Constellations, what are they exactly? The chances are you’ve seen them if you have ever glanced up at the sky. From the “Big Bear” to “Orion”, you may even know about a few of them and the ancient myths that they represent. You may even be wondering why they matter and how you can find them while observing the night sky. In this article, I will shed some light on the constellations and offer some tips that may help you with identifying them.

“The stars we are given. The constellations we make. That is to say, stars exist in the cosmos, but constellations are the imaginary lines we draw between them, the readings we give the sky, the stories we tell.“

Rebecca Solnit

When starting off, one of the first hurdles astronomers must overcome is identifying and knowing most of the constellations. This skill is necessary for navigating the night sky effectively and efficiently. After all, you can’t expect to find something like the Hercules Cluster if you can’t find Hercules.

This may sound incredibly difficult at first, but it is easier than you think! To begin with, I will categorize some of the main constellations into three groups based upon the time of year in which they are visible.

The Northern Circumpolar Constellations

The stars and objects in the night sky behave in the exact same way as the Sun. They rise in the east and set in the west every night due to the Earth’s rotation. This means that some constellations will rise and set depending on both the time of the day and the time of the year we try to observe them at. However, when a constellation is “circumpolar”, it lies within close proximity to the nearest polar star and never sets below the horizon. This means that a circumpolar constellation will always be in the sky no matter the time of day or year. That makes these constellations perfect to learn for beginners!

The number of circumpolar constellations that are visible in the sky depends on your latitude north of the equator; however, there are about five that can be seen almost everywhere in the northern hemisphere. These constellations are Ursa Major the Big Bear, Ursa Minor the Little Bear, Cassiopeia Queen of Ethiopia, Cepheus the King, and Draco the Dragon.

Ursa Major – The Big Bear (The Big Dipper)

Perhaps the most famous circumpolar star arrangements that you can see is the Big Dipper. Contrary to popular belief, the Big Dipper is actually a smaller part of the parent constellation known as Ursa Major the Big Bear. We can find it in the northern sky very easily due to the bright stars that it is made of. There are four bright stars that form its “bowl-like” shape. Two of these stars are known as the “pointer stars” Merak and Dubhe. If an imaginary line is drawn through them, the line will always “point” towards the North Star, Polaris. This trick is extremely useful for finding the Little Dipper. Additionally, other constellations will be easier to find by being able to locate the Big Dipper.

Ursa Minor – The Little Bear (The Little Dipper)

Talking about the Little Dipper, this arrangement of stars is in the constellation of Ursa Minor and contains the north star, Polaris. This star has its reputation because it lines up almost perfectly with the Earth’s axis of rotation. This means that the star will always “appear” to be at the same place in the sky as the Earth rotates. We can see the north star at the end of the Little Dipper’s “handle”. This constellation is a very useful reference point for finding other constellations and for knowing where north is when you are without a compass. Depending on the amount of light pollution around you, it may be hard to make out the entirety of this constellation; however, Polaris will still most likely be visible in any condition.

Cassiopeia – Queen of Ethiopia

As one of the easiest to see circumpolar constellations, Cassiopeia is the constellation directly across the north star from Ursa Major. It is easy to make out in the sky because of it’s “W-like” shape that contains a few relatively bright stars and star clusters Messier 57, Messier 103, and the Owl Cluster (NGC 457).

Cepheus & Draco – The King & The Dragon

Cepheus and Draco are the other two main circumpolar constellations and are relatively dim by comparison to the others. They are both found in the space that surrounds Ursa Minor between Cassiopeia and Ursa Major. Cepheus and Draco may be difficult to see if you have a lot of light pollution in your area.

The Winter Sky

By turning our backs on the northern night sky, we can find a group of constellations that changes depending on the time of the year. We’ll first discuss the ones you can see at the end of the year. These constellations come alive during the winter season due to the Earth’s tilt and location in its orbit around the Sun along with the cleaner and dryer air that winter usually brings. While there are many constellations in the winter sky, the primary ones can be found in a group known as the “Winter Circle” or “Winter Hexagon”.

