Things You'll Need
Instructions
Identifying Constellation Stars
Obtain star maps for the part of the world that you are in. You can find star maps in astronomy books or online. Many of the named stars are part of a constellation.
Locate an easily recognized constellation. For example, during winter and spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the Big Dipper, also called Ursa Major, makes a good landmark constellation.
Find the constellation that contains the star you are attempting to identify on the star map. Do this by looking at the map and sky simultaneously, using the reference point of the landmark constellation.
Find the name of the star by consulting the star map's list of star names. You can also use a reference text or website to find all the names of the stars in a given constellation, such as the International Astronomical Union website.
Identify Individual Stars
Determine your latitude and longitude. This can be done by using a simple GPS device, or a detailed map. Also, note the date and time. The location of stars in the sky change based on the time of day and your position.
Find the appropriate star map based on your location and the time. You can use a physical star atlas, an application that provides star maps or a website like Your Sky.
Find the position of the star on the map, and see if it is named. If you are trying to identify a star without a given name, it may still have an identifier. To identify that star, you will need to be a more advanced astronomer. Note the declination and right ascension of the star and use astronomer's resources and textbooks to try and locate its identifying mark. Stars without proper names often simply have a catalogue number.