cor Caroli
δ ζ
η θ
HERCULES
π ε χ β δ BOOTES
γ ε
η ζ θ
σ ρ
30º β ζ ι β 30º
ο γ
β Albireo ξ β
ι µ λ ε α
κ ε
µ α δ γ
δ
VULPECULA CORONA BOREALIS
λ β
COMA BERENICES
PEGASUS γ 20º
20º γ α
δ κ Arcturus η
α α
γ α SAGITTA β
Markab ε γ β υ
DELPHINUS
α δ β α
ξ ζ α ζ
SERPENS
ζ ε γ ε
10º ε δ γ ι δ 10º
Altair AQUILA κ ο
PISCES α µ
ω θ θ EQUULEUS λ
β α
ι α
γ β β ε
δ δ
Declination

λ π γ λ τ
κ η
η α ζ η 180
º
0ºM ζ 0º
ar 2 γ 23
1 γ ο θ ι OPHIUCHUS Sep
350
º
AQUARIUS η δ µ 190
º
Mar λ β ε µ θ
11 β ι VIRGO Oct
3
ϕ 340º º
θ 200
λ µ α
ψ Mar
1 ε β Oct
13
-10º 330º SCUTUM ζ κ º -10º
ξ 210 Spica
Feb ν α 23 α
19 ο Oct
τ 320º ν 220º
ι β γ γ α δ
δ Feb 9 ι θ ξ η ϕ θ Nov
2
δ 310º 230º γ
γ ρ χ
Jan 30 β Nov 1
2
300º ν 240º CORVUS
-20º η π -20º
Jan 20 290º ξ ξ 250º ω Nov 22
280º 260º ω γ ε
270º
Jan 10 Dec 2 δ LIBRA
ζ CAPRICORNUS Dec 31 Dec 12 β
ψ σ λ Dec 22
σ σ α
θ Antares π
ε ω α π HYDRA
δ PISCES AUSTRINUS
τ ϕ υ
α δ τ ρ τ
-30º Fomalhaut θ ζ -30º
γ τ ε γ γ SCORPIUS
SAGITTARIUS χ
SCULPTOR δ β µ ι α
γ ε
ε
γ λ ϕ θ ι
γ ε η υ θ
α λ κ µ LUPUS
β MICROSCOPIUM κ
β η
-40º λ θ α δ CORONA AUSTRALIS ι γ δ κ ν -40º
GRUS η
ι µ ζ θ η ζ µ
δ ι β η θ β
ι δ α δ ε υ
β ε ι CENTAURUS
α α ε ζ
PHOENIX ι µ α τ
η κ
TELESCOPIUM α σ δ
-50º ζ γ -50º
σ ε INDUS γ
ζ NORMA
ξ ε ζ ε ρ
λ ARA
δ θ η β
α γ ζ CRUX
γ γ
TUCANA β β CIRCINUS
PAVO
η γ β δ
-60º -60º
24 h
23 h
22 h
21 h
20 h
19 h
18 h
17 h
16 h
15 h
14 h
13 h
12h
Right Ascension SFA Observatory © 2002 - http://observe.phy.sfasu.edu/
 Nov 20
SFA Star Chart 4 - Southern Region 0h Nov
Dec 6 5
1
h -30º 23 h
η γ
SCULPTOR Oc
21 δ t2
c 1
LACERTA - Lizard De h
γ β 22 h
2

Lo
LEO - Lion β τ

ca
lM
-40º PISCES AUSTRINUS µ
LEPUS - Hare PHOENIX

er
θ

id
α ι

ia
LIBRA - Scales κ ι

n
fo
LEO MINOR - Smaller Lion ε GRUS µ λ γ

r8
O
ε

5
γ

ct
FORNAX ι δ

PM
Ja

6
h
LUPUS - Wolf ν

21
3
β β

h
LYNX - Wildcat β γ
-50º
LYRA - Harp ι σ
δ α θ α
MENSA - Table Mountain ζ ε
θ
MICROSCOPIUM - Microscope κ χ
ERIDANUS ζ TUCANA MICROSCOPIUM

Se
20
MONOCERUS - Unicorn η γ
ϕ

p2 h
α

Jan
δ ι

4h
ι

20
MUSCA - Fly -60º INDUS

0
η Achernar
NORMA - Carpenter`s Square θ
HOROLOGIUM ζ β α α
OCTANS - Octant, Navigational Instrument α
OPHIUCHUS - Serpent Holder ζ ε
HYDRUS δ
ORION - The Hunter β
α
PAVO - Peacock υ2 -70º γ α
β α SAGITTARIUS
PEGASUS - Winged Horse α δ γ ε δ ι
Feb 5

Sep 5h
RETICULUM β β αγ

19
5h
PERSEUS - Hero δ β δ
CAELUM β β δ
PHOENIX - Mythical Bird γ α ε γ ζ ε
η
PICTOR - Easel α
DORADO ν λ λ
γ -80º
ε
PAVO η
PISCES AUSTRINUS - Southern Fish
PISCES - Fish ε ζ β θ κ
OCTANS λ ζ δ ε
PUPPIS - Stern of the Ship Argo α β η
TELESCOPIUM
α CORONA
PICTOR κ ν η
β AUSTRALIS
PYXIS - Mariner's Compass β COLUMBA
β ζ ξ ε
γ δ MENSA γ γ
π
Feb 20