Orion – The Hunter

Orion the Hunter is perhaps the most famous and easiest to see constellations. He can be identified by his “belt” of three stars in close proximity to each other. It resides at the bottom of the Winter Circle. Betelgeuse and Rigel can be seen at the top left and bottom right of the constellation respectively, and are among the brightest stars in this constellation. Orion’s “sword” is made up of a row of three stars that “hang” down from the belt. Interestingly enough, this middle “star” is actually an object called the Orion Nebula. As we look closer, this object will look more like a fuzzy patch of light than a star.

Canis Major – The Great Dog

If we follow the belt’s direction downwards and to the left, we will find Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius is the primary star of Canis Major the Great Dog. Canis Major was one of Orion’s hunting dogs along with Canis Minor. This makes it helpful to remember their placement in the night sky, as they can both be seen “following” Orion from behind.

Taurus – The Bull

Again, we return to the belt of Orion. Now following it upwards and to the right. This will lead us directly to the red star “Aldebaran” and its parent constellation, Taurus the Bull. Taurus contains objects such as the Messier 1 “Crab Nebula” and Messier 45 the “Pleiades” cluster, and is easily identifiable by it’s “V-shape”. The Crab Nebula resides between the “horns” of Taurus. The Pleiades, also known as “the Seven Sisters”, lays up and to the right of the bull (where its shoulder would be).

Auriga – The Charioteer

Auriga the Charioteer is the top constellation of the Winter Circle, residing at the tip of the horns of Taurus. The five stars of this constellation represent a man on a chariot holding a goat in his hand. Of these, there is a primary yellow star that is known as “Capella”. This constellation is just under zenith (the point straight above you in the sky). A useful tip for finding Auriga is to find the tip of Taurus’ “upper horn” because they share the same star.

Gemini – The Twins

If we continue counter-clockwise around the Winter Circle from Auriga, we will come across the two stars “Castor” and “Pollux”. These two stars make up the upper part of Gemini the Twins. Another easy way to find this constellation is to draw a line from Rigel through Betelgeuse in Orion upwards to the relatively rectangular constellation. Gemini, like Taurus, is another Zodiac constellation.

Canis Minor – The Little Dog

Made up of two stars, to complete our journey around the Winter Circle we can find Canis Minor the Little Dog. The main one that resides in the Winter Circle, is the white star “Procyon”. Procyon, Betelgeuse (Orion), and Sirius (Canis Major) make up another pattern called the “Winter Triangle”.

Leo – The Lion

Leo the Lion is outside of the winter circle and to the left of Canis Minor. It looks similar to a backward question mark, with its defining blue star known as “Regulus” on the period. It is another one of the well-known “Zodiac” constellations.

Andromeda / Pegasus

Andromeda and Pegasus are combined by four primary stars known as “The Great Square” and are a rather strange-looking grouping of stars. As a part of the upper section of the constellation, there are two separate branches of stars that are the “legs” of Andromeda. The closest galaxy to our own, the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31), is right near these legs. It is rather hard to see in places with a lot of light pollution, but it is definitely a sight to see on a clear night. On the other end of the constellation, there are three strands of stars that all make up the front half of Pegasus.

The Summer Sky

The summer sky is hazier and warmer than the brilliant and clear winter sky. These conditions, along with the tilt and position of the Earth in its orbit, make observing the summer sky a little more difficult. It is also dominated by an arrangement of three stars known as the Summer Triangle. These stars are named “Vega”, “Altair”, and “Deneb”. Each resides in their own respective constellations. Knowing the location of the Summer Triangle makes it a little easier to find some of the other constellations that reside in the summer sky.

Lyra – The Lyre

When searching for Lyra the Lyre, it is the most important to know about its most prominent star, “Vega”. This star is the brightest of the three that make up the Summer Triangle; thus, making it the easiest one to find. It lies near the zenith in the Summer sky. While small, Lyra is useful to know because it is one of the three constellations in the Summer Triangle. This means that knowing its placement can assist us in finding the other constellations.

