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How to Search for Stars in the Sky

For thousands of years of recorded history, the night sky has been the best light show on the planet. Many constellations still go by the names given to them in the myths and legends that inspired those appellations in ancient times. As the seasons change, so do the stars that are visible at night. To know what you're seeing when you look up into the darkness, you need to know where certain landmark stars are relative to one another.

Things You'll Need

Blanket
Fashlight
Warm clothing
Star chart

Instructions

Finding the constellations
- 1
  Go outside at night. A clear, cloudless, moonless sky is best, far away from city lights. For stargazing purposes, the darker the night, the better. Drier winter air aids viewing, but any time of year will do. If you can see what almost looks like a band of hazy cloud stretching across the sky, you're looking at the rest of our galaxy, called the Milky Way. It's subtle, so if you can see it, you've reached a good viewing spot. Spread out your blanket, and lie down so you can see straight up comfortably.
- 2
  Find the Big Dipper. This is a constellation near enough to the North Star that it is visible year round in North America's night sky. It's comprised of seven bright stars, four of which seem to make a cup if you connect the dots, and three of which compose the handle. The Big Dipper configuration is also part of a larger star pattern dubbed Ursa Major, the Great Bear. A smaller cluster of seven stars, called the Little Dipper, part of Ursa Minor, is not as bright and prominent. You can easily spot the Big Dipper on a reasonably dark night.
- 3
  Find the North Star. Finding the Big Dipper is easier than locating the North Star, but you can use the location of the first to find Polaris. Locate the two stars at the front of the "cup," away from the handle. From the top of the cup, trace the line made from those two stars, until that line intersects with another star. Polaris will seem stationary in the sky, while all the other constellations circle around it.
- 4
  Use your star chart to find other constellations. This handy map allows you to adjust for the date you're outside, then shows the visible stars and their locations in the sky for that date. Now that you know the compass points, orient yourself to let the map show you the names and configurations of all the constellations.
- 5
  Visit a local planetarium. Most stars are so far away that portable telescopes will do little more than make small twinkling lights look slightly bigger, but not more detailed. Planetariums will have pictures from powerful Earth and space-based telescopes where you can learn about different kinds of stars and their relative stages of development.

Astronomy