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Rotation of the Stars in the Southern Montana Sky

Southern Montana gives astronomy buffs many opportunities for stargazing using a telescope, binoculars or a camera, due to its lack of big-city lights that obscure the stars. Understanding how the stars move through the sky will help improve the experience.

The North Star
- The stars seem to move through the sky due to the Earth's rotation on its axis. The stars rotate on circular paths around one star named Polaris, more commonly known as the North Star.
Locating the North Star
- An easy method of locating Polaris uses the Big Dipper. The two bright stars at the end of the dipper are called the pointer stars because if you imagine a straight line through these stars, the line points to Polaris.
Movement of the Stars
- The Montana sky allows you some options in your stargazing activities. Point your camera at the North Star to record the circular paths the stars make. To study a star over time, place your telescope, camera or binoculars on a tripod that moves along with the stars, allowing you to keep the star in the device's field-of-view.

Astronomy