Cygnus – The Swan

The second constellation in the Summer Triangle is Cygnus the Swan. Perhaps the easiest way to find Cygnus is to first find “Vega” in the constellation of Lyra. Draw a line eastward from Vega to find the prominent star “Deneb”. This star, along with four other prominent stars, forms a shape called the “Northern Cross”. If the amount of light pollution is substantially low, the Northern Cross can be seen immersed in the Milky Way.

Aquila – The Eagle

Find the third prominent star of the summer triangle called “Altair” in order to find Aquila the Eagle. One of the easiest ways to do this is by following the Milky Way downwards until Altair comes into view. Aquila’s appearance is similar to that of a diamond-shaped kite with a tail following behind it. This is the final constellation in the Summer Triangle.

Sagittarius – The Archer

By continuing to follow the Milky Way downwards past Aquila, an arrangement of stars called “the teapot” comes into view. It received its nickname due to the close resemblance it has to the shape of an old-fashioned teapot. The parent constellation to the teapot is in fact, Sagittarius the Archer. Sagittarius acts as our marker for the Center of our Milky Way Galaxy; making the constellation quite significant.

Scorpius – The Scorpion

The red star “Antares” can be found by looking right from the Teapot and staying close to the horizon. The parent constellation to Antares is, in fact, Scorpius the Scorpion. Scorpius is yet another one of the famous Zodiac constellations. Antares is also known as “the Heart” of Scorpius, due to its deep red color.

Boötes – The Herdsman

The final major constellation on this list is known as Boötes the Herdsman. This constellation is to the right, or in the westward direction, from Scorpius. It has a kite-like shape to it, with the red star “Arcturus” at its bottom point. My own high school Astronomy teacher taught me a handy phrase: “arc to Arcturus”. This helps me remember to follow an “arc-like” path from Antares westward to find this constellation. Try this out for yourself!

I hope that you have found this article helpful and informative! Now that I’ve acquainted you with some of the constellations of the night skies, it’s time for you to go hunting for them! Soon you will be able to navigate the sky like the back of your hand, with some time and practice of course.

For Additional Information:

• Charts of the Night Sky – A useful application by Dominic Ford that shows you what your night sky looks like depending upon the time and date. Additionally, this site also allows you to select a plethora of options such as star brightness, the locations of planets, etc.
• Star Atlas – A much more in-depth and interactive application that allows you to explore the night sky.
• Star and Planet Locator – Where you can buy your own Star and Planet Locator, a tool that makes it even easier to navigate the night sky.

The post Constellations: What are they and how to find them? appeared first on Space Tonight.

Whether you are looking for a quick astronomy lesson or wanting to see planets casually, there are a number of planets that are indeed visible from Earth without any gear at all. The following lists explains what planets can be seen without a telescope. The one caveat is that the planets are difficult to distinguish without a bit of prior training, but good news is you can find that here!

First and foremost, our preview to the list: the Moon.

Can you see the Moon without a telescope?

Yes, you can see the moon quite easily without any equipment at all. Given the distance between the Earth and the Moon is an average of 240,000 miles or 385,000 km away from the Earth, the Moon is fairly visible throughout the year. The visibility of the Moon is largely dependent on the phases of Earth’s moon.

On a given night, the Moon will be the closest object to the Earth that’s visible from the sky. The result is that the Moon is the brightest and largest object visible from Earth. Both distance and brightness are factors to consider for the remainder of the list below. The brighter and closer the object, the better chances of being able to view them from Earth with unaided eyes.

Can you see Mercury without a telescope?

Yes, as one of the five brightest planets, Mercury is visible without a telescope. However, Mercury is one of the most difficult to see of the five brightest planets.

As the closest planet to the Sun, there are only a few angles that stargazers from Earth can see Mercury without the interference of light from the Sun. In fact the furthest Mercury gets away from the Sun still forms a 28 degree angle with the Earth.