Aug 21
RETICULUM - Net η µ
λ
h

18h
6

δ α

-60º
SCULPTOR - Sculptor's Apparatus

-30º
-30º

-80º

-80º
-40º

η ι
-50º

-70º

-60º

-50º
-70º
α
SCORPIUS - Scorpion γ γ β θ κ
β δ α
SCUTUM - Shield δ Canopus α γ δ δ λ
δ θ α
ν ζ ARA υ
SERPENS - Serpent τ α δ α APUS
SEXTANS - Sextant, Navigational Instrument γ η ζ η
VOLANS β ε SCORPIUS
ε δ
SAGITTA - Arrow κ CHAMAELEON
γ ε β ζ
SAGITTARIUS - Archer CARINA β β µ
PUPPIS TRIANGULUM AUSTRALIS

6
1 h
TAURUS - Bull ε ε
Mar 7

Aug7
7

χ α γ δ
h

π σ ε ω CIRCINUS
TELESCOPIUM - Telescope α γ NORMA
-70º η
TRIANGULUM AUSTRALIS - Southern Triangle υ α MUSCA β
ε β α δ
TRIANGULUM - Triangle δ ι λ Rigil Kentaurus
γ θ Hadar
TUCANA - Toucan ο η θ
ζ α ζ
URSA MAJOR - Great Bear κ λ Acrux β µ
ε γ
URSA MINOR - Little Bear η κ
β Mimosa
-60º λ LUPUS χ
δ

Jul 6 h
VELA - Sails of the Ship Argo ϕ δ

22
Ma

α
8 22

1
β
h

γ ε
VIRGO - Virgin
r

λ VELA ϕ
β CRUX
VOLANS - Flying Fish PYXIS π ι κ
VULPECULA - Fox α ρ
η
σ ζ υ
ψ µ -50º δ γ CENTAURUS
ε τ µ
−2

Ju 1 5 h
ν
9 r6
A
h

l6
p

θ −1
ANTLIA 0
ι -40º ι
1
1 h α h
2
Ap 0 14 21
r2 β 3
1 HYDRA Jun
4
5
11 h -30º 13
h
May
6 12h Jun 6
May 22
SFA Observatory © 2002 - http://observe.phy.sfasu.edu/
 Using the SFA Star Charts
The charts provided cover the entire celestial sphere. You will notice that there are regions
were the charts overlap. For example, Perseus can be found on both Chart 1 and Chart 2.

Chart 1
Celestial North
Pole Region

Chart 2 Chart 3
Celestial Equator and Celestial Equator and
Ecliptic Region Ecliptic Region

Chart 4
Celestial South
Pole Region

The procedures outlined on the next page are for observers in the northern hemisphere.
Chart 4 is not needed for these observers.

Right Ascension and Declination

The coordinates of stars and other objects on the celestial sphere are called right ascension
and declination. These coordinates are similar to those used on Earth: longitude and latitude. Right
ascension is measured in hours, declination is measured in degrees. You may notice that 24 hours
of right ascension corresponds to 360 degrees, or simply that 1 hour of right ascension is 15
degrees.
Procedure for using Chart 1:
(1) Face North.
(2) Find the meridian in the sky and on the Chart 1 using the date and time.
(3) Find the field of view on the Chart 1 and compare the stars seen on the chart with
those in the sky.

The meridian in the sky is an imaginary curve that passes through the north horizon, the north
star, the point directly overhead (zenith), and the south horizon as shown below. Note that Polaris is
not the brightest star in the sky. You can use Dubhe and Merak of Ursa Major as pointer stars to
help you find Polaris.
The meridian on Chart 1 can be located using the date and time. The dates along outer edge
of the Chart 1 represent the location of the meridian. If Chart 1 is oriented so that the date appears a
the top, then a line passing through the date and Polaris is the meridian at 8:00pm local time. For
every hour after 8:00pm the meridian moves to the clockwise by one hour of right ascension.
The field of view on the Chart 1 includes roughly all objects above the north horizon line. The
north horizon line is a line perpendicular to the meridian on Chart 1 and intersects the meridian at a
point 32° below Polaris. (Replace 32° with your latitude if you are not observing from the SFA
Observatory.)
Zenith

Meridian
Polaris, the North Star

S
N

E
Procedure for using Charts 2 and 3:
(1) Face South. Place Charts 2 and 3 side by side.
(2) Find the meridian in the sky and on Chart 2 or 3 using the date and time.
(3) Find the field of view on the Charts 2 and 3 and compare the stars seen on the
chart with those in the sky.

The meridian on Charts 2 and 3 can be located using the date and time. The dates along the
top axis of these charts represent the location of the meridian (a vertical line) at 8:00pm local time.
For every hour after 8:00pm the meridian moves to the left by one hour of right ascension.
The field of view on these charts includes roughly all objects between a vertical line 6 hours of
right ascension to the west (right) of the meridian and a vertical line 6 hours of right ascension to the
east (left) of the meridian. These two vertical lines roughly represent the west and east horizon
respectively.
The “sine” curve seen when these two charts are placed side by side is known as the ecliptic
and represents the apparent path of the Sun. The dates along the ecliptic give the location of the
Sun on the celestial sphere for the date of interest.

Dan Bruton, SFA Observatory, http://www.physics.sfasu.edu/astro/SFAStarCharts.html