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How to Read the Stars in the Night Sky

Your ability to read the stars in the night sky depends on your being able to recognize and then identify the constellations. These groupings of stars from a particular region of the sky form a pattern that ancient civilizations named for people, objects or animals. Some constellations look like the object or figures they gained their name from, while others often require more than a little imagination to make out. You can find the constellations by looking up on a clear night for certain configurations among the stars.

Instructions

- 1
  Look for the seven stars that form an asterism called the ̶0;Big Dipper.̶1; An asterism is a part of a constellation or a group of stars that form a shape or pattern. In the case of the Big Dipper, it is just a portion of a larger constellation called Ursa Major, which represents a bear. The dipper has four stars that form its bowl and three others that make up its handle. In the United States, you can find the Big Dipper by looking to the north.
- 2
  Look for the three diagonal stars close to each other in the wintertime that form Orion̵7;s belt. Orion is a conspicuous constellation that you can find by looking to the south. It has these three stars as well as two much brighter ones, Betelgeuse and Rigel, in opposite corners of its rectangular shape. The ̶0;belt̶1; is in Orion̵7;s midsection.
- 3
  Look for the ̶0;V̶1; shape of Taurus the Bull, with the bright star Aldebaren forming the bull̵7;s eye. If you find Orion, you can glance to the upper right of him and see this constellation, seemingly bearing down on him in the sky.
- 4
  Look for the four stars that seem to form a ̶0;Great Square̶1; in the constellation Pegasus. Look in the midst of the autumn season for the best view of these four stars, none of which is particularly luminous. Although Pegasus is a winged horse, you will have little chance of seeing it as that, but a good one of recognizing it by this giant square.
- 5
  Look for the backwards question mark that forms the front portion of Leo the Lion. Leo is a spring constellation that you can quickly focus on by its shape̵1;the ̶0;period̶1; under the question mark is the bright star known as Regulus. The rear haunches of this lion are a triangle formed by three stars in the back of the question mark.
- 6
  Look for the ̶0;K̶1; shaped Perseus and the ̶0;W̶1; shape of Cassiopeia. These constellations are in the northeast sky during the fall. You cannot mistake them for any others as their shapes separate them from the rest of the constellations.
- 7
  Look for the cross-shaped Cygnus the Swan almost directly overhead in the summer. The bright star Deneb will be on one end of this constellation, which goes by the nickname of the "Northern Cross." Look for the shape of a fishhook in the southern sky during the hot summer months as you gaze low towards the horizon in the United States and you will recognize it as Scorpius the Scorpion. Search for a bright star with a reddish glow, Antares, which would appear to mark the heart of this celestial scorpion.

Astronomy