The other factor is that Mercury trails closely with the Sun in terms of visibility relative to the Earth’s horizon. When the Sun sets, there is only a brief moment where Mercury is above the horizon for viewing. When daylight still exists, the sky is too bright for Mercury to be visible typically.

Both Venus and Mercury are closer to the Sun than Earth. Meaning, the only way to see these planets in theory is when you are facing towards the Sun. As a result, these planets are in the sky during daylight hours on Earth.

Can you see Venus without a telescope?

Yes, as one of the five brightest planets, Venues is visible without a telescope and the easiest planet to spot from Earth. As mentioned, Venus orbits the Sun closer than Earth so Venus can actually be visible during the daytime.

Venus shines with a bright white light that may have a bluish or yellowish tint depending on the view. Generally speaking only the Sun and Moon are brighter than Venus. Venus shines brighter than all other stars and celestial bodies in the sky.

The planet has cycles of both morning and evening appearances. These cycles last several months at a time when the planet moves closest to the Sun on its orbit, and when the planet moves the furthest away. In fact, Venus has been referred to as the “The Morning Star” since Venus can be viewed in the early morning before the sun even rises. It is also referred to as the “The Evening Star” when it can be viewed right after sunset.

Can you see Mars without a telescope?

Yes, as one of the five brightest planets, Mars is visible without a telescope.

However, Mars can be difficult to see even with a telescope. In many cases Mars will be a small reddish dot in the night sky. The best period to see Mars is when the Earth and Mars are closest. When the two planets are at their closest distance, this is known as opposition.

Roughly every two years or so, Mars and Earth line up perfectly with the Sun, with the Earth being in between Mars and the Sun. As a result, this period is the best time to view Mars without a telescope.

Opposition Dates for Mars (the best dates to view Mars without a telescope)

• October 13th, 2020
• December 8th, 2022
• January 16th, 2025
• February 19th, 2027

Can you see Jupiter without a telescope?

Yes, as one of the five brightest planets, Jupiter is visible without a telescope. Jupiter gives off a very bright white light and it will shine brighter than any other star in the sky. Only Venus may be brighter in the night’s sky.

Jupiter has rings also like Saturn but they are not visible without additional optics. Even the biggest being larger than Mercury, Jupiter’s moons are not visible with the naked eye.

Can you see Saturn without a telescope?

Yes, as one of the five brightest planets, Saturn is visible without a telescope.

However, you will not be able to see Saturn’s rings without a high power telescope. This may be a disappointment for many Saturn fans who are interested in seeing the planet’s distinct and beautiful rings. Saturn will look just like a bright star in the sky without any additional viewing equipment.

Can you see Uranus without a telescope?

No, under most circumstances Uranus is not visible without a telescope. The distance from Uranus and the Sun is nearly 20 times the distance between the Earth and the sun. That unit is know as an AU or Astronomical Unit.

Due to the distance from the Sun being so far, Uranus is known as one of the icy giants, with Neptune being the other icy giant.

In the darkest of skies and nearly perfect alignment of the Earth’s moon and the Sun, Uranus has been known to be spotted dimly by those viewing out a telescope.

However it is fairly accepted that Uranus is only visible with a telescope.

Can you see Neptune without a telescope?

No, the planet Neptune is not visible without a telescope from Earth. Due to the distance of Neptune away from Earth, Neptune can only be viewed with high powered telescopes.

Like Uranus, Neptune is considered as one of the icy giants due to its planetary conditions being so far away from the Sun. Where Uranus is a little less than 20 AU away from the Sun, Neptune is 30 AU away from the Sun.

As mentioned, that means that Neptune’s distance from the Sun is thirty times the distance between the Earth and the Sun.

Can you see Pluto without a telescope?

No, the dwarf planet is too far and too small to reflect enough of the Sun’s light to be visible from planet Earth without a telescope. Because of the distance away from Earth, Pluto requires the strongest of telescopes to have the best possible view.

In fact, even with a telescope, it is hard to distinguish Pluto among other stars in the sky from other galaxies. Pluto can be identified by watching the movement of the dwarf planet relative to other stars and constellations.

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