Tips on Finding Star Constellations

Know Your Latitude

• The Earth is divided into a grid using imaginary lines of latitude and longitude. Lines of longitude run vertically around the Earth and lines of latitude run horizontally. To help identify which parts of the sky constellations are in, astronomers orient star charts to lines of latitude on the Earth. For example, if you live in Denver, Colorado (located at 39 degrees north latitude) and are looking up in to the sky on a chilly December, you might see the constellation Orion. But, if you live in Santiago, Chile (located at 33 degrees south latitude) and are looking up at the sky on that same December night, you'll likely see the constellation Aquarius instead.

Use a Star Chart

• Astronomers and amateur stargazers alike use star charts to help them know what to look for in a particular part of the sky. Without these guides, the night sky can look like nothing more than a confusing jumble of lights. Star charts represent a hemispherical sky on a flat surface so they may look a little confusing at first. Charts are also specific to lines of latitude and to seasons, so be sure to pick the right one for your area and the time of year.

  To start, pick the direction of sky you want to look at, if it's west, rotate the chart so west is at the bottom and hold the chart over your head. Make sure that whichever part of the sky you're looking at it's corresponding cardinal direction is at the bottom of the chart. Next, start with a small quadrant of the chart, preferably one near bright, well known stars and start to compare the chart to the sky. Breaking the chart into smaller quadrants will help make the night sky less overwhelming and help you learn the constellations a little more easily.

Find the Best Location

• In a big city, stargazers are faced with what is known as light pollution. Light from street lamps, houses, businesses, and cars can make all but the very brightest stars nearly invisible. If you want to see more stars, you'll have to head out of the city. Open fields with no obstructions like power lines or trees make the best viewing spots. Once you've found the right place, give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. The longer you let them adjust, the dimmer the stars you'll be able to see; anywhere from 10 minutes to a half hour is adequate. Of course, you'll need to see your star chart so bring a red LED light or a standard flashlight covered in red plastic; red light is easier on the eyes.